Category: Family Fun

Celebrate 25 Days of Christmas in Kyle, Texas

Post author By bdowdy
Post date December 2, 2021

The City of Kyle Parks and Recreation invites you to join them for their first 25 Days of Christmas at the newly renovated Mary Kyle Hartson Park (101 S. Burleson St., Kyle, TX). For the entire month of December, you can stroll the breathtaking holiday lights while listening to live music.

It all started on December 1 with Santa’s arrival in time for Mary Kyle Hartson’s ribbon-cutting ceremony! Here’s what’s happening.

What’s in Store for 25 Days of Christmas?

Every single day in December will be filled with holiday lights for your enjoyment. Wednesdays are “Winter Wonderland” and food trucks day. What’s Winter Wonderland? Only a few people know. Keep an eye out for details.

The air will be filled with live music on Fridays to entertain you while you browse the vendor booths. The vendors will also be available on Saturdays. You have many opportunities to get Santa photos, with Bailey Christian Photography, as he generously made time to be available every day except on Mondays and Tuesdays. He has a lot of work to do back home in his workshop.

Do you love Taco Tuesday? Every single Tuesday through December 21 is Taco Tuesday. There will be food vendors on that day too. And Sundays are Social Media Sundays. “To take part in the festivities, stop by the park, take pictures of you and your loved one and share it with the hashtag #KyleParksandRecreation.”

Inspired Minds Holiday Bazaar in Buda

Can’t get enough of the holiday season? Perhaps, you’ll want to wander through the gallery in nearby Buda’s Inspired Minds Holiday Bazaar (121 N. Main St., Buda, TX 78610). Come support the local artists who will have booths set up with their artwork.

This event takes place from now until December 23. Admission is free but some events may have a fee. For example, you can pain ornaments on Saturdays for $10. December 18 features a gingerbread house competition. Note the Bazaar closes on Sundays. It will be open from 1 to 6 PM Monday through Friday and from noon to 5 PM on Saturday.

More Things to Do in Kyle

To stay on top of great resources from Kyle and nearby, connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Looking to move? Meet the Kyle builders or contact our Crosswinds team.

Area Attractions Events Family Fun

Budafest Returns!

Post author By bdowdy
Post date November 23, 2021

Budafest is back for the 41st year and bigger than ever. Here’s your chance to check out the brand new Buda Amphitheater. Bring your family and friends to Downtown Buda for one, two, or three days of holiday cheer and live music on December 3-5. Buda is only about 10 minutes from Crosswinds in Kyle.

What Is Budafest?

Eileen Conley ran the festival for 15 years with help from Bert Bronaugh and Elaine Purvis in later years. Then, the City of Buda adopted Budafest. It has come a long way from the days as a small festival that showcased local artists and craft vendors to one that now has more than 75 vendors.

Budafest is a lot of things. It’s entertainment, it’s a craft and art market, it’s a dazzling night with a parade followed by fireworks on Main Street. Here’s the Budafest schedule and the Budafest Facebook page with more information.

What’s in Store for Budafest 2021?

Friday starts with a tree lighting ceremony and a small ornament market. The event will be in full swing by Saturday.

The nighttime parade takes place on Saturday evening. The parade and its many lights will travel from Main Street starting at Buda Mill and Grain Co. and work its way to Buda City Park. The parade ends with fireworks and Santa Claus doing a countdown to the holidays.

You’ll have the opportunity to explore craft vendors’ merchandise and hand-made items to find the perfect gift for others or yourself! You can also catch demonstrations to see how things are made in the artisan workshops. You’ll want to come back on Sunday for the Reindog Parade where our four-legged friends will trot down the street in their best holiday costumes and outfits.

There will be a small carnival with games and rides. Book worms rejoice! You’ll want to check out the Friends of the Buda Library’s Annual Book Sale. You’ll have a variety of gently used books at super low prices. The book sale is at the Municipal Complex at 405 E. Loop St.

Hope to see y’all there with bells on … and Santa hats and festive wear!

To stay on top of great resources from Kyle and nearby, connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Looking to move? Explore the new home builders in Kyle or contact our Crosswinds team.

