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Thru Sep 15: Casting the Cowboy: How Movie Makers Shaped An American Icon—how did the leathery loners who traveled the prairies and plains with their herds get replaced onscreen by singing, sharp-dressed fast-talkers? Explore this shift as you roam through film memorabilia and photographs in this exhibit and learn how moviemakers influenced cowboy heritage and vice versa. See costumes worn by Buck Taylor, original movie scripts, and vintage movie posters, and decide for yourself. Open Mon–Sat 9–6, Sun 1–5. Gen adm $8, senior citizens $6, children 3–12 $4, 2 & under free. frontiertexas.com

Thru Sep 7: Zero to 60—fill up your gas tank and drive to the museum to see the first-ever exhibit of artwork by members of the prestigious Automotive Fine Arts Society. Coupes, convertibles, woodies, roadsters, and other smooth riders make for eye-catching subjects, whether depicted in watercolor, clay, or wood. Open Tue & Wed 10–5, Thur 10–8, Fri & Sat 10–5. Gen adm $6; senior citizens, military & students with ID $4; children 4–12 $3, 3 & under and members free (Thur after 5 everybody free). thegracemuseum.org

Zebras and jaguars and giraffes, oh, my! More than five hundred animals—representing some two hundred species—make their home here, including two black rhinos, the newest residents. The addition of these young males is a special treat, not to mention a humbling reminder of the devastating effects of poaching, since fewer than four thousand are surviving today. Open Mon–Wed 9–5, Thur 9–9, Fri–Sun 9–5. Gen adm $4, senior citizens $3, children 3–12 $2, 2 & under free. abilenetx.com

Don your lederhosen for this annual celebration of all things German. Fill your belly with Deutschland delicacies, compete in the German Idol yodeling competition, drink a stein of the specially brewed Oktoberfest Brau, and get your polka on with Brave Combo. Sep 18–21. Thur 5–11, Fri 5–midnight, Sat noon–midnight, Sun noon–6. Gen adm $5, children 3 & under free (Thur everybody free). Free parking at the northwest corner of Dallas Pkwy & Arapaho. addisontexas.net

Housed in Shakelford County’s first permanent jail, the museum’s collection includes pre-Columbian and Asian art, as well as modern American and European works by artists such as Pablo Picasso, Paul Klee, Amedeo Modigliani, and Henry Moore. Thru Sep 14: Things Seen Anew: The Sculpture of J.C. Pace III—largely self-taught, Pace has honed his craftsmanship over the years and now focuses largely on more-conceptual notions; from his early tree sculptures to his more recent “X-ray light boxes,” his passion for art remains unabated; also, West Texas Triangle: Barrington—sculptor Joe Barrington, of Throckmorton, has recently established a studio a few blocks from the OJAC. His monumental welded-metal work “Tex, the Roustabout” has been standing guard on the museum’s grounds since 2001, but this is the first time the OJAC has shown some of his smaller assemblage sculptures and a few works on paper. Open Tue–Sat 10–5, Sun 2–5. Free. theoldjailartcenter.org

Sep 5: Grupo de la Paz; $6. Sep 6: Jon Langford and the Far Forlorn; $8. Sep 12: Champagne With Friends; $6. Sep 13: Shelley King Band; $6. Sep 17 at 9: Doyle Bramhall Band; $15. Sep 19: The Cory Morrow Band; $20. Sep 20: Ruben V. Band; $8. Sep 26: Jesse Dayton Band; $7. Sep 27: El Loco; call for price. At 10 (except Sep 17 at 9). railroadblues.com

Named by early cowboys who happened upon a den of wildcats living under the bluff, this wilderness escape is just a few minutes from downtown Amarillo and features more than six hundred acres of rolling grasslands threaded with nature trails aplenty. Run through wildflowers popping up through tall grasses; spy on lizards, hawks, quails, and many other species of wildlife; and inspect the still-visible wagon ruts that date back to when the land was part of the historic Santa Fe Trail. Nature center open Tue–Sat 9–5. Trails open from sunrise to sunset. Gen adm $3, senior citizens & children 3–13 $2, 2 & under free. wildcatbluff.org

Annie Get Your Gun—Annie Oakley’s gun-toting, sharp-shooting skills come to life in this musical as she joins Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show, falls in love, and learns the classic “There’s No Business Like Show Business.” Sep 12–Oct 12. Thur at 7:30, Fri & Sat at 8, Sun at 2. $18–$20. theatrearlington.org

