5 Austin Food Festivals to Visit in 2021
Viewed by many as Texas’ culinary capital, Austin’s food festivals are returning in full force for 2021. Offering mouthwatering samples of cuisine and beverages, these five events will send you on a comprehensive culinary tour of the Lone Star State.
Austin Taco & Margarita Festival
When: Saturday, July 24th, 2021
Where: ACL Live, 3TEN ACL Live Terrace at West in Austin
Celebrating Austin’s unofficial favorite dish, the Austin Taco and Margarita Festival brings together vendors from all across the capital city for a day full of tacos and live entertainment. Beverage stations will be available throughout the venue, serving margaritas, tequila shots, ice cold beer, water, soda and more. The festival is the perfect chance to get a taste of all Austin’s street food scene has to offer.
Texas Monthly BBQ Fest
When: Date TBA
Where: Venue TBA
The Texas Monthly BBQ Fest is an annual event in which the top fifty barbeque spots of Texas come together for a weekend in Austin to provide samples, live fire-cooking demonstrations, and more. Live music accompanies samplings of local Shiner beer and Legacy whisky to round out the experience.
Considered to be one of the country’s best festivals for barbeque fanatics, BBQ Fest is a must-see event. The festival plans to make its in-person comeback following the virtual iteration of 2020, in which fans were encouraged to hold their own “Backyard Editions” for the benefit of Feeding Texas and its network of food banks. This year’s festival is slated to take place sometime in November of 2021, with official dates pending.
Texas Craft Brewers Festival
When: Saturday, October 23rd, 2021
Where: Fiesta Gardens, located at 2101 Jesse E. Segovia Street in Austin
Texas Craft Brewers Festival is a day-long celebration organized by the Texas Craft Brewers Guild. The festival is the state’s largest craft-brew event, and is set to return to Austin after holding a virtual event in 2020. Ticket sales are slated to begin this summer, alongside the release of the 2021 Festival’s brewery lineup. Event organizers issued the following statement regarding the festival’s in-person return:
“We here at the Texas Craft Brewers Guild are eager and excited to welcome festival-goers back to Fiesta Gardens, to celebrate the resilience of our industry and to thank you–the Texas craft beer community–for your unwavering support!”
The event has taken place each year in Austin since 2004, bringing a wide array of seasonal, special, and limited-edition beers to the local Austin community. Festival profits are donated in part to benefit the Austin Habitat for Humanity, and the massive pavilion at Fiesta Gardens offers covered seating, dining areas, and plenty of space to sample the variety of Texan brews and fresh food prepared by local Austin vendors.
*Due to the nature of this festival, guests must be at least 21 years of age to attend. Pets are not permitted on festival grounds.
Dessert Fest Austin
When: Sunday, October 24th, 2021
Where: Hi-Sign Brewing, located at 1201 Bastrop Highway in Austin
Satisfy your sweet tooth with Dessert Fest Austin: a day-long festival dedicated to tasty treats and local beer tastings, all for the benefit of Austin’s Hospitality Fund. The festival typically includes 8-10 food and drink samples, ranging from a few bites to full-sized treats! The special, VIP ticket package includes dessert samples, two beer drink tickets, ballot to name Best Dessert, non-alcoholic beverage samples, “Sweet ‘n Goodie Bag”, photo booth opportunities, prize giveaways, live music and more. Special tickets are available for kids and designated driver attendees.
Austin Food + Wine Festival
When: November 5-7, 2021
Where: Auditorium Shores, located at Town Lake Metropolitan Park, 900 West Riverside Drive in Austin
One of Austin’s most beloved destination festivals, the Austin Food + Wine Festival brings together renowned chefs of Central Texas from top-rated restaurants, serving samples of wine, spirits, and culinary classics. Spanning three days, the festival offers interactive demos and panels as well. 2021 will mark the festival’s tenth anniversary, with planned events including “Grillin’ and Chillin’”: a hands-on grilling demo with renowned expert Chef Tim Love, “Rock Your Taco”: a chef competition to create new takes on Austin’s favorite dish, and “Feast Under the Stars”: the annual kickoff event featuring a five course meal prepared by the festival’s guest chefs.
Which festival are you most excited to attend? Let us know in the comments!
Are you on the sweet side of life? This is where to go.
