Alpine & Big Bend Region
What to Do
From dark-sky stargazing and canyon hikes to world-class art and live music under the stars, the Big Bend region has more to offer than any single weekend can hold. Extend your trip and explore.
Mark Your Calendar
Upcoming events
There's always something happening in and around Alpine from spring through summer.
April 13 – 19, 2026
Dark Skies Festival
Region-wide
A week-long celebration during International Dark Sky Week with solar telescope viewings, meteorite demos, talks at the Alpine Public Library, and star parties at multiple locations including a free Star Party at Kokernot Park. The Big Bend region sits within the largest International Dark Sky Reserve in the world.
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May – July 2026
Alpine Cowboys Baseball
Kokernot Field, Alpine
Independent Pecos League baseball at a legendary 1947 stadium — a stone and wrought-iron structure built as a miniature replica of Wrigley Field. The oldest professional ballpark in Texas and one of the most charming settings for a summer game anywhere.
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June – July 2026
Theatre of the Big Bend
Sul Ross State University, Alpine
Founded in 1965, this outdoor theater company presents live performances under the stars at the Kokernot Outdoor Theater. Arrive 15–20 minutes early for the best seats and concessions.
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Saturday, June 27, 2026
Far West Comic Con
Alpine Civic Center
A full day of fandom featuring celebrity meet-and-greets, cosplay contests, gaming tournaments, vendors, and live performances.
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July 3 – August 9, 2026
Smithsonian “Spark! Places of Innovation”
Museum of the Big Bend, Alpine
Alpine is one of six Texas communities selected to host this Smithsonian Institution traveling exhibition examining how communities foster innovation. Part of the Museum on Main Street program.
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July 4, 2026
Alpine 4th of July Celebration
Downtown Alpine
An annual celebration featuring a large parade from the Brewster County Courthouse, vendor booths, live music, Cowboys baseball at Kokernot Field, and fireworks.
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July 22 – 26, 2026
Viva Big Bend Music Festival
Alpine, Marfa, Marathon, Terlingua & more
The 15th annual festival brings 65+ shows to 12+ venues across the region. Past headliners have included Jack Ingram and Butch Hancock. Daytime temps average the high 80s — 8–10 degrees cooler than central Texas.
Learn moreGet Outside
Outdoor adventure
National parks, river canyons, and mountain trails — all within easy reach of Alpine.
Big Bend National Park
80 miles south of Alpine
The largest national park in Texas and the most biodiverse in the NPS system, with 450+ bird species. Hike Santa Elena Canyon or the Lost Mine Trail, drive the Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive, stargaze under some of the darkest skies in the lower 48, or visit the free Fossil Discovery Exhibit.
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Rio Grande River Trips
Big Bend area
Float through five spectacular canyons with 1,500-foot walls. Santa Elena Canyon is the most popular overnight trip; Boquillas Canyon offers 33 miles of Class II rapids. Multiple outfitters in Terlingua and Study Butte lead guided day and multi-day trips suitable for beginners.
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Big Bend Ranch State Park
Between Lajitas and Presidio
At 311,000 acres, the largest state park in Texas. Offers 238+ miles of multi-use trails, 70 miles of rugged 4WD roads, river access, horseback riding, mountain biking, and International Dark Sky Park status. Outfitters lead horseback rides, river rafting, and photography tours.
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Davis Mountains State Park
Fort Davis (25 miles north of Alpine)
A CCC-era park featuring the 5-mile Skyline Drive scenic road, miles of hiking and biking trails, a renowned bird blind, and the historic Indian Lodge — a 39-room CCC-built adobe hotel with a restaurant and pool.
Learn moreArt & History
Arts & culture
World-renowned installations in Marfa, 57 murals in Alpine, and a frontier fort that tells the story of the American West.
Chinati Foundation
Marfa (26 miles west of Alpine)
Founded in 1986 by sculptor Donald Judd on a former army base, Chinati houses one of the most significant collections of large-scale minimalist art in the world across 21 buildings and three outdoor installations. A free self-guided 1.6-mile walk takes you past Judd’s 15 untitled concrete blocks.
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Alpine Downtown Murals & Walking Tours
Downtown Alpine
Alpine has 57 murals by artists like Stylle Read, earning Texas Travel Awards for Best Public Art. Self-guided tours include the Historic Walking Tour, Hispanic Heritage Tour, and Mural Tour. Downtown was designated a Cultural Art District in 2011.
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Museum of the Big Bend
Sul Ross State University, Alpine
Founded in 1926, this museum houses 25,000+ objects from prehistoric to contemporary times, including the Yana and Marty Davis Map Collection — one of the most comprehensive surveys of the Texas-Mexico borderlands ever assembled.
