Gruene is uncorking a major milestone this fall. The Gruene Music & Wine Fest is back for its 40th year, a four-day run of tastings, artisan markets and live shows set for Oct. 8-11 in the Gruene Historic District. Ticket sales opened today, with the weekend split between free garden tastings and ticketed headliner sets at the storied Gruene Hall. A longtime Hill Country fall staple, the fest pairs Texas wine and beer with Americana and country performances while raising money for local charities.
Tickets, dates and free events
According to Gruene Music & Wine Fest, the celebration runs Oct. 8-11, with ticketing going live Friday at 10 a.m. The schedule features free-admission events at The Grapevine, including a Thursday Kickoff Party and Saturday Tastings & Tunes, alongside separately sold tasting tickets and individual show tickets. Organizers are keeping things strictly à la carte so festivalgoers can mix and match the free public programming with paid concerts and specialty events.
Lineup highlights
The festival lineup leans hard into Texas favorites, with Robert Earl Keen, Shane Smith & the Saints, The SteelDrivers and Dos Borrachos (Kevin Fowler & Roger Creager) among the marquee names, plus more regional acts filling out the Sunday all-star slate. As reported by CultureMap San Antonio, organizers are eyeing an even bigger fundraising year after the event brought in $214,500 in 2025. “At its heart, Gruene Music & Wine Fest has always been about bringing people together,” Cami Lehmann, vice president of marketing for Momentous Concepts, told CultureMap.
Why it matters to the Hill Country
The festival supports United Way programs in Comal and Guadalupe counties, with proceeds helping fund local work on food insecurity, housing support and mental health services, according to the United Way of Comal & Guadalupe Counties. Visit New Braunfels also points out that over the decades the fest has generated more than $2.5 million and remains one of the area’s top charity-focused events. That philanthropic angle also keeps October foot traffic flowing through Gruene’s shops, restaurants and music venues, giving the historic district a solid boost before the holiday rush.
How to plan your weekend
Tickets for tastings and special events are available through the festival’s Tickets page and its listed ticketing partners, with each Gruene Hall show linking directly to purchase options for that night. Visitors can expect free parking options around the historic district, a mix of cash-and-card policies at participating venues, and a rain-or-shine schedule. Full logistics and FAQs are posted on the festival website and on Gruene Hall’s ticket pages for anyone looking to fine-tune their game plan.