If your idea of paradise requires a rod, a reel, and a boat, then a trip to the fisheries center is a ticket to heaven. This 107-acre complex includes a visitors center; 300,000 gallons of aquaria; a freshwater fishery museum; a fishing Hall of Fame; a stocked casting pond, where visitors can fish for free with tackle and bait furnished; a wetlands trail; and a production fish hatchery. Thru Oct 22: Nikon Small World Photo Exhibit—view twenty winning microphotographs (that is, images taken with a microscope) from the Small World Photo Competition and discover a world too small to be seen with just the naked eye. Open Tue–Sat 9–4, Sun 1–4. Gen adm $5.50, senior citizens $4.50, children 4–12 $3.50, 3 & under free. tpwd.state.tx.us

Now in its sixth year, the ACL fest holds considerable clout, as 10,000 wristbanded concertgoers will testify after taking in more than 130 bands in 72 hours. Behold the lineup (or as much of it as we can fit here): Robert Plant and Allison Krauss, Beck, John Fogerty, the Foo Fighters, the Raconteurs, Ingrid Michaelson, Jenny Lewis, the Freddy Jones Band, Gnarls Barkley, the Mars Volta, David Byrne, Gillian Welch, Jakob Dylan, Man Man, Langhorne Slim, and many, many more. Sep 26–28. Three-day pass $170, single-day pass $80. aclfestival.com

Sep 11: Dvorák: Symphony No 8 in G. Carter: Elegy for Strings. Bach-Stokowski: Sheep May Safely Graze (in memory of the victims of 9/11). Elgar: Cello Concerto in E. Yo-Yo Ma, cello. Peter Bay, conductor. At 8. $19–$48. Sep 19 & 20: Wagner: Prelude to Die Meistersinger. Beethoven: Violin Concerto in D Major. Theofanidis: Field of Infinite Forms. Stravinsky: Suite from The Firebird. Leila Josefowicz, violin. Peter Bay, conductor. At 8. $19–$48. austinsymphony.org

Sep 12: Spyro Gyra—by combining elements of jazz, R&B, funk, and pop, this jazz-fusion band has become a major force in the development of smooth jazz. At 7 & 9:30. $36–$76. Sep 14: Strunz & Farrah—this duo presents colorful compositions influenced by Persian and Latin sounds that have been described as ethno jazz. At 6 & 8:30. $31–$71. Sep 21: Guitars & Saxes—now in its thirteenth year, this smash-hit tour adds legendary keyboardist and producer Jeff Lorber to its lineup. At 6 & 8:30. $36–$81. oneworldtheatre.org

Sep 1 at 9: Rosewood Thieves; $8–$10. Sep 3 at 7: The Toadies with Lions; $25–$27. Sep 4 at 7: The Toadies with Riverboat Gamblers; $25–$27. Sep 11: Common; call for time & prices. Sep 12 at 7: Mogwai with the F–– Buttons; $18–$20. Sep 14 at 9: Graham Colton; $13–$15. Sep 16 at 6: The Hives and Eagles of Death Metal with Willowz; $25. Sep 18 at 8: Stephen Kellogg & the Sixers with Erin McKeown; $14. Sep 20 at 7: Dark Star Orchestra; $21.50–$25. Sep 21 at 7: Ani DiFranco; $32–$34. stubbsaustin.com

Austin's newest cultural gem—made up of the 2,400-seat Dell Hall and the 80- to-240-seat Rollins Studio Theater—presents its inaugural season. Sep 3–6: A Bronx Tale—fresh from a stint on Broadway, this classic coming-of-age story about a young boy’s rough childhood in the Bronx stars Chazz Palminteri. Wed–Fri at 8, Sat at 8 & 2. $14.50–$80. Sep 10–21: Macbeth—Austin Shakespeare presents the timeless tale of greed, power, betrayal, and self-destruction. Call for times & prices. Sep 21: Octo Tea Dance—the Octopus Club, a nonprofit offshoot of AIDS Services of Austin, plays host to this thirteenth annual benefit, which will feature music by deejays Roland Belmares and Seth Cooper, a raffle, and a silent auction, with profits going to the Paul Kirby Emergency Fund. From 3 to 9. $50 ($40 adv). octopusclub.org. For more performances, go to thelongcenter.org.

The Paramount transforms into a movie theater for the summer. Grab your popcorn and Twizzlers to watch some of the best films ever made. This month’s selection includes Rear Window, the Bridge on the River Kwai, Lawrence of Arabia, and more. $7 (films shown in 70mm $8). For schedule call or go to austintheatre.org.

