Planning a trip to Far West Texas often works best when you look ahead. Many of the region’s most meaningful events are tied to place, tradition, and timing rather than short-lived trends. January is when those patterns start to come into focus.
Alpine sits at the center of the Big Bend region, making it an easy place to stay while exploring nearby towns like Fort Davis, Marfa, Marathon, and Terlingua. Some events take place right in Alpine, while others are easy day trips. What follows is a curated look at several key happenings in 2026 that help define the year. This isn’t a complete calendar. For links to restaurants, events, and things to do, visit our website’s Area page.
February: Poetry, Music, and Small-Town Traditions
2026 opens with events that reflect the character of West Texas itself.
Valentine’s in Valentine takes place on February 14, 2026, in the tiny town of Valentine, just west of Alpine. It’s a short drive from Alpine and has become a full-day community celebration, with live music and gatherings that draw both locals and visitors. The day has a small-town, open-door feel, the kind of event where people linger, talk to strangers, and end up staying longer than they planned. It’s a reminder that in West Texas, even the smallest towns know how to make a day feel special.
More information: valentineinvalentinetx.com
A few days later, Alpine hosts one of its most recognizable annual events, the Lone Star Cowboy Poetry Gathering, running February 19–21, 2026. Poets, musicians, and storytellers from across the West come together for performances that explore ranching life, western history, and contemporary rural culture. With events spread over several days, it’s common for visitors plan longer stays to attend multiple performances rather than treating it as a single evening.
More information: lonestarcowboypoetry.com
Late Spring and Early Summer: Evenings at the Ballpark
By late May, Alpine’s calendar shifts to events that unfold over weeks rather than weekends.
The Alpine Cowboys baseball season begins locally with the first home game on May 28, 2026, at historic Kokernot Field. The Cowboys are a professional independent team, and home games are played throughout the summer. Some guests plan trips around the home opener or catch a game while already in town, making baseball an easy addition to a late spring or summer stay.
More information: alpine.pecosleague.com
July: Music Across the Region and a National-Level Exhibit
July brings two very different but equally notable experiences.
Viva Big Bend, held July 22–26, 2026, is a multi-day music festival spread across the region, with performances in Alpine, Marfa, Marathon, Fort Davis, Terlingua, Presidio, and nearby communities. Because shows are spread out geographically, many attendees choose a central place to stay and travel out for individual events. Alpine’s location makes it a practical base for experiencing the festival without changing lodging.
More information: vivabigbend.com
At the same time, Alpine will host a Smithsonian traveling exhibition. From July 4 through August 9, 2026, the Museum of the Big Bend will present Spark! Places of Innovation, part of the Smithsonian Institution’s Museum on Main Street program. The exhibit explores how innovation emerges in small towns and rural communities across the United States. Its extended run allows visitors flexibility when planning summer travel.
Smithsonian Spark: museumonmainstreet.org/spark
Museum of the Big Bend: museumofthebigbend.com/calendar
August: Nature at Its Peak
Late summer brings one of the region’s most anticipated wildlife-focused events.
The Davis Mountains Hummingbird Celebration, held in August (dates TBA) in Fort Davis, coincides with peak hummingbird activity in the Davis Mountains. Attendance is limited, and dates are announced closer to the event, making early awareness important for those interested in birding and nature photography. Fort Davis is a simple drive from Alpine once plans are finalized.
Check the website and Facebook page regularly for updates as the event will fill up quickly.
Facebook: facebook.com/DavisMountainsHummingbirdCelebration
Website: davismountainshummingbirdcelebration.com
Fall: Art, Music, and Motors
As the year moves into fall, Alpine hosts several events that span from early autumn into late October.
Trappings of Texas runs September 24 through October 31, 2026, at the Museum of the Big Bend. While the exhibition itself is on view for several weeks, the opening days include additional events such as an opening reception and sale, artist demonstrations, and special gatherings like a ranch hand breakfast and live auction. Because these activities take place early in the exhibition period and schedules can change, visitors are encouraged to check the museum’s website regularly for updates.
