When you’re not busy enjoying the private access to Medina Lake and exclusive community amenities offered by Dancing Bear Ranch, there’s plenty going on in our neighboring communities to keep you active! Check out the following upcoming events for the spring of 2010:

February 4 – 21

San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo
Great entertainment with star-studded country, rock ‘n’ roll and Latin artist performances. Also includes shopping, a carnival and livestock centers.

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March 6

SeaWorld San Antonio Opens for 2010 Season
Unique animal attractions and entertaining shows that unite artistry, emotion and marine animals into amazing performances!

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March 5 – 17

St. Patrick’s Day Celebrations
Join the party on the River Walk for the St. Patrick’s Day River Parade.

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March 9-11

Poteet Strawberry Festival
Includes concerts, dancing, rides, gunslingers, rodeo performances and of course a ton of strawberries.

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March 13

Luminaria—Arts Night in San Antonio
Art, music, poetry, performance, and light shows. Patterned after similar Paris and Madrid arts festivals, Luminaria features hundreds of local, national and international talent.

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April 15-25

Fiesta San Antonio!

A celebration of San Antonio’s rich and diverse cultures, Fiesta features over 100 unique events and parades!

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May 10-16

Valero Texas Open
The third oldest tournament on PGA TOUR, this event has been one of the top-three most charitable PGA tournaments on TOUR for the last several years.

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While you’re in the neighborhood, come see us and take a Discovery Visit to enjoy an exclusive rate at one of our preferred hotels!

There are always great activities and events in the Texas Hill Country, especially in the summer. So when you are scheduling your tour of Medina Lake real estate at Dancing Bear Ranch, consider planning your visit so you can check out some of these great Texas events! For a true experience of the Texas lifestyle, why not start with a rodeo?

• BR Lightening Ranch Rodeo – Every Saturday at 8 p.m. in August, BR Lightening Ranch hosts a summer rodeo series. The BR Lightening Ranch Rodeo claims to feature the “World’s Only High Diving Aqua Mules.” The only way to know if they speak the truth is to see it yourself! Admission is $5 per person and free for children six years old or younger. For more information, go to http://lightningranch.com/.
• Twin Elm Rodeo – Twin Elm Ranch also hosts a summer rodeo series, occurring every Friday at 8 p.m. until Labor Day. Attendees can participate in many events, such as barrel racing, bull riding, and a calf scramble. Concessions will also be available. Admission is $6 per person and free for children six years old or younger. For more information, go to www.twinelmranch.com.

For more authentic Texas events, check out the following:

• Celebrate Bandera – During Labor Day weekend, the Bandera Community Foundation hosts a range of events throughout three days that celebrate the Cowboy Capital of the World! Thousands attend these events, which include a Wild West show, parade, arts and crafts fair, bull riding, and much more. For a schedule or more information, go to www.celebratebandera.com.
• Medina Lake Cajun Festival – On Saturday, September 26^th, the Medina Lake Cajun Festival will be held at the Lakehills Civic Center. This event is unique, as it brings the food and culture of Louisiana into the heart of Texas.  The main event is a Great Gumbo Cook-off, which attracts thousands of visitors each year. All proceeds go to the Medina Lake Betterment Association, Inc. For more information, go to http://www.cajunfestival-medinalake.com/html/cajun.htm.
• Labor Day Arts & Crafts – Walk along the San Antonio River Walk extension and browse the wide selection the fine art, jewelry and pottery sold by local vendors. The fair will take place from September 4^th – 7^th. For more information, call 210-227-4262.
• Dos Equis Pachanga del Rio – On September 10^th, also along the San Antonio River Walk, visitors can sample cuisine from 20 participating restaurants from 5-8:30 p.m. Afterwards, guests are welcome to the Post Party at the Buckhorn Saloon & Museum. There, you can listen to live music and enter to win free prizes. For ticket and event information, call 210-227-4262.
• Fotoseptiembre – If you enjoy photography, make sure to attend this free, month-long festival in September. From traditional to eccentric photography, one can find a diverse range of styles that appeal to all interests. For more information, call 210 737 8255 or go to www.fotoseptiembreusa.com.
• Jazz’SAlive – On September 19^th and 20^th, the San Antonio Parks Foundation and City of San Antonio will host a special, free concert at the historic Travis Park featuring numerous jazz performers. For more information, call 210-212-8423 or go to http://www.saparksfoundation.org/.

Live music and entertainment are not in short supply this summer in San Antonio. If you are visiting or live near San Antonio, there are many festivals and performances worth attending throughout the next couple of months.

The Fiesta Noche Del Rio, a San Antonio tradition held every year, lasts all through the summer until August 8^th. This event is a series of performances featuring songs and dances from Mexico, Spain, Argentina and Texas. Fiesta Noche Del Rio takes place at the River Walk’s historic Arneson River Theatre every Friday and Saturday Night.

If you’re looking for local live music, The Summer Sounds at Sunset series features artists of all genres from the San Antonio area. The event is free and takes place at Sunset Station. Concerts occur every weekend throughout the summer until the end of August.

