Multicultural Events
DECEMBER
Fort Davis
Frontier Christmas
This celebration re-creates all the classic
Christmas activities, including caroling,
cocoa, cookies, and a lighting ceremony
on the square to round out the activities.
432-426-3015, 800-524-3015,
fortdavis.com
Gulf Coast
JANUARY
Galveston
Mardi Gras Galveston
Celebrate Mardi Gras Texas-style with
nearly 250,000 partygoers. The Grand
Night Parade is the biggest event,
and the fest concludes with the Fat
Tuesday Parade.
866-505-4456
mardigrasgalveston.com
Port Aransas
Whooping Crane
Festival
JANUARY
This homage takes flight with nature
workshops and field trips, a naturebased trade show, and seminars by
renowned speakers.
800-452-6278,
whoopingcranefestival.org
Galveston
866-505-4456, mardigrasgalveston.com
Texas is packed with culture from corner
to corner, which means you'll find plenty
of interesting events to enjoy. Most
occur annually, but be sure to call or
visit websites for specific dates and
additional details.
Big Bend Country
APRIL
Midland
Celebration of The Arts
This festival brings together creative
works from artists around the country.
432-687-1149, acmidland.org
El Paso
NOVEMBER
Sun City Music Festival
Terlingua
Check out one of the most popular
electronic dance music festivals in the
world, over Labor Day Weekend, at El
Paso's Ascarate Park.
suncitymusicfestival.com
Midland
SeptemberFest
This fundraiser for the Museum of the
Southwest celebrates with artists and
craftspeople from all over the nation.
432-683-2882, museumsw.org
OCTOBER
Terlingua International
Chili Championship
What started in 1967 has become a
world-renowned chili cook-off.
972-935-2402, abowlofred.com
Alpine
APRIL
ARTWALK
Bringing together artists from across the
Southwest, this free event celebrates
the arts with the cooperation of Alpine’s
galleries, private studios, and artrelated shops.
432-837-3067, artwalkalpine.com
Del Rio
Del Rio
Odessa
Fiesta de Amistad
Cinco de Mayo
Activities include an arts and crafts show,
the Miss Del Rio Pageant, and the only
parade that starts in one country and
ends in another.
830-774-8558, drchamber.com
Tejano Super
Car Show
SEPTEMBER
Marfa
Marfa Lights Festival
Dance the night away under the shine
of those mysterious desert lights on the
lawn of one of the most magnificent
courthouses in Texas. For free.
432-729-4942, marfacc.com
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Sanderson
Prickly Pear Pachanga
This annual festival is a local celebration
of fall, the beginning of hunting season,
and the area’s most bountiful asset—
the prickly pear cactus.
915-562-6446, amigoairsho.org
TEXAS INTERNATIONAL TOUR GUIDE 2015–2017
Charro Days Fiesta
Experience the week-long celebration
of border culture, including parades,
dances, and festivities in the streets.
956-542-4245,
charrodaysfiesta.com
M AY
Celebrate Mexico’s victory over France
with cultural music, folklorico dancing,
food, and more.
830-775-3551, drchamber.com
Brownsville
This unique car show attracts world lowrider champions and awards more than
200 trophies in categories ranging from
Best Car to Best Bicycle. Add hydraulic
car-hopping, model car contests, live
Tejano, rhythm and blues, and rap music,
and an art contest, and you’ve got a real
party.
432-337-2189
tejanosupercarshow.com
Houston
WorldFest-Houston
Film Festival
With 550 filmmakers from 33 countries
and more than 20,000 film buffs, it’s
no surprise that directors like Steven
Spielberg, George Lucas, and Ang Lee
won their first awards here.
713-965-9955, worldfest.org
Port Aransas
Texas Sandfest
Now a qualifying contest for the world
championships, this master sand
competition also has open contests
for family fun.
800-452-6278
texassandfest.com
Corpus Christi
Buccaneer Days
With an illuminated night parade,
other festivities include a PRCA rodeo,
a barbecue tailgate party, a carnival
midway, and two parades.
361-882-3242, bucdays.com
PHOTOGRAPH: KIM CHRISTENSEN PHOTOGRAPHY
Mardi Gras Galveston
Houston
Bay Area Houston
AUGUST
Austin
Houston Art Car Parade
Wings Over Houston Airshow
Marble Falls
Fun Fun Fun Fest
Not your ordinary car show, The Art
Car Parade has scores of hard-to-classify
rolling contraptions, lowriders, costumed
rollerskaters, musicians on floats, and
hot-rodders.
713-926-6368,
thehoustonartcarparade.com
Modern and historical aircraft perform in
a six-hour flying demonstration.
