Galveston Island Oktoberfest @ First Lutheran Church Friday, 5 p.m. to 11 p.m.; Saturday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. 2415 Ave. G
Sausage, and strudels, and biers! Oh my! Celebrate Oktoberfest with live music, dancing, and traditional German delights like brats, homemade apple cake, and -- what else? -- beers (you'll need plenty of those to feel comfortable in that lederhosen you're wearing). The fest is free, but bring cash for all the good stuff you're about to buy.
Big Brew Houston @ George R. Brown Convention Center Friday through Sunday 2410 Smith
Spend the weekend at Big Brew Houston, as the second largest craft beer festival in the nation is in town for a few more days. On Friday, check out the Texas Breweries showcase at the Convention Center ($50/ticket); or hop on a pub crawl party bus to taste some fine brews and learn about the local craft beer scene ($25/ticket). On Saturday, participate in the Big Brew Grand Tasting Session, featuring over 1,000 craft beers ($45/ticket) and the Beer Snobs VIP zone ($100/ticket). Of course, you'll want to finish the weekend off in style at the 8th Wonder Brewston Brunch, a 3-course brew-paired brunch at Shula's Downtown ($50 + tax/gratuity).
Houston Margarita Festival @ Discovery Green Saturday, 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. 1500 McKinney
Welcome to Margaritaville, y'all. This third annual boozed-up fest is the ultimate margarita celebration. General admission tickets will run you $25 (or $35 at the gate) and include a complimentary margarita (and a cup, if you're one of the first 8,000 to arrive). After that, drink tickets are $2 for tasters and $6 to $8 for margs. Bring cash and your lawn chair, then sit back and enjoy a day full of live concert, frozen drinks, and festival fare (including a salsa competition).
East End Street Fest @ The East End Saturday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. 2600 Navigation
Let's face it, everything tastes better when there's booze and music involved. Head to this free all day street festival to celebrate the East End's heritage through live music, art, and good eats. Food tents featuring some of the city's finest Tex-Mex fare, think places like El Tiempo and Dona Maria, will be open all day long.
Drag Queen Brunch @ Boheme Sunday, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. 307 Fairview
Get your brunch with a side of drag this Sunday. Raja of RuPaul Drag Race fame will be joining local queens Chloe T Crawford and London Adour to provide the entertainment for the event; while Boheme's chef Jordan Economy will be taking care of the full buffet brunch. Tickets are $20 and include the meal and show. And of course, the full bar will be open to keep the party going all day long.
