THE J4 WEEKEND

September 25–27 • Your weekend at a glance

Market bags.
Small-town stops.
A box of crayons.

A Saturday morning on the square, an Oktoberfest outing in Shiner, and a ranch scene waiting for the kids to color. You don’t need to fill every hour to make a good weekend.

This week’s stops span all eight counties: Wharton, Matagorda, Austin, Colorado, Lavaca, Jackson, Fayette, and Washington. Shop from local growers, gather with neighbors at a church bazaar, and leave a little room for home.

Stephanie with the J4 Heritage Team

Weekend wow • Lavaca County • September 26

A little Oktoberfest, Texas-style.

Oktoberfest Weekend 2 in Shiner

Free admission • All day
K. Spoetzl Brewery & Distillery
603 East Brewery Street, Shiner

The brewery’s second Oktoberfest weekend is listed as a whole-family event. Make it your Saturday outing, and check the organizer’s page before leaving for any updated schedule details.

The ranch image above is illustrative, not a photograph of the event or a property for sale.

Wharton County • Friday, September 25

A reminder for little Ricebirds.

The ECHS Ricebird Cheer Mini Clinic is scheduled at the El Campo High School gym. If your family is registered, check your clinic instructions before heading over.

The published September 14 deadline to ensure a performance T-shirt has passed. Families still interested should ask the organizer about availability; don’t assume walk-in registration.

Colorado County • Saturday, September 26

Start on the courthouse square.

Columbus Country Market

9 a.m.–noon
Historic Courthouse Square
400 Spring Street, Columbus

Bring a market bag and take your time. The market brings together growers, bakers, artists, and cooks, with food trucks, live music, and handmade finds. It’s an easy morning plan when everyone wants to browse something different.

Washington County • Sunday, September 27

Take the long way to Chappell Hill.

Texas Star Winery

Regular Sunday hours: noon–5 p.m.
10587 Old Chappell Hill Road
Chappell Hill, TX 77426

For an adults’ afternoon out, put the tasting room on your list and choose a designated driver. This is a stop based on the winery’s regular hours, not a special-event listing. Call ahead to confirm the day’s opening and tasting arrangements.

Church & community • Austin County

Sunday fellowship in Sealy.

Immaculate Conception Bazaar & Homecoming

Sunday, September 27
Columbus Club Hall (KC Hall)
Highway 90 West, Sealy

Gather for a parish fundraiser with a three-meat barbecue dinner, music, children’s games, and train rides. Dinner plates are listed at $15; the live auction begins at 1 p.m., and the Lost Cause Band plays 6–10 p.m.

It’s a chance to share a meal and meet neighbors. Check the parish’s latest schedule for meal-service times before heading out.

Sunday, September 27 • Matagorda County

Fall festival in Bay City.

Holy Cross Catholic School lists its Fall Festival for Sunday, September 27. Keep this community gathering on your Sunday list.

The school has not yet posted the full schedule on its festival page. Confirm hours and the event location with the school at 979-245-5632 before traveling.

Saturday, September 26 • Jackson County

A day for curious turtle fans.

Texana Nature Day: Turtle Edition

10 a.m.–2 p.m. • $5 per vehicle
Texana Community Education Center
344 Park Road 2, Edna

Explore wildlife activities, crafts, and talks about alligator snapping turtles at 11 a.m. and Galápagos tortoises at 1 p.m. Admission is free for Brackenridge Recreation Complex campers. The optional tortoise feeding and photo experience costs an additional $5 per person.

Friday, September 25 • Fayette County

Settle in for live music.

Two Tons of Steel at The Bugle Boy

Doors 7 p.m. • Show 8 p.m.
The Bugle Boy listening room, La Grange
General admission listed at $35

Make Friday a listening-room night with roots, honky-tonk, and rockabilly. Check current seat availability and purchase tickets through the venue before making the drive.

More places to go • Regular-hours outings

Four more reasons to get out.

These are everyday destinations to consider for September 25–27, rather than special events. Check the linked venues for changes before you leave.

Friday ice cream stop • Washington County

Blue Bell, Brenham
1101 South Blue Bell Road
Friday visitor center, parlor, and store: 8 a.m.–5 p.m.
Observation deck: 8 a.m.–2 p.m.

Start the weekend with a scoop and a look at how ice cream is made. Plan this one for Friday: September Saturday and Sunday openings are not offered.

Step into Texas history • Austin County

San Felipe de Austin State Historic Site
Regular Wednesday–Sunday hours: 9 a.m.–5 p.m.
Adults $10; children $5; ages 5 and under free.

Explore the museum, reconstructed town buildings, and walking trail. Allow about two hours. The site lists living-history programming on Saturdays; check the day’s activities before visiting.