Pink Sun—this dynamic musical event, which boasts cybernetic movement, extraordinary objects, pink vinyl, lush lighting, pulsing beats, and lyrical songs, will transport you to another reality. Sep 13–28. Thur & Fri at 9, Sat at 9 & 11, Sun at 9. $10–$30. vortexrep.org

Sep 6–Nov 2: RESET/PLAY—explore contemporary art inspired by video games. Artists such as Cory Areangel, Guthrie Lonergan, Kristin Lucas, and Eddo Stern probe the history and political and art-historical implications of electronic games. Open Tue, Wed & Fri 11–7; Thur 11–9; Sat 10–5; Sun 1–5. Free. arthousetexas.org

Sep 27–May 30: All Systems Go—with gas prices soaring and global warming a hot-button issue, it makes sense to teach the youngest among us about public transportation. Whether it’s by bus, train, bicycle, car, or on foot, get your family to the museum to learn all about getting around. Thru Sep 14: Play It by Ear—kids will learn how sound is produced, what makes music, and how we hear in this exhibit. They can also make their own sound art objects and interact with those created by local Austin artists. Open Tue–Sat 10–5, Sun noon–5. Gen adm $5.50, children 12–23 months $3.50, 11 months & under free (Wed 5–8 donate what you can; Sun 4–5 everybody free). austinkids.org

Thru Nov 2: Modern Art, Modern Lives: 19th- and 20th-Century Art From Austin Collections—the merging of art and life is emphasized in this arrangement of paintings by some of the artists who guided modernism’s course. Reexamine the works of Paul Gauguin, Edouard Vuillard, Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, Henri Matisse, and Pablo Picasso, among others, and ponder where art ends and life begins; also, Where Are We Going?: Contemporary Artists Address the Issues of the 21st Century—a counterpart to Modern Art, Modern Lives, this exhibit features paintings, sculpture, photographs, prints, and videos (also culled from local collections) that probe the issues of our day. Thru Sep 27: Laguna Gloria Grounded—the twelve green acres of Laguna Gloria that overlook Lake Austin have inspired many to create art, and this exhibit has collected some of it; paintings, drawings, brass sculptures, watercolors, and photographs are on display in the villa of the recently renovated grounds (AMOA-Laguna Gloria, 3809 W. 35th; museum open Tue–Sun 10–4; grounds open Mon–Sat 9–5, Sun 10–5; free, but $3 donation suggested). Open Tue, Wed, Fri & Sat 10–6; Thur 10–8; Sun noon–5. Gen adm $5, senior citizens & students $4 (everybody $1 on Tue), children 12 & under free; first Sat pay what you wish. amoa.org

Sep 28–Jan 18: Reimagining Space: The Park Place Gallery Group in 1960’s New York—composed of five sculptors (Mark di Suvero, Peter Forakis, Robert Grosvenor, Anthony Magar, and Forrest Myers) and five painters (Dean Fleming, Tamara Melcher, David Novros, Edwin Ruda, and Leo Valledor), this group of artists made up a prominent cooperative gallery in sixties New York. But because they worked outside the predominant movements and philosophies of their day, they’ve rarely been acknowledged since. This exhibit serves to reacquaint viewers with their unique treatment of space and their active involvement with contemporary cultural issues; also, The New York Graphic Workshop, 1965–1970—founded by three young Latin American artists in New York with the goal of redefining printmaking, the NYGW was a crucial episode in the history of the American and Latin American Conceptual movement of the sixties and seventies. This exhibit features more than a hundred prints, drawings, and mixed-media works from the era. Thru Sep 21: Workspace: Fabián Bercic—the artist creates a contemporary reinterpretation of a traditional Zen garden in his site-specific installation. In a critique of consumerism, he re-creates the sacred rock garden by replacing its natural elements with synthetic, Day–Glo materials. Open Tue–Fri 10–5, Sat 11–5, Sun 1–5 (every third Thur 10–9). Gen adm $7, senior citizens $5, students with ID & youths 13–21 $3, children 12 & under, UT staff, faculty, and students free (Thur everybody free). blantonmuseum.org

Thru Sep 14: Dallas: Power and Passion on Prime-time TV—relive the summer of “Who shot J.R.?” with this ode to the show that spread Texas fever throughout the world. View props, artifacts loaned from actors ranging Larry Hagman to Steve Kanaly, scripts, television clips, and re-created environments from the program's fourteen seasons. (Gen adm $7, senior citizens $6, youths 5–18 $4, 4 & under free.) Open Mon–Sat 9–6, Sun noon–6. Gen adm $5.50, senior citizens & military $4.50, youths 5–18 $3, 4 & under free. thestoryoftexas.com

