This spring’s festivals will serve tacos, barbecue, alcohol and oysters. The Tacos and Tequila Festival is among the events returning to Houston.
Social House Entertainment
Wildflowers are blooming. The weather has hit the 80s. The rodeo wrapped up.
All of that means it’s time for Houston’s spring food festivals. Some of the city’s biggest events are back for another year: FoodieLand will bring more than 100 food vendors to NRG Park. The Houston Barbecue Festival unites many of the city’s top barbecue joints. Still more events highlight tacos, whiskey, sake, oysters and Asian food.
Here are 11 festivals coming to Houston between now and May.
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Whiskey Riot Festival
Samples of more than 150 whiskeys will be poured at Houston Whiskey Riot at Post Houston.
Kathy Tran
Whiskey lovers can taste more than 150 different bottles at this upcoming festival. Sample-sized cocktails are also on offer, and brand representatives will be on hand to talk about their whiskeys. Those who buy early entry tickets can arrive an hour early to taste exclusive drinks and enjoy a dinner smoked by Tomball’s 2 Guys 1 Pit BBQ.
When: March 28, 3-7 p.m.
Where: POST Houston, 401 Franklin St.
Details: $90 for general admission. $160 for early entry.
FoodieLand
FoodieLand returns to NRG for a three-day event.
FoodieLand Texas
FoodieLand, a national festival, is back for its third year in Houston. More than 100 food vendors will descend on NRG Park, as will shops selling everything from Funko Pops to cowboy hats. Customers can gorge themselves on capybara-shaped bao, candied fruit skewers called tanghulu, cheese-stuffed boudin balls, Dubai strawberry chocolate creations, seafood boils and much more.
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When: April 10-12. 3-10 p.m. on Friday; 1-10 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
Where: NRG Park, 3 NRG Parkway
Details: $12.99 for entry on any one day.
Tacos and Tequila Festival
Tacos and Tequila will return with a lineup of rap and hip-hop artists.
Social House Entertainment
Tacos, tequila shot bars and margaritas are naturally on the menu at this April festival. But that’s not all. Guests can also catch lucha libre wrestling, an exotic car show and a chihuahua beauty pageant. Hip-hop and rap artists including Three 6 Mafia, Fat Joe, Xzibit and Trina will perform. 21+ only. (The same organization will also host Latido Festival, celebrating Mexican music, with similar food vendors the day before.)
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When: April 11, DJs and live performances from 1:30-10:30 p.m.
Where: Sam Houston Race Park, 7575 N. Sam Houston Pkwy W.
Details: Currently $74.05 per person, including fees, with discounts for buying two- and four-packs of tickets. $146.83 for VIP tickets, including fees.
Brazilian Food & Music Festival
Scenes from the Brazilian Food & Music Festival in 2019. It returns this April.
Dave Rossman/Contributor
The family-friendly event pairs crafts and live music with lots of Brazilian food: Feijoada, a black bean stew; churrasco, Brazilian-style barbecue; teardrop-shaped coxinha; and chocolatey brigadeiro. Caipirinha, Brazil’s national drink, is on offer, as is guarana soda.
When: April 11, 12-8 p.m.
Where: Powder Keg, 1300 Brittmoore
Details: $15 now. Prices rise closer to the event. $25 at the door.
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Houston Oyster & Seafest
Houston Oyster & Seafest benefits the Galveston Bay Foundation.
Galveston Bay Foundation
The Galveston Bay Foundation is back with its annual culinary fundraiser. The festival features at least 15 oyster vendors and local restaurants, serving seafood dishes that all star the oyster. Proceeds go to the foundation’s oyster shell recycling and habitat restoration programs.
When: April 11, 11:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Where: Autry Park, 3711 Autry Park Dr.
Details: $44.52 for general admission, including fees. $60.54 for general admission with alcohol. $209.93 for VIP entry.
Houston Barbecue Festival
The annual Houston Barbecue Festival returns to the Humble Civic Center & Arena Complex.
Robert J. Lerma / Robert J. Lerma
Each year, 25-plus of Houston’s best barbecue joints congregate for festivalgoers to sample their smoked meats. Organized by J.C. Reid, the Houston Chronicle’s barbecue columnist, the event is an opportunity for people to try many of the spots on the Chronicle’s guide to the area’s top barbecue, all at once.
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When: April 12, 1-4 p.m.
Where: Humble Civic Center Arena Complex, 8233 Will Clayton Pkwy
Details: $75.43 for early bird tickets, including fees; $143.95 for VIP tickets, including fees. Prices will rise closer to the event.
Houston Margarita Festival
The International Margarita Organization is bringing its drinks to Houston.
International Margarita Organization
Sip 10 different margaritas and vote for your favorite at this tasting contest, which is organized by the International Margarita Organization in cities all over the country. DJs, food vendors and a beer garden will all be on site. 21+ only.
When: April 18. 12-6 p.m.
Where: The Decoy, 1222 Witte
Details: $25.27 (including fees) for a non-sampling ticket. $31.96 for general admission. $43.09 for VIPs.
Houston Kanpai Festival
Houston Kanpai Festival, new to H-Town, will bring more than 50 sakes to the city.
Grace Radebaugh
This new celebration of sake brings more than 50 kinds of sake from regions across Japan to Houston. Brewery representatives will fly in too, to introduce the variety of their drinks: some dry, some rich. For entertainment, check out the samurai displays and calligraphy.
When: April 19, 2-6 p.m.
Where: The Garage HTX, 1201 Oliver #106
Details: $64.50 for general admission, including fees. $104.42 for VIP tickets, which come with a charcuterie set and swag bag.
Top Taco Festival
Top Taco Festival is returning April 23.
Courtesy of Top Taco
More than 35 restaurants will offer tacos at this festival, which comes complete with lucha libre wrestling and live music. Thirty-plus spirit brands will also make an appearance to show off their mezcals and tequilas. Festivalgoers can vote on the best taco and cocktail of the night. 21+ only.
When: April 23, 6-10 p.m.
Where: POST Houston, 401 Franklin St
Details: $99 for general admission. $129 for “first taste” early access. $169 for access to the asada BBQ taco showdown. (Fees not included)
Panda Fest
Panda Fest in New York. The event features a 15-foot-tall inflatable panda.
Panda Fest
This Asian food and culture festival will bedeck Buffalo Bayou Park with pandas: a 15-foot inflatable panda, a panda bounce ring, panda merch and panda-themed games. More than 60 vendors will sell Asian food and merchandise: everything from tanghulu, fruit skewers dipped in a hard sugar shell, to whole fried squid.
When: May 8-10. 4-10 p.m. May 8; 10 a.m.-10 p.m. May 9; 10 a.m.-8 p.m. May 10.
Where: Water Works in Buffalo Bayou Park, 105-B Sabine
Details: $14 for general admission Friday and Sunday; $16 for Sunday. $25 for VIP access Friday and Sunday; $27 for Saturday.
Texas Monthly Taco Fest South
Texas Monthly’s Taco Fest is back in Houston.
Bethany Ellen Ochs
Texas Monthly’s Houston taco festival brings 15 taquerias from the magazine’s list of the state’s best 50 tacos to Discovery Green. The event, now in its second year, will also feature live entertainment.
When: May 23, 5-8:30 p.m.
Where: Discovery Green, 1500 McKinney
Details: $60 for general admission; $85 for early entry VIP