Rockport Cultural Arts District
December 7-28:
Visions of Santa, every Friday & Saturday 10 to 5 pm, Sunday 12 pm - 5 pm
Come visit a one-of-a-kind exhibit containing unique images of Santa Clause painted each year since 1974. Painted by native Texas artist Billy L. Keen, there are 45 paintings in total. What began as an explanation about an art method has become an annual Texas Christmas tradition. In 1974 Billy L. Keen was demonstrating to a co-worker how the Old Master painters used a method called "underpainting" to achieve flesh tones. Because the season was Christmas, Keen decided to use Santa as the subject of the demonstration, then hung the painting in the room for his one-year-old son. The following year he painted a new Santa for his second son. By the third year, it seemed like "a neat thing to do." Since then, it's become a tradition.
Facebook Event
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December 14- Christmas in the District, 4-8 pm
November 30-December 21: Holiday Window Wars, Brand spanking new competition for businesses in the Rockport Cultural Arts District - RCAD! We're challenging the downtown merchants to decorate their window displays in a friendly competition of who can deck out their window for the Christmas Season!
Award Categories - Best Overall, Best Use of Lights, Best Small Window, and People's Choice!
How to vote: If you LOVE a window you can vote by going into their store and asking for a form or you can submit your vote by messaging
Rockport Cultural Arts District - RCAD! People's Choice votes must include an email and zip code for the vote to count!
Competition Timeline
+ Competition Starts Nov 30th
+ Voting will take place Nov 30th through Dec 21rd
+ Winners will be announced Dec 22nd on the RCAD Facebook page and by leaving a surprise on the winning businesses doors on Dec 23rd.
Facebook Event
Pickin' on the Porch
December 4- 12:30-1:30 PM, Pickin' on the Porch, a Winter Texan Entertainment Event! Come on over for some Live Music, fun and make new friends. Fabulous time, right on our front porch & just for YOU! Bring your lawn chair and friends. Rockport Fulton Chamber of Commerce, "Front Porch at the Visitors Center" 319 Broadway
Aransas Bird and Nature Club
December 11- 11:30AM, "Birds of Belize" will be presented by David Sarkozi. The public is invited to attend. This is a brown bag program. This event is
at the Aquarium at Rockport Harbor Education Center.
Rockport-Fulton Galleria Indoor Market Days
Every weekend expect Christmas weekend: Introducing the brand new, Indoor, 11,000 Square Foot Market. Come join the Best Artists and Craft Vendors in Texas, also enjoy the Comfort Food of JJ’s Cafe inside, 3 days of Live Music and Mixed Entertainment, Enjoy Heated and Air Conditioned Space while you find Homemade, Handmade and all Quality Goods under one roof! 50 WEEKENDS (excluding the last and first weekend) OF THE YEAR. Open Friday (with select vendors and early bird specials), Saturday and Sunday from 10-5. FMI, follow Rockport-Fulton Market Days and get your shop on!!
Facebook
|
Website
| 361-463-0125.
Rockport-Fulton Outdoor Market Days
December 21- Over 100 booths filled with great vendors, food vendors, live music, covered seating and as always, a pet friendly environment! EVERY 3RD SATURDAY OF EVERY MONTH. Open Saturday from 9-5. Come join the fun and add your energy to our recovery!!! FMI, follow Rockport-Fulton Market Days and get your shop on!!
Facebook
|
Website
| 361-463-0125.
Fulton Mansion State Historic Site
PLEASE NOTE
: The Fulton Mansion is currently closed for repairs due to damage from Hurricane Harvey. The Education and History Center will remain OPEN and FREE to the public Tuesday-Saturday 10 am-4 pm and Sunday 1-4 pm. Call ahead for the most up-to-date information: 361.729.0386 or visit our Facebook page:
www.facebook.com/visitfultonmansion
Texas Maritime Museum - Education Center
December 6- 23rd Annual Club LaBelle, 7-11 PM at the Texas Maritime Museum. This event will feature a jazz club atmosphere with live music provided by the Glynn Garcia band, cocktails, a Big Board auction, and a dinner to please all palates. For information on Club Labelle, please see the museum’s
website
.
