Austin, TX
Where to Watch the Solar Eclipse in Central Texas With Food, Beers, and Wines
Earth — and Texans, in particular — will experience a rare total solar eclipse on Monday, April 8, 2024. The big, bright sun will be blocked by the little moon during the daytime, darkening our skies. And luckily for us, the total eclipse path includes Austin the Hill Country, and generally Central Texas.
This solar eclipse is an epic event: it encompasses a larger swatch of totality than the one from 2017, and lasts longer (over four minutes). The next one doesn’t happen until 2045, so don’t miss out.
To celebrate the giant astronomical occurrence, many Central Texas restaurants, bars, breweries, and wineries are hosting watch parties with foods, drinks, camping, science lessons (!), and much more. We’re rounding up the best of these, broken down by cities and towns along the eclipse path in chronological order based on either totality or partial totality timing. Everything below takes place on Monday, April 8, unless otherwise noted.
Fredericksburg, around 1:32 p.m.
Events
Arch Ray Resort
Arch Ray’s Amphitheater, 4160 East Highway 290, Fredericksburg
The huge resort is hosting a two-day concert event for the eclipse with headliners the Goo Goo Dolls, along with Fastball and Switchfoot. There’s access to Paul Bee Distillery, Ogle Brewery, Arch Ray Winery, and the 1894 restaurant, as well as space for RV camping.
When: Sunday, April 7 through Monday, April 8, starting at noon each day with the headlining bands playing at 9 p.m each evening
How to Attend: Early tickets are $200; club members will get 40 percent off; general admission tickets will be $300; parking passes are $40.
Grapetown Vineyard
8142 Old San Antonio Road, Fredericksburg
This is perhaps one of the most epic ways to experience the eclipse: from a hot air balloon. The winery’s VIP access to the event comes with the hot air balloon rides (including one timed to the eclipse), a dinner, wine tasting, and live music. General admission tickets offer entry to the grounds for eclipse viewing and/or the balloon ride. People can also book campsites.
When: noon to 8 p.m.
How to Attend: Tickets can be bought online. General admission tickets to the grounds are $75, hot air balloon rides are $75, VIP is $195, tent camping passes are $75, RV camping passes are $450.
Guides
Stonewall, around 1:33 p.m.
Events
Kuhlman Cellars
18421 East 290 Highway, Stonewall
The Hill Country winery’s eclipse party includes a breakfast buffet, hot Italian food lunch (think lasagnas and cheesy garlic bread), two glasses of wine in a keepsake glass, blind wine tastings, tastings of 2023 vintages, and tours of the vineyards. There are glasses, a special sticker, and more activities.
When: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
How to Attend: Tickets are $200 for wine club members, $225 for non-members, $50 for children between the ages of two to 20; parking passes are $25.
Burnet, around 1:34 p.m.
Events
Uplift Vineyard
1411 County Road 119, Burnet
William Chris Vineyard’s Burnet winery is tagging Austin chef Jesse Griffiths for its eclipse event. The Dai Due chef will live-fire cook a brunch and dinner, plus tickets come with two bottles of the winery’s eclipse red wine, more food, and a blending session.
When: It starts at 8:30 a.m.
How to Attend: Tickets are $925; members can buy two tickets at special $775 pricing each; RV parking is $125.
Driftwood, around 1:34 p.m.
Events
Vista Brewing
13551 Farm-to-Market Road 150, Driftwood
The sprawling Hill Country brewery-restaurant-ranch is hosting a multi-day eclipse event with live music, wildflowers, glasses, beer and food specials such as the Dark Skies black pilsner and the Texas wagyu burger.
When: Wednesday, April 3 through Thursday, April 4, 4 to 9 p.m. each day; Friday, April 5, 2 to 9 p.m.; Saturday, April 6, noon to 9 p.m.; Sunday, April 7, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.; and Monday, April 8, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
How to Attend: Tickets are $15 for adults and free for children.
Dripping Springs, around 1:34 p.m.
Events
Ghost Note Brewing
23663 Ranch Road 12, Dripping Springs
The Hill Country brewery’s eclipse party includes a special beer for the event, food trucks, purchasable glasses, and live music.
