The food and wine festival season in Dallas-Fort Worth has already kicked off with the likes of Savor Dallas and the North Texas Irish Festival, but there are many more to come! So grab your sunblock and plan ahead for traffic, because we’ve compiled a list of the must-do food and wine festivals for 2012.
Big Taste of Fort Worth
April 29, 2012
4:30pm – 8:30pm
The Omni Fort Worth
This event is a favorite of foodies and everyday diners who treasure the experience of a culinary tour of Tarrant County’s finest restaurants all under the roof of the beautiful Omni Fort Worth Hotel all while benefiting children in North Texas. Fine food, premium wines, spectacular live entertainment and an incredible auction make this event one of Fort Worth’s best. All proceeds benefit Big Brothers Big Sisters Lone Star.
Dallas Wine & Food Festival
May 2-6, 2012
Various locations
Comprised of five signature events held at a variety of Dallas area venues, the Festival showcases local and national culinary talent and award-winning wines from The Dallas Morning News and TexSom Wine Competition, one of the largest and most highly regarded wine competitions in the U.S. The Festival Schedule includes a Cinematic Feast at the Angelika Film Center; a Rising Stars Chefs’ Dinner at the Nasher Sculpture Center; Texas Salute! At the Dallas Farmers Market; and chef demos, seminars and happy hour at Mockingbird Station.
TX Food Truck Fest
May 11, 2012: 5:00pm – 10:00pm
May 12, 2012: 11:00am – 10:00pm
Join US Food Trucks for their first annual TX Food Truck Fest! The top food trucks from all over the great state of Texas will be here in Dallas for the biggest food truck festival Texas has ever seen. We’ll have entertainment, bands, arts and craft vendors, bounce houses, free parking, food galore and loads of fun! It’s all for a great cause – proceeds will benefit the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, North Texas Chapter. So bring the family, bring your friends and you better bring your appetite!
Asian Festival
May 12: 11:00am – 7:00pm
Main Street Garden, Downtown Dallas
The 22nd Annual Asian Festival is the largest Asian cultural celebration in the Dallas area and surrounding cities. It is a free family event presenting authentic Asian cuisine, cultural performances, children’s activities, a health fair, games and many other activities.
Taste Addison
May 18, 2012: 6:00pm – 12:00am
May 19, 2012: 12:00pm – 12:00am
May 20, 2012: 12:00pm – 5:00pm
This three-day festival features over 60 Addison restaurants serving generous samplings of their menus at reduced prices, national musical entertainment, celebrity chef demonstrations and wine tasting seminars, carnival rides, midway games, award-winning children’s entertainment, and more.
Grapevine Main Street Days
May 18, 2012: 10:00am – 11:30pm
May 19, 2012: 10:00am – 11:30pm
May 20, 2012: 11:00am – 6:00pm
Grab a slice of summer fun at Main Street Days, the official kick-off to summertime in Grapevine. Dine at the Pizza Piazza, dance to non-stop entertainment, seek out your favorite festival food and shop the day away. Main Street Days is a fun-filled festival perfect for the entire family.
Taste of Dallas
July 13, 2012: 4:00pm – 11:00pm
July 14, 2012: 11:00am – 11:00pm
July 15, 2012: 11:00am – 9:00pm
Fair Park
The 26th Annual Taste of Dallas will feature the best chefs, restaurants, artists, sports teams, kid activities and bands in North Texas. Sample the menus of restaurants you’ve always wanted to try, steal a secret or two from top culinary talent at cooking demonstrations, drink in select wines and learn about the winemaking process or stop by the Taste Tavern to learn how to make a delicious cocktail. If you love to shop, then you will love our Culinary Marketplace full of all your kitchen needs and unique specialty food products.
GrapeFest
September 13-16, 2012
Festival goers will enjoy award-winning wines perfectly paired with culinary treats at the largest wine festival in the Southwest. This year, a special focus on Australian wines and culture livens up the action, while the festival’s trademark activities continue: People’s Choice Wine Tasting Classic – the largest consumer-judged wine competition in the nation, Culinary Pavilion, GrapeFest Golf Classic, KidZone presented by Baylor Regional Medical Center of Grapevine, GrapeStomp, six stages of live entertainment and more.
Addison Oktoberfest
September 20-23, 2012
More than 60,000 fans of polka, German food and Spaten Bier will gather in Addison’s spectacular Addison Circle Park for four days of music, folk dancing, traditional German fare and steins of beer.
Greek Food Festival of Dallas
September 28, 2012: 4:00pm – 11:00pm
September 29, 2012: 10:30am – 11:00pm
September 30, 2012: 11:00am – 4:00pm
Count on enjoying all your favorite Greek foods, discovering new ones, and losing yourself to the sights, sounds and traditions of Greece. There’s something for everyone and nothing else quite like it this side of Athens! The Greek Food Festival helps support Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church’s ministries, community outreach and youth programs.
