Celebrating 25 Years in Marathon, Texas!
The Big Bend region’s greatest attraction is, of course, Big Bend National Park—the seventh-largest national park in the lower 48 and one of the least visited. That means wide-open trails, quiet vistas, and space to breathe.
But you might be surprised by how many fun and vibrant events our tiny town of Marathon hosts—especially in the coming year!
In 2026, Eve’s Garden turns 25, and we’re celebrating with 25 Events for 25 Years.
Follow here and on our Instagram and Facebook for announcements on these fun gatherings!
Writers’ Workshop
February 14 to 16th
A creative retreat in the desert
Annual Marathon Fish Fry Fundraiser
Saturday February 21st at the Marathon Community Center
Benefitting the Post Park, the Marathon Community Center and More!
Eve’s Garden St. Patrick’s Day Celebration
Sunday, March 15
In the middle of the green season in the BIg Bend area, let’s throw a party. We’ll have some traditional gringo-Irish foods, green cocktails. And MUSIC by Marathon’s very own Patrick! Patrick and Marathon Moon Horse will serenade! Wear your green!
Fly Me to the Moon
Birding Festivial and New Moon Fest
April 17th to the 20th
Such an exciting weekend.
It will start
Friday Night, April 17th at the French Co Grocer. They”ll feature a bird-themed movie such as The Birds by Alford Hitchock.
Saturday, April 18th with an
Early morning Bird watching adventure. Raptures at the Marathon Grasslands!
Mid-Day fun at the Desert Ghost distillery and Pizza Joint with speakers on Dark Skies and Birds!
Sunday, April 19th
Early morning Bird watching adventure at the Gage Gardens and or at the Post Park
Then Noon-time Funday at Eve’s Garden!
It’s Texas Star Party Week
Stargazing and desert magic with food and music at the Marathon Motel in coordination with the Marathon CHamber of Commerce.
Art Workshops
May 23rd and 24th
Hands-on art workshops at Eve’s Garden: carve, paint, and create surrounded by blooms with with the star of Alpine’s Art Walk’s 2025 featured artist Yosdy Valdivia Marrufo
Artists’ Reception
May 23rd, Saturday
Featuring Marathon muralists and sculptures of the Marathon Chamber of Commerce held in Conjunction with the Gage Hotel and maybe the Brick Vault. MCoC. Artist Reception for Steve Lohman – creater of the Marathon Longhorn and Jon Flaming– creater of the Marathon Roper mural. And featuring Marathon Chamber of Comerce’s 2026 artist of the Year Kirstin Pratt. PLUS we’ll announce the artist of the year for 2027.
The Official 80th celebration of Kate Thayer! Our founder
June 26th – 28th Friday to Sunday
The heart of the 25 celebrations to celebrate 25 years of Eve’s Garden
Live Music, stories, food, and frivolity!
Independence Day Weekend
July 3rd to 6th Friday to Sunday
Chilli Cookoff!, Fireworks, dance benefiting the Marathon Volunteer Fired Department and The Friends of the Post Park
Viva BIg Bend Music Festival
July 22nd to 26th
Annual summertime music fest featuring musica across the Big Bend area. Call to reserve 432-386-7133
The Gage Hotel’s Songwriters’ Festival
August 6th to the 8th
Fun times!
Celebration of all Summertime Birthdays!
August 14th to 16th Friday to Sunday
If you have a summertime birthday we will celebrate you over this discount weekend!
Labor Day Weekend
September 3rd – 7th
Come get away!
West Fest Cookoff and Fundraiser
September 18th and 19th Friday and Saturday
We really encourage folks to come to this super fun event. Cooks come from around Texas and New Mexico to cook steaks, beans, ribs, margaritas, beans, chicken, cabrito and more and YOU Can judge to help determine the big winners! Imagine 27 bites of steak hanging out at the shady Post Park with all of the cool kids! So Much Fun!
EVE’S GARDEN’s OFFICIAL 25th ANNIVERSARY PARTY AND COOKBOOK KICKOFF PARTY!
Sunday September 20th
It’s gonna happen!
John Prine Tribute Weekend
October 9th to the 11th
at the French Company Grocer. Sign up to sing your tribute to legendary singer song writer John Prine at blowupyour.tv and just come enjoy friends! Party continues through Sunday Funday at Eve’s Garden
Marathon2Marathon
October 22nd to 24th
the annual race M2M
Adventure with local outfitter Hidden Dagger
Nov 6 and 7
https://www.hiddendaggeradventures.com/
CASI Chili Cookoff
Nov 22
Benefiting the Marathon Volunteer Fire Department . More info here
Art Walk in Alpine
Nov 26–28
https://www.artwalkalpine.com/
The Final Celebration – Anniversary Discount Weekend
Dec 3–6
Fiesta de Noche Buena
Dec 5 Saturday
Food, hayrides, light parade, music, street party, mariachi, baile folklórico, local vendors, and Santa!
https://www.marathontexas.com/events
Eve’s Garden Annual New Year’s Eve Party
Festive Fondue Fiesta!
