Here, courtesy of the 2019 RV Travel & Camping Guide to Texas, is a rundown of some pretty great festivals and events coming this year to the Lone Star state.
— Cajun Catfish Festival in Conroe: This annual event, scheduled for Oct. 11–13, includes Cajun and Texas music on three stages all weekend, plus a unique variety of food including catfish, boudin, gator, etouffee, jambalaya and crawfish pie. The event also includes arts and crafts vendors and a kid-zone area with activities for children and a special performance stage for local dance teams. www.conroecajuncatfishfestival.com
— General Sam Houston Folk Festival in Huntsville: The 15-acre Sam Houston Memorial Museum is transformed into a frontier setting for this May 17–19 event, which includes educational reenactments, music and crafts. http://samhoustonfolkfestival.blogspot.com
— Great Texas Balloon Race in Longview: This event, set for July 26-28, includes a 5K run, evening balloon glow events, live music and ring toss competitions. Of course, the event also includes balloon race competitions, including a “Young Guns” balloon race competition created for young pilots who are 29 and under, have a balloon pilot’s license, and a minimum of 25 hours flying prior to July 26. www.greattexasballoonrace.com
— Lamesa’s Original Chicken-Fried Steak Festival & Balloon Rally: This event, scheduled for April 27–28 at Forrest Park in Lamesa, features a chicken fried steak cooking competition, food booths, and decorative hot air balloons that take off each morning at sunrise. www.ci.lamesa.tx.us
— National Cowboy Symposium & Celebration in Lubbock: This annual event, slated for Sept. 7–9, features Western entertainers, storytelling, poetry as well as film and movie seminars, horse handling demonstrations, a horse-themed parade, a youth Wild West Day and a national championship chuck wagon cookoff. The event also includes Native American presentations and exhibits of Western artwork and merchandise. www.cowboy.org
— National Polka Festival in Ennis: This May 24-26 event celebrates Czech heritage with polka music and dancing, traditional costumes, Czech food, a parade and family fun. www.nationalpolkafestival.com
— Polish Festival Days in Bremond: This June 21-22 event in the “Polish Capital of Texas” includes Polish food, music and dancing. https://www.bremondtexas.org/polish_day.html
— Shrimporee in Aransas Pass: This annual event, scheduled for June 7–9 at Johnson Community Park, includes live entertainment, dancing and plenty of shrimp as well as a parade, an outhouse race, carnival games, arts and crafts and a Miss Shrimporee Pageant. https://www.aransaspass.org/shrimporee/
— Terlingua Chili Cookoff in Terlingua: The town of Terlingua is the site of two major chili cookoffs, including the CASI Terlingua International Chili Championship, which takes place Oct. 28 – Nov. 2. For more information, visit www.visitbigbend.com and https://www.casichili.net/terlingua-273604-982679.html.
— Texas Onion Fest in Weslaco: This March 23 event celebrates the development of the Texas 1015 Onion in Weslaco. Activities include an onion eating contest, arts and crafts, food vendors, cooking demonstrations, live entertainment and a Miss Texas Onion Fest Pageant. www.weslaco.com
— Texas State Festival of Ethnic Cultures in Ballinger: This April 27 event includes a parade, a bike fest, handmade arts and crafts, live entertainment, music and food. https://www.fairsandfestivals.net/events/details/2019-texas-festival-of-ethnic-cultures
— Tri-State Festival & Rodeo in Amarillo: This annual event, set for Sept. 13–21, includes activities for all ages, including carnival rides, games and activities, a parade, live music and thrilling rodeo action. www.tristatefair.com
