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 and live shows.
Tip: The Al Fuego pit night at the Hi Sign distillery is the festival's loudest live-fire showcase; book ahead.
Address: Multiple Austin venues including Stubb's and Mohawk
Texas Monthly BBQ Fest in Lockhart is the magazine's annual Top 50 BBQ picnic with a Saturday World's Fair in downtown Austin or Lockhart, plus the Sunday Top 50 Picnic.
Tip: The Saturday World's Fair tickets and Sunday picnic are sold separately; book both in October for the full weekend.
Austin Taco and Margarita Festival is the three-day September celebration at Fiesta Gardens, with taquerias, food trucks and creative taco innovations from across Austin.
Tip: VIP tickets get you into the early-entry margarita lounge; bring a hat, the Fiesta Gardens lawn is full sun.
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 for the city's wing crown.
Tip: VIP tickets get into the early-entry hour with shorter wing lines; arrive early for the wing competition heat.
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 and live-fire pavilions.
Tip: VIP passes include the chef demonstration tents; the Saturday tasting is the densest restaurant lineup.