To listen to live Latino music and learn about the history of it, The Museo Alameda is hosting the American Sabor Music Fest. The festival is no small affair; over 12 acts perform each day across three stages. Both local and national groups will be featured; and a variety of genres, including Latin Jazz, Funk and Blues, will be present. Accompanying the music is an interpretive exhibition that narrates the story of Latino’s influence on American popular music. This free event takes place July 25^th and September 19^th in Market Square.

Select Saturdays during July through September, the Avenida Guadalupe Association offers a free concert series at The Plaza on Guadalupe Street. This event is free and open to the public.

As a unique celebration that reflects the traditions of Old Spain, Sevilla Saturdays incorporate dance performances and live music to deliver an enjoyable experience to visitors. The San Antonio Parks and Recreation Department sponsors the event and features guest artists and dance troupes. The event is held at the Magik Theatre on July 18^th and 25^th.

If you’re considering relocating to a new home near the thriving performance culture in San Antonio, consider the beautiful Medina Late real estate at the Dancing Bear Ranch. To learn more about Medina Lake properties in the Texas Hill Country, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

Dancing Bear Ranch is just a short drive from San Antonio, one of the nation’s most affordable, fastest growing cities.  Dancing Bear Ranch offers Medina Lake real estate, with the convenience of being near the successfully thriving city of San Antonio.

According to Forbes.com, San Antonio has a rapidly growing health care and education industry that have kept unemployment low. Thanks to a steady economy and housing market, Moody’s projects that the GDP of San Antonio will barely dip before returning to growth in the third quarter of this year.

Current GDP: $66.3 billion
End of 2010: $68.4 billion (projected)
Unemployment: 5.4% 

In addition to being a top city for recession recovery, San Antonio has also been awarded the following accolades: 

Forbes magazine named San Antonio as the No. 2 most recession-proof city in America. 2008 

ForbesTraveler.com names San Antonio one of nation’s top 10 golf cities. March, 2009 

Southern Living Readers’ Choice Award, San Antonio among top ten southern cities. January, 2009 

Expedia: named San Antonio as the nation’s third fastest-growing leisure destination according to a new report released by Expedia Travel Trendwatch. 2008 

Travel + Leisure magazine has named San Antonio as one of America’s favorite cities for the second year in a row. San Antonio maintained its ranking as the most affordable of America’s cities and was also noted as the number two city for ethnic food and cheap eats and as the number five for family vacations. September, 2008 

Golf Magazine ranked San Antonio as the 13th best golf destination in the U.S. February, 2008 

USA Today named San Antonio as one of five top destinations for off-peak travel. 2008

San Antonio is a shopper’s paradise.  Featuring a large variety of malls, outlets, shopping centers and boutiques, San Antonio can be a bit overwhelming to anyone unfamiliar with the area.

Northwest San Antonio is just a short 20-minute drive from the beautiful Medina Lake real estate of Dancing Bear Ranch and offers some of the city’s best shopping opportunities.

San Antonio Shopping

Ingram Park Mall contains over 150 businesses and services. Anchored by outstanding department stores such as Macys, Dillard’s, Sears, and Bealls, the mall is also home to Victoria’s Secret, The Gap, Bath & Body Works, The Disney Store and much more.

The Shops at La Cantera provide some of the most up-scale and finest shopping in San Antonio. The open-air shopping center with tranquil surroundings and lush vegetation has over 160 specialty stores and major retailers such as Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom, Macy’s and Dillard’s. 300,000 sq. ft. of upscale shopping, restaurants and high-end office space is home to retailers such as aerie, Free People, Gilly Hicks, Metropark, Ruehl, United Colors of Benetton, Urban Outfitters, Vans and Zara.

The Rim, a 3 million sq. ft. retail center, is located on the leading edge of San Antonio’s northwest growth sector. The Rim is anchored by Bass Pro Shops’ Outdoor World and a 19-screen movie theater with an IMAX screen. Other stores include Target, Best Buy, and JC Penney. The Rim also offers fine dining and the luxurious Hotel Talavera and Spa.

The Apple Store allows you to browse the latest high-tech products and electronics from Apple and a variety of other vendors.

Bike World is an incredible experience for cyclists of all levels. The store features the most extensive collection of bikes, clothing and accessories in the Southwest. The Bike World experts can help you get the right gear to conquer the off-road foothills of the Medina Lake Texas Hill Country.

Alamo Ranch Shopping Center is a recent addition to the west side of San Antonio, attracting retailers such as Super Target, JC Penney, Lowe’s, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Ulta and Books-A-Million.

Other major retailers in the area include Wal-Mart, H-E-B, Kohl’s, Academy, Sheplers and Men’s Warehouse.  Northwest San Antonio is also home to Furniture Row, Sterling Oaks, Culebra Crossing and Bandera Pointe Shopping Centers.

If you’re in the mood for family fun, northwest San Antonio also features Six Flags Fiesta Texas and SeaWorld within 20-minutes of the various shopping centers, malls and retail outlets. Northwest San Antonio is also just a 30-minute drive from a night out on the town or exploring the boutiques and specialty shops of downtown and the River Walk.