713-266-4492
wingsoverhouston.com
LakeFest Drag Boat Race
Rock, punk, electronica, and metal
bands converge on Austin’s Auditorium
Shores park. Concurrent activities include
comedy and action sports.
funfunfunfest.com
JUNE
Galveston
AIA Houston SandCastle
Competition
Almost 60 teams, including professional
architects and designers from the
American Institute of Architects, compete
for the Golden Bucket Award.
713-520-0155, aiasandcastle.com
NOVEMBER
Harlingen
Rio Grande Valley
Birding Festival
Birders from everywhere migrate
to Harlingen for premier field trips,
seminars, workshops, a trade show,
and family programs.
209-227-4823, rgvbf.org
See over 100 boats on a liquid quartermile race track, reaching speeds up
to 250 miles per hour.
830-693-2815
marblefallslakefest.com
Boerne
Kendall County Fair
This event displays the best agriculture
products and livestock from Kendall
County and the surrounding Hill Country.
830-249-2839, kcfa.org
OCTOBER
DECEMBER
Fredericksburg
Galveston
J U LY
Oktoberfest
Dickens on the Strand
Port Aransas
This fest takes you back to the
Victorian era, with Dickens characters,
carolers, and street performers. Come
decked out in Victorian fashion and get
in for half price.
409-750-9108, dickensonthestrand.org
Each year Fredericksburg celebrates its
heritage with a German festival featuring
singing, dancing, oompah bands, German
wurst, sauerkraut, and baked goods.
830-997-4810
oktoberfestinfbg.com
Deep Sea Roundup
The oldest fishing tournament on the
coast includes surf, bay, fly-fishing, and
offshore competitions.
800-452-6278, deepsearoundup.com
AUGUST
Hill Country
South Padre Island
MARCH
Texas International
Fishing Tournament
Austin
Anglers of all ages try to reel in trophies
for bay and offshore fishing at the largest
saltwater fishing competition in Texas.
956-943-8438, tift.org
South by Southwest
South Padre Island
This event encompasses the interactive,
film, music festivals and more, drawing
filmmakers and bands from all over
the world. More than 2,200 acts of all
genres perform on more than 100 stages,
entertaining some 30,000 fans.
512-467-7979, sxsw.com
Sandcastle Days
APRIL
SEPTEMBER
Watch master sand sculptors vie
for big money prizes. Amateurs can
also compete.
800-767-2373
sandcastledays.com
Austin
Austin Food
& Wine Festival
Rockport-Fulton
Those who enjoy sumptuous wine and
cuisine gather for classes, seminars,
and tastings.
austinfoodandwinefestival.com
Rockport Seafair
Georgetown
OCTOBER
Right on the harbor, this fun festival has
a gumbo cookoff, live entertainment, and
an outdoor boat show.
361-729-6445, rockportseafair.com
Brownsville
Brownsville Latin
Jazz Festival
This internationally recognized musical
event features the most distiguished
artists in Latin jazz and an abundance of
musicians, dancers, and local talent.
956-831-9590
artsinbrownsville.org
Red Poppy Festival
This festival celebrates spring and the
red poppy flower in Georgetown, the Red
Poppy Flower Capital of Texas.
800-436-8696,
redpoppyfestival.com
MAY
Kerrville
Kerrville Folk Festival
The nation’s longest-running songwriters’
festival with more than 100 performing
singers & songwriters.
830-257-3600, kerrville-music.com
Wimberley
Wimberley Market Days
More than 475 vendors display
crafts and antiques.
512-847-2201, shopmarketdays.com
Austin
Austin City Limits
Music Festival
A musical celebration hosting more than
130 artists from around the globe, this
festival also offers local eats and wares,
kids activities, and green iniatiives.
aclfest.com
New Braunfels
Gruene Music & Wine Fest
This Americana event benefiting United
Way of Comal County features the best
in live Texas music and the best in Texas
food and wine at Gruene Hall and The
Grapevine.
830-629-5077
gruenemusicandwinefest.org
Austin
Texas Book Festival
Your favorite authors give readings and
participate in book signings. This free
event also includes panel discussions,
music, a children’s tent, and a book fair.
512-477-4055, texasbookfestival.org
NOVEMBER
DECEMBER
San Marcos
Sights and Sounds
of Christmas
A Night in Old Bethlehem re-creates a
period marketplace and stages a live
Nativity scene.
512-393-8400
sights-n-sounds.org
Panhandle Plains
APRIL
Abilene
Buffalo Gap Wine
& Food Summit
Seminars promote the art of pairing
wine with food. Texas and California
wineries and Texas chefs are featured.
Tickets are sold in advance.
800-367-1721, buffalogapsummit.org
JUNE
San Angelo
Showdown in San Angelo
Boat Races
Watch drag boats race around a
track in Lake Nasworthy. The event
features more than 100 vessels and
9,000 onlookers.