Thru Jul 20, 2009: To the Moon: The American Space Program in the 1960's—as Senate majority leader, LBJ co-sponsored the legislation that created NASA. This exhibit honors the centennial of LBJ’s birth and takes a deeper look at the era of the space race. Open daily 9–5. Free. lbjlib.utexas.edu

Sep 19–Oct 8: Layer by Layer: Revelation of Process—Randall Reid’s sculptural paintings and studio practice are at the center of this exhibition. Reid collaborates with designer Michelle Hays to reveal the artist’s inspiration and working process. Free. stedwards.edu Open Mon–Fri 9–5.

This eight-day film festival, which is only the second U.S. festival to be admitted to the Melies Fantastic Film Festival Federation (try saying that five times fast), showcases more than a hundred films in the oft-ignored genres of sci-fi, horror, fantasy, and the just plain weird. Sep 18–25. Call for schedule & prices. alamodrafthouse.com & fantasticfest.com

This Sustainable Food Center project features fresh, locally grown produce and flowers, eco-friendly products, occasional chef demonstrations, children’s activities, and live music, now at two locations. Open Sat 9–1. (Republic Square, 4th & Guadalupe) & Wed 3–7 (Triangle Park, 46th between Guadalupe & Lamar). Free.

Austin’s oldest building on its original site and the Republic of Texas’s only foreign diplomatic outpost, the legation was built in 1841 for French charge d’affaires Alphonse Dubois de Saligny. Open Tue–Sun 1–5 (last tour at 4). Gen adm $5, senior citizens $3, students & teachers $2. frenchlegationmuseum.org

The center’s expansive grounds feature courtyards and landscaped gardens showcasing native Texas plants. Thru Oct 12: Bruce Tinch Art & Photography Exhibit—Caddo Lake, Lady Bird Johnson’s childhood playground, comes alive in the renowned artist’s brushstrokes and photographic images. Open Tue–Sat 9–5:30, Sun noon–5:30. Gen adm $7, senior citizens & students $6, children 5–12 $3, 4 & under and Wildflower Center members free. wildflower.org

The statehouse, dedicated in 1888, was completely restored in 1994. Open Mon–Fri 7 a.m. –10 p.m., Sat & Sun 9–8. Free tours Mon–Fri 8:30–4:30, Sat 9:30–3:30, Sun noon–4 (call ahead for groups of 10 or more).

The Capitol Visitors Center (11th & Brazos, 512-305-8400), located in the 1857 General Land Office Bldg, houses historical exhibits. Open Mon–Sat 9–5, Sun noon–5. Free.

Sep 6–Nov 30: DinoLand—something big is coming to Austin. Visitors are invited to come face-to-face with thirty lifelike dinos of every shape and size, from the 33-foot-long Daspletosaur (a cousin to the T. rex) to a herd of tiny Compsognathus carnivores, all created by Guy Darrough, a paleontologist who runs Lost World Studios. These formidable creatures will take up temporary residence in the Hartman Prehistoric Gardens, a two-acre habitat with cretaceous plants, gar-filled streams, live reptiles, dragonflies, and butterflies that was created after dinosaur tracks were discovered on the site in 2002. Open daily 10–5. Gen adm $5, children 3–13 $3, 2 & under free. zilkergarden.org

Reconnect with the great outdoors at this family-oriented festival as the hot season starts to taper off. The kids can learn about conservation and preservation of the Earth and her resources through a number of educational activities and demonstrations, including a snake and lizard show, a native plant presentation, and other environmentally focused programs. Also participate in, or just catch a peek of, the fortieth annual USCA Aluminum Race Nationals, which will take place on the newly opened fourteen-mile stretch of the lower Colorado River that’s been dubbed the Wilbarger Creek Paddling Trail (Sep 26–28). Sep 27. From 9 to 4 (restaurant and live music crawl 4–8). Free. visitbastrop.org

Thru Oct 5: Things With Wings—every summer, the museum examines portions of its permanent collection by highlighting different points of view. This year’s theme explores how artists use things with wings in their works of art, which have been divided here into six categories: the bird as main subject, birds with people, the crow, winged creatures in decorative arts, birds in surrealism, and winged things as metaphors. Thru Nov 2: Out of the Darkness—ten paintings by the artist Calvin Carter make their debut at AMSET. His artworks, which largely focus on Southern symbolism, reflect on growing up with a Catholic father and a Baptist mother who raised him nondenominationally and stressed Christian morals and beliefs. Ongoing: Somethin’ Out of Nothin’: Felix “Fox” Harris—for more than twenty years, the self-taught artist from Beaumont crafted totem-like sculptures made of recycled materials that he displayed in his yard. His original homesite is re-created here with this permanent installation of 26 of his totems and two mural-size photos by renowned photographer Keith Carter. Open Mon–Fri 9–5, Sat 10–5, Sun noon–5. Free; $2 donation suggested. amset.org

