Lake Travis Current
Posts
Party At Willie Nelson's

Party At Willie Nelson's

Plus Mac & Cheese Fest and Bee Cave on Ice

November 13, 2025

Today’s current water level: 80.1%

Willie’s Kind of Luck. Around Lake Travis, a few legends stick around. Take Willie Nelson, who traded tour buses for tractor rides at his 500-acre Luck Ranch in Spicewood. What started as the movie set for Red Headed Stranger turned into a living piece of Hill Country folklore - complete with rescue horses and jam sessions.

This weekend, that story comes alive again at Luck Ranch. Willie’s even recorded his latest album right here in Briarcliff, tipping his hat to his old friend Merle Haggard.

This week’s contributor post has an inside look at the Surreal Luck event that’s been turning heads - and it all wraps up this weekend.

Here’s what else is happening around the lake this week.

🔴 🟡 🟢

SIP N SHOP | November 13, 5-9pm | Bombshell Beauty Co. | FREE | Info
Local vendors, sips, raffles, and early holiday finds all in one glam night out.

SIP, SHOP, & SAVOR | November 13, 6:30pm | Sloan & Parker | FREE | Info
A laid-back evening of wine, local finds, and festive vibes.

AUTHOR EVENT: MARY BRYANT SHRADER | November 13, 7-8pm | Lake Travis Library | FREE | Info
A bestselling author returns with a heartfelt guide to preserving food the old-fashioned way.

BEE CAVE ON ICE | November 14-January 19 | Hill Country Galleria | Various pricing | Info
Lace up your skates as the Galleria turns into a winter wonderland.

LADIES NIGHT WINE + CHEESE PAIRING | November 14, 6-8pm | Dax + Jade | $35 | Info
Celebrate International Girl’s Day at this cheese-and-wine soirée. Bonus: Childcare available.

BADGES, BOOTS & BLING | November 14, 6:30-11pm | Star Hill Ranch | $150 | Info
A night of live music, dancing, and Texas-sized generosity supporting the Texas Rangers Association.

NEXT STOP COMEDY SHOW | November 14, 7pm | Flat Creek Estate Winery | $25 | Info
Wine first, punchlines second - either way, you’ll leave smiling.

ANGEL’S COMEDY NIGHT | November 14, 8pm | Angel’s Icehouse | $25
Chappelle’s Show alum Kyle Grooms brings his sharp wit and big laughs to Spicewood.

LAKE TRAVIS CARS & CAVS | November 15, 8-11am | Lake Travis High School | FREE | Info
Rev up your Saturday with the Lake Travis Automotive Club for cars, coffee, and community.

CHRISTMAS IN NOVEMBER BAZAAR & LUNCH | November 15, 9am-3pm | St. Mary’s Catholic Church | FREE | Info
Shop local makers for handmade gifts, festive décor, and one-of-a-kind finds.

LAKEWAY VILLAGE SQUARE FARMERS MARKET | November 15, 10a-2pm | Lakeway Village Square | FREE | Info
Fuel your weekend at Rooted Markets with farm-fresh find and local flavor.

BACKYARD BIRDS OF AUSTIN | November 15, 10-11am | The Natural Gardener | FREE | Info
Learn to spot, attract, and support your feathered neighbors.

POPPING BUBBLES: COLLABORATIVE PROBLEM SOLVING | November 15, 10:30am | Lake Travis Library | FREE | Info
Build better teamwork in this playful, hands-on workshop.

LUCKY RABBIT CHILI COOKOFF | November 15, 1pm | Lucky Rabbit | Info
Live music, cold drinks, and a chili showdown.

SYMPHONY EN FEUGO | November 15, 7-8:30pm | Lake Travis High School | $10-$20 | Info
Lake Travis Orchestra meets Mariachi Rock Revolution for one unforgettable, high-voltage performance.

THE RIDES & ROASTS TOY DRIVE | November 16, 9-11am | Covert Cadillac Bee Cave | FREE | Info
Bring a new, unwrapped toy and join fellow car enthusiasts to benefit local families.

AUSTIN MAC & CHEESE FESTIVAL | November 16, 11am-3pm | Star Hill Ranch | $25-$100 | Info
Elbow your way into the cheesiest event of the year.

Photo from Austin Mac & Cheese Festival website

FRIENDSGIVING BINGO & TURKEY DINNER | November 19, 6pm | Angel’s Icehouse | FREE | Info
Because nothing says neighborly like turkey and bingo.

RCX EXPERIENCE | November 15, 9:30am | Hidden Falls Adventure Park | Price varies by age | Info
Bring your rig for a full day of trails, races, and prizes.

