Here’s a look at this weekend’s best culinary happenings:
Oktoberfest Houston at The Water Works at Buffalo Bayou Park
Friday, 5 to 11 p.m.; Saturday, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m
105 Sabine
Putting a Texas twist on traditional Oktoberfest celebrations, this annual beer festival features imported and local drafts, local food vendors like Deutscher Fleischwagen and Dumpling Haus, a lineup of live polka music and a variety games, including the Stein Race, Barrel Roll, Stein Hoisting and Legendary Brat Toss. GA tickets are $25 in advance and $30 at the door, with VIP tickets available for $100 in advance and $125 at the door.
The Galveston Island Shrimp Festival
Friday, 7:30 to 10 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
23rd and Strand
The Galveston Island Shrimp Festival kicks off with a VIP Party and Fried Shrimp Dinner on Friday, followed by the main event — including the Gumbo Stroll ($12-$17), fun run (9 a.m.), parade and merchant walkabout — on Saturday (vendors open at 10 a.m., Gumbo Stroll begins at noon).
Viet Cultural Festival at NRG Center
Saturday, 9:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
1 NRG Park
Featuring the cultures of Vietnam’s three regions (North, Central and South) through cultural exhibitions, the Viet Cultural Festival’s will feature a traditional lantern contest, children’s traditional dress contest, a teen pageant, an eating contest ($20 entry, beginning at 11:30 a.m. and with a $200 cash prize), interactive cultural games, and other various tournaments and contests. Tickets are $7 pre-sale and $10 at the door.
The Morning After, A Houston Press Brunch Event at Silver Street Studios
Saturday, 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
2000 Edwards
Our fourth annual The Morning After, A Houston Press Brunch Event is finally here! Brunch goers can expect eats from over 25 local eateries along with brunch cocktail samples and music. Confirmed restaurants include BCK, Boheme, Dish Society, Duck Donuts, El Quetzal Bakery, Kuu, Max’s Wine Dive, Peli Peli, Snooze and The Rustic, to name a few. General admission tickets ($40 in advance) include unlimited brunch and drink samples, plus three drink tickets with additional drink tickets available for purchase at the event. The VIP admission ticket ($65 in advance) includes entry into the event at 11 a.m., unlimited brunch and drink samples, and six drink tickets with additional drink tickets available for purchase at the event.
BARGEtoberfest at Barge 295
Saturday, 3 to 7 p.m.
2613 ½ East NASA Parkway
Head to Seabrook’s favorite floating bar and grill for a an Oktoberfest-style celebration, featuring five top local brewers alongside German eats like bratwurst, pretzels with beer cheese and Hungarian Gypsy pork stew, traditional games from stein hoisting to keg bowling, and live music. Each brewery — Saint Arnold, Karbach, SpindleTap, 8th Wonder and Texas Beer Refinery — will be pouring its signature Oktoberfest/Fall Beer in commemorative pint glasses, plus tossing out swag to boot. There is no cover for the event. Guests can purchase a punch card for full pints of any five beers.
This article appears in Jan 1 – Dec 31, 2019.
