The music is French and the dancers, jugglers and mimes celebrate traditional French culture. Descendants of Confederate veterans gather for eight days in July on the banks of Onion Creek, southwest of the Oak Hill area of Austin, just off F.M. 1826 near Driftwood. This extended family gathering has been held every year since 1904. The camp is named after the Texas general who was killed at the Battle of Pea Ridge in Arkansas on March 7, 1862. Visitors are welcome to attend the event and watch a variety of historical programs, including re-enactments of Civil War life, dancing and, of course, barbecues.
Admission is free.
The students perform three plays in the theater barn in the historic settlement, beginning the last week of July and continuing through mid-August. Winedale is about a 90-minute drive east of Austin. It is easy to spot the German influence in this town at any time of the year, but on the third weekend in July, the town celebrates with a citywide celebration of its German heritage. In recent years, cultural happenings with a Mexican-American flavor have been added to the festival of food, dance, music and horse racing. The contest includes best splash, best dive and most-original dive categories.