BETWEENS: MINECRAFT IRL | November 15, 2-3pm | Bee Cave Library | FREE | Info
Gamers in grades 2–5, gear up for mini games and crafts

TEXAS CRAFT BREWERS FESTIVAL | Nov 15, 2-6:30pm | Fiesta Gardens | $55 | Info
Love beer, live music, and good company? This Texas-only brew fest is your kind of party.

AUSTIN STUDIO TOUR | Nov 15-16, 12-6pm | Various locations throughout Austin | FREE | Info
Soak in local art at this free, family-friendly citywide showcase of creativity.

WURSTFEST 2025 | Nov 7-16 | New Braunfels | Various pricing | Info
A ten-day Texas-sized nod to all things German.

🔴 🟡 🟢

Ethan Brooks with Austin Business Review gave his take on the Surreal Luck event at Willie Nelson’s Ranch. Check it out below:

Local Artist of the Week (and Party At Willie Nelson’s)

This is a fun piece for me, because Ion Art is one of the first local artists I ever highlighted in this newsletter back when it started.

Husband-wife duo, Greg and Sharon Keshishian, are responsible for so much of the signage that makes Austin iconic – from the ATX sculpture outside Whole Foods on 5th, to the glowing backdrop of the Capital Factory stage, to the signs at Franklin BBQ and Stubbs, Starbase, and many, many more. They and their team made them all.

They also host this annual light show called Surreal Luck, and this year, they’re partnering with Willie Nelson’s Ranch to make it bigger and better than ever. Music, food, live performances, and 100+ neon sculptures, plus a chance to roam Willie’s (mostly private) town, Luck, Texas.

It’s happening over both of the next two weekends: Nov. 7-9, and Nov. 13-16 and you can snag tickets here.

Photos courtesy of Ethan Brooks, Austin Business Review

🔴 🟡 🟢

We Asked, You Basked. From the first blush of sunrise to the last spark of sunset, Lake Travis never skips a golden hour. It’s one of those everyday luxuries we all get to share (no filter required). Big thanks to our readers, Steve Lesem and Amy Kent, for capturing the kind of backyard views that make the rest of us want to grab a camera and soak it all in.

Photo credit: Steve Lesem (taken from his back porch)

Photo credit: Amy Kent (taken from her patio)

Out and about around town? Send us your best shots - from concerts to cocktails to community hangs - and you might see yourself featured in next week’s newsletter.

🔴 🟡 🟢

Favorite restaurant + playground around the lake?

Last week’s poll results. We asked where’s your favorite spot to watch sports? Turns out most of you would rather call the plays from your own couch - the big screen at home beats the bar every time.

🔴 🟡 🟢

Nov 13th - Nov 16th

ANGEL’S ICEHOUSE (Spicewood)
Fri: Troy Stone | 5pm

HILL COUNTRY GALLERIA (Bee Cave)
Fri: Scott Strickland | 6-8pm

JULES DESIGN BAR (Bee Cave)
Fri: Shelley Mac | 8-10pm
Sat: Rochelle & The Sidewinders | 8-10pm

LT CORNER PUB (Lakeway)
Thu: Shawn Austin & Skeeter Van Meter | 9pm-1am
Fri: Karaoke Night + KJ Kevin | 9pm-1am
Sat: The Hudson Benders | 10pm-1am

PATRIZI’S (Cuernavaca)
Thu: Open Mic | 6-9pm
Fri: Bob Rose | 6:30pm-9:30pm
Sat: Jane Rundquist & Too Blue | 6:30-9:30pm

POODIE’S ROADHOUSE (Spicewood)
Thu: Gus Miller 6pm | TG Express with Alan Haynes 8pm
Fri: Last of Petty Cash 8pm | Dallas Moore 10:30pm
Sat: Darci Carlson | 10:30pm
Sun: Derek Groves Cosmic Western Show 4pm | Muchacho Sanchez 7:30pm

STEINER RANCH STEAKHOUSE (Steiner Ranch)
Thu: Anders Drerup Band | 6-9pm
Sat: Anders Drerup Band | 6:30-9:30pm

THE OASIS (Lake Travis)
Fri: Southern Shade | 7-10pm
Sat: E7 | 7-10pm
Sun: 80s Obsession | 5:30-8:30pm

🔴 🟡 🟢

GRAND OPENING
Musicologie celebrates its grand opening this Sunday (4-6pm) and is bringing a new beat to Lakeway.

FORE THE CAMERAS
Golf Channel’s Big Break is teeing off its 24th season at Horseshoe Bay Resort.

What'd you think of today's newsletter?

Have an event we should know about?
Submit it here!

Want to advertise with us?
Click here!

Got feedback?
Just hit reply!

THANK YOU FOR READING!

Know someone who’d enjoy this? Because sharing is caring.

Reply

or to participate.