Area Attractions Events Family Fun

Show Your Appreciation on Veterans Day in Kyle, Texas

Post author By bdowdy
Post date November 4, 2021

The City of Kyle is partnering with VFW Post 12058 and AMVETS to host the Veterans Day Parade to commemorate the day and honor local veterans. The parade begins at noon on Saturday, November 13.

About Kyle’s Veterans Day Parade

The parade route starts at VFW Post 12058 at 103 S Front St, Kyle, TX 78640 and travels west on Center Street. The parade ends at Gregg-Clarke Park. The city invites everyone to the commemoration event and festivities after the parade.

There will be a warbird flyover, market vendors, activities for the entire family, and it’ll end with a big bang as there will be fireworks. For the best views, go on either side of Center Street between VFW Post 12058 and Gregg-Clarke Park.

Here’s the schedule:

12 p.m. — Parade begins
1 to 6 p.m. — Post parade activities at Gregg-Clarke Park
6 p.m. — Fireworks

Can’t attend the parade? Great news. The Veterans Day Parade will be live-streamed on the City’s YouTube Channel and Facebook page.

Check out the San Marcos Veterans Day Parade

You have another option for the Veterans Day parade with the San Marcos Veterans Day Parade happening this weekend on November 6. At 10 a.m. It’s sponsored by the City of San Marcos with assistance from the Veterans Affairs Advisory Committee and local veterans’ organizations.

This parade makes its way through historic downtown San Marcos. Pre-parade events start at 9 a.m. in front of the County Courthouse. Everyone ages five and older can show their support by participating in the Kiwanis Club Kids Bicycle Brigade. This is where the kids decorate their bikes, don their helmets, and ride them at the Courthouse lawn. The event takes place before the parade from 9 to 10 a.m. Kids can spruce their bikes with flags, signs, and streamers.

To all the Veterans, thank you for your service.

More Things to Do in Kyle

To stay on top of great resources from Kyle and nearby, connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Looking to move? Meet the Kyle builders or contact our Crosswinds team.

Amenities Area Attractions Events Family Fun Lifestyle

Celebrate Halloween 2021 in Kyle

Post author By bdowdy
Post date October 14, 2021

One of the most fun days of the year is coming! Who doesn’t love a good Halloween with costumes and candy galore? The City of Kyle has scared up a few family-friendly October Festivities you’ll want to check out!

October Contests

The City of Kyle has multiple contests happening throughout October. Be aware that none of the contests give a deadline. They do list the dates the winner will receive a notification. The contest information section has a contact person you can reach out to confirm the deadlines.

The next contest coming up is the pumpkin carving and decorating contest. You’ll submit a photo of the completed pumpkin. Yard decorating and costume contests are also available.

Halloween Movie at the Lake

This free event takes place tomorrow, October 15 at Lake Kyle (700 Lehman Rd., Kyle, TX 78640). At sundown, they will show “The Addams Family.”

Center Street Trick or Treat

On Saturday, October 23 from 9 am to 12 pm, the businesses on Center St. invite you and your family to trick-or-treat. These local businesses and organizations will have tents and tables at City “Scare” Park aka Mary Kyle Hartson City Square Park at 101 S. Burleson Rd. It’ll be a fun afternoon of treats with a costume contest.

The costume contest judging takes place at 10 am and the pumpkin decorating contest judging is at 11:30 am. They’ll have 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place for three different age groups.

Most businesses will hand out candy and host activities. Food and drink vendors will be on site and some will sell children’s items.

We hope you have a “bootiful” Halloween!

To stay on top of great resources from Kyle and nearby, connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Looking to move? Explore more at Crosswinds, take a look at the amenities! or contact our Crosswinds team.

Area Attractions Events Family Fun

2021 Founders’ Day Parade in Kyle, Texas

Post author By bdowdy
Post date October 7, 2021

Coming up this weekend is one of the City of Kyle’s most beloved celebrations and events. On Saturday, Oct. 9 from 10 am to 12:30 pm is the Founders’ Day Parade.

How did this parade even get started? What is it about? Sometime in October 1880, people bought the first lots in Kyle. This compelled the city and its citizens to start a new tradition in which they held parades through downtown Kyle every year in mid-October. That parade is the Founders’ Day Parade and its purpose is to recognize the town’s founders.