Thursday, December 31 • Starts at 6 PM
Starting at 5 PM
Get your sparkle on! Our featured food this year….Fondue!! We’ll have cheese, chocolate, au jux fondues, homemade bread for dipping and you are invited to share veg, or fruit, or anything fun to dip in cheese! Excited to hear your suggestions! Kick the New Year off at Eve’s Garden!
Start your Year for a Marathon Style
The Dessert Ghost Distillery is hosting the second leg of the progressive party. We’ll toast the new Year at 9PM with the count-down to a champagne toast, our rendering of the Auld Lang Syne!
Folks are welcome to stay at Eve’s Garden or wander off for a whiskey!
Polar Plunge in the Pool
Friday, January 1, 2027 • Come when you wake up!
The pool is usually around 65° at this time of year, so not so polar. We’ll have the fire pit rolling, the wood stove in the atrium lit up, and bottles of champagne to get a different kind of lit up.
Saturday, April 7th, 2018
Hogan and Moss – Scorch Folk Music at Eve’s Garden get together after 5:30 music around 6:30. We also celebrate National Beer Day
Click here to hear their music
Sunday, April 15th, 2018
Paul Sprawl Singer Song Writer and we also celebrate national Glazed Spiral Ham Day
Click here to hear Paul Sprawl
Saturday, May 5th, 2018
Hillie Bills and her band help us celebrate Cinco de Mayo
Click here to hear Hillie
Saturday June 9th, 2018
Neil Trammell, Yes THAT Neil Trammell for Kate’s Birthday and World Gin Day!
Click here to hear some Neil
Friday, July 27th, 2018
Viva Big Bend Music Festival – Fabulous Artist TBA
Click here for the weekend schedule
August 2018
Jim Keaveny world famous singer song writer just off his European tour for Alaine’s Birthday Month, exact date…you tell us.
Click here to here Keaveny
Sunday, 4 June, 20??
Time for an Open House at Eve’s Garden
Come over, bring a friend, a snack, and your bathing suit.
Don’t be surprised it you hear some tunes coming from the courtyard and see our friend Garner Sloan and his playmates humming.
http://garnersloan.com/
We’ll have beer and some snacks too.
Saturday, July 1
Marathon’s Annual Fourth of July Dance and BBQ
at Post Park (AKA Fort Pena Colorado Park)
The 4th of July Dance is one of the most popular events in Brewster County as well as having the distinction of being the longest running.
It is held every year at the Post Park on the Saturday closest to the 4th of July.
Entertainment provided by Craig Carter and his Spur of the Moment Band
All proceeds benefit the Marathon ISD Booster Club
The weekend of the 4th of July Dance coincides with the Chili Cook-Off held at the Marathon Motel. So if you haven’t had enough and looking for more activity, please join us at the Cook-Off!
Schedule:
BBQ starts at noon until 3:00pm
Dance begins at 9:00pm until 1:00am
Suggested Donation
July 27 -30
Viva Big Bend Music Festival
Viva Big Bend numero seis is July 27-30, 2017!
More than 55 bands in 10+ venues in four communities. It’s a celebration of music and far West Texas that is not to be missed. Check out our website for all the details and updates (lineup to be announced in the spring).
Saturday, 2 December, 2017
Fiesta De Noche Buena
The Fiesta De Noche Buena is a convivial festival reflecting the spirit of the season and our community. Held the first weekend in December, local residences and business owners come together on Main Street for this festive occasion providing an evening of dancing, food and fun. A raffle benefiting a local charitable organization is usually held and Main Street shops are open late with many special attractions. Here one can expect to find no distinction between visitor and locals.
Make your plans to come to the Big Bend area at this time, stop in, grab a drink and help us bring in the Holidays!
Sunday, 13 December 
House concert with Amy Sue Berlin, Dana Louise, and Kendra
Fun Arkansas / Austin originals. Harmonies, ukulele, and two wicked guitars.
Saturday, 28 November 2015
House Concert with world’s top scotch folk band
Maria Moss and Jon Hogan Sting Band
Tuesday, 13 October 2015
Tuesday, 28 April, 2015
House Concert with Amy Coffman
On April 28th the Amarillo based acoustic folks rocker Amy Coffman debuts at Eve’s Garden B&B in Marathon. This singer song writer will entertain from 6PM to 8 or 9 or midnight.
Join us for a fun night of original music and community.
