Food festivals in Austin worth planning a trip around, by month.
Food festivals in Austin worth planning a trip around, by month.
Austin Food and Wine Festival is the city's flagship three-day chef tasting on Auditorium Shores in early November, with chef demos, Texas wines.
TipVIP passes include the chef demonstration tents; the Saturday tasting is the densest restaurant lineup.
Texas Monthly BBQ Fest, the 17th annual edition on 7 and 8 November 2026 in Lockhart, brings barbecue joints from the magazine's Top 50 list together with live music over two days.
TipBuy tickets through Texas Monthly's TM BBQ Fest page well ahead; the fair is in Lockhart, not Austin, so plan the drive.
ATX Wing Fest in Austin is the November Austin Chicken Wing Festival at Travis County Expo Center, with 30-plus Austin restaurants pouring wings head to head.
TipVIP tickets get into the early-entry hour with shorter wing lines; arrive early for the wing competition heat.
A full week in March when Austin stops being a city you can eat in casually. Downtown queues for everything and the barbecue joints hit their annual peak.
TipFranklin and la Barbecue queue from dawn all week; the east side trailers are the realistic option.
Hot Luck Festival in Austin is Aaron Franklin, James Moody and Mike Thelin's Memorial Day weekend live-fire food and music festival, with chef collaborations.
TipThe Al Fuego pit night at the Hi Sign distillery is the festival's loudest live-fire showcase; book ahead.
Austin Taco and Margarita Festival is the three-day September celebration at Fiesta Gardens, with taquerias, food trucks and creative taco innovations.
TipVIP tickets get you into the early-entry margarita lounge; bring a hat, the Fiesta Gardens lawn is full sun.
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Guided tour · 3 hours
Six East Austin smokehouses in three hours, including a MICHELIN One Star pitmaster and three Bib Gourmands. Skip every line, ride in an air-conditioned van, and come hungry.
Guided tour · 4 hours
Exploring Austin's Food scene on an e-bike is one of the Best Things to do in Austin! Food restrictions? No problem! Enjoy family style, 2 stops, eat like a local. See...
Guided tour · 3h 30m
Enjoy a brewery tour with live music, beer tastings, and a meal. Visit 3 local breweries, learn about the craft beer scene, and enjoy a small meal from a food truck. F...
