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Best places to view the Perseid meteor shower's peak in Central Texas and beyond

The Perseid meteor shower (seen here in Japan) will be at its peak August 12-13, 2023.

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Meteor showers are some of the most beautiful performances Mother Nature can produce, and the grandest show of 2023 is coming up: the Perseid meteor shower, the biggest meteor shower of the year, will be at its most visible state the night of Saturday, August 12 until the early morning of Sunday, August 13.

According to space.com, circumstances will be nearly ideal for watching the shooting stars dance their way across the dark skies. Not only will Earth be positioned in the densest part of the Perseid stream, but the moon will barely be visible, creating an even darker backdrop.

Viewers will not need a telescope to see meteors that night, experts say, but the best viewing experiences will still be from a dark, unlit area of the city, or in a designated Dark Sky Community. Texas cities, towns, parks, and sanctuaries that are part of the International Dark-Sky Association focus on night sky conservation while combatting the spread of light pollution.

Many Texas state parks will host stargazing activities for community members and astronomy enthusiasts at Perseid's peak. (Keep in mind that no matter where you view the night sky, it may take up to 20 minutes for your eyes to adjust.)

Here are the best cities, towns, and state parks around Central Texas (and beyond) to watch the Perseid meteor shower's peak on August 12. Note that some events are subject to cancellation based on the weather and cloud cover.

Central Texas

Los Maples State Natural Area
This special "Maples and Meteors Sky Fest" is part of a 100-year celebration of Texas state parks in 2023. Visitors can learn about local wildlife and dark sky protection on August 12 from 6-9 pm, followed by a weather-dependent star-watching party until 10:30 pm. More information is on the Texas Parks and Wildlife event website.

Dark Sky Parks and Communities
There are several Dark Sky-certified parks that are perfect for stargazing in Central Texas, including Travis County Milton Ranch Park, Lyndon B. Johnson State Park and Historic Site, Enchanted Rock Natural State Area, and South Llano River State Park.

Dark Sky Communities in Central Texas include Dripping Springs, Fredericksburg, Blanco, Wimberley, and Horseshoe Bay.

North Texas

Lakewood Village
This small town on Lewisville Lake is seven miles from Little Elm, and was designated the 23rd International Dark Sky Community in September 2019 (and it's the only one in all of Dallas-Fort Worth). While their Facebook page doesn't say the town is hosting a watch party, that doesn't mean you can't park in an unobtrusive spot and watch the sky from the tailgate of your car.

Cooper Lake State Park
Cooper Lake State Park is an hour-and-a-half (about 90 miles) away from Dallas, and will be hosting several self-guided stargazing events, August 12-24. Visitors can meet at the South Sulphur Unit at 9 am to try and catch some shooting stars there, but they might have a better chance of catching a show starting from 8:30 pm at the Doctors Creek Unit. More information is on the Texas Parks and Wildlife event website.

Dinosaur Valley State Park
The best and most knowledgeable astronomers from the Fort Worth Astronomical Society will be joining Dinosaur Valley State Park for a "Star Party" in Glen Rose beginning at 9 pm on August 12. The society will provide their celestial knowledge as they examine the night sky. The park asks that guests bring only red lights to the event. More information about the party can be found on the Texas Parks and Wildlife event website.

Mineral Wells State Park and Trailway
While this isn't a specific stargazing event, you can still catch a view of the meteor shower while challenging what you know about Texas. Mineral Wells State Park's Jeopardy!-style Texas Trivia night falls on August 12 from 8:30-10 pm. Put your Texas nature and history knowledge to the test, and observe the shooting stars as your background. More information can be found on the Texas Parks and Wildlife event website.

East Texas

Martin Dies, Jr. State Park
On August 12 from 8:30-10 pm, visitors can participate in an evening of observation and stargazing using the park's special stargazing telescope. The on-site park ranger will provide red cellophane to protect attendees' night vision if they bring any flashlights. More information is on the Texas Parks and Wildlife event website.

West Texas

Lake Brownwood State Park
This West Texas "Star Party" runs from 8:30-10 pm on August 12, with plenty of telescopes to help visitors view the night sky. Volunteers will also teach about the constellations throughout the evening. The park asks that visitors do not bring any white lights, only red lights. Astronomy enthusiasts are more than welcome to bring their own telescope. More information is on the Texas Parks and Wildlife event website.

Abilene State Park
The Big Country Master Naturalists will join visitors at the park from 9-11 pm for a free night of stargazing. Much like similar watch parties on August 12, the park requests that only red lights be brought to the event so they do not interfere with guests' night vision. More information is on the Texas Parks and Wildlife event website.

University of Texas McDonald Observatory
The Fort Davis-based observatory hosts their family-friendly outdoor star parties on Saturday nights beginning at 9:30 pm, weather-permitting. The two-hour program includes a tour of the Helen S. Martin Star Amphitheater before embarking on a constellation tour led by visitor center staff. Then, guests will be taken to the Rebecca Gale Telescope Park to view the night sky through their telescopes. More information is available on their website.

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Now hear this

New Texas museum shines spotlight on Tejano music history

Totally Tejano Hall of Fame and Museum, San Antonio, tejano music

Photo by Edmond Ortiz

Roger Hernandez serves as board president of the Totally Tejano Hall of Fame and Museum.

For a city that proudly calls itself the capital of Tejano music, San Antonio has long been missing a permanent place to honor the genre’s pioneers and preserve its history. That gap officially closed In December with the opening of the Totally Tejano Hall of Fame and Museum at 1414 Fredericksburg Rd.

The music couldn’t have found a better steward than its founder and board president. Roger Hernandez has had his finger on the pulse of Tejano music for decades. His company, En Caliente Productions, has provided a platform for countless performing artists and songwriters in Tejano, conjunto, and regional Mexican music since 1982.

Hernandez says his wife, who ran a shop at Market Square years ago, would often get questions from visitors about the location of a physical Tejano music museum, a thing that simply did not exist. In 2022, he banded together with friends, family, and other local Tejano music supporters to make the nonprofit Hall of Fame a reality.

“I decided I've been in the music scene for over 40 years, it's time to do a museum,” Hernandez recalls.

Hernandez says a brick-and-mortar Tejano music museum has long been needed to remember musical acts and other individuals who grew the genre across Texas and northern Mexico, especially those who are aging. Recently, the community lost famed Tejano music producer Manny Guerra and Abraham Quintanilla, the renowned Tejano singer/songwriter and father of the late superstar Selena Quintanilla-Perez. Both deaths occurred roughly one week after the Totally Tejano museum opened to the public.

“They're all dying. They're all getting older, and we need to acknowledge all these people,” Hernandez says.

The Totally Tejano Museum — named after Hernandez’s Totally Tejano Television Roku streaming — has 5,000 square feet of space packed with plaques, photos, promotional posters, musical instruments, and other memorabilia honoring the pioneers and stars of the beloved genre. Mannequins wear stage outfits from icons like Laura Canales and Flaco Jimenez, and a wall of photos remembers late greats. Totally Tejano Television plays legendary performances on a loop, bringing the exhibits to life.

The newly opened Totally Tejano Hall of Fame and Museum includes a growing collection of memorabilia. Photo by Edmond Ortiz

Hernandez says the museum will soon welcome permanent and rotating exhibits, including traveling shows, a Hall of Fame section, and an area paying homage to Chicano music crossovers, such as the late Johnny Rodriguez, the South Texas singer-songwriter who blended country with Tex-Mex music. Plans call for the organization to hold its inaugural Hall of Fame induction in February 2026.

Eventually, a 2,000 square feet back room will be converted into additional display space and host industry gatherings, community symposiums, and record and video release parties. The museum also plans to add a gift and record shop and a music learning room where visitors can listen to early Tejano music and browse archival photos. Hernandez is already talking with local school districts about educational field trips.

Much like Tejano itself, the museum is a grassroots production. Hernandez and fellow board members have used their own money to rent, renovate, develop, and maintain the museum space. The board also leads the selection of the Hall of Fame honorees and curates the exhibits.

Hernandez has been heartened by the museum’s reception, both from media outlets and music fans around Texas and beyond.

“We had a radio station come in this morning from Houston to interview us,” he says. “People have come in from Lubbock, Texas. We have had people from Midland, Texas. We have another person who emailed us who’s coming in from New York. People are learning all about us.”

That includes many of the musicians who helped shape the genre. Johnny Hernandez, Sunny Ozuna, Elida Reyna, and Danny Martinez from Danny and The Tejanos are among the luminaries who have already graced the halls.

The Totally Tejano Hall of Fame and Museum is now open 10 am-6 pm, Tuesday-Sunday, and closed Monday. Admission is free, but donations are encouraged. Fans can call 210-314-1310 for more information.

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