January Events & Attractions
Gospel Music Festival

When: January 10-12
Welcome to the 2020 Rockport Gospel Music Festival! Our festival began back in 1994 as a gospel music concert, sponsored by “Rockport’s Gospel Force” police quartet. The Gospel Music Festival has continued to grow throughout the years because of your continued support and through your attendance, your prayers and your contributions. Without your consistent support the festival would not be able to continue in the future.
Winter Texan Appreciation Day

When: January 25
Rockport-Fulton RV Park Council and Rockport Fulton Chamber of Commerce will be holding an Appreciation Day for our Special Winter Guests. Food provided by Camper Clinic and Ron Hoover RV. Meet and Greet, Special Presentations, Door Prizes, Music, Karoke, Cornhole Tourney, Bingo, Bunco Tournament, Square Dancing and so much more! Free Event! Open to the public
Attractions
Fishing in the Bays are Plentiful

Open piers:
Breakwater (End of Market Street) pier, Rockport Beach North Pier, Leggett Channel, Rockport Harbor Seawall, Bulkhead at Fulton Harbor, Copano Kayak Site, Howard Murph Park, Copano Causeway Boat Launch.

State Park:
Goose Island pier is closed but fishing is available at Day Use Area and Boat Ramp.

Open marinas:
Cove Harbor Marina, Copano Causeway Ramp and Boat Launch, Rockport Beach Park, and Fulton Harbor and Cove Harbor Marina.
Birds are Flying High

Birding Migration:
From the Gulf of Mexico to beaches, bays and estuaries and inland woods, prairies and fields, one will find extraordinary birding throughout Aransas County. We have 10 birding sites on the Great Texas Birding Trail.

From November to March, the world's only wild flock of over 500 endangered Whooping Cranes calls the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge home.
Accolades
To see more of our accolades, visit our website at rockport-fulton.org/featured-news .
Around Town Community Events
Pickin' on the Porch
January 8- 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

9th Annual Texas Winter Market
January 11-12: Come shop with us at the 9th annual Texas Winter Market I coming to the Aransas Pass Civic Center (700 W. Wheeler ~ Aransas Pass, TX). Our vendors will be bringing the best in clothing, jewelry, gifts, Scentsy, Texas handmade, home decor, accessories, gourmet food, photography, Texas wine sampling, candles, gifts for the guys and so much more. Show hours are Saturday 9-5 and Sunday 10-4. Admission is $3 or $2 with your non-perishable food donation to St. Mary Star of the Sea food pantry. Admission is good for both days and kids 12 and under are FREE. We have lots of free parking and hourly door prizes too. We are pleased to have Toscano Burgers & More coming out to the event to feed everyone both days! For more info call 888-225-3427. See you at the show.

Rockport-Fulton Galleria Indoor Market Days
Every weekend expect New Year 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
January 18- 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.

Aransas Bird and Nature Club
January 22- 11:30 AM -  Speaker, Jason Loghry, Rockport native and graduate student at Caesar Kleberg Institute, Texas A&M University, Kingsville. Topic: “Summer in Utquiagvik: A Look at Shorebirds in the Arctic.” Location: The Aquarium at Rockport Harbor Education Center. You do not have to be a member to attend. 