When: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
How to Attend: Book either RV camping reservations for $150 or parking passes for $25.
Guides
Kerrville, around 1:34 p.m.
Events
Kerrclipse Music Festival
Quiet Valley Ranch, 3876 Medina Highway, Kerrville
The annual Kerrville Folk Festival happens to coincide with the eclipse this year, and the organizers are using that to their advantage. The renamed event will feature live music, art, camping, and science presentations about eclipses. There will be food and drinks to be announced, but expect goodies from sponsors like Pint & Plow Brewing and Trailhead Beer Garden, and food/drinks from Central Provisions.
When: Saturday, April 5 through Monday, April 8
How to Attend: Currently, the festival is only offering multi-day passes. It will see if there is space to sell Monday day passes in mid-March. Advanced passes for nonmembers are $350, kids between the ages of five through 12 are $75, and anyone younger is free; there is also member pricing for foundation members. Then there are a la carte parking passes and RV spots.
San Antonio, around 1:34 p.m.
Events
The Moon’s Daughter
115 Lexington Ave, San Antonio
The Thompson San Antonio Greek-ish hotel restaurant is hosting a Monday brunch for a glimpse of the partial totality of the eclipse from its rooftop lounge. There will be themed drinks, glasses, and live entertainment.
When: 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
How to Attend: Tickets are $99.
Guides
Hye, around 1:35 p.m.
Events
Ron Yates Wines
6676 Highway 290 West, Hye
The Hill Country winery’s eclipse party is a jam-packed one. All tickets come with access to a breakfast taco bar, a wine bar showing the history of the winery, and even paella. Then there’s a free wine glass, glasses, and one free glass of wine, plus lawn games, live music, and viewing areas. VIP tickets come with a special bar, access to a bathroom trailer, a pig roast, and a special breakfast buffet. There’s also room for RV camping.
When: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
How to Attend: Early tickets are $125 for general admission, $250 for VIP, and $675 for RV camping; regular tickets will be $150 for general admission, $300 for VIP, and $750 for RVs.
William Chris Vineyards
10352 Highway 290, Hye
The lauded Hill Country winery is teaming up with the Austin-based restaurant group behind Southern restaurant Olamaie for its eclipse event. On deck are wine barrel tastings, astronomy sessions, live country music concerts, and breakfast and lunch courtesy of MaieB’s forthcoming Fredericksburg spot the Albert Hotel. The latter includes Little Ola’s biscuits, pork chops, and Texas chocolate sheet cake. The tickets come with parking, glasses, a poster, a picnic blanket, and a bag with two bottles of its special eclipse wines.
When: TBA
How to Attend: Tickets are $375 for adults and $100 for kids.
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Johnson City, around 1:35 p.m.
Guides
Lampasas and Kempner, around 1:35 p.m.
Events
Pillar Bluff Vineyards
300 County Road 111, Lampasas
The Hill Country winery is hosting an RV camping event for the eclipse. Camping passes come with access to two barbecue dinners, live music, and a special cabernet sauvignon made for the eclipse.
When: Sunday, April 7 through Monday, April 8
How to Attend: Tickets are $500
Thunderwolf Ranch
1079 County Road 4630, Kempner
The Texas horse rescue ranch and event space is hosting a four-day, two-night camping festival for the eclipse. There’s tent and car camping passes with access to live music, karaoke, and loads of food vendors such as pizza spot Slice Society, Yaya’s Southeast Asian Cuisine, and a tea lounge.
When: Friday, April 5 through Monday, April 8
How to Attend: Camping passes are $157 for two people
Austin, around 1:36 p.m.
Events
Jester King Brewery
13187 Fitzhugh Road, Far West Austin
The Hill Country brewery is hosting a huge total solar eclipse party. There will be a special beer release for the event, alongside other beers and food, Figure 8 coffee, mimosas, and more. For non-food activities, expect live psychedelic rock performances and the Austin Witches Market.
When: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
How to Attend: It’s free to attend, but there are $20 parking passes for people who want to drive themselves.
Meanwhile Brewing Co.
