Early Texas maps, rousing music and a nature festival are among the entertainment highlights for South Texas and the Hill Country this weekend.
The San Antonio Symphony
Friday night the San Antonio Symphony plays under the baton of guest conductor Jacques Lacombe.
"We're presenting three great Czech composers. Bedřich Smetana, Antonín Dvořák and Leoš Janáček’."
They are also playing Mozart's only flute and harp Concerto.
"It's such a beautiful piece of music. It gives this kind of crystal sound."
There are two performances, and at Friday night's performance there's a free simulcast on the Tobin Plaza. Montreal and Bonn-based Lacombe is enjoying his time and work here. "It's my first visit here and I'm very thrilled with this great program and these wonderful musicians," he says.
Get Close to Nature
Then on Saturday or Sunday hit the road to Fredericksburg for the Wings Over the Hills Festival.
"We have talks on various subjects related to nature by experts in the region and state."
Bill Lindemann and others are putting on the free Nature Fest at Fredericksburg's Wings Over the Hills Nature Center at Lady Bird Johnson Park. While the event is free, it does have certain not free parts including field trips for things like humming bird banding.
"We go to a private ranch, [where] people who attend can see the birds up close and maybe even get to hold one prior to release."
Bats, birds, pollinating plantings and on Saturday, kid friendly events.
Mapping Texas
Also opening this weekend at the Witte, Mapping Texas.
"We have literally the great treasures of Texas on exhibit."
Curator Bruce Shackelford says the maps of the three-part collection reveal a lot; probably much that you don't know.
"Around 1850 even Bexar County stretched clear to the New Mexico line. We have three maps of Stephen F. Austin's, and this is probably the only time they'll ever be shown together in one place."
About 40 maps make up the collection, including one that's seven feet by seven feet.
Find more on the San Antonio Symphony's performance here.
Find more on the Wings Over The Hills Festival here.
Find more on the Witte's Mapping Texas exhibit here.