The 2026 schedule is not yet available, but will be posted soon: museumofthebigbend.com/trappings-of-texas
The Big Bend Bluegrass Festival, scheduled for October 2–3, 2026, is a two-day celebration of traditional bluegrass music held each fall in Alpine. Taking place indoors at the Alpine Civic Center, the festival brings musicians and listeners together for a relaxed weekend of live music that has become a familiar early-October tradition in town. Visitors come from across Texas and the surrounding region to listen, reconnect with friends, and enjoy a style of music that’s meant to be shared.
What sets the festival apart is its sense of community. In addition to scheduled performances, past festivals have included workshops and informal jam sessions where musicians of all levels gather to play, listen, and learn from one another. The atmosphere is welcoming and unhurried, with plenty of chances to sit back and enjoy the music or join in. Performer lineups are announced closer to the event and typically reflect a mix of established bluegrass artists and newer groups, keeping the weekend grounded in tradition.
More information: bigbendbluegrass.com
Later in the month, The Stable Performance Cars in Alpine will host Big Bend OctaneFest October 9–12, 2026, with activities spread across the region. The event combines automotive culture with scenic drives and multiple venues, and Alpine serves as a convenient place to stay while attending different parts of the festival.
More information: thestablealpine.com
November: Closing the Year with Art
The year wraps up with ArtWalk, held November 20–21, 2026, in Alpine. Over the course of a walkable weekend, galleries, studios, and local venues highlight the town’s creative community, offering an easy way to experience Alpine without leaving town.
Full information for the 2026 festivities isn’t available yet, but check the website frequently for updated information.
More information: artwalkalpine.com
Make the Most of Your Time in Alpine
Events are often what set the dates, but they’re only part of what makes a trip memorable. Staying in Alpine gives you the chance to round out your visit with experiences that don’t feel rushed or overplanned. Guests often spend mornings on walking and hiking trails, with easy day trips to Big Bend National Park or the scenic areas near Fort Davis. On warmer days, many head to Balmorhea State Park to swim in its spring-fed pool before returning to Alpine in the evening. There is even horseback riding and and gliding. Are you looking for a guided tour? Tom’s Tours and Taxi Service has that covered, too!
Back in town, Alpine itself offers plenty to fill the spaces between events. There are locally owned restaurants, art galleries, and museums, all within an easy, walkable area. Some guests plan short day trips, with wine tasting in Marfa and visits to both the microbrewery and micro-distillery in Marathon. Others head just outside of town to Wassermann Wranch to spend time with donkeys, alpacas, and other animals, or simply slow down and enjoy the rhythm of the area.
Plan around the events you love, then stay long enough to discover everything else that makes Alpine and the Big Bend worth the trip.
If you’re starting to imagine how all of this fits together, our Things to Do list on the Area page is a good place to explore what’s available during your stay, including places to eat, other upcoming events, and ideas for day trips.
Planning a longer visit gives you the flexibility to enjoy the events you came for and still have time for everything else that makes a trip feel complete. To make that easier, Alpine Bed and Breakfast offers an automatic 20% discount on all stays of three nights or more. No code is needed. The discount is applied automatically when you select your dates. And Breakfast is always included!
Staying in Alpine lets you experience the wider Big Bend region while coming back each evening to the same place. It’s a way of traveling that leaves room for discovery, rest, and the unexpected moments that often end up being the highlight of the trip.
Come stay with us and experience all the Big Bend of Texas has to offer!
Read more about Alpine, the Big Bend of Texas, and Alpine Bed and Breakfast.
Contact Us
For more information or to inquire about availability, please contact us at:
Phone: (432) 538-7032
Email: innkeeper@alpinetxbnb.com
Website: www.alpinetxbnb.com
We look forward to welcoming you to Alpine Bed and Breakfast, where unforgettable memories are made.
Sharon & Tom
Alpine Bed and Breakfast