3901 Promontory Point Drive, Austin
This McKinney neighborhood brewery is one of several Austin locations that are participating in private science- and math-geared Simons Foundation’s special nationwide initiative timed to the eclipse, where the breweries will brew up a special beer for the celestial event, In the Path of Totality.Meanwhile’s event includes its new 01:36pm beer, a black IPA, as well as a special pint glass and glasses giveaways. There will be a live string quartet, too.
When: 1 to 3 p.m.
How to Attend: Free to attend, there are RSVPs.
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Otopia
1901 San Antonio Street, Suite 1100, Austin
The Otis Hotel’s rooftop bar will be a prime eclipse viewing spot, especially when it will serve cocktails benefitting the University of Texas at Austin’s astronomy department. Plus, there will be a live DJ and free eclipse glasses.
When: noon to 5 p.m.
How to Attend: Tickets are $20.
Pioneer Farms
10621 Pioneer Farms Drive, Austin
The historic space and venue is hosting a two-day eclipse event. The first day includes seminars and activities, plus food truck Coco East and Sweet. The second includes its Citizen Scientist Sun Party with a live band, food from Ice Cream Peddler and Carla’s with chicken tenders, burgers, and fries.
When: Sunday, April 7, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Monday, April 8
How to Attend: Tickets are $12 for each day or $20 for both days.
The Long Center
701 West Riverside Drive, Austin
The Long Center and Simons Foundation are hosting this free eclipse event on the venue’s lawn. Food-wise, there will be vendors; and drinks-wise, Austin breweries will be at hand to offer special eclipse-themed brews. There’s also a Radiolab live-recording session, a visual storytelling experience led by authors Roxane Gay and Debbie Millman, and free tote bags for the first 1,000 guests. Everyone attending will get free eclipse glasses.
When: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
How to Attend: Free.
Austin Beerworks
3001 Industrial Terrace, Austin
The North Burnet brewery is also participating in the Simons Foundation’s In the Path of Totality beer event, though further details aren’t available at this time.
When: TBA
How to Attend: TBA
Zilker Brewing Company
1701 East Sixth Street, Austin
The East Austin brewery is also participating in the Simons Foundation’s In the Path of Totality beer event, though further details aren’t available at this time.
When: TBA
How to Attend: TBA
Guides
San Marcos, around 1:36 p.m.
Events
Middleton Brewing
101 Oakwood Loop, San Marcos
The brewpub is hosting a very chill partial-totality eclipse-viewing party with beer specials and glasses.
When: It starts at noon.
How to Attend: Free to attend.
Guides
Round Rock, around 1:37 p.m.
Guides
Temple, around 1:40 p.m.
Moose & Goose Winery
6300 Middle Road, Suite B, Temple
The Bell County fruit winery’s eclipse viewing party comes with a hummus snack lunch, bottle of wine, keepsake glass, and glasses.
When: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
How to Attend: Tickets are $80.
General Central Texas and Hill Country Guides
AUSTIN (Nexstar) – During a Texas Senate Business and Commerce hearing Wednesday, lawmakers heard invited testimony examining soaring property and casualty insurance costs. Testimony focused on the need for more affordable options and the need to address the role of AI.
Increased costs
Amanda Crawford, the Commissioner of Insurance at the Texas Department of Insurance (TDI), acknowledged the reality of rising insurance costs for everyday Texans.
“The past few years have been very, very difficult. The average annual homeowner premium in Texas has increased from under $2,000 in 2020 to over $3,500 today. It’s a 79% increase in six years. That is a tremendous burden for Texans, especially for a necessary product like home insurance,” Crawford told lawmakers Wednesday.
Crawford went on to clarify that this increase can be attributed to increases in home values and claim costs related to severe weather.
“Annual homeowners’ losses averaged 5.5 billion from 2015 to 2020, rising to 9.1 billion from 2021 to 2025.” Crawford went on to say that “Last year alone, the National Weather Service recorded 902 hailstorms in Texas. The next closest state, Kansas, had 375.”
Holding insurance companies accountable
Crawford clarified that the TDI requires insurance companies to elaborate on their filings to ensure that Texans are not subject to unfair practices and prices.
