Things to Do in Wimberley, Texas
- Drive time from Starlight Horizon: About 30 to 45 minutes.
- Wimberley Market Days: First Saturday of the month, March through December, 7 AM to 3 PM, rain or shine, at Lions Field on FM 2325.
- Market Days cost: Free admission; parking is a $10 donation that funds Wimberley Lions Club charities and scholarships.
- Blue Hole swimming season: May 1 through Labor Day plus September weekends, reservation required for half-day sessions unless you hold a season pass.
- Old Baldy hike: 218 limestone steps, about 0.2 miles, free, park open 8 AM to sunset daily.
- Best season: Year-round for the Square, Glassworks, and Old Baldy; May through Labor Day plus September weekends for Blue Hole swimming; the first Saturday of any month March-December for Market Days.
Wimberley Market Days, the Real Rundown
Market Days started in 1964, when the Wimberley Chamber of Commerce launched the first market on the town square. The Wimberley Lions Club took over running it in 1969, and in 1972 the club bought seven acres on FM 2325, dedicated it as Lions Field that July, and later renamed it Lions Memorial Field in 1976 after founding president Ja Wahrmund passed away. What started as about 100 vendor spaces held six Saturdays a year has grown into one of the largest outdoor markets in the Hill Country: more than 20 oak-shaded acres and around 490 vendor booths today.
The schedule now runs the first Saturday of the month, March through December, 7 AM to 3 PM, rain or shine. There’s no market in January or February. Admission is free; parking runs $10 per car, and that fee goes directly to the Lions Club’s local charity and scholarship work, not a private operator. Ten food concession stands and three live-music stages keep the day going alongside the vendor booths, which run the full range: handcrafted goods, antiques, clothing, home decor, local art, and food. Dogs are welcome on a leash, and waste bag stations sit at every entry gate.
Because it draws day-trippers from both Austin and San Antonio, the field fills in by mid-morning on good-weather Saturdays. Arriving close to the 7 AM open gets you easier parking and first pick before the most popular booths sell through. Wear shoes built for a few hours on grass and gravel, not sandals, and plan on spending most of the day; the market’s own description puts it plainly: you couldn’t see every booth in one visit even if you tried.
Blue Hole Regional Park: Swimming, Reservations, and the Rest of the Park
Blue Hole is a spring-fed swimming hole on Cypress Creek, the same creek system Jacob’s Well feeds a few miles upstream, known for its cypress trees, rope swing, and a sandy-bottomed swim area that stays cold even in August. The swim season runs May 1 through Labor Day plus weekends in September, and unless you hold a season pass, swimming requires a reservation. Half-day passes are sold in two time blocks, 9 AM to 1 PM and 2 PM to 6 PM, at $15 for adults (13-59), $10 for youth (4-12), seniors (60+), and military, $6 for Wimberley residents in the 78676 zip code, and free for kids under 4. Season passes, sold starting in the spring, run $175 for adults, $150 for youth, and $125 for seniors and military.
The park grounds themselves, picnic areas, trails, and playground included, stay open 8 AM to sunset year-round, well beyond the swim season, so a visit outside summer still has something to offer even with the water off-limits. If you’re building the day around actually getting in the water, book the reservation before you leave the cabin; walk-up swim slots aren’t part of the current system.
The Square, and Wimberley Glassworks Just Outside Town
The Square is Wimberley’s walkable downtown core: locally owned shops, art galleries, wine rooms, and cafes clustered around the town center, the kind of place where the shopkeepers know their regulars. Wimberley has been an artists’ town for decades, and that shows up in the galleries, the public art, and the painted boots scattered around the valley. Wimberley Cafe, a homestyle spot with a retro dining room, sits right on the square itself, alongside boutiques like River House and Annie James tucked into the historic Lumberyard building.
One worth flagging for anyone mapping the day: Wimberley Glassworks isn’t actually on the Square. It sits a few minutes outside town on Ranch Road 12, between Wimberley and San Marcos, easy to fold into a Wimberley day since it’s on the way rather than a detour. The gallery is open Wednesday through Sunday, 10 AM to 5 PM, with live glassblowing demonstrations Thursday through Sunday, 10:30 AM to 3:30 PM, no ticket required, walk in and stay as long as you like. Groups of 10 or more who want a demo scheduled to their timing need a reservation; drop-in visitors don’t.
Old Baldy, and the Rest of the Outdoors
Old Baldy is a limestone hill overlooking town, reached by 218 steps carved directly into the hillside, about 0.2 miles round-trip of trail with roughly 100 feet of elevation gain, easy at the bottom and noticeably steeper near the top. The payoff at the summit is a 360-degree view over Wimberley’s rooftops and the surrounding cedar and oak ridgeline. The park sits off La Toya Trail, about 2.5 miles from the Square, open daily 8 AM to sunset, free to visit. It became a City of Wimberley park in 2015 after the community-led Save Old Baldy Foundation raised the money to help the city buy the land. Skip the steps if it’s rained recently; the carved limestone and caliche get slick.
