March may be known as “Rodeo Season,” but there are plenty of other citywide happenings to get excited about; and many of them are plenty tasty.
Also in March 2019
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This month, you can suck down mudbugs in the Historic Heights, celebrate Mardi Gras at a beer garden, and combine both celebrations at a Fat Tuesday “Mardi Craw” in the heart of Downtown. There are also Irish shenanigans for St. Patty’s Day and a family-friendly German festival. Here are a dozen tasty events to hit this month.
Top 12 Food & Drink Events This Month: March 2019
- Greater Heights Crawfish Festival at 20th and Ashland | Saturday, March 2 – Head to 411 West 20th Street for the annual Greater Heights Crawfish Festival, starting with a festive parade down 20th and 19th streets and ending with the festival, where food and fun await. Gates to the festival open at 10:30am, and guests can expect mudbugs, corn, and potatoes alongside beer, drinks, and festival fare, plus vendors from clothing and jewelry to art and more. Skip the line and pre-purchase tickets, redeemable for crawfish, hot dogs, soda and more, for $20 or $100 (including 20 crawfish bucks for free). 10am to 5pm.
- Mardi Gras Ball at Saint Arnold Brewery | Saturday, March 2 – Guests are invited to join Saint Arnold for an evening of Mardi Gras fun, entertainment by the Bayou City Brass Band, beer, and food. Hit the buffet to feast on Shrimp and Andouille Jambalaya, Chicken Gumbo, Blackened Chicken Wings, Red Beans, Rice, Black-Eyed Pea and Arugula Salad, Mini Muffuletta Sandwiches, and King Cake (find the baby and you’ll get a prize). Mardi Gras costumes, tuxedos and gowns are all encouraged and a Best Dressed Couple will be crowned during the evening. Tickets are $50 person and include the buffet, beer, a special color changing Hurricane cup, and custom Saint Arnold Mardi Gras beads to take home. This is a 21+ event. 6pm to 9pm.
- Mardi Craw at The Rustic | Tuesday, March 5 – Celebrate Fat Tuesday and Mardi Gras with a bayou-style, authentic Cajun crawfish boil all day long. In addition to its full menu of farm-fresh, The Rustic will be serving Louisiana’s best crawfish with corn and potatoes, jambalaya with grilled shrimp, chicken and sausage gumbo and sides of jambalaya, plus specialty drinks to help wash down the Cajun goodness—Pacific Beer, Corona Premier, Hurricane frozen cocktails with Bacardi, and Swamp Thing frozen cocktails with Bacardi. The party spot will also feature a live DJ spinning New Orleans zydeco, jazz and R&B hits when the party kicks off at 5pm, followed a live performance by The South Austin Moonlighters. Admission is free with an RSVP on PreKindle. The event is first-come-first-serve; an RSVP does not guarantee admittance. Limited VIP tickets are available for $40 and include two pounds of crawfish with corn, potatoes and a serving of jambalaya from 5pm to 7:30pm and access to the VIP lounge with seating on a first-come, first-serve basis. 5pm to 11pm.
- 22nd Annual Irish Cook-off and Music Festival at Griff’s | Saturday, March 9 | No Cover – Pregame for Saint Patty’s Day at the annual Irish Cook-off and Musical Festival at Griff’s, where cook-off teams compete in categories for Irish Stew, Chili, Chicken, Desserts, and an Open Dish alongside the great music of Snit’s Dog and Pony Show and Spin City. Noon to 7pm.
- Harvest Green’s Chef Fest at Harvest Green Village Farm | Sunday, March 10 – Experience culinary creations from ten top local chefs—with talent including Kulture’s Dawn Burrell, Atlas Diner’s Richard Knight, Patrick Feges of Feges BBQ, Johnny Rhodes of Indigo and more—at the third annual Chef Fest. Located on a sustainable 12-acre farm, the festival will highlight local food, craft cocktails, local wine and beer, live music, farm tours, farm animals and more, all while benefiting local producers and nonprofit beneficiary, I’ll Have What She’s Having. Tickets are $95 for general admission (includes food and 5 drink tickets); $130 for VIP; and $30 for kids age 5 to 16. Noon to 4pm.
