Before you ask

Yes. TerraTx is a free, public, three-day event — no ticket, no wristband, no gate fee. We'd love for you to pre-register so we can send you the trail map and lineup ahead of time, but you can also just show up.

Friday Sept 25: 10 AM–11 PM. Saturday Sept 26: 7 AM–11 PM. Sunday Sept 27: 7 AM–6 PM. Many installations stay lit after dark — the Canopy of Light is best seen after 8 PM.

The festival runs rain or shine. In the event of dangerous weather or river conditions, we'll pause outdoor stages and move what we can under the pavilion. Flash flooding is the canyon's one real hazard — if county officials call for it, we follow their lead. Watch the info tent and our Instagram for live updates.

On the Frio River between Leakey and Concan, in Real County, Texas — about 2 hours west of San Antonio and 3.5 from Austin. The grounds are off US-83. Drop a pin from the map page before you lose signal in the canyon.

Parking is free. The main lot is off Hwy 83 with accessible spaces nearest the gate; an overflow lot has a continuous shuttle. Carpool if you can — the canyon roads are two-lane and the lots fill on Saturday.

Spotty at best. The canyon walls block most carriers. Download or screenshot the map and schedule before you arrive, agree on a meeting spot with your group, and don't count on mobile payments at every booth.

Yes — the food court has BBQ, tamales, wood-fired pizza, coffee, and paletas, and the makers' market sells honey and more. Bring cash; signal is unreliable for card readers. Outside food and refillable water bottles are welcome.

Yes. Free water-refill stations are at the info tent, the food court, and the river access. September in the canyon is hot — bring a refillable bottle and use them often.

Yes, at the marked access points. There's a lifeguarded gravel entry (10 AM–6 PM) and a shallow area for small kids. The Frio is spring-fed, clear, and cold — and it moves. Read the water-safety notes before you get in.

There's no camping on the festival grounds themselves, but several outfitters and RV parks along the river offer sites within a short drive. Book early — the canyon fills up months ahead for festival weekend.

Very. Most workshops are hands-on and free, the storytelling is built for all ages, and the shallows are made for small swimmers. Strollers roll fine on the main paths (the river trail is gravel and uneven). Lost-child wristbands are free at the info tent — grab one on arrival.

Leashed, well-behaved dogs are welcome on the grounds, but please leave them home if it's very hot — September pavement and gravel can burn paws, and the crowds and music stress some animals. Service animals are welcome everywhere; the river is not the place to leave any dog unattended.

The main grounds, stages, food court, and restrooms are accessible, with ADA parking and an accessible shuttle. The canyon is real terrain, though — the river trail is gravel and sloped. Our accessibility page tells you the honest truth about every path, plus a direct contact for specific needs.

Most market makers sell their work on-site, and several artists offer prints. The large murals and installations are permanent gifts to the canyon — part of a growing self-guided art trail you can revisit any time of year.

Workshops are free and mostly drop-in, first-come. A few with limited materials fill fast — pre-register and we'll email you the workshop signup link the week before the festival.

We always need hands — setup, info tent, river safety, teardown. Locals especially: this is your festival. Reach out and tell us how you'd like to help.