March 2019 Events & Attractions
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Fulton Oysterfest

When: March 7-10
Each year the Fulton Volunteer Fire Department and the Town of Fulton sponsor Oysterfest, a salute to the tasty bi-valve found in our local waters. Oysterfest features carnival rides, games, food, and oyster eating contest, live music, unique vendor booths and most of all - FUN!
Whooping Crane Strut

When: March 9
The Whooping Crane Strut celebrates its 31st anniversary. The event includes a 2-Mile walk, 5k run, and 10k run, which will start and finish at Rockport Beach. There will be awards for the first three finishers in each age category. There will be live music, refreshments and door prizes add to the excitement!
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 migrating flock of over 265 Whooping Cranes calls the Aransas Wildlife Refuge home. Nowhere else can you view these magnificent birds so closely.
Accolades
To see more of our accolades, visit our website at rockport-fulton.org/featured-news .
Around Town Community Events
Pickin' on the Porch
Every Wednesday in March - Come on over for some Music, fun and make new friends. Fabulous time, right on our front porch and just for you! FREE! Bring your lawn chair and friends | 12-1:30 PM | Rockport Fulton Chamber of Commerce "Front Porch at the Visitors Center" 319 Broadway

Art Center Market
March 9- In the Heart of Downtown Rockport, 106 S. Austin St – FREE ADMISSION! Paintings, Jewelry, Woodwork, Glasswork, Yard Art, Metal Art and More! Food Trucks and Music - Rain or Shine

Rockport Art Loop  
March 16- 5-7 PM- 8 art spaces in downtown will have simultaneous receptions starting at 5 pm  
Rockport Center for the Arts, Anita Diebel Studio, The Gallery at Latitudes Restaurant, Coast Modern, Wind Way Gallery, Estelle Stair Gallery, John Martel Photography, and Stan Irvin Ceramics. FMI 361-729-5519 or visit  rockportartcenter.com   

Rockport-Fulton Market Days
March 15-17 | 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.

Boat Safety And Navigation Certification
March 16: 8 AM-5 PM, Learn to operate a boat safely. The class covers safety, navigation, Rules of the "Road" and all aspects of boat safety in the water. Earn a certification from Texas Parks and Wildlife and receive a sticker for your boat. This is a 2 day course covered in 1 day. Having this certification may help save insurance premium costs. Fees/Admission: $35 per person, Rockport Senior Services Center, 912 S. Church St. Rockport, TX. FMI contact Ron Landers 361-461-2484 or Walter Laas or email wjlaas@yahoo.com

Keep Aransas County Beautiful
March 2 - Holiday Beach Clean-up 8-12 @ the Boat ramp off of Channelview Road parking lot
March 19- Monthly Board Meeting 5:30 pm Aquarium Education Center. 706 Navigation Cir. Rockport Tx

Fulton Mansion State Historic Site
March 23- Winter Slate Workshop (Slate trays):10am-12pm. Join us March 23rd for our last Winter Slate Workshop of the season! Workshops are $20 per person (ages 12+) and will all include a piece of slate from the Mansion’s last restoration and necessary supplies. In March, we will create slate trays that you can use for entertaining and serving delicious snacks! Proceeds help to fund future Friends of Fulton Mansion programs and events, like Music at the Mansion. Please register by emailing Jessica.Paterson@thc.texas.gov or calling (361) 729-0386 ext. 30, as space will be limited.
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 
March 6: Homeschool Days, 10 AM to 12 PM (grades 1-4) and 1-3 PM (grades 5-8). The
title is Out in the Big Blue: Deep Sea Fishing. The class will feature a lesson, craft, and activity related to
deep sea fishing as well as a snack. The cost is $8 per child.
March 12: Seafaring Saga Movie Night, 7 PM. We will be showing the 2006 adventure film Deep Water, A documentary covering the 1968 yacht race around the world and one man's struggles to complete the race while battling weather. Movie nights are free, and popcorn and soda will be available for purchase.
For more information, contact Aaron martin at 361-729-1271 or educator@texasmaritimemuseum.org
March 11-15: Sailor’s Holiday Spring Break Camp, 9 AM-12 PM. The topic is Eco-Explorers. Using
crafts, games, and activities we’ll take campers on a journey through the environments of Texas from
the gulf coast to Big Bend country. The camp is for Pre-k to 5th grade and the cost is $75 per child.
Registration forms can be found at the museum office and on the website:
Aaron Martin at 361-729-1271 or educator@texasmaritimemuseum.org for more information.
Brown Bag Lectures
March 4: The Aransas National Wildlife Refuge will be here for their annual Whooping update by Dr. Wade Harrell and Laura Bonneau.
March 18: Doctoral candidate Samreen Siddiqui will present on her research, which asks the question "Do the medicines we take accumulate in fish in local waterways?"
March 25: It's time for the Annual Perry R. Bass Memorial Sports Fishing Wall of Fame induction ceremony, presented by TMM Curator, Cassidy Mickelson. 
Brown Bag lectures are free of charge. Guests are welcome to bring their own lunch, but cookies will be provided. 12-1 PM (Doors open at 11:45 AM)
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 
RISING EYES OF TEXAS 2019: Annual Juried Collegiate Exhibition Showcasing the up and coming artists attending art school across the state. Reception & Awards Ceremony March 16, 5-6:30pm at the Rockport Center for the Arts. Show runs March 8-31.
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 new 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 
March 10: "English Paper Piecing" by Judy Williams and "Crazy Quilt" by Linda Jensen.
March 24: Bring tools you want to learn more about.
March 28: 6:30 PM "Don Francisco Ytrurria, The Beginning of a South Texas Entrepreneur 1830-1870" by Lilia Garcia at the Fulton Mansion Education Center.
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
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
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: Music Jam from 6-9 pm. Happy Hour until 7 pm. $1 Admission.
March 15 - 31, Weekends: "Four Weddings and an Elvis." Romantic comedy. Sandy's Chapel of Love has seen its fair share of matrimonies. Here we witness four of the funniest. What happens in Vegas, is hilarious! Tickets available online now -- $15 and $20. Box office opens one hour before curtain.
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

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
Pool Hours: Monday-Closed | Tuesday & Friday 9-5 | Wed, Thur & Sat 9-6 | Sunday 12-5
The pool and park have been cleaned up from the storm, and now open at 9 AM (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

Aquarium at Rockport Harbor - Education Center
Wednesday Lecture Series - Whooping Crane Populations of the Texas Coast
March 6th : 7-8 PM at the Education Center at Rockport Harbor. Dr. Liz Smith, conservation Whooping Crane Biologist for the International Crane Foundation, will be giving an overview of past and current Whooping Crane population statistics for the Texas Coast.Come join us for this fascinating subject!
Wednesday Lecture Series - Red Snapper in the Gulf of Mexico
March 20th : 7-8 PM at the Education Center at Rockport Harbor. - Dr. Judd Curtis, an Assistant Research Scientist at the Center for Sportfish Science and Conservation at the Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies, will be discussing his research on Red Snapper in the Gulf of Mexico.
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 currently 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, visit  www.facebook.com/AransasNWR , www.fws.gov/refuge/aransas/  or call 361-349-1181.
(Voted the #1 birding spot and # 5 National Wildlife Refuge in the USA for USA TODAY Readers' Choice)
 
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.

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