December 11- Homeschool Days, 10 AM to 12 PM (grades 1-4) and 1-3 PM (grades 5-8). The title is All Hands on Deck: Card Games and Nautical Pastimes. Card games have been a popular pastime among sailors throughout history, and we will be teaching some of the most exciting and unique. The cost is $8 per child. Registration can be completed at the Texas Maritime Museum office or
online
.
Texas Maritime Museum is open Tuesday-Saturday 10 AM-4 PM and Sunday 1-4 PM. For membership, volunteer information, and other activities: call 361-729-1271 or visit
texasmaritimemuseum.org
Rockport Center for the Arts
December 7- Holiday Art Center Market – 10 am – 4 pm + Ornament Workshop and Children’s Art Contest Gallery, 10 am – Noon + Holiday Art Center Market – 10 am – 4 pm + Opening Reception for Currents – Annual All-Member Exhibition, and December Art Loop - 4-7 pm
December 14- Holiday Art Center Market – 10 am – 4 pm
December 19- Free Family Holiday Movie on the Lawn – Estimated start time 6 pm
December 7 and 14 Saturdays -10 AM to 4 PM every Saturday. Free Family Saturdays during the school year. Stop by the Art Center any Saturday during the school year and make an original work of art with your children. Each Saturday will feature a different project. Most projects take approximately 30 minutes to 1 hour each. You may drop in anytime between 10 and 4. All are welcome! An adult must accompany all children.
Rockport, famous for its vast colony of more than 800 artists, has been identified as "The 100 Best Small Art Towns in America" by John Villani and "Top 10 Artist Colonies" by Allen Bunting in Coastal Living Magazine.
Visit Rockport Center for the Arts location at
106 S. Austin
in Rockport.
The History Center for Aransas County
2nd Saturday of the month – Plant Exchange, 10 am to 12 pm
December 7- Opening of Vintage Holiday Exhibit:
The History Center of Aransas County will present a “Vintage Holiday” extravaganza celebrating Aransas County traditions, and customs of the past and present. We are decking the halls with fond memories. The exhibit will run from December 7– January 5. Please join us for the grand opening that coincides with the “Tropical Christmas” festival on December 7 (10am-4pm) December 8 (1-4pm). Refreshments will be served both days.
Hours: Monday and Friday 10 AM -2 PM; Saturday 10 AM-4 PM; Sunday 1-4 PM
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension-Aransas County
December 9- 10 am- 12 pm, Holiday Open House. Come and join us for food, fun, and laughter as we celebrate the season. This is a come and go event.
Aransas Pathways
December 7th, 9am, Nature Walk with Kris and Ray Kirkwood at Ivy Ln Birding Sanctuary
Ray is an expert in native grasses and will be the guest nature guide.
Discover your Pathway! Hiking-Biking-Kayaking-History and Birding. Attractions and Nature trails throughout Aransas County. Visit:
www.aransaspathways.com
| 361-729-6445
Rockport Little Theatre
Rialto Theater
Every Tuesday night we have Open Acoustic Jam! 6-9 pm. Happy Hour 6-7 pm $3 beer/wine. Come play, sing along, or just enjoy!
December 6-8 and 13-14: 7:30-2:30 pm, "It's a Wonderful Life" Narada Radio Company Christmas special. Experience this timeless tale of redemption as a thrilling live radio show!
December 21- 7pm, 3rd Annual Christmas Carol Sing-a-long with Aransas Repertory Theatre. Donations appreciated.
Rockport Country Club
Rockport Country Club has reopened to an overwhelmingly positive response from members. With a new bar concept, redesigned dining area and lounge with all new furnishings, Rockport Country Club is poised to offer its members a lifestyle not found anywhere in the Coastal Bend area. For membership or to be a "Member for a Day" contact Stan Reeder at 361-450-4393. FMI visit our website
www.rockportcc.com
Rockport Beach
Texas' first Blue Wave Beach! Located at 210 Seabreeze Drive, Rockport, TX 78382. Hours: Sunday-Thursday, 6am-11pm and Friday-Saturday, 6am-11pm. Parking costs for the Rockport Beach are $5/Daily and $20/Yearly.
