6 Houston food festivals worth putting on your calendar
In April, a handful of festivals are celebrating crawfish, barbecue and other foods. Here are several food and drink events we’re looking forward to.
Foodieland
When: 1-10 p.m. today-Sunday; tickets are $6 and must be purchased ahead of time. Children younger than 5 get in for free.
What: Foodieland will consist of over 150 vendors serving a wide variety of cuisines. The event at NRG Park, which originated in California, was inspired by openair night markets in Asia. It is now in all four major Texas cities.
Crawfish Fest
When: 2-9 p.m. April 13; general admission tickets are $15, VIP tickets are $45 and children younger than 8 enter for free.
What: News station KPRC 2 is hosting a celebration for mudbug lovers at Discovery Green, 1500 McKinney. Crawfish and other Cajun-style boiled foods will be available for purchase and are not included in admission tickets, although a $30 add-on of a 2 pound crawfish plate can be purchased with your ticket. The event will also have a local artisans market and live music.
Houston Barbecue Festival
When: 1-4 p.m. April 14; general admission is $80, VIP tickets are $150. Presale tickets are $15 cheaper. Children 6 and younger get in free.
What: Some of Houston’s — and Texas’ — best barbecue joints are coming together for the 11th annual Houston Barbecue Festival, which was co-founded by Houston Chronicle barbecue columnist J.C. Reid. At Humble Civic Center Arena Complex, 8233 Will Clayton, attendees can indulge in unlimited smoked meats from more than 30 barbecue joints. An on-site bar will be selling beer. Only a limited number of tickets are available and must be purchased ahead of the event.
Brazilian Food and Music Festival
When: Noon-6 p.m. April 21; tickets are $12 before April 20 and $15 at the door.
What: Wildcatter Saloon, 26913 Katy Freeway, is turning into a mini Brazil for the ninth annual Brazilian Food and Music Festival. Find all your Brazilian food favorites in one place, including feijoada, brigadeiro and caipirinha cocktails selling from $2 to $30. Along with the abundance of food, there will be music, dancing and crafts for kids. The event claims to be one of the top five biggest Brazilian festivals in the U.S. Top Taco Festival
When: 6-10 p.m. April 25; general admission tickets are now $70 with upgraded tickets going for $90. No kids allowed.
What: A ticket to Top Taco Festival gets you unlimited taco samples and tequila cocktails from Houston restaurants. Attendees will vote on their favorites in four categories: Top Creative Taco, Top Traditional Taco, Top Vegetarian Taco and Top Cocktail. An upgraded ticket gets you “first taste,” meaning you get to enter the event an hour early. It will be held at Post Houston, 401 Franklin. Tickets are expected to sell out.
Houston Brew Festival
When: Noon-4 p.m. April 27; general admission tickets are $70, early admission tickets are $110. Children are not allowed.
What: This one’s for the craft beer folks. Houston Brew Festival is coming to Discovery Green. It will feature 150 beers, along with food trucks, live music and lawn games. General admission includes beer samples, but food is sold separately. Early admission tickets allow attendees to enter an hour early.
The Greater Houston Food Truck Festival
When: 1-10 p.m. May 5; general admission tickets are $20 and $30 to skip the line at the entrance.
What: Try multiple foods from the city’s top-rated food trucks at this festival. At the fairgrounds, 13711 Almeda School Road, a host of trucks will be set up, along with other vendors and music performers.