Things To Do

Houston's 5 Best Weekend Food Bets: Oktoberfest Is Back!


Galveston Island Shrimp Festival @ 23rd & Strand

Friday – Sunday
2300 Strand

Hit the island for three shrimp-filled days of fun. Weekend highlights include the Shrimp Gumbo Cook-Off, Gumbo Tasting, 5k, Lil’ Shrimps Parade and Strand Merchant Walk-About on Saturday; plus a free outdoors show and plenty of fresh and delicious shrimp in the form of bisques, burgers, gumbos and more all weekend long. Tickets to Saturday’s Gumbo Tasting are available for pre-purchase for $12 + fee. 

Oktoberfest Houston @ Northwest Mall
Saturday, noon to 9 p.m.
9500 Hempstead

Strap on those lederhosen, Houston’s Oktoberfest is back! Hit Northwest Mall to enjoy a sure-to-be awesome day of German bier, brats and polka. There’s even a chance to compete in the 4th Annual Oktoberfest Olympiad games, which include a Stein Race, Barrel Roll, Bucket Race and the Legendary Brat Toss (advanced sign-up is required). General admission ($30), designated driver ($25) and VIP tickets ($80) are available for pre-purchase. Prost!

Greentoberfest @ Greenstreet
Saturday, 1 to 5 p.m.
1201 Fannin

With the help of Young Texans Against Cancer, GreenStreet will transform into a greengarten (kinda like a biergarten) to kick off the Oktoberfest season with live music, delicious food, beer, games and the Samuel Adams Stein Hoisting Competition. Tickets include general admission, food and two drinks and are on sale online and at the event ($30 for general public, $25 for YTAC members).

Street Side Wine Tasting @ Max’s Wine Dive Washington
Saturday, 2 to 5 p.m.
4720 Washington

MWD's Street Side Wine Tasting isn't too shabby of a way to spend a Saturday. For $25, advanced purchase tickets (or $35 day of) will get you sips and samples of 25 different wines, plus über-delicious small bites from Max’s Wine Dive. There will also be live music, graffiti artists and retail wine deals. Call 713-880-8737 for more information or to buy your ticket.

The Breakfast Klub Anniversary Pop Up Dinner @ the former Julia's Bistro
Saturday, 7 to 10 p.m.
3722 Main

If you’ve ever wanted a sneak peek at the menu of an upcoming restaurant, you shouldn’t miss this Pop Up Dinner hosted by Marcus Davis of The Breakfast Klub. Chef Michelle Wallace, a graduate of the Art Institute of Houston, will be bringing her sophisticated Southern swagger to the kitchen for one night only. The menu features a charcuterie board, fried green tomato and black eyed pea salad with chicken livers, shrimp and grits, braised short ribs, and Sweet Biskits with roasted peaches and vanilla Ice Kream. Tickets are available for $95.30. Seating is limited, so act fast if you want a spot.

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Brooke Viggiano is a contributing writer who is always looking to share Houston's coolest and tastiest happenings with the Houston Press readers.
Contact: Brooke Viggiano