The AgriCultural Museum & Arts Center in Boerne, Texas, will commemorate its 40th anniversary with the Power of the Past Festival on Saturday, March 7, 2026. This free, family-friendly event will take place from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., with gates opening at 8:00 a.m., at the museum's location at 102 City Park Road. The festival represents a significant milestone for an institution dedicated to blending history, creativity, and community while preserving Hill Country traditions.
The event will feature a diverse array of attractions centered on historical preservation and community engagement. A vintage car and truck show, open to vehicles over 40 years old, will include on-site registration for $40, which includes an event T-shirt. In honor of the museum's anniversary, antique tractors, engines, and agricultural equipment will receive free registration. An awards ceremony will present trophies for categories including Top 30 Vehicles, Best of Show Car & Truck, and distinctions for tractors, engines, and antique equipment.
Living-history demonstrations will be a cornerstone of the festival, with re-enactors from the Frontier History Company Foundation demonstrating turn-of-the-century pioneer life. A blacksmith will work throughout the day in the museum's blacksmith shop, and visitors can witness heritage cooking and woodworking displays. The museum's Big Red Barn will be open for tours, showcasing collections of historic farming equipment, tools, and an extensive display of vintage farm toys.
Musical entertainment will include performances by the Flashbacks Band from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., followed by a Bluegrass Jam in the Pioneer House from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Food and craft vendors will offer a variety of options, including food trucks such as Johnny Naan's Pizza and Stoltze's BBQ, along with craft beer from Cibolo Creek Brewing Co. Additional activities will include personalized drawings by Texas' official character artist, Jerry Cardona, and the sale of 40th-anniversary t-shirts.
The AgriCultural Museum & Arts Center, formerly known as the Agricultural Heritage Museum, serves as a living-history campus featuring a blacksmith shop, woodworking shop, Pioneer House, wagon house, main museum building, and extensive outdoor exhibits of antique farm machinery. The museum offers regular programs, including twice-monthly Bluegrass Jams on the second and fourth Saturdays, semi-weekly art workshops with the Hill Country Council for the Arts, antique tractor pulls, and an annual pumpkin patch. The site also functions as a rustic event venue for meetings, weddings, and barn events, with hayrides by vintage tractor available for an additional fee. For more information on upcoming events, visitors can check the Visitor Blog at VisitBoerne.org.
This anniversary celebration underscores the museum's role in preserving agricultural heritage and fostering community connections in the Texas Hill Country. By offering free admission and welcoming donations, the event aims to make historical education accessible while supporting the museum's ongoing mission. The festival's emphasis on interactive demonstrations, musical performances, and family-friendly activities highlights the importance of cultural preservation in maintaining regional identity and educating future generations about traditional crafts and lifestyles.
