Festival Hill events

Friday, November 6 · 4:00 PMDay 1: Ever After — Theatre and Fairy Tales

Round Top Festival Institute’s 29th Annual Theatre Forum opens with registration at 4 PM and a 7:30 PM Festival Concert Hall program with Stafford Wood, “Finding the Way to Wonderland.” Theme: Ever After — When Hansel’s Stepsisters met the Wolf. Theatre and Fairy Tales! Forum runs Nov 6–8. Online registration is listed as closed; call 979-249-3129 for information. Printable schedule: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1wbZiZzEHTntq2gEey1hKiIecXz_ukvkz/view?usp=sharing

Saturday, November 7 · 8:30 AMDay 2: Lectures, Workshops & Evening Concert

Saturday Forum day includes an 8:30 AM open-air poetry walk (“Into the Thicket”), lectures in Edythe Bates Old Chapel (Felicia Londré 9:30 AM; Dr. Logan Browning 11:00 AM; Rodney Waters 1:30 PM; Mary Koenig 3:00 PM), student workshops on the Festival Concert Hall stage, a 6:30 PM fairy-tale costume reception, dinner, and an 8:30 PM concert with Brad Dalton, “Once Upon a Dream: Fairy Tales in Song.” Registration listed as closed online; call 979-249-3129.

Sunday, November 8 · 9:30 AMDay 3: Playshop & Student Presentation

Sunday closes the Theatre Forum with Dr. Isabelle Ganz’s 9:30 AM playshop “Update your old Fairy Tale” and a 10:15 AM student presentation, “The Teddy Bear’s Picnic,” led by BJ Dodge and Ava Leavell Haymon on the Festival Concert Hall stage. Online registration listed as closed; call 979-249-3129.

Saturday, November 7 · 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Volunteer morning helping keep Festival Hill’s gardens and grounds. Projects may include clearing trails, raking leaves, trimming shrubs, weeding, planting and mulching. Group photo and lunch provided afterward. Registration required on the Festival Hill event page; new volunteers welcome.

Saturday, December 5 · 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM

Blinn College Wind Symphony and Choirs perform at Festival Concert Hall. Tickets are $10 per person through the Blinn box office.

Thursday, December 10 · Time TBA

Monthly program of the Herb Society of America Pioneer Unit at Festival Hill with speakers Julie Johnson and Tess Hartman. Exact start time not posted on the programs page; confirm with the Pioneer Unit before publishing a clock time.

Saturday, December 12 · 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM

Sold out. Festival Hill lists this performance as sold out; check with them for any returns.

Ovation Ballet Company brings Tchaikovsky’s Christmas classic to Festival Concert Hall for the 18th year — “the legendary ballet danced by children for children of all ages.” Adult tickets were $40; student $20 when available.

Friday, January 1 · 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM

Organist Linda Patterson and musical colleagues present a New Year’s Day recital of festive music on the historic 1830s organ in Edythe Bates Old Chapel. Limited seating; reservations required. Adult $30; student $10.

Saturday, January 23 · 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM

Pianist and pedagogue Victor Rosenbaum performs late piano works by Beethoven, Brahms and Schubert, opening with Beethoven’s Bagatelles, Op. 126. Optional lunch at 12:45 PM by reservation ($37.50). Adult $30; student $10.

Saturday, February 13 · 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM

Timeless love songs from Broadway to Nashville with singer-songwriter Will Lynde and family, followed by a Bybee Library reception. More program details TBA. Adult $30; student $10; accessible seating $60.

Saturday, March 6 · 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM

Founder and Artistic Director James Dick performs solo piano works by Haydn, Schubert and Beethoven. Optional reception and dinner by reservation ($80). Adult $40; student $15.

Friday, March 12 · 3:00 PM – 9:00 PM (hours to be confirmed)Day 1

Round Top Festival Institute’s 31st Annual Herbal Forum and Plant Sale opens Friday. Herb of the Year: Flax. Forum runs Friday–Saturday, March 12–13, 2027. Detailed schedule and ticket info TBA on the Festival Hill event page. The Herb Society of America Pioneer Unit also lists its Annual Plant and Gift Sale on campus these dates.

Saturday, March 13 · Time TBADay 2

Second day of the 31st Annual Herbal Forum and Plant Sale at Festival Hill. Herb of the Year: Flax. Hours and ticket details TBA; see Festival Hill for updates. Pioneer Unit Plant and Gift Sale continues on campus.

Saturday, April 10 · 7:00 PM – 10:00 PM

Benefit concert for Round Top Festival Institute at Festival Concert Hall. Save the date; tickets go on sale Monday, January 4, 2027. Program details TBA.

Friday, April 16 · 1:30 PM – 9:00 PM (hours to be confirmed)Day 1

Three-day festival of readings, workshops and fellowship on the Festival Hill campus (Apr 16–18, 2027). Featured poets announced so far include Naomi Shihab Nye, Cornelius Eady, Marie Howe, Ed Madden, Rajiv Mohabir, Dr. John Mills, Chera Hammons, Lucy Griffith and R. Scott Yarbrough. Registration and workshop details open in early 2027 via poetryatroundtop.org and Festival Hill.

Saturday, April 17 · Time TBADay 2

Second day of Poetry at Round Top at Festival Hill. Readings, workshops and conversations on craft. Session times TBA (registration opens early 2027). Featured poets announced so far include Naomi Shihab Nye, Cornelius Eady, Marie Howe, Ed Madden, Rajiv Mohabir, Dr. John Mills, Chera Hammons, Lucy Griffith and R. Scott Yarbrough.

Sunday, April 18 · Time TBADay 3

Closing day of Poetry at Round Top at Festival Hill. Readings, workshops and fellowship. Session times TBA (registration opens early 2027). Featured poets announced so far include Naomi Shihab Nye, Cornelius Eady, Marie Howe, Ed Madden, Rajiv Mohabir, Dr. John Mills, Chera Hammons, Lucy Griffith and R. Scott Yarbrough.