What’s on Tap for the 2021 Founders’ Day Parade?

This 140-plus-year tradition and parade will start at Gregg-Clarke Park. They’ll travel along Center Street and end at Front Street on the City Square. Right after the parade ends, the city will celebrate its birthday with cupcakes, music, and family fun on Burleson Street.

The best spots to watch the parade are on either side of Center Street between Gregg-Clarke Park and Mary Kyle Hartson City Square Park. The City asks attendees to stay on the sidewalks or grassy areas on Center Street. Check out the event’s page on Facebook for more information.

A Brief History of Kyle, Texas

Settlers from Mountain City and Blanco founded the town of Kyle in 1880. Somewhere between 1870 and 1880, the International and Great Northern Railroad planned to build a line between Austin and San Antonio. In building the railroad, the planners discovered there weren’t towns on the route between Austin and San Marcus, Thus, they decided to create a station on that route.

Captain Fergus Kyle and David Moore’s family donated 200 acres for this site. As a result, Texas Land Company deeded the land to build the town. And the City of Kyle got its name in honor of one of the people who donated the land.

In October 1880, the town held an auction under Kyle’s famous Oaktree to auction off the business and residential lots. To encourage people to bid, the railroad offered free train rides to anyone who participated in the sale. The railroad donated the land around the tree, which eventually became the home of Kyle Seminary, the city’s first school.

Want to explore more? Check out these Kyle historical markers.

To stay on top of great resources from Kyle and nearby, connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Looking to move? Explore the inventory of new homes in Kyle or contact our Crosswinds team.

Area Attractions Family Fun

Costco Comes to Kyle

Post author By bdowdy
Post date September 23, 2021

In partnership with Hays County, the City of Kyle and Kyle Economic Development have announced Costco will be coming to Kyle. The 150,000-square-feet store will be located at the I-35 Texas Innovation Corridor. You’ll find it on I-35 between Kohlers Crossing and Kyle Crossing. Home Depot and Evo Entertainment are also in this area.

About Costco

The City of Kyle and the Kyle Economic Development have been working to bring Costco here. It’s a membership-based retailer with more than 800 locations worldwide. Not only did the City want to provide Kyle residents with one of the top retailers, but also a place that has a proven history of taking care of its employees and providing them with competitive wages and benefits. Early this year, Costco raised its minimum hourly pay to $16 for hourly employees. The facility is expected to support more than 200 jobs.

Costco is perfect for Kyle. As you know, Kyle is the Pie Capital of Texas. Well, it turns out that Costco is one of the country’s largest pizzerias! They sell their large slices at more than 400 locations.

That’s not the only popular food item you can buy there. They’re famous for their hot dog combo deal that only costs $1.50, which includes a soda. It’s been a buck fifty since 1985 and the retailer sells more than 100 million hot dogs every year! Another popular item at the food court is the acai bowl. It’s what you get when you put a smoothie and yogurt together.

Shopping at Costco

If you don’t already know about it, get ready to become familiar with the Kirkland brand. That’s Costco’s in-house brand. You’ll find everything with the Kirkland name: over-the-counter medicines, coffee, rotisserie chickens, bacon, and even golf balls.

Here are some items you may want to buy at Costco:

Breakfast cereal
Cheese
Eggs
Kirkland maple syrup
Kirkland vodka (not kidding)
Clothing

A typical Costco sells 4,000 items. By comparison, an average grocery store sells around 40,000 items. Unlike grocery stores, Costco doesn’t carry multiple brands of each one. We can’t wait to shop at Costco and finish our trip with a stop at their food court.

Area Attractions Events Family Fun

Buda Restaurant Week

Post author By bdowdy
Post date September 9, 2021

Buda, Texas and its many offerings are just a 12-minute drive from the Crosswinds community in Kyle, Texas. And you’ll want to head there next week for Buda Restaurant Week. The nice thing about being close to the “Buda-full” city is that you can go for many of the events. No picking and choosing. Go to all of them.

What Is Buda Restaurant Week?

Buda Restaurant Week runs from Sept. 13 through 19. It’s a week-long foodie’s paradise. Participating restaurants around Buda will offer special menu items, pre-Fixe menus, and craft cocktails.