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Fort Davis National Historic Site
Fort Davis
One of the best-remaining examples of a US Army frontier fort, established in 1854 on the San Antonio–El Paso Road. Managed by the National Park Service with preserved officers’ quarters, barracks, and a museum.
Learn moreLook Up
Stargazing & dark skies
The Big Bend region is home to the largest International Dark Sky Reserve in the world. On a clear night you can see the Milky Way with the naked eye.
McDonald Observatory
Davis Mountains (30 miles from Alpine)
A University of Texas research facility and one of the world’s leading astronomical centers. Home to the Hobby-Eberly Telescope, one of the largest optical telescopes in the world. Visitor programs include thrice-weekly Star Parties, daytime telescope tours, solar viewings, and interactive exhibits.
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Chihuahuan Desert Nature Center
4 miles south of Fort Davis
A 507-acre nonprofit site with 5+ miles of hiking trails, a 20-acre botanical garden with 165 desert species, the Maxie Templeton Cactus Museum with 200 species, a bird blind, and a geologic timeline exhibit. Spring blooms make April and May especially rewarding.
Learn moreOnly Here
Unique experiences
Ghost towns, mystery lights, and margaritas named the best in Texas — some things you can only find out here.
Marfa Mystery Lights
9 miles east of Marfa on US-90
Unexplained balls of light that flicker and float across the desert sky have been reported here for over a century. A TxDOT-built viewing area offers benches, binoculars, and restrooms. Best at dusk and after dark — though sightings aren’t guaranteed.
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Terlingua Ghost Town & Starlight Theatre
Terlingua (80 miles south of Alpine)
A former quicksilver mining town revived as a bohemian community of artists, musicians, and river guides. The Starlight Theatre — originally a 1930s movie theater — is now a gourmet restaurant and live music venue with performances most nights.
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The Gage Hotel
Marathon (30 miles east of Alpine)
A historic 1927 hotel with a full-service spa, heated pool, and 26-acre native gardens. The White Buffalo Bar’s margaritas were named best in Texas by Saveur Magazine. The 12-Gage Restaurant offers refined seasonal menus with local wild game and garden herbs.
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Alpine Dining & Drinks
Downtown Alpine
Alpine punches well above its weight for a town of 6,000. Alcove Social serves craft cocktails and live music in the old Saddle Club building. Lucia brings authentic Italian to Holland Ave for dinner. Line Thai Cafe is a local favorite for Pad Thai and curry. Bread Garden Bakery does artisan sourdough and fresh-baked breakfast. Add Reata Restaurant and The Ritchey Wine Saloon & Beer Garden and you have a full weekend of eating.
Learn morePhoto Credits
Santa Elena Canyon, Big Bend National Park — Ken Lund / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0)
McDonald Observatory, Fort Davis — Jason Quinn / Wikimedia Commons (Public Domain)
Prada Marfa art installation, Valentine — Carol M. Highsmith / Library of Congress (Public Domain)
Davis Mountains State Park — Jonathan Cutrer / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0)
Rio Grande at dusk, Big Bend National Park — Yinan Chen / goodfreephotos.com (Public Domain (CC0))
Mural by Stylle Read, downtown Alpine — Carol M. Highsmith / Library of Congress (Public Domain)
Milky Way over Chisos Mountains, Big Bend — Viktorwills / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Kokernot Field, Alpine — Leaflet / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Marfa Mystery Lights viewing platform — Jon Hanson / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0)
Ruins in Terlingua ghost town — Lars Plougmann / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Fort Davis National Historic Site — National Park Service / NPS Digital Image Archives (Public Domain)
River Road, Big Bend Ranch State Park — Todd Dwyer / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Gage Hotel, Marathon — Carol M. Highsmith / Library of Congress (Public Domain)
Gomez Peak, Davis Mountains — Z3lvs / Wikimedia Commons (Public Domain (CC0))
Star party with telescopes — NPS / Chris Wonderly / National Park Service (Public Domain)
Live music at The Granada Theatre, Alpine — The Granada Theatre / The Granada Theatre (Used with permission)
Brewster County Courthouse, Alpine — Aualliso / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Sul Ross State University campus — Adavyd / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Far West Comic Con, Alpine — Far West Comic Con / Far West Comic Con (Used with permission)
Smithsonian Spark! Places of Innovation exhibit — Smithsonian Institution / Smithsonian Institution (Used with permission)
Theatre of the Big Bend at Kokernot Outdoor Theatre — Sul Ross State University / Alpine Avalanche / Sul Ross State University (Used with permission)
Cocktail at Alcove Social, Alpine — Alcove Social / Alcove Social (Used with permission)
Ready to Visit?
Start with Spirits of the West
Join us in Alpine for the 5th annual wine, spirits, and brews festival — then stay and explore everything this region has to offer.