325-655-4136,
showdowninsanangelo.com
Wichita Falls
Legends of Western
Swing Music Festival
Wear your dancing boots to this
event—there are two dance floors
and music from 12 bands throughout
the weekend!
318-792-3303
J U LY
Stamford
Texas Cowboy Reunion
Ranch families come together for a
rodeo, chuckwagon and barbecue
cook-off, Western art trade show,
and more.
325-773-3138, tcrrodeo.com
New Braunfels
Wurstfest
The food, dancing, and Gemütlichkeit
(fun and fellowship) of this German
festival in honor of wurst brings folks
from all over.
830-625-9167, 800-221-4369
wurstfest.com
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Multicultural Events
AUGUST
Wichita Falls
Hotter’n Hell Hundred
This aptly named race–100 miles
in 100-degree weather–is one of
the largest bike rides in the country,
drawing more than 12,000 cyclists.
940-322-3223, hh100.org
SEPTEMBER
Lubbock
National Cowboy
Symposium
& Celebration
This event celebrates cowboy music,
poetry, and storytelling, and features
an ever-popular Chuck Wagon Cookoff.
806-798-7825, cowboy.org
DECEMBER
San Angelo
Christmas at
Old Fort Concho
Piney Woods
FEBRUARY
AUGUST
Hotter'n Hell Hundred
Wichita Falls
940-322-3223, hh100.org
MAY
OCTOBER
FEBRUARY
Conroe
Tyler
Dallas
Toyota Texas
Bass Classic
Texas Rose Festival
Dallas Blooms
Visit the Rose Capital of America as
the city marks the harvest of the rose.
903-597-3130 texasrosefestival.net
The largest outdoor floral festival in
the Southwest bursts into bloom with
500,000 flowers and themed topiaries.
214-515-6500, dallasarboretum.org
Celebrate with three parades, street
dances, a carnival, and arts and crafts.
903-665-2672,
mardigrasupriver.com
This three-day event features anglers
from across all major tours and some
of country music’s premier artists with
event proceeds benefitting the Texas
Parks and Wildlife Department and its
youth outdoor programs.
866-907-0143,
toyotatexasbassclassic.com
APRIL
Huntsville
Henderson
General Sam Houston
Folk Festival
Jefferson
Mardi Gras Upriver
Antique Tractor &
Engine Show
NOVEMBER
Marshall
Wonderland of Lights
Visit Marshall for this holiday festival
and see the city transformed by 10
million tiny white lights.
903-935-4526,
marshalltexas.net
Visitors can enjoy an antique-farmequipment show, food booths, and kids’
activities, like a pedal-tractor pull.
903-889-2671,
visithendersontx.com
Relive the life and times of General
Sam Houston. The festival is full of
folklife demonstrations, a living-history
theater, museum tours, live music,
and more.
936-294-1832,
samhoustonmemorialmuseum.com
Woodville
J U LY
Tyler County
Dogwood Festival
Longview
Prairies & Lakes
With three themed weekends over the
blooming season, this fest celebrates
the glorious dogwood trees.
409-283-2632,
tylercountydogwoodfestival.org
Great Texas Balloon Race
JANUARY
50 |
It’s a world class event attracting
the very best competitive pilots from
across the U.S. and the world. Balloon
Glows and live concerts are on Fri. and
Sat. nights.
903-753-3281,
greattexasballoonrace.com
TEXAS INTERNATIONAL TOUR GUIDE 2015–2017
Nacogdoches
Nine Flags Festival
Celebrate the heritage of Nacogdoches
with events honoring the nine flags
that have flown over the city.
888-653-3788, nineflagsfestival.com
Frisco
NCAA Division I FCS
Championship Game
Each year two teams bring the highest
level of collegiate play to determine one
true champion.
ncaa.com/fcs
Washington
Texas Independence
Day Celebration
Celebrate the anniversary of the Texas
Declaration of Independence signing
where it happened with reenactments
and a black gunpowder salute by the
Texas Army.
936-878-2214 ext. 237,
birthplaceoftexas.com
MARCH
Denton
35 Denton Music Festival
Popular 35 Denton is a walkable four-day
music festival programmed in the heart of
downtown Denton.
35denton.com
APRIL
Cleburne
Antique Alley Texas
This massive antiques sale spans 25
miles and several towns.
817-240-4948
antiquealleytexas.com
PHOTO COURTESY OF: MICHAEL AMADOR, TXDOT
Live entertainment, cowboy poetry,
Christmas stories, period gifts, and
cavalry and infantry demonstrations
ensure a great time for all.