- 4th Annual Pup Crawl at Houston Arboretum & Nature Center | Sunday, March 10 – Saint Arnold supports animal rescue BARC Houston with its fourth annual pup crawl, where folks who drink Ale Wagger and their pets can gather for a day of fun. Tickets are $30 and for each that is sold, half of the proceeds will go to the Houston Arboretum and the other half will benefit BARC. Crawlers can enjoy four stops along the nature trail, with beer for you and water and goodies for the pets. Food trucks will also be on site, along with a bunch of local vendors for a Pet Expo and pet adoptions from BARC. When you arrive at the last stop, you’ll hang out and enjoy some beer in the great outdoors. There will be parking at the Arboretum for $1 per hour (free for Arboretum members). All dogs do need to be on a leash during their time inside the grounds of Memorial Park and the Arboretum. Lawn chairs are welcome as well, as seating will be limited on the trail and at the final stop. This is a rain or shine event. 4pm to 7pm.
- 6th Annual Celebr8tion of Beer at 8th Wonder Brewery | Saturday, March 16 – 8th Wonder is turning six, and it’s throwing a rain-or-shine birthday bash complete with live music, food trucks, and plenty of fun. Tickets for general admission are $35 in advance; $45 at the door include four beer tokens and a limited-edition pint glass. VIP tickets are $100 in advance include open bar, a limited-edition specialty glass and light bites from 4pm to 8pm, plus access to VIP areas. 2pm to 10pm.
- St. Patrick’s Day Celebration at Jack & Ginger’s Irish Pub | Sunday, March 17 | No Cover – The Irish pub will host its first annual St. Patrick’s Day celebration, featuring an exciting live music lineup of bagpipes, DJs and more, plus all kinds of shenanigans in the blocked off parking lot. Guests can expect 82 beers on tap, including green Miller Lite and Guinness, along with some of the pub’s most popular food items, such as the Jumbo Local Pretzel made with beer cheese and honey mustard; dirty fries topped with chili, queso, green onions, bacon, sour cream, and jalapeño; and Jack & Ginger’s take on a traditional shepherd’s pie. The celebration will feature an exciting live music lineup featuring bagpipes, DJs and more. Doors open at 10am; live music from noon to 2am.
- Keels & Wheels Uncorked at the Lone Star Flight Museum | Thursday, March 21 – Guests are invited to sip, eat and mingle alongside Master of Ceremonies and longtime radio host Sam Malone at the 2019 Keels & Wheels Uncorked event. The elegant evening of fine wines and exceptional foods will be presented by six of Houston’s finest restaurants, including Tommy’s Seafood Restaurant and Oyster Bar, and Brennan’s of Houston. It will also feature luxury items and experiences in the form of a live and silent auction, with proceeds benefiting Today’s Harbor for Children. Tickets are $100 per person at the door; $75 person in advance. 7pm to 10pm.
- Houston Cocktail Fest at Silver Street Studios | Saturday, March 23 – Treat yourself to a fun unique cocktail fest at Shake Stir Sip, an international touring cocktail experience based in Houston and curated with award-winning mixologists. Tickets are $55 for Socialite Access to select drinks from global brands and tasty bites from local chefs; or $150 for the Luxury VIP Experience with service from mixologists, private bathrooms, lounge seating, eats from local chefs, exclusive tastings, and early and express entry. The event is 21-and-up only. 7pm to 11pm.
- CultureMap Houston Tastemaker Awards 2019 at Silver Street Studios | Wednesday, March 27 – March marks the return of the annual CultureMap Tastemaker Awards, honoring the top restaurant and bar talent in Houston at a swanky tasting event and awards ceremony. Tickets are $50 in advance; $60 day of for general admission (includes bites by nominated restaurants, valet and up to 3 premium beverages); $70 for VIP (includes early admission at 6pm, valet, a dedicated VIP bar, and an elevated food pairing experience). A portion of the proceeds will benefit Second Servings of Houston. The event is 21-and-up. 7pm to 10pm.
- Tomball German Heritage Festival in Old Town Tomball | Friday, March 29 through Sunday, March 31 | No Cover – Head to Old Town Tomball to enjoy a weekend filled with German culture and heritage, from traditional music and dance to food and drink. The family-friendly festival will offer a heritage center, four music stages, more than 200 street vendors, a wine and petting zoo, street performers, arts and crafts and more. Times vary.
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