Ultimate Summer Bucket List: 5 Ways to Enjoy the Texas Sun in Lubbock

Take a bow—you made it. You braved the treacherous tides of pumpkin spice, stayed sane through the holidays, and twiddled your thumbs during summer-lite (also known as spring), but now you’re almost there. Like the big, beautiful Texas sun, summertime is on the horizon.

Now the only question is: how do you make the most of it? After all, you only have three months to fit in all your summer vacation plans! Rest easy, weary traveler of seasons, for we have put together the ultimate summer bucket list for spending a weekend in Lubbock.

Cotton Fest

If your heroes have always been cowboys, you won’t want to let summer pass without attending Cotton Fest. This three-day event at the famous Cooks Garage is one of Texas’ premiere country music festivals, featuring a perfect mix of veteran acts and up-and-comers. What’s more, a portion of the proceeds from the festival go to the High Cotton Relief Fund, which assists local cotton farmers and their families with both work and personal expenses.

In addition to the music, the weekend includes mechanical bull riding, casino night, goat roping, and a variety of other western-themed activities. Oh, and you can’t have a festival in Texas without a little BBQ. In fact, there will even be barbecue cookoffs. If you thought BBQ tasted good before, wait until you try competitive BBQ! You know what they say: a rising tide lifts all appetites.

Chilton and Wine Trails

If you’re looking for a guaranteed good time this summer, perhaps with a few friends or a significant other, you can’t go wrong with the Chilton Trail and the Texas High Plains Wine Trail. Both use an interactive mobile pass that takes you through the best of Lubbock’s Chilton and Wine scenes.

If you didn’t know, Chilton is a Lubbock original, invented specifically to account for the West Texas summer. As its name suggests, the drink is served up icy cold with vodka, soda water, and lemon juice, then complemented with a lemon wedge and salted rim. The Lubbock Chilton Trail takes you to 16 local restaurants, bars, and distilleries all around the Hub City.

Even though Lubbock can’t claim to have invented wine, the city is built on flat land with rich soil and low humidity, making it ideal for growing wine grapes. As a matter of fact, the High Plains region is home to 90% of Texas wine grapes, so it should come as no surprise that some of the very best wineries in the state can be found in Lubbock. The Texas High Plains Wine Trail makes sure you don’t miss a single one.

Stars & Stripes Drive-In

We’re all familiar with the magical feeling of settling into a dark theater with a bag of warm popcorn, anxiously awaiting the fanfare of 20th Century Fox or the roar of the MGM lion. At the Stars & Stripes Drive-In Theater, that magical feeling is taken to an entirely new level with its retro experience.

If you thought a dark theater was atmospheric, wait until you watch a movie under the starry night sky. You’ll feel like you’re traveling back in time as you park your car, tune your radio to match the film’s audio frequency, and cozy up for a double-feature.

But the time-travel doesn’t stop there. The drive-in even has its very own ‘50s-style café, complete with a checkered floor, booths, and a full menu of American classics. If they drink one too many milkshakes and can’t sit still in the car, let loose the kiddos on the theater’s playground.

Whether you’re a greaser, hipster, beatnik, or jock, the Stars & Stripes Drive-In is the place to be on a summer night.

National Ranching Heritage Center

After you’ve made a stop in the 1950s at the Stars & Stripes Drive-In, keep your time travels going at the National Ranching Heritage Center. This museum and outdoor historical park is dedicated to preserving the robust history of the American West.

At the museum, you’ll find exhibits that dig into the Civil War, cowboy transportation, and drilling for oil, just to name a few. As for the outdoor historic park, that’s where you’ll get to walk around 27 acres of authentic ranch buildings, log cabins, a blacksmith shop, a church, and much more.

Of all the times of the year to visit the center, summer’s series of events makes it the perfect time. In addition to the ever-popular trolley tours, one of the fan-favorite events is the Annual Summer Stampede Western Art & Gear Show. The event begins with an art show, proceeds to a steak dinner, then caps the evening off with live music and dancing.

Buffalo Springs Lake

If summer is about one thing, it’s enjoying the water. And that’s never been easier than at Buffalo Springs Lake, a natural playground sitting beautifully amongst the rugged West Texas landscape.

Kick back by renting a pontoon or cracking open a cold one on the sandy shoreline. Hop in the baby blue waters to cool off or throw out a line to catch some of the lake’s abundant bass and catfish. For those looking for something a bit more fast-paced, tubing, jet-skiing, and paddle-boarding are all made easy by rentals from the nearby marina.

That said, a day on the water isn’t all this lake has to offer. The area is home to remarkable views and wildlife, both of which are accessible through its nearly six-mile hiking trail, the Buffalo Springs Lake Loop. Proud owner of a dirt bike or four-wheeler? Bring it along to make the most of the lake’s 13 miles of off-road terrain.

Summertime is the Right Time to Visit Lubbock

As you might be able to tell by these five distinct experiences, Lubbock flourishes in the summer. Whether it’s the kinetic energy of Cotton Fest, the calming beauty of Buffalo Springs Lake, or the vintage vibes of the Stars & Stripes Drive-In, each of its summer attractions showcases a different side of the city’s irresistible personality. Start planning your visit today by taking a look at some of our coziest lodging options.