Fulton Mansion State Historic Site
January 2- Moonlight on the Mansion, 5-8 pm, Every 1st Thursday the Fulton Mansion is open late until 8 pm! Self-guided tours are available until 8. There will also be a special program from 6-7 pm in our multipurpose room covering the major restorations of the Mansion. Last Ticket Sold at 7:15 pm. | Admission: Adults $7, Children ages 6-18 $4, seniors and veterans $6 | FMI visit our Facebook Page .
January 24- A Conversation with Stephen Harrigan, 6-7 pm, New York Times Best Selling Author Stephen Harrigan (The Gates of the Alamo, Aransas, Remember Ben Clayton and many more) will come to the Fulton Mansion to discuss his latest book Big Wonderful Thing: A History of Texas with Award Winning Podcast Host Justice Ken Wise. The program will begin at 6 pm with a book signing at 7 pm. Big Wonderful Thing books are available for purchase through our gift shop 361-729-0386 x30. FMI visit our Facebook Page  | Admission: $10 tickets available through our facebook page
The Fulton Mansion is open Tuesday-Sunday 10am-5pm and every first Thursday from 10am-8pm. Adult admission $7.00, Seniors $6.00, children $4.00, children under 5 are free. The Fulton Mansion is located 317 S. Fulton Beach Rd. Rockport, TX. 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
January 6- Brown Bag Lunch Lecture Series, 12-1 PM. The speaker is Wayne White, local resident for 20 years and Winter Site Manager of the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Base, returning to Rockport after the second of three winters at the base. White will present on early Antarctic exploration and his own experiences at the bottom of the world. Brown Bag lectures are free of charge. Guests are welcome to bring their own lunch, but cookies will be provided.
January 11- Saturday Morning at the Museum, 10:30 AM-12 PM . Children can become codebreakers in this edition of Saturday Mornings at the Museum. We will teach the language of sailors and spies, Morse Code, and kids will be able to learn their own name and decode messages. This is a new free educational event for children grades K-5. Registration can be completed at the Texas Maritime Museum office or on the website .
January 13- Brown Bag Lunch Lecture Series, 12-1 PM. Retired engineer and merchant marine John Williams will present “Rescue at Sea.” Williams will detail his tale of the daring rescue of a ship in distress in the Pacific. Brown Bag lectures are free of charge. Guests are welcome to bring their own lunch, but cookies will be provided.
January 14- Seafaring Saga Movie Night, 7 PM. We will be showing the 1950 swashbuckler Last of the Buccaneers. This film depicts the legendary Texas pirate Lafitte and shows the most famous raids and battles of his adventurous life. Movie nights are free, and popcorn and soda will be available for purchase.
January 20- Brown Bag Lunch Lecture Series, 12-1 PM. Speaker and topic to be announced.
January 27- Brown Bag Lunch Lecture Series, 12-1 PM. Current Vice President of the East Texas Historical Association and author of multiple books on Texas history Mary Jo O’Rear will present “A Fine Esplanade.” This lecture covers the discoveries, surprises, exploits, and misadventures of Zachary Taylor’s Army of Exploration in Corpus Christi Bay.
Texas Maritime Museum is open Tuesday-Saturday 10 AM-4 PM and Sunday 1-4 PM. Located at (1202 Navigation Circle, Rockport, TX 78382. For membership, volunteer information, and other activities: call 361-729-1271 or visit  texasmaritimemuseum.org

Rockport Center for the Arts 
January 7- Winter Texan Day & Open House, 1-4 PM, Stop in and meet our staff, teaching instructors and mingle with friends old and new. We’ll have coffee, cookies and door prizes! 638 E Market Street
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.
Hours of operation Monday-Saturday: 10 AM-4 PM | FMI 361-729-5519 or visit  rockportartcenter.com   

The History Center for Aransas County
2nd Saturday of the month – Plant Exchange, 10 am to 12 pm
January 11– 10 am Hispanic Heritage in Aransas County Exhibit Opening. Join us for food, drink and entertainment
January 26 - 2 pm Ranching/ Land Granting
Hours: Monday and Friday 10 AM -2 PM; Saturday 10 AM-4 PM; Sunday 1-4 PM
801 E. Cedar St. Rockport  | A Pathways Venue
For membership, volunteer information, and other activities: call 361-727-9214 or visit  http://www.hcfriends.net/ g

Texas A&M AgriLife Extension-Aransas County
A&M AgriLife Extension Office,  892 Airport Rd., Rockport, TX
Call 361-790-0103 or visit  www.aransas.agrilife.org  for more information

Aransas Pathways
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
Our new location is La Palma is located at  2955 Hwy 35, Rockport , TX. FMI:  www.rockportlittletheatre.com  |  President@RockportLittleTheatre.com

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!
January 17-February 2 weekends: Church Basement Ladies: Inspired by the best-selling book Growing Up Lutheran, Church Basement Ladies mixes together delightful original music, endearing characters, and side[dish]-splitting scenes to yield a deliciously funny musical comedy. Adult $20 | Fridays & Saturdays 7:30 PM, Sundays 2 PM | Rialto Theater, 327 S Commercial St
The Rialto Bar offers a wide selection of beer and wine plus setups for BYOB. Located at  327 South Commercial Street, Aransas Pass . Visit us on Facebook. FMI: 361-758-0383 or  art@rialtotheater.org  or rialtotheater.org

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 7, December 23-January 3
Hours on December 13- 11:30 AM- 1:30 PM | December 13- 11 AM- 1:30 PM
Pool Hours: Tuesday-Saturday 9-5pm | Sunday 12pm-5pm
Water aerobic classes: Aqua Strength 9 AM, Aqua kickboxing 10 AM
The pool and park are now open at 9AM (Tuesday-Saturday). 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 
Goose Island State Park is open 7 days a week from 8 AM-10 PM. Park Headquarters is staffed 7 days a week from 8 AM-5 PM. For more information, visit  https://tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/goose-island https://www.facebook.com/GooseIslandSP/ , or call 361-729-2858.
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.
Goose Island State Park offers a variety of programs for all ages. For more information on scheduled openings or park programs, visit  www.tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/goose-island or 361-729-2858

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
Connect With Us
This is a publication put together by the Rockport-Fulton Chamber of Commerce.
800-242-0071 I Rockport-Fulton.org I #VisitRockportFulton