July 2019 Events & Attractions
4th of July Wendell Firework Show

When: July 4
When the sun goes down, you will be able to see fireworks from Little Bay. The good news, if you are close to Little Bay or the beach, you will get to enjoy the fireworks. The Wendell Family carry on the tradition of bringing these fireworks for all to enjoy. They collect donations all year long. The amount of donations raised constitutes the size of the show.
4th of July Boat Parade

When: July 4
There is a fun event taking place in Rockport during the 4th of July weekend. One of the most fun is the Annual Boat Parade providing an opportunity for kids and adults to see the many regional boats dressed for the parade. It will happen on the beautiful Little Bay.
Rockport Art Festival

When: July 6-7
The Art Festival was founded in 1969 as a way to stimulate the Arts economy in Rockport, TX, an emerging art colony on the Texas Coast. Since then, it has become a staple of the Summer season on the coast – over 120+ artists sell their work to over 10,000+ art buyers. Rockport Art Festival also serves as a fundraiser for Rockport Center for the Arts. Proceeds go towards creating and sustaining the many free to low-cost programs hosted by Rockport Center for the Arts year-round.
The Rockport Center for the Arts celebrates 50 years this year, 1969-2019. Explore the official Maritime of Museum of Texas and view fascinating exhibits. Settlement & Exploration, Maritime Commerce, Commercial & Sport Fishing and much more.
The Texas Maritime Museum celebrates 30 years this year, 1989-2019. Visit the wide variety of exhibits, special events, education workshops and classes for children and adults, performing arts, sculpture garden and much more.
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, Boat Ramp, and West Side.

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
Kids-In-Kayaks Summer Program
Every 2nd and 4th Wednesdays during the Summer. (July 10 and 24)- Sessions at 9 am and 10am in Little Bay at the Pathways Kayak Sign (South end of Little Bay). TOTALLY FREE. NO AGE LIMITS.
Experience paddling yourself around in a kayak!!! Coaches and instructors available.  All equipment and safety requirements provided. Single kayaks, tandem kayaks, long kayaks, short kayaks, sit-in kayaks, sit-on kayaks!!! Come for a morning of fun. Reserve your place at  http://www.Facebook.com/Kids-In-Kayaks.  Wear clothes and shoes that can get wet. Bring your own drinking water and sunscreen. 

8th Annual Sandollar Summer Market
July 6-7:The 8th annual Sandollar Summer Market is coming to the Aransas Pass Civic Center, (700 W. Wheeler, Aransas Pass, TX). Show hours are Saturday 10-5 and Sunday 10-4. Bring a non-perishable food item for the St. Mary's Star of the Sea Food Pantry for a discount on admission. Kids 12 and under are free and parking is free. Lots of great shopping in air-conditioned comfort! For more info call 888-225-3427 or visit www.TexasMarketGuide.com .

Art Center Market
July 13- In the Heart of Downtown Rockport, 106 S. Austin St – FREE ADMISSION! Paintings, Jewelry, Woodwork, Glass-work, Yard Art, Metal Art and More! Food Trucks and Music - Rain or Shine

Rockport-Fulton Market Days
July 19-21: Over 160 booths filled with great vendors, over a dozen food vendors, 3 days of live music, covered seating and as always, a pet friendly environment! EVERY 3RD FULL WEEKEND OF EVERY MONTH. Open Friday with select vendors and early bird specials from 12-5, Saturday from 9-5 and Sunday from 10-4. Come join the fun and add your energy to our recovery!!! FMI, follow Rockport-Fulton Market Days on  Facebook  |  Website  | 361-463-0125.

Pirates Landing
July Friday Nights- 6-9 PM, Middle schoolers can enjoy food, basketball, prizes, lessons on air hockey, foosball, neucom games, cornhole contests, and more! Come out and get active or just hang out! $2 door donation. Registration information is required. There will be registration forms available at the door or email [email protected] or check our Facebook page "The Pirates Landing" for updates. Call 361-729-0520 for more information.
Presbyterian Church Youth Center, on the corner of Live Oak and BUS 35

Fulton Mansion State Historic Site
July 9- Music at the Fulton Mansion 7-8:30 PM, Music at the Mansion with local band, RetroVibe, Music at the Mansion is a  FREE  family-friendly event brought to you by the Friends of Fulton Mansion non-profit group. Bring a lawn chair or picnic blanket and join us for a night of toe-tapping tunes and beautiful views. Concessions will be available for purchase.
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 10am-4pm and Sunday 1-4pm. 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
July 4: Museum closed at 1 PM for the 4th of July Holiday.
July 8-12: S.E.A. Camp week 4 (grades 3-4), 9 AM-12 PM. S.E.A. Camp is short for Summer
Experience in Aransas Camp, and our goal is to partner with other organizations to provide children with
enjoyable activities and help them learn about the people, history, and wildlife of Aransas County.
Partners include Goose Island State Park and Fulton Mansion. S.E.A. Camp is free for students within
ACISD and $50 otherwise. Grade level reflects the student’s current grade for the 2018-19 school year.
Registration forms can be found on the museum website or at the museum office. Please contact
[email protected] with questions.
July 8-12: H 2 Odyssey Camp week 4 (grades K-5), 1:30-4 PM. H 2 Odyssey Camp focuses on the
fascinating compound that is water, using art projects, science experiments, and history lessons to teach
about this element and how humans interact with it. The cost for H 2 Odyssey Camp is $75, with sibling
discounts and scholarships available through the Coastal Bend Community Foundation’s Kids Go to
Camp Grant. Grade level reflects the student’s current grade for the 2018-19 school year. Registration
forms can be found on the museum website or at the museum office. Please contact [email protected] with questions.
July 15-19: S.E.A. Camp week 5 (grade 5), 9 AM-12 PM. S.E.A. Camp is short for Summer
Experience in Aransas Camp, and our goal is to partner with other organizations to provide children with
enjoyable activities and help them learn about the people, history, and wildlife of Aransas County.
Partners include Bay Fulton Mansion and Rockport Country Club. S.E.A. Camp is free for students within
ACISD and $50 otherwise. Grade level reflects the student’s current grade for the 2018-19 school year.
Registration forms can be found on the museum website or at the museum office. Please contact
[email protected] with questions.
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 
Children can enjoy free, high caliber art instruction year-round, including summer camp- ArtSpace and Free Family Saturdays during the school year. 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 Tues-Sat - 10 AM-4 PM | FMI 361-729-5519 or visit  rockportartcenter.com   

