As proud as we are of our own culture here in Texas, it's nice to celebrate the rest of the world and the incredibly amount of diversity that exists in our state. These ten festivals allow you to do just that:
1. Wurstfest (New Braunfels)
Wurstfest is a ten day event celebrating all things German and Austrian, from music and food to polka and waltz contests. Chow down on delicious sausage from one of ten different sausage makers in town and listen to bands who traveled all the way from Austria and Germany to Texas for the festival. It will be held from November 3-12 this year.
2. Charro Days Fiesta (Brownsville)
This 75 year old celebration taking place in late February honors charros, or Mexican cowboys, who were "heroes of the border" centuries ago. It kicks off with a traditional dance featuring mariachis, and consists of more dancing, parades, food, a carnival, and explosive fireworks at dusk.
3. Texas Scottish Festival and Highland Games (Arlington)
Immerse yourself in Scottish culture with a whiskey tasting, Gaelic language seminars, an all-Scottish breed dog show, a Scotch ale brewing competition, and some of the best bagpipe players in the world. The festival takes place in early May each year.
4. Texas Folklife Festival (Arlington)
The Texas Folklife Festival celebrates every culture under the sun in early June, from Native American to African and everything in between. Listen to mariachis, bagpipes, and Zydeco, eat bratwurst and baklava, and watch traditional dancing and demonstrations of skills and customs.
5. Turkishfest (Houston)
On November 4 and 5, enjoy the best Turkish music, dancing, a Grand Bazaar with over 20 booths selling handmade items and souvenirs, and - of course - a plethora of delicious foods.
6. Texas Lunar Festival (Houston)
The Texas Lunar Festival celebrates Chinese New Year, which takes place in early February. You'll see the traditional dragon dance and more Chinese dances, and sample tons of delicious foods.
7. India Fest (Beaumont)
Taking place in mid-November, India Fest's goal is to honor and educate the community about Indian Culture while simultaneously bringing everyone together. You'll see beautiful dance performances with a backdrop of the Taj Mahal and eat a variety of amazing traditional dishes.
8. The Original Greek Festival (Houston)
Every October since 1917, Houstonians have gathered to celebrate Greek culture. Sample authentic foods and pastries (did someone say baklava?), watch folk dancing and music performances, tour the cathedral, and more.
9. DFW Africa Festival (Lancaster)
This festival celebrates the many nations of Africa with family-friendly rides, music, food, and traditional drum dances. The celebration takes place every June.
10. Denton's Day of the Dead Festival (Denton)
Denton's Day of the Dead pays homage to the Hispanic holiday taking place the two days after Halloween. There are coffin races, a twilight lantern parade, a salsa tasting contest, a performance called "Cirque du Horror," and more. Don't miss it!
Have you ever been to any of these festivals? What's your favorite ethnic festival in Texas?
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