Due to the vastly varied cultures which comprise Texas, practically every type of food is available in the Lone Star State. And, those various types of food are inevitably celebrated with a variety of festivals each year.
WurstFest
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For over four decades, the German-influenced Hill Country town of New Braunfels has held their annual Wurstfest, which features plenty of sausage, strudel, pretzels, polka music, and more.
Floresville Peanut Festival
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Claiming to be the "Peanut Capitol of Texas," Floresville backs up its boast with the annual Peanut Festival, held the second weekend of October each year.
Terlingua International Chili Championship
Held the first Saturday of November, the Terlingua International Chili Championship is the "grandaddy" of all chili cookoffs. This CASI-sanctioned event is actually a four-day festival that culminates with the chili cookoff on Saturday.
Poteet Strawberry Festival
The annual Strawberry Festival draws over 100,000 visitors to the tiny town of Poteet. This event, which has been held for nearly 60 years, attracts nationally-known country music stars and Tejano entertainers in addition to the carnival, art show, rodeo, dances, parade, and “Taste of Texas” food show.
Texas Hot Sauce Festival
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The Texas Hot Sauce Festival is the Bayou City's showcase event for any type of sauce with a little "kick" in it, including hot sauce, salsa, barbecue sauce, Bloody Mary mix, and more.
Czhilispiel
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Based in the Czech settlement of Flatonia, Czhilispiel (pronounced 'chili spill') has been held annually for over 30 years, drawing some of the best chili and BBQ cook-off teams from across the state.
Luling Watermelon Thump
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Luling's annual Watermelon Thump is a four-day celebration of everyone's favorite summer treat—watermelon. The festival includes a carnival, kiddie rides, food booths, live entertainment, watermelon seed spitting contest, watermelon eating contest, and more.
Texas Mushroom Festival
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Held in Madisonville, the Texas Mushroom Festival features a cooking contest, mushroom growing demonstrations, wine tasting, children's activities, photography contest, live music, and more.
Austin Ice Cream Festival
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Held at Waterloo Park, the Austin Ice Cream Festival is a great way to cool off from the summer heat. The festival itself includes games, activities, live entertainment and, of course, ice cream.
Texas Rice Festival
Winnie's annual Texas Rice Festival is held each October to help celebrate the harvest of the rice crop. The event features food, a carnival, livestock show, arts & crafts, and live music from top Texas and Nashville entertainers.
Conroe Cajun Catfish Festival
Offering great music, food, and exhibits, the Conroe Cajun Catfish Festival draws over 40,000 spectators on an annual basis.
Pasadena Strawberry Festival
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Pasadena's annual Strawberry Festival has been a Texas favorite for over three decades and features a wide variety of activities and entertainment including skydiving, bingo, live music, strawberry eating contests, strawberry cooking, barbecue cookoff, mud volleyball, a carnival, and more.
Dublin Dr Pepper Birthday Celebration
Held each year in Dublin, the Dr. Pepper Birthday Celebration pays homage to a true Texas original—Dr. Pepper. During the birthday celebration, visitors are treated to free tours of the bottling plant and museum. Carnival games and food booths are also on site during the celebration.
Texas Reds Festival
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Held each October in Bryan, the Texas Reds Festival is an ode to red wine and steak. With more than 20 wineries participating, this steak and wine festival features wine tasting, a steak cook-off, live entertainment, a 'KidZone' and more. Started in 2007, the Texas Reds Festival also showcases the arts and historic downtown Bryan. Although tickets must be purchased for steak and wine, there is no admission charge to the Texas Reds Festival, qualifying it as one of Texas' best "free" festivals.
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