Jump on the Bus: Dance Around DeWitt County on Saturday, Nov. 14!

Seats still remain open on our luxury motorcoaches for our fall tour through historic DeWitt County on Saturday, November 14—and we want you! 

Leave the business to us while you sit back and explore three of South Texas’s most storied venues: Gruenau Hall, Nordheim Shooting Club, and the grand finale at Lindenau Rifle Club Hall, celebrating its 125th club anniversary and 100-year hall centennial.

Here is what your afternoon and evening include:

• Behind-the-scenes history with documentary filmmakers Erik & Laurie McCowan sharing stories of the halls and their communities. At each stop, hall volunteers will give us a tour of the hall and its history.

• Two-step pointers and tips with Julie Wilmer of Blue Moon Dance Company.

• Live music and dancing to the Drew Oliver Band to cap off the day at Lindenau.

Details & Tickets:

• Date: Saturday, November 14, 2026

• Departure: 12:00 PM noon from Cavender's Boot City (4435 S. Lamar Blvd., Austin)

• Tickets: $130 General Public / $120 TDHP Members.

These tours directly support our mission and introduce new visitors to rural halls. Bring a friend, dust off your boots, and claim your seat! 

Free Online Session: Under Your Boots – Preserving Historic Dance Floors, Mon, Nov. 16, 7 to 8 pm

Historic dance floors are the heart and soul of Texas community halls, but keeping century-old pine and oak in dancing shape takes specialized care.

Join us on Monday, November 16, from 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM CST for the inaugural session of our Dance Hall Toolkit series: an online panel dedicated entirely to historic wood floor preservation, maintenance, and structural repair.

Whether your hall is run by volunteers, an active fraternal lodge, or a family operation, this practical session connects you directly with leading field experts:

• Moderator: Paul Struck, President of Twin Sisters Dance Hall (Blanco, TX)

• Panelist: Guy Wood Chipman III, Guy Chipman Construction, L.P.

• Panelist: Jhonny Langer, Source – Preservation, Conservation, Restoration

Cost: Free and open to all hall managers, volunteers, board members, and lovers of Texas heritage. Advance registration is required to receive the Zoom access link.

Our Early Giving Tuesday Campaign is Open Now!

You don't have to wait for Giving Tuesday to help keep the doors open and the music playing across Texas.

More than 1,000 historic dance halls once anchored our communities; today, fewer than 400 survive, facing mounting overhead, steep insurance, and urgent repair needs.

Your tax-deductible gift directly powers our statewide work: funding matching grants, delivering free technical training, and educating Texans to save these landmarks. Every dollar supports the halls that need us most.

How Your Gift Directly Supports Texas Halls:

• $50 – Helps fund statewide communications and community outreach to keep the public informed and connected to rural halls.

• $100 – Underwrites digital platforms and webinar hosting so our Dance Hall Toolkit sessions remain free for all hall operators.

• $250 – Helps offset production costs for technical assistance and hands-on guidance for halls facing complex operating hurdles.

• $1,000 – Provides a direct 10% cornerstone share toward a $10,000 matching grant for a historic hall’s critical repair projects.

Giving Tuesday is officially December 1, but you can make an immediate impact today. Beat the inbox rush and help us ensure these irreplaceable community gathering places stay open for generations to come.