Birding and Dolphin Tours/Boat & Kayak Excursions
Boat Tours are available. Information on Dolphin and birding adventures can be obtained by contacting the Rockport-Fulton Chamber of Commerce 1-800-242-0071
Community Aquatic and Skate Park
The pool will closed December 1-3.
Water aerobic classes: Aqua Strength 9 AM, Aqua kickboxing 10 AM
Pool Hours:
Tuesday-Saturday
9-5pm |
Sunday
12pm-5pm
The pool and park are now open at 9AM (Tues-Sat). Admission is $5. Classes include: Water Aerobics, Water Walking and Lap Swim. The park houses an 8 Lane, 25 yard pool (heated to 86 degrees) and diving area, a bathhouse, towel warmer and swimsuit dryer. The park includes a 6000 sq. ft. modular skate park (open) It also has a playground, picnic area, and a ¼ mile nature trail. FMI:
pool2@cityofrockport.com
| 361-727-9989 |
www.cityofrockport.com
Fulton Schoolhouse Museum
The Schoolhouse Museum is the original one-room schoolhouse of Fulton, TX that was rebuilt in the 1940's after being damaged by a hurricane. Visitors to the museum will experience a sense of what education was like from a bygone era. Expect to see the schoolhouse as it was originally set up along with numerous original artifacts of that era.
Free tours
but items are available for purchase, such as note cards, bookmarkers and all donations are accepted, as well. Open on Saturdays and Sundays from 1–4 PM, and for groups of four or more any time (or by appointment, call 361-729-5533). Come see what a one-room schoolhouse looked like, a huge model of the Fulton Mansion, and lots of photos and memorabilia of old time Fulton. For more information or to schedule future group tours call 361-729-5533 or visit
www.fultontexas.org
| 205 N 7th Street, Fulton, TX 78358
The Aquarium at Rockport Harbor - Education Center
The Aquarium at Rockport Harbor Education Center offers a multitude of events throughout the year. All events are free at this time but donations are always welcome to help support the Aquarium. Open Daily 1pm - 4pm ~ Closed Tuesday & Wednesday.
Visit our
website
for more information.
Aquarium Education Center is located at 706 Navigation Circle, Rockport, TX.
Goose Island State Park
The wooded area of Goose Island State Park is open for overnight RV and tent camping. The boat ramp, fish cleaning station, nature trail, and picnic area are available for day use. Large portions of the island bayfront area will be closed for construction for the foreseeable future. Please obey all barriers and construction markings when visiting the park.
While at Goose Island, be sure to visit one of the most famous live oaks in the world, the "Big Tree" estimated to be centuries old.
Aransas National Wildlife Refuge
Aransas National Wildlife Refuge is open daily from 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset. The Visitor Contact Station is open daily, 9 AM-4 PM. Come hike a trail, fish off the pier or from your kayak, or drive the 16 mile auto tour. FMI, call 361-349-1181 or visit www.facebook.com/AransasNWR or www.fws.gov/refuge/aransas/.
(Voted the #1 birding spot and # 5 National Wildlife Refuge in the USA for USA TODAY Readers' Choice)
)
Bingo
Come enjoy a fun time playing Bingo! Bingo can be played on Wednesday and Friday at 7 PM at the Rockport American GI Forum-
1911 Hardee St. Rockport
. FMI: 361-729-7144
Cards
Every Monday and Friday, 12-4 PM - Play Canasta or Party Bridge at the Woman's Club of Aransas County |
1104 E. Concho, Rockport
. (Across from the Chamber of Commerce near the Rockport Harbor) Members $4 | Non-members $5. FMI: 361-557-1150 or visit our
website
