Food Festivals--Where do I get the info?

[toripowell]

Sorry for flooding chowhound with my questions, but they've got to be answered. I want to know how to find out about food-related festivals (or other ones, if you want) in advance. Is there a website that lists them? Or if you know of a particularly good one, I can start compiling a list of my own. I'm interested in things as broad as a "Taste of Austin" type festival (not sure if that's a Chicago thing or if everyone does it) or as narrow as a rare species of catfish festival.

[MPH]

It’s more work to find the food-specific festivals, but this website provides a comprehensive listing of fairs and festivals around the state:

http://www.tourtexas.com/@roundtexas.html

I mentioned some of my favorite smaller festivals in this old post from the Texas board (http://www.chowhound.com/topics/306554 ): "For good chow, however, I like Terlingua’s chili cook-offs in November and Flatonia’s Czhilispiel in October. Hallettsville and Caldwell both have kolache festivals in September; West's Westfest, also held in September, features kolaches and other Czech specialties; tiny East Bernard has its Kolache-Klobase Festival in June."

[toripowell]

You guys are amazing! I can't wait to see one of these go down!

[El General]

Kolache Festival in Caldwell

http://www.burlesoncountytx.com/Kolac...

This is a little more broad (Texas board stuff) but the Winnie Rice Festival and the Anahuac Gator Fest have Cajun Pistols (or Pistollettes) which are worth the drive.

[brownbutterball]

every thursday the Austin chronicle prints an events calendar in the food section. you can find out, in advance, about any food related event/festival.

[televiking]

I hope when you find one you will post about it here - it will be great to have a comprehensive list and not have one sneak up when I have other plans.

[Alan Sudo]

Speaking of catfish, the Conroe Cajun Catfish festival usually draws 30,000 people to this small community - www.conroecajuncatfishfestival.com

Here's a few others to get you started ...
Spamarama - usually in April - www.spamarama.org
The Cowboy Breakfest - Kicks off the Rodeo each year - www.rodeoaustin.com
The Luling Watermelon Thump - just missed this June event - www.watermelonthump.com
Poteet Strawberry Festival - www.strawberryfestival.com
State Menudo Cook-off - May 5th each year in San Marcos - www.vivacincodemayo.org
Wurstfest - New Braunfels hosts the biggest Ocktoberfest in the state - www.wurstfest.com
Fiesta Oyster Bake each yesr in San Antonio - www.oysterbake.com
Chilympiad in San Marcos (may now be defunct) is/was a near-by run up to the ginormous Terlingua Chili Cook-off - www.abowlofred.com
Of course, there are countless Bar-B-Q cook-offs.

But the best are often the small but heartfelt ethnic festivals that take place on random weekends over at Festival Beach on Town Lake. They usually combine traditional foods with ethnic dances, fashions and plain 'ol socializing. I've had great times and great food when I've stumbled upon a Thai festival, Celtic Festival, Columbian Festival and many more at that location over the years.

[televiking]

Great list! Wow - the last part of your post has me all wound up...Columbian Festival?!?!? Next time you stumble on one, let us know!

Also, the Native American Pow Wow has lots of food - buffalo burgers, navajo tacos...it is going to be held November 1 this year, at the Toney Burger Center.

[cez77]

Where is "Festival Beach on Town Lake"? Google maps says it's just two blocks south of me. I've never seen any festivals in the park and I don't even know where in the park they would have them. Would they be in the little covered area near the pool or across the street in the theater area? TIA. I am PUMPED that this magical wonderland of ethnic food festivals may really exist so close to my home.

[zebcook]

Do a search for Fiesta Gardens. It's on Town Lake, north side, east of I-35.

[scoutaustin]

St. Elias Mediterranean Festival.......Early October

http://www.mediterraneanfestival.org/

[zebcook]

auschron.com may be helpful, though they tend to only give about a week's notice on such things.

The Austin Chronicle Hot Sauce Festival will be August 24th this year.

[televiking]

What a great idea for a thread - I hope lots of 'hounds will reply so we can get a comprehensive list here on the board. It is so cool the way you have jumped into this - with great questions and reports. Lots of your questions might be answered with use of the search function, or just combing through past posts...back to this topic, here's a few ideas:

The Louisiana Swamp Thing and Crawfish Festival - Cajun food, music, etc - usually in April - http://www.roadwayevents.com/RoadStar/Events-cat.asp?media1Id=1289

Hill Country Food and Wine Festival - http://www.texaswineandfood.org/ - sort of high-falutin' and expensive, but always looks great.

AsiaFest - doesn't have a web page, but past food vendors have included by Thanh Nhi Restaurant, Austin Chapter of Taiwanese Chamber of Commerce, Seoul Restaurant, A+ Buffet Restaurant, Charito Banawis, Cebuana Filipino Store

[chrhenry]

When is AsiaFest? Annually?

[televiking]

Not sure - it was in May this year.

[NirvRush]

Austin360.com or austinchronicle.com may be your best bet, though neither is devoted only to food-related festivals. Taste of Austin is usually at the end of january. they have a website (tasteofaustin.com) but i doubt they update it until it gets close to the event. and i just found this with google: http://www.foodreference.com/html/tex...