Jacob’s Well, the artesian spring that pulls in more searches than anywhere else covered on this site, sits along the same corridor a few minutes outside Wimberley. Hiking and viewing the spring are free and open daily; swimming there has been suspended since 2022 due to low aquifer levels, with the outlook for reopening still uncertain year to year. Read the full Jacob’s Well guide for current status, reservations, and everything else before you build it into the same day as Wimberley.
Where to Eat
The Leaning Pear has run Hill Country-inspired plates a block or two off the Square since 2007, open Wednesday through Saturday, 11 AM to 9 PM, and Sunday 11 AM to 3 PM, closed Monday and Tuesday. It’s the anchor most locals point to first, and the patio setup makes it an easy lunch stop between Market Days and a walk around the Square. Beyond that one anchor, the Square and the streets around it carry a working mix of cafes, wine rooms, and food trucks that rotates with the season; check what’s open the week you’re going rather than building a whole day around one specific place beyond the Leaning Pear.
A Wimberley day, before the drive back to the cabin.
Photo credits: Wikimedia CC. “Wimberley Texas Downtown 1” (hero) by Travis K. Witt, CC BY-SA 4.0; “Blue Hole Regional Park” by Nan Palmero, CC BY 2.0; “Blue Hole Swim Entrance Wimberley, Texas 2023” by Larry D. Moore, CC BY 4.0; “Jacob’s Well natural spring near Wimberley” by Outdoor Craziness, CC BY-SA 3.0; “Wimberley Texas Downtown 2” by Travis K. Witt, CC BY-SA 4.0; “Old Baldy Summit West View, Wimberley, Texas”, “Veterans Memorial Plaza from Old Baldy, Wimberley, Texas”, and “EmilyAnn Theatre Sign, Wimberley, Texas” by Larry D. Moore, CC BY 4.0; “Cypress Creek in Wimberley, Texas” by Rebecca Belcher Photography, CC BY-SA 4.0.
One of the best parts of visiting Wimberley is that you don’t have to stay there to experience everything that makes it special.
Spend the day browsing local boutiques, exploring Blue Hole Regional Park, hiking Old Baldy, tasting Hill Country wines, discovering great restaurants, or wandering Market Days. Then return to Starlight Horizon, where your group can unwind together in beautiful modern cabins just a short drive away.
Instead of splitting everyone across expensive hotel rooms or scattered vacation rentals, enjoy spacious private cabins, full kitchens, a resort-style pool, fire pits, outdoor games, and plenty of room for everyone to relax after a full day of exploring.
Whether you’re planning a girls’ weekend, family reunion, wedding weekend, corporate retreat, church retreat, or a getaway with friends, Starlight Horizon gives your group a comfortable, affordable home base for experiencing Wimberley, Canyon Lake, and the very best of the Texas Hill Country.
“The grounds and pool area were absolutely stunning. It was a joy to spend time outside soaking up the natural beauty of Canyon Lake. One of our favorite parts was gathering around the firepit to make s’mores while gazing at the stars…”
Erika Albert, Google, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐, 2024-11-16
“The host was responsive, we had to add a cabin the last minute and they were able to relocate us so we could be next door. They also let us check in early. Family enjoyed the grounds and pool and games! Star gazing was also very nice there.”
Michelle Jaramillo, Google, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐, 2024-08-12
Keep Exploring the Hill Country
Frequently Asked Questions
When are Wimberley Market Days?
The first Saturday of every month, March through December, 7 AM to 3 PM, rain or shine, at Lions Field on FM 2325. There’s no market in January or February.
Is Wimberley Market Days free?
Admission is free. Parking runs $10 per car, and that fee goes straight to the Wimberley Lions Club’s local charity and scholarship programs.
Do I need a reservation to swim at Blue Hole?
Yes, unless you hold a season pass. Blue Hole Regional Park requires a reservation for half-day swim sessions during the May 1 through Labor Day season and on September weekends, sold in 9 AM to 1 PM and 2 PM to 6 PM blocks, $15 for adults and $10 for youth, seniors, and military.
Is Wimberley Glassworks actually in Wimberley?
Not quite. It sits a few minutes outside town on Ranch Road 12 toward San Marcos, easy to fold into a Wimberley day since it’s on the way. Live glassblowing demonstrations run Thursday through Sunday, 10:30 AM to 3:30 PM, free to watch, no reservation needed for walk-in visitors.
How hard is the Old Baldy hike?
Short and steep near the top: 218 limestone steps over about 0.2 miles and 100 feet of elevation gain, ending in a 360-degree view over Wimberley. The park is open 8 AM to sunset daily and free to visit.
How far is Wimberley from Starlight Horizon, and can I combine it with Jacob's Well?
About 30 to 45 minutes. Jacob’s Well sits along the same corridor just outside town, so pairing a Wimberley day with a stop there is a realistic single-day plan. See the full Jacob’s Well guide for current swimming status before you build a trip around it.
What is the best place to stay near Wimberley?
The Starlight Horizon Cabins are the best in our opinion.