Behold the "Big Tex" burger at Rodeo Goat, an over-the-top tribute to the State Fair of Texas. Credit: Photo by Landon Amis

Mark your calendars, because you donโ€™t want to miss these deliciously fun culinary happenings:

Rodeo Goat Ice House, 2105 Dallas, is honoring the State Fair of Texas with a hat tip to the legendary Big Tex, offering an over-the-top โ€œBig Texโ€ burger from Tuesday, September 21 through Monday, October 18. The burgers features a 44 Farms all beef patty, chicken fried mashed potato cake, bacon, fried onion ring and chorizo gravy for $12.50.

Hay Merchant, 1100 Westheimer, will be featured on an episode of the Cooking Channelโ€™s Food Paradise on Wednesday, September 22 at 9 p.m., and the gastropub will be hosting a watch party and serving the two of the off-menu dishes featured on the show โ€”hint, one of the specials rhymes with โ€œrings.โ€

The Houston Zoo, 6200 Hermann Park, will host Brew at the Zoo from 6 to 10 p.m. on Friday, September 24, featuring beer tastings from some of Houstonโ€™s most popular breweries, live music, arcade games, and the chance to view the some animals by night. Tickets are $45 and include a commemorative souvenir cup and six 4-ounce beer samplings from any of the breweries. Additional sample cards will be available for purchase on-site and tastings can also be used towards hard seltzer, ranch water, and cider. Designated driver tickets are $35.

On Friday, September 24 from 7 to 10 p.m., Downtown Aquarium Houston, 410 Bagby, will host its first annual Wines Under the Sea, inviting guests to stroll through the Aquarium exhibits while enjoying light appetizers, visits from the Aquariumโ€™s animals and award-winning wines from Italy, France, Spain, New Zealand, Australia, Chile, Argentina, South Africa and the International Rosรฉ Station. Tickets start at $75 ($65 for Landryโ€™s members) in advance and $85 day of.

The 12th Annual Galveston Island Shrimp Festival will return to the Historic Strand District this year, kicking off with a VIP Sponsor Party and Texas Sized Fried Shrimp Dinner at Saengerfest Park on Friday, September 24; and followed by the festival beginning at 9 a.m. on Saturday, 25. Stop by for popular events like the Shrimp Gumbo Cook-Off, Famous Gumbo Stroll ($12) and the Lil’ Shrimps Parade.ย 

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