“My expectations are that every rate filing submitted to TDI gets a careful review. We examine every statutory filing for statutory compliance. We verify the math, we scrutinize assumptions, we make them show their work”
According to the Texas Insurance Code, the rate review process conducted by the TDI does not explicitly focus on affordability.
“There is not a purpose in there around affordability. It is about driving market competition. It’s about making sure they’re not excessive, but then they’re also adequate. And it’s about having market forces drive the rates that are filed. So I think that’s an interesting perspective when you look at it, because that really frames the whole rate review process as it has been put into law.”
Insurance company officials say they are also focused on affordable costs.
“Our industry is not just saying, hey, legislators go fix all this. We are working all the time to bring down costs. It’s a good business decision because it helps us be more competitive,” said Scot Kibbe, the Vice President for State Government Relations at the American Property College for Insurance Association.
Concerns of price surveillance
Senator Nathan Johnson, D-Dallas, questioned whether insurance companies may be using technological advances, such as AI, to participate in price surveillance, a tactic to maximize profits.
“It sounds like, to some extent, every industry, with the advent of technological advantages we didn’t use to have, is able to create a special price just for you to find out your breaking point,” Johnson said.
David Bolduc with the Office of Public Insurance Counsel noted that there are protections in statute against companies charging different prices for the same coverage. But he added that the practice can be difficult to detect.
“I don’t know that TDI has the ability to monitor that. I mean, we hear about it,” Bolduc said in response to Johnson. “I think, if you could do something in statute that would allow us to report it, or would allow TDI to take action about it, that might be useful in terms of monitoring it,” Bolduc added.
Earlier this month, the TDI released a “use of artificial intelligence” bulletin to set expectations on how “regulated entities will govern the development, acquisition, and the use of AI technologies in their operations.”
Crawford says this bulletin will help address price surveillance concerns by reminding companies of Texas Insurance codes related to unfair discrimination and deceptive practices.
“That’s one of the reasons for putting out the AI bulletin, the expectations and the consumer protection around the use of that data, and what they are using that for,” Crawford said.
Potential solutions
Bolduc called on lawmakers to reexamine AI’s role in the industry. He also asked lawmakers to look into making coverage changes more transparent.
“It might be useful to continue looking for ways to be transparent about coverage changes. Notices of material change don’t seem to be working particularly well in the sense that we get a lot of phone calls from people saying they don’t understand what happened to them,” Bolduc said Wednesday.
Billy Crocker, Senior Vice President of Alliant Insurance Services, says the best way to fix pricing is to drive up competition between insurance companies.
“I think creating a lot of competition is the best way to drive this down, both for personal and business lines,” Crocker told lawmakers. “And then that brings the opportunity for access.”
Austin, TX
Forman Capital Provides $28.2 Million Lot Development Loan for a 253-Acre Mixed-Use Project Near Austin, Texas
Forman Capital, a leading private direct commercial real estate lender, has closed a $28,204,026 lot development loan for The Highlands, a planned 253-acre mixed-use community located along Manzano Mile at FM 1431 in Marble Falls, Texas, located on the edge of the broader Austin MSA. The borrower and developer is Rockspring, a Texas-based real estate firm with more than three decades of experience across the state’s most dynamic growth markets.
The Highlands stretches along Manzano Mile, encompassing single-family homes, rental apartments, and retail commercial uses on undeveloped land. The Forman Capital loan will fund horizontal development in advance of vertical construction, which will be performed by other developers and builders, and is expected to start in the fall.
The Forman Capital team that worked on the transaction includes Scott Mehlman, Ty Regnier, Brett Forman and Ben Jacobson.
“Forman Capital has always been drawn to developers who are doing something meaningful — not just building but genuinely adding real value to a community. The Highlands does exactly that, bringing much-needed housing and amenities to a city that has grown faster than its supply could keep pace with. We are proud to support Rockspring’s vision here,” said Brett Forman, Forman Capital Managing Partner.
“Marble Falls and the 71 Highway corridor are benefiting from the same powerful tailwinds driving growth across Texas, with the added advantage of a quality-of-life profile that is attracting both residents and businesses,” said Scott Mehlman, Forman Capital Partner and Chief Investment Officer. “The Highlands is exceptionally well-positioned to meet that demand, and we look forward to seeing this community take shape.”
