Gillespie County Fair & Festivals Association History
In 1883, the first Gillespie County Fair was held east of Fredericksburg
on what had once been Fort Martin Scott. The site had been purchased by John
W. Braeutigam, in 1870 after the Civil War, and became “Braeutigam’s
Garten,” a dance hall. The abandoned fort parade grounds were dragged by
logs for use as the first racetrack. Turner Hall, in the 100 block of West
Adams between Schubert and Travis Streets, was the second location called
Central Park. The race track was two blocks long on East Travis Street.
In 1892, the 400 block between South Adams and South Lincoln became the
third site of the Gillespie County fair. The area is still referred to as
“the old fairgrounds” and is the home of HEB Grocery store and the City’s
Fair Park. In 1976, the Fairgrounds moved to its current location adjacent
to the county airport on Highway 16 South.
Racing has always been a large part of the Fairgrounds’ entertainment. Horse
races, especially, are a big attraction. Sulky, or trotting races, also have
been held, as well as bicycle races. One year three elephants raced.
Baseball games were held on the track in front of the grandstands and
suspended during a race. The players would line the fences and watch. During
the early years, Fredericksburg and Stonewall had polo teams.
The Golden Jubilee Fair was celebrated in 1935. The catalog produced for the
occasion explained how the “Great Depression” had seriously affected the
area, but the Fair had continued under some trying conditions. Two banks
closed in 1932, but the economy was picking up by the 50th Anniversary Fair
and several of the merchants advertised on red and blue sheets inserted in
the center of the catalog.
Annual Fairs have been held since the founding of the Gillespie County Fair,
with the exception of five years during World War I and World War II.
The 100th Anniversary was a spectacular centennial celebration. A parade
that included all past Fair Queens and Duchesses began the festivities in
the traditional manner
Today the Gillespie County Fair & Festivals Association (GCFFA) is a
non-profit organization run by a 48 member volunteer board. The purpose of
the Fair Association is to develop programs that encourage, instruct and
promote the education of the youth of Gillespie County – with emphasis on
the agricultural industry. In keeping with that purpose, the Fair
Association has created one of the most dynamic scholarship programs in the
area, granting scholarships to graduating county seniors on an annual basis.
By 2010, over 480 students have received scholarships totaling approximately
$256,850.
GCFFA is made up of 518 shareholders who own from one to seventy-five shares
each. Thirty-eight voting directors and ten honorary directors govern the
organization. The by-laws of the organization state that a shareholder may
not receive payment for the services rendered as a Director. Each year, in
addition to the shareholders and directors, over 300 individuals volunteer
their time at the annual events and projects. The Directors and volunteers
annually donate in excess of 30,000 volunteer hours to Fairground programs
and projects
Each year the Gillespie County Fairgrounds is the site for major
tourist-attracting events. Additionally, there are numerous other events
held at the Fairgrounds, which regularly attract thousands of visitors to
our community. Fairgrounds facilities include: the indoor, 15,000 square
foot Exhibition Hall, Livestock Barn, and the covered Peddler Pavilion as
well as the Bier Garten, race track, grandstands and 200 horse stalls. The
Race Barn opened in April 2003 and provides simulcast pari-mutuel horse and
dog races with a restaurant and bar.
Not only is the Gillespie County Fairgrounds the host site for events that
have become major tourist attractions such as the Peddler Show, Texas
Presentations Antique Show, Fredericksburg Jaycees Truck and Tractor Pull,
and the Antique Tractor Show, but the GCFFA also sponsors several events.
Among these events are live Pari-mutuel Horse Races, the Gillespie County
Fair, the Texas Hill Country’s largest parade, and most recently, the 1st
Annual Fredericksburg PBR. The Hill Country Antique Tractor and Engine Club
counts the Gillespie County Fairgrounds as their home. The HCAT&EC
constructs antique machinery displays and holds their annual event at the
Fairgrounds.