DANCE HALL DAYS
KEEP THE MUSIC PLAYING ACROSS TEXAS
STORY & PHOTOS PROVIDED BY TEXAS DANCE HALL PRESERVATION
From the very beginning, Texas dance halls served as the
heartbeats of immigrant and rural communities. Built by
German, Czech, Polish, African-American, and Mexican
Texans, roughly a thousand halls once acted as essential
community centers—places to celebrate harvests, learn
to two-step, and maybe meet your future partner. Their
architecture remains as diverse as the people who built
them, ranging from timber-and-tin structures and sturdy
brick buildings to the iconic round halls. Today, fewer
than 400 survive, and many have drifted from their roots
into restaurants, antique shops, or quiet disrepair. Yet
many endure, some standing proud for over 100 years
with listings on the National Register of Historic Places.
Often run by passionate volunteers whose work is a true
labor of love, these halls remain the bedrock of authentic
Texas culture, music, and community spirit.
Founded in 2007, Texas Dance Hall Preservation
(TDHP) continues its mission: keeping these historic
landmarks and the living traditions inside them thriving.
TDHP achieves this through:
Hands-on Technical Assistance: Providing direct preservation guidance, resources, and practical advice to
hall owners and volunteer stewards.
Preservation Grants: Awarding vital funds to restore halls while protecting their historic character—including
$100,000 in the past two years and $60,000 in prior
cycles or foundation, roof, floor, window, electrical, and
plumbing repairs, alongside $250,000+ in COVID-19
relief grants to cover essential overhead like insurance
and electricity when halls couldn’t operate.
Public Education & Research: Partnering with the UTSA Center for Cultural Sustainability on the statewide
Dance Hall Research Atlas, alongside library photo
exhibits, open houses, and lectures for community
groups.
Promotion & Programming: Hosting bus tours, special events, and public outreach that introduce new
generations to historic dance halls.Experience the Living Heritage
Step onto a worn hardwood floor to experience this legacy
firsthand. Across the Lone Star State, historic halls host
a lively calendar of weekend celebrations—from autumn
Oktoberfests and polka gatherings to Western swing
showcases and community fundraisers. That is just a
small smattering of the authentic experiences happening
year-round.
Want to Help?
Visit these dance halls every chance you get, and consider
making a gift to Texas Dance Hall Preservation. Every
contribution helps TDHP continue its mission – so that
Texas dance halls can survive and thrive for generations
to come. To learn more, explore our impact, or make a
contribution, visit TEXASDANCEHALL.ORG or give
us a call at 512-400-4315.
A HANDFUL OF BOOT-SCOOTIN’ EVENTS
From old-school two-stepping to live country
music and good ol’ Texas fun, these fall
dance-hall happenings are worth dusting off your boots for.
The Broken Spoke
Austin, Texas
Billy Mata – October 2
All Hat No Cadillac – Oct 10
Fischer Dance Hall
Fischer, Texas
Mary Gauthier – Nov 20
Floores Country Store
Helotes, Texas
Clint Black – Sept 26
Randy Rogers – Oct 9-10
Gruene Hall
New Braunfels, Texas
Robert Earl. Keen – October 8
Ray Wylie Hubbard & Friends 80th
Birthday Celebration – Nov 14
Hungerford Hall
Hungerford, Texas
Fall Market Days – Nov 21
La Bahia Turn Verewin
Burton, Texas
La Bahia Antique Show – Oct 23
Legendary Stagecoach Ballroom
Ft. Worth, Texas
Jody Nix & Texas Cowboys – Oct 23
Jake Hooker & The Outsiders – Nov 28
The Longhorn Ballroom
Dallas, Texas
Still the King Fest – Sept 12
National Hall
Ft. Worth, Texas
Jodie Mikula Orchestra/
Czech Heritage Day
Cowtown Birthplace of Western
Swing & Music Fest – Nov 12-15
Sons of Hermann Hall
Dallas, Texas
Rockabilly Revue/
Linda Gail Lewis – Sept 19
Twin Sisters Dance Hall
South Blanco, Texas
Raise the Roof Cook-Off – Sept 25
Landon Dodd & The Dance
Hall Drifters – Oct 3
SPJST Lodge #25
Ennis, Texas
Veterans Vision Dinner – Nov 7
TEXAS DANCE HALLS ARE ABOUT FAMILY, HISTORY, ROMANCE, AND A WAY OF LIFE.
Dance halls are where generations of Texans have
played and listened to some of the best music made
in America. At a dance hall, you can fall in love,
and then teach your children and grandchildren
to dance … catch up with friends and neighbors,
welcome newcomers, and create the social ties that
bind our towns and our state together.
Come on out and see for yourself what
makes a historic dance hall one of the most
Texas things there is.
