A free Filipino festival is taking over POST Houston this weekend!
Downtown Houston’s Filipino American community takes over POST Houston on Sunday, October 11, running from midday into the evening at 401 Franklin St.
The festival lines up with this year’s national theme from the Filipino American National Historical Society: “Beyond the Margins: Centering Intersectional Filipino American Histories.”
The festival will feature open-air marketplace of small businesses, artisan goods, specialty beverages, desserts, and a wide range of regional Filipino cuisine. Local nonprofits and community organizations will run interactive booths across the property.
At 12 p.m. on The Docks, Chef Nancy kicks things off with a cooking demonstration of “Rodrigo’s Roast,” a celebratory take on a Filipino classic built on the savory flavors of adobo. Competitive eaters can enter the free, two-round Siopao Eating Contest.
At POST Market, B-Girl Eden and District Arts open a breaking and hip-hop showcase with a group of Houston-based Filipino B-girls. Los Angeles rapper NUMP makes a special guest appearance. The FYP Cultural Ambassadors perform traditional dances, music, and cultural attire on the POST Market stage.
The afternoon of the event will see singer-songwriter Ira Perez playing original songs and covers across acoustic, R&B, folk/indie, and pop. The Tropical Rhythms troupe follows with hula and traditional Philippine folk dance, and the Houston Cypress Performing Lions and Leos Club presents a youth variety showcase. “American Idol” Golden Ticket recipient Cameron Concepcion and his band play at 4:30 p.m.
During the evening, iv jeull will perform R&B and reggae with Filipino musical influences, and 6ix Elements play Filipino-inflected pop and rock. DJ Seduction and Kleancutt of the Krackernuttz handle DJ sets, and Houston hip-hop artist Elow the Great closes the scheduled lineup with Southern hip-hop, trap, and R&B.
Photo credit: POST
Street teams from the Houston Rockets and Houston Comets will make appearances, and representatives of the Consulate General of the Philippines will be on hand to meet with the community.
Check the full schedule on the festival schedule page before you go.
POST Houston occupies the former Barbara Jordan Post Office, which became a mixed-use cultural destination in 2021 at 401 Franklin St.