About Forman Capital
Delray Beach, Florida-based Forman Capital provides private commercial real estate debt and equity financing for transactions ranging from $10 million to $100 million. The firm focuses on short-term construction financing, mezzanine debt, and preferred equity across various real estate asset classes and geographies. Company principals Brett Forman and Ben Jacobson have closed more than $3 billion in commercial real estate transactions since 2004. For more information, visit www.formancap.com.
South Austin hit and run victim returns home
A 23-year-old is finally returning home to Omaha, Nebraska. The active-duty Air Force firefighter was visiting Austin for a brief vacation, but instead, he has spent the last 24 days in a trauma unit on a respirator trying to survive.
AUSTIN, Texas – The 23-year-old, Dominic Dubas, finally returns home to Omaha, Nebraska. The active-duty Air Force firefighter was visiting Austin for a brief vacation, but instead, he has spent the last 24 days in a trauma unit on a respirator trying to survive.
Dominic was left in critical condition after a hit-and-run in South Austin on May 30. The doctors had given him a 1% chance of survival. Weeks later, he had gained enough strength to leave Austin, as an air ambulance officially transported him back home on Tuesday.
It is a milestone that brings mixed emotions for a family headed into a years-long recovery with no criminal accountability in sight.
“It’s kind of bittersweet,” said his mother, Melissa Dubas. “I mean, I’m happy to have him here, but I just really wish they weren’t under these circumstances.”
The backstory:
Dominic and his friend were staying at an Airbnb near the 6800 block of South Congress Avenue, close to William Cannon Drive. Just before 10 p.m. on a Saturday, he went to a Walgreens across the street to get snacks.
Investigators believe Dominic was walking on the sidewalk when a vehicle going roughly 50 mph hit him. The driver left the scene.
Forty minutes later, a passerby spotted him and called police, initially thinking it was someone sleeping on the curb.
“The moment they choose to run after hitting somebody and injuring them or killing them, it’s a felony no matter what,” said Lt. William White of the Austin Police Department Highway Enforcement Division.
For nearly an hour after the impact, investigators allege the suspect circled the South Austin block for nearly an hour, watching first responders perform life-saving measures on Dubas, before abandoning his Lincoln vehicle just two miles away. The suspect also removed the license plate and registration sticker off the vehicle, which is another felony.
“Every minute that my son laid there in blood was crucial to his survival,” Melissa Dubas said. “And I just don’t understand how somebody can hit somebody else and leave them for dead.”
Dig deeper:
Police have since identified a suspect, 20-year-old Rafael Guzman Avila, who reportedly entered the country illegally in 2024. According to the affidavit, Avila’s phone records showed him crossing the border back into Mexico that night.
When asked what the extradition process looks like for a local police department, Lt. White explained the complexity.
“You want to have a pretty solid location of where they are, then you go with a district attorney’s office to see if they’ll work with the Justice Department,” White said. “There’s a bunch of processes that they have to go through in order to work with the Justice Department to get that person extradited back to the United States.”
There is a warrant in all 50 states for the arrest of Avila for tampering with evidence and collision involving serious bodily injury. Both acts are third-degree felonies in Texas. However, investigators stated that Mexico will not extradite Avila because they do not penalize those crimes the same way. As long as he remains in Mexico, he will likely never be held accountable.
Melissa said she is trying to have forgiveness in her heart because she believes that is how her son would respond.
“He would probably say in regard to Rafael that it was an accident and that he forgave him,” Melissa Dubas said. “My guess is that that’s what he would say. And so even though that’s hard for us because we’re in the midst of all the pain, I know that’s what he would think.”
As the investigation extends past the southern border, the focus in Omaha shifts entirely to the tough road ahead and the recovery already defying the odds.
Melissa said Dominic is in what they call a minimally conscious state. He just started communicating through blinks and hand squeezes, which is more than what they thought he would be able to do. She went on to compliment the kindness of Austinites and said the prayers have given her a sense of peace through all of this.
The Source: Information from interviews conducted by FOX 7 Austin’s Katie Pratt
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