Established in 1848, the charming and historic city of Georgetown is packed with Texas history, friendly faces and hometown wholesomeness. The quaint town center, built in a perfect square around the city hall, is packed with local artisans, shops, cafes and fresh farm-to-table restaurants and is hailed as “The Most Beautiful Town Square in Texas”.  And Georgetown’s square works hard to live up to this title, with perfectly preserved architecture, adorable culture and plenty of community events and festivals for locals and visitors to enjoy all year round.  So if you’re looking for a reason to visit this idyllic Texas city, here are 7 fun festivals to check out in Georgetown.

Music on the Square – June through August

Sponsored by The Georgetown Convention center and the renowned Williamson Museum, Music on the Square is a free summer concert series that takes place every Friday evening from June through August.  This sonorous soiree brings crowds of visitors from all around to hear talented local musicians play everything from Jazz and Blues to Folk Music and even an Elvis tribute!  Music on the Square is the perfect way to spend a Friday night out with family, friends or a hot date.  You can make an evening of it by grabbing a drink and a bite to go from downtown favorites The Hollow, El Monumento, Wildfire or 600 Degrees Pizzeria, then set up a picnic outside and enjoy your dinner under the stars while you’re serenaded by the sweet sounds of summer.  For a look at August’s live music lineup click here.

Annual Wine & Music Festival – September 30th

Taking place once a year in early Fall, Georgetown’s Wine & Music Festival is a great way to spend a Saturday afternoon sipping local wines, enjoying live music and perusing the various vendors along the town square.  Tickets for this vino infused event cost $25 online and $35 at the door, so it’s best to plan ahead and save ten bucks so you can spend it at Vintage Rust, Caprine Artisan Soaps or Fullerscraps.  This year, participants can look forward to tasting wines from local Wineries like Dancing Bee, Grape Creek Vineyards, Georgetown Winery, Thirsty Mule and more along with musical performances by Mike Hamilton, Valor & Lace and Avery Logan. For a full list of participating wineries and vendors for the Wine & Music Festival, click here.

First Fridays on the Square – February through November

One of Georgetown’s many small town allures, First Fridays on the Square is an opportunity to explore the town square after dark and take in the best that Georgetown has to offer in the form of food, music, art and interaction. This free event is great for an outing with friends, a family get together or a Friday night date on the town.  Along with after-hours shopping at local shops and galleries like The Escape, The Exchange and Brazos Avenue Market, visitors can also enjoy mellifluous musical performances by Rodney August and Valor & Lace Band while dining at one of the many delicious restaurants on the square, then stop by the Williamson Museum and Georgetown Art Center for a special treat.  With something new and different being showcased every month, you never know what you’re going to see at First Fridays! To get the scoop on this fun community event click here.

Market Days on the Square – March through November

Another great chance to check out the local artisans and merchants of Texas, Markets Days on the Square is a vivacious weekend event that takes place the second Saturday of every month.  During Market Days on the Square, visitors can stroll from vendor to vendor and peruse an eclectic collection of jewelry, arts, clothing, antiques, collectibles and more.  If you get hungry along the way there’s a buffet of tasty festival foods that can be found at various vendors along the square, plus there’s live music throughout the day from various local artists, so there’s plenty of shopping, eating and entertainment here to keep you busy for hours! For more information and dates for Market Days on the Square, click here.

Lighting of the Square – November 24th

Bringing in the holiday season every year in Georgetown’s gorgeous downtown is the Lighting of the Square, which is a free event that takes place the Friday after Thanksgiving.  At dusk, the sun goes down and the square comes alive with beautiful twinkle lights, the dulcet sounds of Christmas carolers and cheery Holiday shoppers.  Not only do the shops stay open late for some unique gift opportunities, kiddos can also get a picture with Santa inside the courthouse, with all picture proceeds going to the Brown Santa Program.  With breathtaking sights and sounds in every direction, this Holiday event is perfect for families, friends and couples alike.  For more info and details on Georgetown’s Lighting of the Square, click here.

The Christmas Stroll – December 1st and 2nd

For all the Christmas fanatics and kids at heart, the Christmas Stroll is a special two-day Holiday event that takes place in Georgetown’s town square every year.  This festive gathering is packed with fun events and activities for people of all ages, including live music, drama performances, a Home Depot workshop, pictures with Santa in Santa’s Village, dessert with the Grinch at Who-Village and even a lively Christmas parade in the square.  You can catch the morning parade, then have brunch at one of the delicious cafes on the square like Sweet Lemon Kitchen, Monument Cafe or Nancy’s Sky Garden and grab a few gifts from your Christmas shopping list at the local shops and merchants around the courthouse and in the historic shopping district.  No matter what your agenda is, The Christmas Stroll has something for everyone to enjoy.  For more info and a full schedule click here.

Annual Red Poppy Festival – April 30th

Known as the “Red Poppy Capital of Texas”, Georgetown welcomes every spring with a jam-packed three-day celebration of food, music, art, fun, flowers and family.  At this free kooky festival, you can expect to see everything from classic car shows and live concerts to colorful parades and Red Poppy Taste Awards. Held in Georgetown’s unique town square, the Annual Red Poppy Festival is a great place to bring kids and friends to enjoy contests, food, games, prizes, music, crafts and more! To check out this year’s music lineup and full festival schedule, click here.