It's a good time to be a foodie in San Antonio. From festivals celebrating beer and your favorite foods to annual events celebrating the various cultures in San Antonio, here's where you can eat well and drink good this fall.
San Antonio Grilled Cheese Fest
$30+, Saturday, Oct. 12, 1pm, St. Paul Square, 1174 East Commerce St, facebook.com
Back for a second year, this cheesy event is a perfect way to celebrate the season. Yes, with a warm, gooey grilled cheese sandwich! With your ticket you’ll be able to taste the classic sammich from local restaurants, chefs and vendors – and you’ll have to pick which one is your favorite. Decisions, decisions...
Photo by jonryangarcia via Instagram / egcollaborations
Fredericksburg Lobstoberfest
$15+, Friday, Oct. 11-Saturday, Oct. 12, 7905 Old San Antonio Road, Fredericksburg, facebook.com
While Oktoberfest may reign supreme in Germany, it’s all about Lobstoberfest in Fredericksburg. The event takes the spirit of Oktoberfest and adds lobsters, clams and oysters for a seafood-filed day. The celebration includes a huge Maine lobster and German beer bash, complimented with lots of beer and German food. Now that sounds like a fest worth the drive.
Photo via Facebook / Bankersmith, TX
San Antonio Beer Festival
$45+, Saturday, Oct. 19, 1:30pm, Dignowity Park, 701 Nolan St, sanantoniobeerfestival.com
Back for a 13th year, the annual San Antonio Beer Festival lets you have an entire day of beer-guzzling. Walk around the grounds and take your pick from more than 400 premium and craft beers from more than 125 breweries around the world! The event is ideal for both casual beer drinkers and craft snobs alike.
Photo via Instagram / sacurrent
Dollar Taco Throwdown
$10+, Saturday, Sept. 21, 3pm, The Block SA, 14530 Roadrunner Way, eventbrite.com
You love tacos, so why not dedicate your Saturday to the tasty, puro meal? This family-friendly event lets you enjoy live music while you down all the tacos and margaritas you want. The $10 ticket gets you unlimited $1 tacos from seven different food trucks, while the $15 ticket offers that plus $1 margaritas. That sounds like a no-brainer. Remember to vote for your favorite!
Photo via Instagram / hungrybexar
Dracula Fest
Free, Saturday, Oct. 12, 11am, Rosedale Park, 340 Dartmouth St, facebook.com
Don’t let the name fool you into thinking this is a spooky event for the season. No, this one is all about Romanian culture. With food available for purchase, this growing annual event lets your immerse yourself in the culture, especially traditional Romanian food and treats.
Photo via Facebook / Dracula Fest #SARomanianFest
Fideo Loco Festival
$15+, Saturday, Nov. 2, 1pm, Alamo Beer Company, 202 Lamar St, eventbrite.com
Relive your childhood and stop by this year’s Fideo Loco Festival. Back for a third year, the growing and wildly popular puro event is moving to Alamo Beer for this go-around. You can still expect lots of bowls of fideo loco as made by local chefs/restaurants and everyday San Antonians alike.
Photo via Instagram / fideolocofestsatx
Culinaria Wine and Food Festival
Prices vary, Thursday, Sept. 26-Sunday, Sept. 29, lacanteraresort.com
Culinaria will take over the La Cantera Resort for a weekend full of tastings, cocktails, cooking demos, seminars and other food- and drink-focused events. As part of Culinaria’s 20th anniversary, the organization will celebrate with a Hole in Wine golf tournament, Southern Sunday brunch and more.
Photo via Instagram / culinariasa
Wurstfest
Friday, Nov. 1-Sunday, Nov. 10, 178 Landa Park Dr, New Braunfels, wurstfest.com
To be a true Texan, you’ll have to head up to New Braunfels to celebrate “the best ten days in sausage history.” The long-running sausage fest celebrates German culture right in the heart of Texas. On top of your fill of wursts, you can also expect other great foods, music, dancing, carnival rides and games. Oh, and LOTS of beer. Trust us, you don’t want to miss this one.
Photo via Instagram / thedustinwray
Taco Truck Throwdown
Free (items available for purchase), Saturday, Oct. 12, 2pm, Essex Modern City, 51 Essex St, eventbrite.com
Usually a May occurrence, the Taco Truck Throwdown returns with cooler temperatures this fall. The change in season also brings a new venue – this year at . Luckily, you’re still in store for lots of delicious tacos, which you can slam back to your heart’s (and stomach’s) content.
Photo via Instagram / s.a.tisfied
Oktubrefest
$15+, Saturday, Sept. 21, noon, Sunset Station, 1174 E Commerce St, oktubrefest.com
Festival-goers can expect to see craft beers from local breweries and enjoy culturally-inspired eats like Bavarian tacos and chorizo and wurst. Funds will benefit the Brighton Center, local nonprofit that provides developmental and educational services to Bexar County-area children.
Photo via Instagram / oktubrefestival
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Hot Wells Harvest Feast
$63+, Sunday, Oct. 27, 11am, Hot Wells Ruin, 5503 S Presa St, eventbrite.com
For its seventh annual event, this event brings some of the best chefs from San Antonio and nearby cities for some good eating. There will even be mixologists to make sure you have the best libations to wash it all down!
Photo via Instagram / hotwellsconservancy
Austin Mac & Cheese Festival
$45, Sunday, Nov. 10, 11am, Carson Creek Ranch, 9507 Sherman Road, Austin, facebook.com
If nothing soothes you like a nice, warm bowl of mac & cheese, you may want to make plans for this delicious fest. The fourth annual offering will bring you a variety of cheesy dishes, each with their own twist. Make sure to vote for your favorite!
Photo by breezyritter via Instagram / atxmacncheesefest
San Antonio Wings & Beer Fest
$25, Saturday, Sept. 21, 1pm, Alamo Beer Company, 202 Lamar St, facebook.com
With football season here, it makes sense that lots of folks would be in the mood for downing lots of wings and even more beer. You can do just that at this growing, annual event. However you like your wings, you’ll definitely be eating good here.
Photo via Instagram / egcollaborations
Medina Lake Cajun Festival
$12, Saturday, Sept. 28, 11am, 11225 Park Road 37, Lakehills, cajunfestival-medinalake.com
Just a short drive from San Antonio and you’ll be able to take in a day of Cajun eating. Since 1981, the annual festival has brough live entertainment and of course lots of good bites for attendees to enjoy. In addition to a gumbo cook-off, foodies can expect lots of food booths, including crawfish pie, jambalaya, fried catfish, boudin and more.
Photo via Facebook / Medina Lake Cajun Festival/MLBA
San Antonio's Brunch Festival
$25+, Saturday, Sept. 28, 11am, Smoke: BBQ Restaurant, 1170 East Commerce, facebook.com
If you don’t want to wait until next summer for United We Brunch, you can scratch your brunch itch with this event. