Family Friendly Fourth of July!

Looking for the best ways to spend Independence Day (or week!) as a family? We've rounded up the best of the best, and planned a full week of old fashioned family fun for you and the whole gang in New Braunfels, Texas!



Monday, July 1st - Check the crew into the newly renovated Schlitterbahn Treehaus Suites (one suite can sleep up to 12!) and unwind. Send the kiddos out to the river while you unpack the week's worth of luggage. Once you're settled in, head over the Gristmill River Restaurant & Bar for dinner along the Guadalupe River. Recently named one of America's most popular family-friendly restaurants by UrbanSpoon, the Gristmill has something for everyone, and the relaxed outdoor atmosphere will keep the whole family entertained!

Tuesday, July 2nd - Let the kids release a little energy at Schlitterbahn parks. They open at 10 am, and be sure to get there early to avoid the lines! With your stay at the resort, you get free access to the park, so be sure to get your fill of the Boogie Bahn and the Master Blaster! At 6 pm, head on over to legendary Gruene Hall for Swing Dance Lessons for the whole family. Then stay to try out your new moves at Two Ton Tuesdays starting at 8:30 pm.

Wednesday, July 3rd - Take a break from the water, and head out to Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch and Caverns. See the brand new baby (twin!!) giraffes, along with the other African animals, and then beat the heat in the afternoon in the deep caverns learning about stalactites and stalagmites!

Thursday, July 4th - Get an early morning start at the Landa Park Spring-fed Pool, then, when the kids get hungry (and the park starts to get too crowded) head over to Cantina del Rio in Gruene for lunch, and some of the best fish and shrimp tacos in the area. Stay all day for the two free concerts at Gruene Hall with the Danny Brooks Band and The Damn Quails - the kids can play P-I-G on the old basketball hoop Hal Ketchum built in the '80s - then head back to Landa Park for the fireworks!

Friday, July 5th - Now that the holiday is over, and the crowds have died down (a little), it's time for the river!! Head down to Rockin' R River Rides, hop in a raft, and relax! Let a guide steer the way, or take to the rapids of the Guad yourself. Finish the float back at Rockin' R, head up the hill to Gruene, and finish your week with some shopping. The kids will love an ice cream cone or root beer float from the old fashioned soda fountain at the General Store, and you'll love the wine and beer tastings from the Grapevine - the best of both worlds! Make sure to stop by Buck Pottery where the kiddos can watch a pottery demonstration, and maybe even make their own!

For some, the road may end here, but should you choose to stay through the weekend, Gruene Hall has live music all weekend, Schlitterbahn remains open, and you might also want to stop by the Snake Farm or Bucee's.
We hope you have a blast in New Braunfels!!

17th Annual Americana Music Jam Donation!

  17^th ANNUAL KNBT AMERICANA MUSIC JAM RAISES OVER $60,000 FOR NON-PROFIT

KNBT Radio & Gruene Hall Present Donation Check to Connections

 

Pictured (Left to Right): Kris Mund (Mund Group Casualty Co.), Trevor Bird (Gruene Harley Davidson), Mattson Rainer (KNBT 92.1 FM, Project Director), Pat Molak (Gruene Hall, Owner), Chris Young (Val-Mark Chevrolet), Shane Wolf (Rockin’ R), Brian Betsworth (Christus Santa Rosa Hospital), Kellie Stalling (Connections, Exec. Director) and Doug Miller, II (Connections, Board VP)

Not pictured: Wynn Wallace (NB Mattress)

 

JUNE 20: (GRUENE, TX) – Mattson Rainer, General Manager of KNBT 92.1 FM Radio New Braunfels, and Pat Molak, owner of Gruene Hall, presented $60,698.43 to Connections Individual and Family Services, the benefiting organization of this year’s 17th Annual KNBT Americana Music Jam. The Jam was held on Sunday, May 19, 2013 at Gruene Hall.

The KNBT Americana Music Jam is an annual celebration of Americana music featuring exceptional artists of the genre. Sponsors of this year's Jam were NB Mattress, Rockin’ R River Rides, Christus Santa Rosa New Braunfels, ValMark Chevrolet, Gruene Harley Davidson and The Mund Group.

The music lineup included Jack Ingram, Randy Rogers, Hayes Carll, Reckless Kelly, Cody Canada & The Departed, Wade Bowen, Sean McConnell, Uncle Lucius, Walt Wilkins & The Mystiqueros, Slaid Cleaves, Monty Byrom Band, Zack Walther, Midnight River Choir, Bleu Edmondson, Statesboro Revue and Dustin Welch. Most of the performers are long-time veterans of the Americana Music Jam, and were thrilled to help such a great cause once again, and to support KNBT and Gruene Hall, both of which are major advocates of Americana music.

Connections Individual and Family Services

Connections is a 501(c)3 private, non-profit organization that was founded by a group of community leaders in 1981 to provide a safe and secure alternative to the “streets” for homeless, abused, or at-risk youth. Today, Connections provides program services in eighteen (18) rural counties and operates thirteen (13) counseling offices and three (3) residential locations. Connections provides social services to families and individuals to include:
1) Counseling and prevention education services for youth, adults, and families
2) Short-term residential services for runaway, abused or neglected, homeless, and at-risk youth
3) Chrysalis Transitional Living Program for older youth ages 16-21
4) Crisis hotline and referral services
5) Kids Exchange/supervised visitation services
6) Substance Abuse Prevention

Gruene Hall is a true Texas tradition. The 6,000 square foot, open air dance hall has remained much the same since its start. The wood floors, antique advertisements on the walls and rustic stage provide perfect examples. A favorite music venue for artists and patrons alike, the overriding attraction from the late ‘70s has always been the magic and intimacy created between the audience and performer due to the close proximity of the stage to the dance floor. The booking direction is focused on singer-songwriters and artists who play original material, and the Hall stage has proved to be a fertile ground for many former “new talents” such as George Strait, Hal Ketchum and Lyle Lovett. For a lengthier list of artists who have played the Hall, please visit our website. For information, call (830) 606-1281 or visit www.gruenehall.com.

KNBT 92.1 FM Radio New Braunfels is the leading Americana radio station in the nation and is designed to attract a loyal and attentive audience of passionate Americana music fans. Between achieving national recognition and being a local New Braunfels radio favorite, KNBT has carved out a unique place on the radio dial and on the web, with its Americana music. Featuring artists like Alison Krauss, Robert Earl Keen, Willie Nelson, Lucinda Williams and other acclaimed singer/songwriters, the Americana format brings together some of the most desirable listener demographics in music and radio.