President’s Welcome

Welcome to the 2021 Summer Horse Racing Season and 133rd Gillespie County Fair. I am very proud to serve as president of the board of directors of the oldest, continuously operating fair association in Texas.

Many thanks to our dedicated volunteers, staff, and directors and families for their hard work in keeping our longstanding traditions alive. With the continued support of our community, along with the many visitors coming to Fredericksburg, we can continue many events this summer and beyond.

Last year the world changed fast due to the COVID-19 pandemic. We all scrambled trying to decide what to do. I am proud of what we were able to do, although they were very scaled back events. This year promises to be a new “new normal” as we recover from a very lean 2020. Rest assured, we will still keep your health and safety our top concern, but hope you feel much more comfortable attending all of our events.

With so many people and organizations to thank for helping us get through these trying times, it would be impossible to mention them all, but we greatly appreciate everyone’s help and support – we could not have continued without all of you. Thank you all so much!

Four big weekends of thoroughbred and quarter horse racing will see the heart pounding action of horses thundering down the track. Gates will open at 11 a.m. and post time is 1 p.m. for each race day. Of course, plenty of cold beverages and a variety of food choices will be available for your enjoyment at each event.

The Fourth of July weekend is our first race meet of the summer and the horses will be running on July 3 and 4. On Sunday evening we invite everyone out for an evening of casual family fun. We will have music by a local favorite, Crystal Peak, and there will be no admission charge after 5 p.m. The City of Fredericksburg will host its Fourth of July firework show, which has become a favorite annual event, so come on out and enjoy these events.

Our second weekend of activities will be July 17-18 at our Night in Old Fredericksburg Race Meet. In conjunction with the horse races on Saturday, the Lonestar Barbeque Society returns with a sanctioned cookoff competition, along with the CASI sanctioned chili cook-off. Get your taste buds ready, as they will be seeking participants to judge their savory masterpieces – no experience necessary, they will instruct you!

In addition, the public is invited to participate in games of washer pitching and a 42 domino tournament. Due to the uncertain circumstances this year, we decided to forego a big Night in Old Fredericksburg Saturday night concert and dance and decided to do two smaller concerts, both in conjunction with the City of Fredericksburg’s firework shows, with no admission charge. Those were Friday, May 7, on the eve of Fredericksburg’s 175th Anniversary of its founding and Sunday, July 4, our United States Independence Day.

Aug. 14-15 is our third weekend of horse racing (previously known as the Race Day Classic Weekend) with the popular goat roping event happening Saturday evening.

Aug. 26-29 brings our long awaited 133rd Gillespie County Fair. We will have a full weekend of lively entertainment, a carnival, horse racing, educational demonstrations, and many exhibits of livestock, agricultural and home products as well as a wide variety of food and drink.

You are invited to enter and display your favorite baked or canned goods, produce, plants or handmade craft item in the exhibition hall. There are many categories to enter suitable to all ages. Entries will be taken from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 26.

Tejano music by La Calma, out of San Antonio, is scheduled for your Thursday night enjoyment. Once again there is no admission charge for Thursday, so bring the family and get a first look at what is in store for the big weekend.

On Friday, the gates will open at 1 p.m. and, after a hiatus last year, we are so glad to welcome back Moore’s Greater Shows as our carnival and midway

Edward R. Stroeher