As of this writing, Historic Downtown Buda hasn’t announced the participating restaurants. Visit the event page and Facebook page for the latest news and announcements. You can explore the Buda dining scene to discover the possibilities.

Meet Buda, Texas

Buda is 15 miles south of Austin located along the IH-35 corridor between San Antonio and Austin. Its population of under 20,000 people lives in its 5.4 square miles. Like Kyle, its residents are in the Hays Consolidated Independent School District.

Historic Downtown Buda features six blocks of restaurants, shops, and historic buildings. Every Sunday, they have the Downtown Buda Farmers Market. And on the first Saturday of every month, they host the Downtown Buda Merchant’s Group with its live music, food, and drinks.

They’re known as the Wiener Dog Capital of Texas as they hold Weiner Dog Races every year. The next one is scheduled for April 23, 2022. We hope you’ll experience Buda Restaurant Week.

That’s the beauty of living in a new home in Kyle’s Crosswinds community. It puts you near some of Texas Hill Country’s finest. Here are more places you may want to explore.

Area Attractions Events Family Fun

Texas Radio Live at Güero’s Taco Bar

Post author By bdowdy
Post date August 19, 2021

Looking for something fun to do in the middle of the week? How about on Hump Day Wednesday? Sun Radio’s Texas Radio Live pops-up at Güero’s Taco Bar (1412 S Congress Ave., Austin, TX 78704) with live music every Wednesday from 7 to 8 PM CT.

About Texas Radio Live

Texas Radio Live is the longest-running live music radio program on Austin radio. Each week, they present the latest Texas sings, songwriters, and musicians. At the same time, they pay tribute to the many Texas musicians who have come before.

Here’s the schedule of upcoming performances:

Aug 25: Pat Byrne
1: Wayne Sutton
8: Ruby Dice
15: Madam Radar
22: Texas Radio Live
29: Brad Stivers
Oct 6: Jaimee Harris

Not only will you have a grand ol’ time but also contribute to the fundraiser to support the Sun Radio Foundation. Its mission is to support local musicians. The organization provides financial relief by deferring the cost of electricity bills and paying artists to perform. And you can register to win a prize.

You don’t have to wait until Wednesday for live music and authentic Tex-Mex food. Güero’s Taco Bar has live music on other days. Here’s their live music schedule. Browse their site and you’ll also see mouthwatering photos of their menu items. Prepare yourself to have a hankering for Tex-Mex!

History of Texas Radio Live

Larry Monroe moved to Austin in 1977. His goal was to put Austin music on the radio through records, interviews, and live performances. After joining KUT in 1981, he started a program called Texas Music. Eventually, the name changed to Texas Radio.

Texas Radio aimed to share music by Texas musicians. Occasionally, Monroe would have a live guest or broadcast recorded interviews. In 2011, Monroe joined Sun Radio and brought Blue Money and Phil Music with him. But he also wanted to bring Texas Radio back. Sun Radio Founder Daryl O’Neal not only agreed but recommended turning it into a live program.

O’Neal took the idea to Rob Lippincott, owner of Güero’s Taco Bar. He wholeheartedly agreed. Monroe added David Arnsberger to the team and thus Texas Radio Live came back bigger and better. Unfortunately, Larry Monroe passed away in 2014. Thankfully, David Arnsberger carries on Larry Monroe’s spirit and continues to host Texas Radio Live.

Education Events Family Fun

Get Ready for the New School Year in Kyle

Post author By bdowdy
Post date August 12, 2021

On August 19, many parents of kids attending schools in Hays Consolidated Independent School District will happily get their kids up and ready for school. The students, on the other hand, may drag their feet as they start adjusting to their school schedules.

It’s always hard to prepare for a new school year even if you’re excited about it. Restarting a habit isn’t easy. Neither is leaving summer behind.

The good news is that you can take action now to ensure a smoother first week of school. Here’s what you can do.

Register online and complete paperwork

All families — both new and returning students —can register online. Be sure to follow the advice on the page before proceeding. You’ll also need to check with your student’s campus for any registration events.

Those new to HCISD can find the schools their students will attend using the attendance zone page. You’ll also need a copy of your student’s vaccination records as they will be required. Will your student need to keep medicine at school? Contact the campus nurse for details and paperwork for this.

