7 Texas Festivals Foodies Can’t Miss
In partnership with: Texas Department of Agriculture
There is one indisputable fact about Texas: The state knows its food. From watermelons and blueberries to hot sauce and chili, there’s a Texas food festival to satisfy every craving. Check out our list of seven cant-miss food festivals in The Lone Star State.
Texas Trucklandia Fest
Austin
The Texas Trucklandia Fest in October is the festival for food truck lovers. The six-day food truck crawl and taste-off features over 20 food trucks competing for the votes of 1,000 judges that will determine the winner of the $10,000 prize. The event also welcomes the general public to dine and enjoy the festival’s live music performances.
See more: All’s Fair in Texas
Poteet Strawberry Festival
Poteet
Held annually in April, the Poteet Strawberry Festival celebrates the delicious strawberry crop that grows in Poteet, also known as the “Strawberry Capital of Texas.” The event began back in 1948 when the Poteet Rotary Club hosted the first festival as a way to give the returning World War II veterans an incentive to return to the farms. Today, the festival features over 100 acres of carnival rides, concerts, competitions, rodeo performances and more.
Pfall Chili Pfest
Pflugerville
Head to Pflugerville for the annual Pfall Chili Pfest in October. In addition to participating in Pflugerville’s Chili Cook-Off and Tasting, attendees can check out the live music, enter the jalapeño- and pickle-eating contests for cash prizes, grab a bite to eat at the food trucks, browse the arts and crafts vendors, and much more.
Luling Watermelon Thump
Luling
Taking place during the last full weekend of June since 1954, the Luling Watermelon Thump honors the wonderful watermelon. The event includes melon-eating contests with cash prizes, melon judging and the World Champion Seed Spitting Contest. Festival-goers will also enjoy a carnival with kids’ rides, a beer garden, live music, over 15 food booths, an arts and crafts competition, dances, a parade, and a car show.
See more: 10 Farm Facts about Watermelon
Festa Italiana
Houston
The Italian Cultural & Community Center sponsors the annual Festa Italiana to promote Italian culture in the greater Houston community. Take a trip through Italy with music, live entertainment, a pasta-eating contest, grape stomping, a car show, beer and wine tastings, and more.
Texas Blueberry Festival
Nacogdoches
The annual Texas Blueberry Festival is a one-day celebration of the Lone Star State’s annual blueberry harvest, and over 19,000 people travel to historic downtown Nacogdoches for the festivities. The event is the only state-sanctioned blueberry festival in Texas to participate in blueberry-inspired entertainment, arts and craft vendors, and tasty local fare.
See more: How to Pick Blueberries Fresh From the Bush
Hot Sauce Festival
Austin
One of the largest hot sauce competitions out there, the Hot Sauce Festival in August is one of Austin’s best-known events. Over 10,000 people travel to taste the 350 scorching hot sauce entries. Attendees come for the hot sauce but stay for the extra festivities, including local restaurant tastings, cooking demonstrations, cookbooks, peppers and live music. The event also serves as a major fundraiser for the Central Texas Food Bank.