The History Center for Aransas County
Barrier Islands: San Jose and Matagorda Exhibit- Open on Saturday and Sunday
July 14- 2pm Hawes Family: Settlers
July 30- 2pm Collectors Corner TBA
Hours: Friday 1-4 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  www.thehistorycenterforaransascounty.or g

Texas A&M AgriLife Extension-Aransas County
July 16- 12-1 pm, Brown Bag, “Native Grasses”, Speaker: Ray Kirkwood, Texas Master Naturalist. Free, no sign-up required. For more information contact Aransas County Extension.
July 23- 3-4:30 pm, Become a Master Gardener – Information & Registration Session. Learn about the upcoming Master Gardener intern training program (August thru November). Some of the topics included are Basic Botany, Entomology, Plant Propagation, Lawn Care, Vegetables, Fruit Production, Landscape Plant Identification, Selection and Care; Attracting Birds and Butterflies, Composting, and Irrigation. Class size is limited. For more information contact Aransas County Extension office.
July 30- 6-8 pm, San Patricio & Aransas Counties Delicious in the Heart of Texas Backyard Party Dinner Tonight Cooking School. Featuring: Cooking demos by Chef Jeremy Lee, (Harrison’s Landing/Corpus Christi) and Samantha McCrary (Mermaid’s Kitchen Catering/Rockport) Food tastings! Gift bags for each attendee! Great door prizes, Doors open at 5:45 pm Browse and sample items from vendor booths, cooking demos at 6:00pm. San Patricio County Civic Center, 219 West Fifth Street, Sinton, Texas. Early registration - $15.00 per person and after July 20 - $20.00 per person. To register or for more information contact Aransas County Extension office.
A&M AgriLife Extension Office,  892 Airport Rd., Rockport, TX
Call 361-790-0103 or visit  www.aransas.agrilife.org  for more information

Rockport Little Theatre
July 15-16- Auditions for September Show "Holder Posley, The Felonious Photographer" Auditions begin at 6 pm.
Our new location is La Palma is located at  2955 Hwy 35, Rockport , TX. FMI:  www.rockportlittletheatre.com  |  [email protected]

Rialto Theater
Tueasday night music jams
July 20- 6-8 pm, Corpus Christi Coastal Bend belly dancers. 
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  [email protected]  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.

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

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
Lifeguarding class and Junior Lifeguarding class
July 4- late night swim with a live band- Open till 11 pm
July 9-19: Group swimming lessons kick up again – 90 each child for 2 weeks of lessons (Tues-Friday)
July 20- Triathlon 6-9am
Pool Hours: Monday-Closed | Tuesday & Friday 9-5 | Wed, Thur & Sat 9-6 | Sunday 12-5
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:  [email protected]  | 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 
Every Wednesday & Saturday, 8:30-11 AM -Shorebird Walks: We will explore different habitats and discover a variety of birds together. All ages and skill levels are welcome. Check in at Park Headquarters, then meet at the Rec Hall.
Every Thursday, 8:30-11 AM - Woodland Bird Walks: Join us for an exploratory walk through the woods of Goose Island State Park. We’ll learn about and identify the birds we see on our route, which includes a stop at the bird viewing area. All ages and skill levels are welcome. Check in at Park Headquarters, then meet at the Turks Cap Trail parking lot by campsite #157.
Every Friday, 8:30-11 AM - Big Tree Natural Area Bird Walks: Join us for a hike through the Big Tree Natural Area, an area of the park that is otherwise closed to the public. We’ll observe birds in a variety of habitats including coastal oak forests, coastal prairies, marshes, and bay shorelines. We may even be lucky enough to see an endangered Whooping Crane! All ages and skill levels are welcome. Check in early at park headquarters to obtain a tour ticket, then meet at the Big Tree parking lot.
Programs are FREE with park entrance ($5/person, children 12 & under are free) or Texas State Parks Annual Pass. 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, picnic area, and West Bayfront are available for day use. There is no Bayfront camping at this time and the fishing pier and East Bayfront remain closed. Park operating hours are 8 AM-10 PM.
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 closed Monday-Tuesday and open Wednesday-Sunday, 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