No need to research: 15 of the best fun things to do in New Braunfels this month are described below. Hopefully, this list will make planning a perfect Texas Hill Country outing a little easier!
Image courtesy of texasmonthly.com
1. Recover from New Years Eve
Shake off that New Year’s Eve headache with the annual Hair of the Dog at Gruene Hall. This free show gets put on every year to offer a place for folks to have a noon-o-clock beer to aid in the recovery of your stupors of the night before. This year, Guy Forsyth Band, Walt Wilkins & The Mystiqueros, and Zack Walther Band will take the stage to help you tune out the ringing in your head.
When: Monday, January 1st, noon
Where: Gruene Hall, 1281 Gruene Rd
2. Go to Holiday Adventure Camp
With only a week until kids go back to school, there has to be something to occupy their time and get them out of the house for a bit. The Holiday Adventure Camp sounds like the perfect escape from the house for the kids to play games, watch movies, experience nature, and do all sort of projects and experiments. Check out the website for information on the camp and how to sign up!
When: January 2-5, 7:30am-6:00pm
Where: Landa Recreation Center, 164 Landa Park Drive
3. Play a Round of Skins
If you are looking to put a spin on your golf game (that pun was definitely intended), play a round of “Skins” at the Landa Park Golf Course. Skins is a game where each hole is scored on its own, so a player wins one hole at a time, and the score at the end is based on your hole wins. The winner usually gets a little money as well. Play every Thursday with tee times between noon and 1 pm.
When: Every Thursday
Where: Landa Golf Course, 180 Golf Course Rd
4. Learn to Tie a Fly
Come to Fischer Park for this free event where members of the New Braunfels Fly Fishers will teach curious minds (ages 9 and up) how to tie flies for fly fishing. Teachers will also explain different fishing techniques and reveal tricks of the sport.
When: Tuesday, January 9th, 7:00 pm
Where: Fischer Park, 1820 Old McQueeney Rd
5. See Two Tons of Steel
Image courtesy of Two Tons of Steel’s Wikipedia
New Braunfels’ favorite band, Two Tons of Steel, are performing this month at the Brauntex Theatre. This show is unlike their normal two-stepping shows because they will be performing a tribute to the founding fathers of rock n roll: Buddy Holly and Chuck Berry. Two Tons of Steel always knows how to put on a show that fans will remember for a while, and this show should be no different. Grab your tickets here and get them before they sell out.
When: Thursday, January 11th, 7:30 pm
Where: Brauntex Theatre, 290 W San Antonio St
6. Go to an Antique Show
Head over to the New Braunfels Civic Convention Center to see over 50,000 square feet of antiq ues brought by some of the country’s finest dealers. Get a lovely lamp for the study, or grab a set of trinkets for the dining room. This is a great place to grab some New Year items for the house!
When: January 12-14
Where: New Braunfels Civic Convention Center, 375 S Castell Ave
7. Go Geocaching
On Saturday January 13th, Fischer Park is hosting a family fun day to get families out of the house and into the sun. This month is a very exciting geocaching scavenger hunt. Geocaching is a game that requires a GPS to locate certain items that require a bit of scavenging. There are geocaches all around the world!
When: Saturday, January 13th, 10:00 am
Where: Fischer Park, 1820 Old McQueeney Rd
8. Watch Cody Canada at Gruene Hall
You might remember Cody Canada from the rock-country band Cross Canadian Ragweed, but he is now a well-known solo artist who is coming to Gruene Hall this month. Cody and his band “The Departed” are planning on tearing up the dance floor at Gruene Hall with their energized songs that call back to their roots. Tickets are available h ere!
When: Saturday, January 13th, 8:00 pm
Where: Gruene Hall, 1281 Gruene Rd
9. Learn to Compost
Image courtesy of bcas.org
If you’ve heard about composting, but never really knew how to do it or where to even begin, New Braunfels Parks and Recreation is here to teach you! They’ll be instructing you on several different techniques required to implement eco-friendly habits in your own backyard. They will provide you with resources to composting your own food and how to be a better steward of the earth. Pre-registration is required!
When: Saturday, January 20th, 1:00 pm
Where: Fischer Park, 1820 Old McQueeney Rd
10. Support Local Schools
Canyon High School has its Booster Bash on Saturday, January 20th to support the Athletic Booster Clubs. The money here goes toward getting better equipment and providing more opportunities for students athletes. Contact Jill Zibelin at jillzibelin4@gmail.com for more information!
When: Saturday, January 20th, 5:30 pm
Where: McKenna Event Center, 801 W San Antonio St
11. Go to a Banquet
Image courtesy of herald-zeitung.com
The Greater New Braunfels Chamber of Commerce has their 99th annual banquet awards on Friday, January 26th. Enjoy cocktails and network with fellow business people before the award presentation and the announcement of the Besserung Award winner. Tickets are available through this link.
When: Friday, January 26th, 6:00 pm
Where: New Braunfels Civic Convention Center, 375 S Castell Ave
12. Have Dinner with the Arts
The Greater New Braunfels Arts Council presents Dinner With the Arts, a presentation of New Braunfels talent and a celebration of what local artists have contributed over the year. Stick around for cocktails, silent auction, and dinner. More information here!
When: Sunday, January 28th, 5:00 pm
Where: New Braunfels Civic Convention Center, 375 S Castell Ave
13. Take a Polar Plunge
Why not be spontaneous with your friends and take a polar plunge into the river? It’s January, and the water should be a brisk wake up for anyone daring enough to jump in while it’s this cold outside. Make an event out of it and bring a bunch of friends!
14. Break Your New Year's Resolution
We know that “laying off the sweets” was probably first on the list of resolutions, but 2T arts Bakery is just too dang good to pass up! Grab some cookies, cupcakes, and more: all fresh from the oven and make from scratch. If you do want to stick to your diet, they also serve delicious coffee!
When: Open 7:00 AM- 10:00 PM
Where: 2Tarts Bakery, 139 N Castell Ave “Sweet” 300
15. See a Movie
Image courtesy of austinchronicle.com
It’s Academy Award season, which means plenty of great films are going to be in theaters. New Braunfels is fortunate to have an Alamo Drafthouse, where you can eat and drink while you watch some of your favorite movies. Catch the new Star Wars movie or something that could win Best Picture. The choice is yours!
Where: Alamo Drafthouse, 651 TX-45 BUS #1010