Review the Hays CISD calendar

Here’s the 2021-2022 Hays CISD calendar (PDF). Be sure to enter all important dates into your family’s calendar. Don’t have a family calendar? You may want to consider one. It helps to have a central calendar everyone can access to stay on top of important dates and events.

Obtain school supplies

Although the Texas Sales Tax Holiday has passed, many retailers still have sales on clothes and school supplies. Check for coupons online at RetailMeNot and Honey, and in your local newspaper.

Your student’s school may sell school supplies in one packet. It can be cheaper to buy the packet because they get everything in bulk. The bulk discounts are passed on to your family. Get your kids excited about school by letting them pick one fun or colorful school item of their choice.

Adjust bedtime routines

It takes three weeks to create new habits. As it’s typical of the summer, kids tend to have a different bedtime. Don’t wait until school starts to change bedtime. You have one week from this post before school starts.

Try changing their bedtime to 15 minutes earlier tonight and tomorrow. Then, the next night, change it to 30 minutes earlier. Adjust based on the difference between the old and new bedtime routine. As you adjust bedtime, do the school routine too. Pick out the outfit for the next day and pack the backpack the night before.

Hope these four tips help! Remember to take pictures on the first day! Have a great first day of school.

If you’re looking for new homes in Kyle, explore the master-planned community Crosswinds. Residents savor the natural beauty of the prairies while providing families with a place where they can connect

Area Attractions Education Family Fun

3 Tips for the Texas Sales Tax Holiday

Post author By bdowdy
Post date July 22, 2021

Is it almost August? That means Texas Sales Tax Holiday is coming up fast and furious. With more people venturing out, it’s sure to be busy from August 6 to 8. That’s because this is Texas Tax-Free weekend in 2021.

It’s easy to overspend during the tax holiday. These tips will help you ensure you buy what you need and avoid buying something you already have. The nice thing about the tax-free weekend is that it’s for everyone, not just families with kids going to school.

Here are a few important things to know:

Items $100 or more are taxable.
Does not apply to clothing subscription boxes.
Keep all your receipts.
Stores will not give out rainchecks.

Make the most of tax-free weekend and back-to-school shopping with these tips.

Review the official list

You may have seen online articles talking about what’s taxable and what’s exempt. However, some of these aren’t accurate. The one list you want to refer to is the official Sales Tax Holiday list from the Comptroller of Texas. It’d be a good idea to print the list or save it to your phone.

Again, all items priced at $100 or more are not exempt from taxes. Yes, even if they’re on the list. For example, tennis shoes are exempt from taxes unless they cost $100 or more. Be aware that not all shoes qualify for the tax exemption.

The following types of footwear are not tax-free:

Cleats
Running shoes with cleats
Ballet slippers
Ski boots

And just because one item is taxable, others may not be. For example, tennis skirts and football jerseys are exempt, but football pads and baseball pants are taxable. The logic is that people wear tennis skirts and football jerseys as clothes outside of the sport. Whereas cleats and pads are specific to a sport.

Flip-flops, sandals, and cowboy boots are exempt. While belts are exempt, stand-alone belt buckles are not.

Would you categorize pajamas as school clothes or school supplies? No, they’re exempt. Here are tax-free items that may surprise you:

Swimsuits
Robes
Slippers
Hunting vests
Suspenders
Diapers: baby and adult
Graduation caps and gowns

So, use the list from the Comptroller of Texas as your only source. Double-check our work.

Make a shopping list

When you don’t prepare for shopping, you risk buying a lot of things you already have. Before you go, create a list of what you need. Try on clothes to confirm current clothing and shoe sizes. Don’t use the dressing room as the place to figure it out.

While most people may fit in two or three different sizes, it helps to have a baseline. You want to minimize trying on clothes during a hectic shopping time.

Note store hours

You won’t find Black Friday-like hours, but many stores will extend their hours for the Texas Sales Tax Holiday. If you want to avoid the crowds, go as soon as the store opens on Friday. Some people still have to work, so it’s most likely the least crowded time of the whole weekend.

These three tips will optimize your tax-free weekend and minimize the headaches.

Sign up for our Newsletters

Sign up for our Newsletter