This annual street festival in the heart of the Irving Heritage District celebrates the hometown feel of Irving with attractions for all ages. Each year thousands of people attend this family affair, which offers live music, the Manifolds on Main Street Car Show, free games and activities for children, food and shopping.

The much-anticipated Dallas Chocolate Festival, is celebrating the “Future of Chocolate,” and educating Dallasites about chocolate, one bar at a time! The three-day festival, now in its ninth year, brings in over 70 chocolate makers and chocolatiers from around the world and locally. Festival highlights include a Friday night VIP Party and Saturday’s family-friendly expo offering samples, shopping opportunities, demonstrations, and classes at Fashion Industry Gallery (F.I.G.). Sunday’s hands-on workshops, including a Chocolate Tasting class and a Chocolate Making workshop, will be held at Whole Foods Market in Preston Forest Shopping Center.

SMOKED brings the best BBQ from the Lonestar State to the heart of downtown Dallas! Nineteen of the most celebrated BBQ joints from across the great state of Texas will be serving up their mouthwatering BBQ – all included with your ticket. Family-friendly fun can be had with the Trailer Park Olympics, armadillo races, a mechanical bull, and not to mention live music!

Dallas Observer’s 8th Annual BrewFest presented by Whole Foods Market is back! One of Dallas’ first beer festivals returns to the Dallas Farmers Market on Saturday, September 8, 2018. Brewfest is an outdoor beer-sampling event and festival that will feature over 500+ local, international and craft beers, music, local food and more.

The 32nd Annual GrapeFest® – A Texas Wine Experience, presented by Bank of the West, is back for four days of family-friendly festival fun on September 13-16, 2018.  Make plans to sip and sample premium Texas wines and champagne while enjoying live entertainment, delicious festival food and so much more! 

Okrapalooza 2018 will take place this year on September 9th at The Lot in East Dallas. This is the 9th year to bring together Dallas’ top chefs together for a cook off for the best okra dishes. This event raises funds for community members to have access to quality, nutritious foods. There will be live music including the Mack Price and Mack Price, Jr., local beer, and great food including incredible okra tastings, and summer side dishes. This year’s theme will be The Beatles! Come and experience one of the best food and music festivals in Dallas.

Make plans now to attend the biggest, coolest, hottest party of the summer – the 23rd Annual Margarita & Salsa Festival happening on Saturday, August 25, 2018, at the Extraco Events Center in Waco. All proceeds benefit the Scholarship Program at the Heart O’ Texas Fair & Rodeo.

This meat-tasic festival kicks off at 3pm, where VIPs can enjoy all the fixings until 5pm. At 5pm there’ll be a mad rush for the general public craving meat injections and music. VIP tickets are only $50, and $25 (general admin) for service after 5pm. As a VIP, you’ll enjoy all-you-can-eat BBQ from several local BBQ restaurants and a live performance. You’ll also get access to eight local craft breweries, a local cidery, Witherspoon Whiskey, Religion Tequila, and Deep Eddy Vodka. These hand picked vendors will be providing beers and cocktails for only $5 each.

This month, dive deep into anime fandom, sip a margarita, and learn the latest on video marketing in Dallas. You can also explore further when you get your grub and groove on with BBQ and Blues in Bedford or watch indie cinema in San Antonio.

The North Texas Fair & Rodeo is an annual 9 day event held in August and is located off of N. Carroll Blvd in Denton, TX. It offers many activities for adults and kids of all ages including:

• Live Concerts
• Horses & Livestock Shows
• Contests: Mutton Bustin’, Photography, Rodeo Queen, Pageant, Youth Art, Creative Arts, Fun & Games, Professional and Youth Rodeo’s, Bull Blowouts
• And More: Carnival, Fun Zone, Kid Zone, Parade, Commercial Exhibits, and yummy fair food. This facility also hosts other events throughout the year. Each year they award two $1000 college scholarships to graduating seniors.