Bring a snack if it’s easy.
We’ll make snacks and have a keg of Big Bend Brewery beer!
If it’s sunny we’ll be in the new outdoor courtyard, rainy in the covered courtyard by the pond.
Price of admission: tip the musician.
Please come.
We joined (and support) Folk Alliance International and now have to say “Call for an invitation” on our promotions for House Concerts. 432 386 4165
All welcome!
Give her a listen at
Thursday, 24 February, 2015
House Concert with The Flying Sombreros!
LIVE MUSIC with the Famous Jim Keaveny and the Flying Sombreros
On Thursday evening, the 24th of February.
Starting at 6PM until 10pm ish.
At Eve’s Garden B&B – inside if it’s cold out, in the courtyard if nice weather.
Bring a snack if it’s easy or just come over. Tips are encouraged for this fabo band.
Eve’s Garden will provide snacks and beer.
Gonna be a super time!
We’re looking forward to seeing everybody.
432 386 4165
We’ve joined and support Folk Alliance International, so it’s cool for us to have a house concert. The rules say we’re to write “call for an invite” on our digital invites. 432 386 4165
Saturday, 22nd of November, 2014
What better way to kick off the holiday season:
LIVE MUSIC with the Famous Jim Keaveny and the Flying Sombreros with Austin’s Guy Town!
On Saturday evening, the 22nd of November,
At Eve’s Garden B&B 200 NW 3rd St in Marathon, TX
Everybody welcome. Bring a snack if it’s easy or just come over. Tips are encouraged for these fabo bands.
Eve’s Garden will provide snacks and beer.
Gonna be a super time!
We’re looking forward to seeing everybody, it’s been a while since we’ve had a show. Bring a friend!
432 386 4165
July 25 – 28, 2013 – Thursday to Saturday
Viva Big Bend Annual Music Festival is held all around Far West Texas. In 2013, the festival will host events at nearly a dozen venues in the towns of Alpine, Fort Davis, Marathon and Marfa. More than 50 bands (representing a wide variety of genres) will entertain. There are many other events happening during VBB, including an art show, kids’ activities and functions geared toward musicians/music-industry reps. 2012 was the first year of the music festival, and it was a big success – we recommend booking tickets (and hotel rooms) early this year.
More info http://vivabigbend.com/
August 2, 2013 – Friday
PRISCILLA WIGGINS ARTIST’S RECEPTION
Starting at 5 PM
at The Galleries at Eve’s Garden
Ave C & NW 3rd St
432 386 4165
Reception celebrating Priscilla’s 30+ years painting outdoors
and book signing presenting Jim Glendinning’s new book Legendary Locals of the Big Bend and Davis Mountains
Everyone Welcome!
Wine, beer, and Hors d’oeuvres
October 26, 2013 – Saturday
Marathon 2 Marathon
The Marathon 2 Marathon is an annual event held in late October. This event consists of the full 26.2 mile Marathon, a 13.1 mile Half Marathon, a 6.2 mile 10K and a 3.1 mile 5K all sharing the same course on Hwy 385 north between Ft. Stockton and Marathon finishing in front of the Historic Gage Hotel in downtown Marathon. Other activities included in this event is a pre-race pasta dinner, a Catfish Fry Fundraiser with live entertainment, an awards ceremony followed by a post race party with live entertainment.
For more detailed information regarding this event, please visit www.marathon2marathon.net
November 3, 2013 – Sunday
Cowboy Social and Silent Auction
3:00-6:00PM
The Cowboy Social and Silent Auction is a popular event that benefits the Marathon Health Clinic. Bid on the many items donated for auction then, eat, drink, and dance the afternoon away to the tunes of Craig Carter and the Spur of the Moment Band!
For more information www.marathontexas.com
December 7, 2013 – Saturday Fiesta De Noche Buena
6:00 until…
Wander the friendly streets of Marathon, get into the holiday spirit at Marathon’s annual street festival, with music, food, drinks, and fun! Dress warm!
For details of this event, please visit; www.marathontexas.com/events
For more Events in Marathon:
http://www.marathontexas.com/
For more events in Marfa
http://business.marfacc.com/
For events in Alpine:
http://visitalpinetx.com/
For events in Fort Davis:
http://www.fortdavis.com/
Remember, here in the West Texas high dessert we have cool evenings and mornings all summer long!
-
- Photo by Bill Rau -Big Bend Mountains Panorama Black and White
-
- Photo by Bill Rau Chisos Mountains from the West
-
- Photo by Bill Rau Moon over Boquillas Cliffs
-
- Moon over Cottonwoods, photo by Bill Rau
-
- Mountain Creek, photo by Bill Rau
West Texas Weekly is a great site with events going on in the Big Bend