Color and craftsmanship • Fayette County

Texas Quilt Museum, La Grange
140 West Colorado Street
Regular Thursday–Saturday hours: 10 a.m.–4 p.m.
General admission $10; seniors and students $8.

Make time for an indoor art stop and look closely at the patterns and stitching. Friday visitors could pair the museum with the evening Bugle Boy concert, leaving time for dinner between them.

A coastal change of scenery • Matagorda County

Matagorda Bay Nature Park

Pack binoculars and a picnic for birding and time outdoors, or check availability for a round of mini golf. Confirm current hours, admission, and activity fees with the park. Nearby beach-restoration work may cause noise; check access updates before leaving.

Quick weekend picks

Pick your pace.

A morning out: Shop the Columbus square Saturday, then take your market finds home for lunch.

A family day trip: Head to Shiner for its second Oktoberfest weekend.

A quiet afternoon: Spread out the crayons and let the kids put their own colors on the J4 ranch.

Wear what works: Comfortable shoes, a breathable shirt, and a hat make a practical market outfit. Keep a light layer handy and check the forecast before leaving.

From the farm

Meet the grower behind your groceries.

Look for Specklebelly Farms in Columbus

The Weimar farm lists a September 26 stop at Columbus Country Market, bringing fresh produce from its farm to the square.

Ask what was picked most recently and how they like to cook it. Let what looks good shape a simple weekend meal. Bring a cooler if you’ll keep traveling after shopping; selection and availability can change.

From the market to your table

Let Saturday’s finds become supper.

A simple roasted-vegetable pasta

For about four servings: 12 ounces pasta, about 4 cups chopped vegetables, 2 tablespoons olive oil, salt and pepper, and a little grated cheese or chopped herbs if you have them.

Choose firm vegetables such as squash, peppers, or onion. Cut them into similar-size pieces, toss with oil and seasoning, and spread on a baking sheet. Roast at 425°F for about 20–30 minutes, stirring once, until tender and browned.

Cook the pasta as its package directs, saving a mug of the cooking water. Toss with the vegetables and a splash of that water; finish with herbs or cheese. Add canned, drained white beans if you’d like a heartier bowl.

A J4 Weekend kitchen idea. Let the market’s actual selection guide your vegetables; no particular vendor’s stock is promised.

Kids’ Corner • J4 coloring drawing

Their ranch. Their colors. A chance to win.

Print the J4 ranch scene and let the kids make it their own. Crayons, markers, colored pencils, or paint are welcome.

The prize: One J4 Adventure Pack, approximately $500 in retail value, with a Turtlebox Ranger, GameGuard Digital Backpack, J4 hat and water bottle, age-appropriate art kit, stickers, and assorted J4 items. Colors and availability may vary.

Who can enter: A Texas parent or legal guardian age 18 or older, on behalf of a child age 10 or younger. Sponsor employees, officers, owners, and their immediate families or households are excluded.

Deadline: November 15, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. Central.
One entry per child. No purchase necessary.

How: Complete the parent form and upload the finished sheet privately. Or comment with the artwork on the official J4 contest post, then complete the parent registration form online. A Facebook comment alone is not a valid entry.

The winner is selected by a random drawing on or about November 20, not by judging artistic skill. A purchase does not improve the odds; odds depend on eligible entries received.

Sponsored by J4 Legacy Properties, LLC. Read the Official Rules. Public artwork-sharing permission is optional.

One more idea for the kids

A little backyard discovery.

Before or after coloring, take a grown-up outside for a ten-minute noticing walk. Look for three leaf shapes, two bird sounds, a moving shadow, and something smaller than your thumbnail. Leave plants and wildlife where you find them.

Back inside, draw your favorite discovery and give it a name. Staying indoors? Find five textures around the house and turn them into patterns on a piece of scrap paper.

At the dinner table: Let everyone choose one place from this issue they would like to visit—and one thing they would like to learn there.

J4 Heritage spotlight

Picture the everyday part of country life.

A weekend drive can tell you what a map can’t: where you’ll buy groceries, where you’ll meet neighbors, and how the trip home feels.

If you’re thinking about land, tell us what an ordinary week would look like for your family. The J4 Heritage Team at J4 Legacy Properties can help you think through what fits.

Building your legacy, one property at a time.

Around here • Community callout

What should we put on next week’s map?

A church gathering, a farm stand, a school fundraiser, or a local business worth a visit: send us the organizer’s link and tell us why it belongs here.

Have a good weekend.
Leave room for the back road.

J4 Legacy Properties • The J4 Heritage Team

3063 State Hwy 71 South, El Campo, TX 77437
833-543-LAND (5263) • j4lp.com

All times are Central. Event details checked September 21, 2026; schedules, tickets, and availability may change. Check the linked organizers before traveling.

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