325-657-4441
fortconcho.com
Fort Worth
SEPTEMBER
Gonzales
MARCH
Main St. Fort Worth
Arts Festival
Grapevine
Gonzales “Come and
Take It” Days
Hidalgo
Nine blocks of Fort Worth’s historic
brick-paved Main Street become a
marketplace of food, arts, crafts, and
live entertainment.
817-336-2787
mainstreetartsfest.org
GrapeFest
Join wine novices and connoisseurs at
the largest wine festival in the Southwest.
817-410-3195,
grapevinetexasusa.com
The first shot of the Texas Revolution was
fired in Gonzales, an event that’s worthy
of celebration in these parts.
888-672-1095
gonzalestexas.com
Lewisville
Grand Prairie
Round Top
Western Days Festival
Spring Thoroughbred Racing
Season
Celebrate Western culture with food,
live music on four festival stages, a
children's activity area, car show, cooking
demonstrations, and the World TamaleEating Championship.
972-219-3401,
lewisvillewesterndays.com
Round Top Festival
Institute
At Lone Star Park, you can see live
Thoroughbred horse racing Thursday
through Sunday.
972-263-7223, lonestarpark.com
MAY
Plano
Bonham
Plano Balloon Festival
Heritage Day Celebration
Bonham Heritage Day offers a variety of
events, including crafts, food vendors,
cavalry re-enactors, and more.
903-583-9830, visitbonham.com
One of the largest balloon events in Texas
gets off the ground with more than 50
hot air balloons, a parachute team, and
kids’ activities.
972-867-7566, planoballoonfest.org
West
Irving
AT&T Byron Nelson
Championship
Mix business with unparalleled
entertainment—come play at the Nelson.
hpbnc.org
Westfest Polka Festival
Come out for a parade, live music on two
stages, dancing, and a carnival.
254-826-5058, westfest.com
OCTOBER
Irving
Dallas
Annual DFW Dragon Boat,
Kite, and Lantern Festival
State Fair of Texas
This family event celebrates Asian culture
with boat races, dragon dancing, kite
flying, and food from over eight countries.
dfwdragonboatfestival.com
The state fair draws people with exhibits,
music, livestock, and the Texas Star (one
of North America’s tallest Ferris wheels).
214-565-9931, bigtex.com
This series features more than 50
events, including symphony and
chamber orchestras and guitar and
percussion festivals.
979-249-3129
festivalhill.org
NOVEMBER
Bryan-CollegeStation
Brazos Valley Worldfest
Enjoy displays, demonstrations,
performances, and international food and
vendors at this multicultural event.
979-845-4016,
brazosvalleyworldfest.com
Frisco
Christmas in the Square
More than 650,000 visitors flock to the
pedestrian-friendly celebration to get
into the holiday spirit.
469-633-7117, friscosquare.com
BorderFest
This internationally award-winning
heritage and music festival includes
live entertainment from more than 100
performers, 20 stages, parades, crafts,
and food.
956-843-2734, myborderfest.com
APRIL
San Antonio
Fiesta
During 11 days of fun, choose from
over 100 events throughout the city.
Highlights include the Battle of Flowers
Parade and Night in Old San Antonio.
210-227-5191, 877-723-4378,
fiesta-sa.org
JUNE
San Antonio
Texas Folklife Festival
This is a celebration of the rich heritage
of more than 40 cultural groups in
Texas with a smorgasbord of ethnic
foods, storytelling, music, dance, and
arts and crafts.
210-458-2300, texancultures.com
J U LY
Laredo
DECEMBER
Laredo International
Sister Cities Festival
Waxahachie
Some 199 booths feature handcrafted
jewelry, home decor, food, and more.
Bethlehem Revisited
This event re-creates Bethlehem on
the night that Christ was born with
more than 150 cast members and live
animals. 972-937-2390,
waxahachiechamber.com
956-795-2200, visitlaredo.com
OCTOBER
Goliad
Goliad Market Days
JANUARY
The city hosts one of the largest street
markets in South Texas. Vendors sell
arts and crafts, jewelry, collectibles,
and more.
361-645-3563, goliadcc.org
Laredo
DECEMBER
Washington’s Birthday
Celebration
McAllen
This celebration is packed with more
than 30 events,including two parades,
fireworks, a jalapeño-eating contest, an
airshow, and more.
956-722-0589, wbcalaredo.org
Celebrate the area’s culture with
luminarias and a live Nativity scene.
956-682-2871, mcallencvb.com
South Texas Plains
Candlelight Posada
PHOTO COURTESY OF: STAN A. WILLIAMS, TXDOT
FEBRUARY
Laredo
Laredo Birding Festival
MARCH
BorderFest
Hidalgo
956-843-2734, myborderfest.com
This celebration of all things birding
includes field trips, beginner birding
workshops, film screenings, and an
art contest.
956-718-1063,
laredobirdingfestival.com
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