The oil industry is integral to the life, business, history, and myth of Texas, and this museum tells the state’s unique story of having access to ample petroleum and other energy sources through interactive exhibits and special events. Thru Sep 7: Brainteasers—rack your brain with this traveling collection of mental challenges ranging from mathematical conundrums to mind-boggling block puzzles. Open Tue–Sat 9–5, Sun 1–5. Gen adm $2, senior citizens & children 6–12 $1, 5 & under free. texasenergymuseum.org

Some of the world’s greatest tennis champions show off their talent: The legendary Martina Navratilova goes up against Chanda Rubin, and Robby Ginepri faces Mardy Fish. Sep 13 at 7. $25.50 & $35.50. fordparktx.com

Thru Oct 18: Edward S. Curtis: Plains Indians—while compiling one of the most profound collections of American Indian culture ever amassed, the artist studied more than eighty Indian tribes living west of the Mississippi River. A hundred of the pieces, which depict the intricacies of American Indian life, are on view in this exhibit. Open Tue–Sat noon–5. Free. bellcountymuseum.org

Roam the trails of this hundred-acre preserve and observe four distinct ecosystems (riparian forest, live oak savannah, tall-grass prairie, and spring-fed marsh). Nature Center open Mon–Fri 9–5, Sat 9–1. Trails open daily from 8 a.m. to dusk. Free. cibolo.org

Vintage Base Ball—playing the game as it was meant to be played (wearing nineteenth-century-style knickers and using 1860’s rules), Texas teams go head-to-head. Sep 7 & 21. Call for times. Free. buffalogap.com & vbbtexas.org

The deep limestone recesses of this show cave (one of seven in the state), which were etched out by underground streams millions of years ago, aren’t too claustrophobic and are a sublime 68 degrees or so year-round. Learn all about the cavern’s natural formations on the ninety-minute daily tour, or—if you’re brave enough—reserve a spot for the more exclusive Wild Cave Tour. And don’t miss the Simple Sounds concert series, which fills the hollows with the unplugged acoustics of Texas-based musicians (Sep 13: Steve Hopkins. Sep 20: Steve Brooks). For tour schedule & prices go to longhorncaverns.com.

The town’s population can swell from 3,500 to an estimated 300,000 when more than 5,000 dealers migrate to Canton to hawk their wares, which range from vintage postcards to jars of pickled figs to exquisite antique brooches. Though "Monday" has evolved into a misnomer over the bazaar’s 150-year history—once held on Monday, it’s now held from Thursday through Sunday—the methods of the savviest shoppers have always remained the same: Go early, wear sensible shoes, bring cash, and learn how to bargain! Free; parking $3. Held the Thur–Sun preceding the first Monday of every month from 8 to 6. firstmondaycanton.com

Sep 27–Feb: 75th Anniversary Exhibition—this special showcase highlights past exhibits, examines how artifacts connect people to the environment around them, and honors the role the PPHM has played in providing this connection. Sep 29–Jan 4: Studer and Johnston: Treasures of the Panhandle—both C. Stewart Johnston and Floyd Studer helped to further the field of archeology; Johnston made many significant finds in the Panhandle, and Studer, an amateur archeologist who was a charter member of the PPHM, donated his noteworthy collection to the museum. Thru Sep 1: Samuel Colt: Arms, Art, and Invention—more than a hundred firearms (including several pre-Colt artifacts, like a fifteenth-century Chinese hand cannon) are on view here in this extensive exhibit of the Connecticut native’s life, legacy, and million-dollar idea, the revolver. Open Mon–Sat 9–5, Sun 1–6. Gen adm $10, senior citizens $9, children 4–12 $5, 3 & under free. panhandleplains.org

What was once a nondescript valley filled with mesquite and oak trees is now a stunning mile-and-a-half-long gorge. Carved out by a powerful surge during the 2002 flood, the insta-gorge is one of the state’s hottest ecotourism destinations and is now open to the public via weekly guided expeditions. But there’s a waiting list for the three-hour jaunt, so sign up now. Tours every Saturday; reservations required. $10. canyongorge.org