The following are upcoming community events we've received to date that take place in Dripping Springs or Driftwood (or that benefit a Dripping Springs organization). Don't see your event? Send event details in the body of an email to driptips@gmail.com.

Thursday, February 17 @ 7pm
Thirsty Thursday
New Life Lutheran Church (120 Frog Pond Lane)
Two out-of-town (but not too out-of-town) poets, Oda Lisa, who was appointed Poet Laureate by the Wimberley City Council in July of 2010, and Mary Ellen Branan, a Bastrop writer whose first book of poetry earned a Blue Light Press award in that same year, will share the spotlight. Austin songwriter Steve Brooks is also expected to appear. Featured presentations begin at 7pm and an open mike session will follow. The suggested theme for open mike readers is “Spring.” Admission is free, but donations to the Grace Food Pantry are always accepted. For more information, call (512) 858-2024.

Wednesday, February 23 @ 11:30am - 1pm
Second Anniversary Celebration
Austin Brevita (1600 E Hwy 290 Dripping Springs, Texas)
Austin Brevita is hosting a customer appreciation party to celebrate its second anniversary and new lunch menu launch.  Attendees will have the chance to enjoy live music, giveaways and tastings from local food vendors. For more information  visit austinbrevita.com or call Lissetta McCurdy at (512) 858-2315. 

Friday, February 25 @ 7pm - 11pm
Casino Night
Creekside Pavilion (Driftwood)
Dripping Springs Independent School District Educational Foundation hosts its premier event of the year which includes dinner, drinks, live music, silent auction and casino-style gaming tables. The DSISD Educational Foundation provides scholarships to students with high academic achievement and awards grants to educators in the district to enhance the classroom experience.  Tickets are $75 per person and can be purchased at Cattleman’s National Bank, online at dseducationfoundation.org, or contact donna@gracytitle.com .
 
Friday, March 4 @ 6:30pm
Partner of Youth Bunco Night
Springs Family YMCA
Tickets are $20 available at the Y or at the door. There will be food, silent auction prizes, door prizes, and free child watch. For more information call (512) 894-3309 or visit austinymca.org. Come out for a ladies night of games and fellowship and help make a difference in our community. Your ticket and auction dollars help the YMCA to continue to give out its aid to all people who need it. The Y does not turn anyone away for inability to afford membership or programs.
 
Saturday, March 5 @ 10am - 5:30pm
Sculpture Challenge
Carved Stone (5300 Bell Springs Road)
Sculptors, artists, and lovers of all things creative and inspiring will converge on Dripping Springs for Carved Stone’s Sixth Annual Sculpture Challenge. The festive annual event, which benefits PAWS Shelter and Humane Society, takes place on the charming grounds of Carved Stone, where attendees visit with and observe sculptors in their element while also enjoying live blues-infused music, unique food, including special treats from nationally acclaimed Onion Creek Kitchens, as well as cool and complimentary tastings courtesy Dripping Springs Vodka. As a benefit for PAWS Shelter and Humane Society, admission to Sculpture Challenge is $10 per person with all ticket proceeds benefiting PAWS. Also, if you purchase one of the sculptures entered into the Sculpture Challenge, 20% of the sale proceeds will go to PAWS. Finally, for those who fancy themselves something of an art critic, attendees are invited to help determine the winner of Sculpture Challenge. All ballots must be marked by 4pm the day of the event. Sculpture Challenge has very professional sculptors but allows beginner level as well – you be the judge! For more information, visit sculpturechallenge.com .

Sunday, March 13 @ Noon - 9pm
7th Annual Brittany Tuck Foundation Benefit
Camp Ben McCullough (Driftwood)
Included in this year’s live country music line-up are Freddie Andrews from Honeybrowne, Chad Hudson, The Jerry Martin Band, Texas Renegade, Michael Myers, and The Whitney Rae Band. In addition to the live entertainment, there will be a BBQ dinner served from 1pm – 3pm with the popular live auction running from 4pm - 6pm. Live music will performed all day and the silent auction will be open throughout the day as well. Tickets, which can be purchased ahead of time or bought at the gate on the day of the event, are $20 for adults, $10 for children ages 8-12, (7 and under FREE.) Tickets will be available for purchase in Dripping Springs at Print Plus, Cattleman’s Bank and Prosperity Bank. Proceeds from this event fund the Brittany Tuck Foundation which awards scholarships to area athletes from Dripping Springs, Lake Travis, and Dayton High Schools. To date, almost $90,000 has been awarded to deserving recipients. With your help, the Tuck family would like to continue awarding these annual scholarships in honor of their daughter, Brittany, and help keep her dream alive.  For more information or tickets, call Keith or Sandra Tuck at (512) 858-0504, email Sharon Burch at ssjjb@austin.rr.com, or visit brittanytuck.com .

Sunday, March 27 @ 3pm - 5pm
Heritage Circle of Dripping Springs presents an Oral History Roundtable
Dripping Springs City Hall (511 Mercer Street)
Join a discussion of local education in years gone. Learn of the legendary one-room school house,  the “real skinny” on the city’s famed rivalry with Lake Travis, and everything in between to be discussed by a panel of locals who remember when.  Tickets are $5 and Heritage Circle member tickets are accepted to this event. For more information, call (512) 858-2030 or email heritagecircle@verizon.net.

Saturday, April 2 @ 9am
Dripping Springs Farmers Market
The Triangle (RR 12 and Hwy 290)
The 2011 market Season kicks off! Vendor applications and rules and regulations for 2011 are available on the market website's vendor forms page . Applications are being accepted until March 1st.

Friday - Sunday, April 15 - 17
Founders Day Festival
Downtown Dripping Springs
Annual festival commemorates and celebrates the founding of our community in 1850 by the Moss, Wallace, and Pound families. Booths, carnival, cook-offs, parade, and more. For details, visit foundersdayfestival.com.

Thursday, May 5
Dinner By the Bite
Wilson Appliance
On the heels (and paws) of the sold-out fall event, PAWS Shelter and Humane Society will hold its spring event with a Cinco de Mayo flair. For this always fun and festive culinary benefit that brings together a delicious mix of local chefs and food lovers with a heart, the chefs will prepare their signature dishes but with a Cinco de Mayo twist. More information coming soon at pawsshelter.org or get the latest at facebook.com/pawsshelter .

Friday, May 16
2nd Annual DSYAF Fundraiser Golf Tournament
Grey Rock Golf Course
The Dripping Springs Youth Activity Fund's annual golf tournament raises funds that go directly toward helping children in our community pay to participate in extracurricular activities. For more information on registering to play golf, or becoming a sponsor of the event, visit dsyaf.org or email info@dsyaf.org.