My goodness, it’s January. How did that happen? Where did 2025 go? And what do we have in store for 2026?
Having made our New Year’s Resolutions, and with the end of winter in sight over the horizon, it’s a perfect time to enjoy this new beginning, get out and about, and do something different and interesting. I say “get out and about” because that’s a huge part of maintaining our Health and Fitness (the theme of this edition of the Georgetown View).
In that regard, I’m reminded of a time when we visited some friends on Long Island. Since we were tourists, we wanted to see the sights. We asked their advice on where to begin (the Statue of Liberty, Coney Island, Times Square, the Guggenheim, or wherever)? They said they hadn’t visited any of them, because they were all too crowded and overcome by tourists. Unbelievable!
Can you imagine living in Rome and never having seen the Colosseum? Or in Paris without visiting the Eiffel Tower? Or even Moscow without visiting Red Square and seeing the Kremlin.
A bit closer to home, we know some people who have never visited The Square (The Most Beautiful Town Square in Texas I might add!), or ventured even as far as Wimberley (aka, “A Little Bit of Heaven”), or gone really wild and driven all the way to Fredericksburg (wineries, distilleries, The National Museum of the Pacific War, German food and even the Rockbox Theater). My goodness, what a shame it would be to miss these gems.
If we’re going to Thrive after 55 (the theme of this series of articles), then we need to get out and about. Here’s a suggested schedule to do one thing each month, romp around the area, see the sights, and enjoy life.
The list is obviously not exhaustive. But it’s a place to start, from which you can shuffle the deck, add items, and otherwise tailor it to your interests. In doing so you might also consider just visiting The Square for some of the regular monthly events, such as:
- 1st Fridays: Music on the Square (Beard Club)
- 2nd Wednesdays: Georgetown Public Library World Cinema
- 2nd Saturdays (March-November): Market Days
- 3rd Saturdays: Pistons on the Square
- 3rd Sundays: Live music at the Library
- Saturdays: Farmers Market at Wolf Ranch
There’s these and many more in and around the area. The Georgetown View covers many of them well ahead time. Take a look, then get out and enjoy this wonderful, historical community.
Go For It!
| January Start the year with dinner on/around The Square, especially since the new enclosed parking garage is open! Go mid-week, when the crowds are lighter. There’s everything from Italian to Tex-Mex, to Americana of all types, styles, and price-points. There’s even Asian, and a British pub. Wherever you go, have dessert; you’ll love it and you’ve earned it! | February Visit the Gault Archaeological Site in Florence. The “dig” revealed evidence of human occupation dating to before the appearance of the Clovis culture. It’s absolutely amazing. | March Head to Fredericksburg. The National Museum of the Pacific War is an absolute MUST. Followed closely thereafter by winery tours, and the Garrison Brothers Distillery (be still my heart…their bourbon is awesome). There’s so much to do in Fredericksburg it’s worth an overnight stay. Consider the Hanger Hotel and a show at the Rockbox. |
| April You simply have to check out the Red Poppy Festival, that’s Georgetown’s signature event. The festival kicks off on a Friday night and runs through Sunday with three days of music, entertainment, and family fun, and more than 150 artisan vendors. | May Wander to Wimberley The terms “quaint”, and “art colony”, don’t quite capture Wimberley’s atmosphere, but they’re close. Locally owned, and sourced, restaurants abound. First Saturday is Market Day, with nearly 500 booths presenting antiques, handcrafting, local produce, and music. It’s “Little Texas” from the old days. | June Use this month to learn more about Texas, from the geography, to its many-varied demographics, to the many flags that flew over our Great State over the years. The Williamson Museum is great, and (assuming you have the nerve to brave the wilds of IH-35), you might visit The Bullock Museum in Austin. |
| July Take the opportunity to celebrate the 250th birthday of this Great Nation in-person at San Gabriel Park or at the Parade downtown. The Georgetown Sertoma Club sponsors a day-long event on the 4th that includes games in the park, vendors by the dozens, live music and ends with a wonderful fireworks show beginning around 9:30pm. | August Once the summer heat peaks, dive underground into Inner Space Cavern. It’s one of the best-preserved caves in Texas and has beautiful formations, large rooms, prehistoric animal bones, and a truly unique discovery story. Temperature in the cavern is a constant 72 degrees, with a bit of humidity. | September Enjoy a play at the Palace Theater in downtown Georgetown. This carefully restored historic landmark is on Austin Avenue, on The Square, near dining, with intimate seating (including a balcony) and wonderful entertainment. It’s British-style theater (casual) with Broadway level performances. You can get tickets online at georgetownpalace.org. |
| October Head to Walburg for Oktoberfest where there are lots of choices for restaurants, biergartens, and entertainment in this small community that’s rooted in German traditions. Sing a round of Ein Prosit with the crowd! | November The Field of Honor is a must-see. There are over 2,000 US flags, each honoring a veteran, first responder, K-9 Unit or equestrian hero on display in San Gabriel Park. It’s open 24/7 throughout the week of the event and was initiated, funded, and is operated by Georgetown Rotary. Honor Flags can still be purchased. It’s stirring. | December Between the end of November and the first of the year, The Square is a “must visit” destination. It begins with Lighting of The Square the day after Thanksgiving. All of the trees and buildings are lined with lights, and they come on when the mayor throws the switch. Next up is the Christmas Stroll where the streets in and around The Square are packed with local vendors and entertainment. The restaurants are open, showing off and sharing their talents. This long-standing event is sponsored by the Downtown Georgetown Association. |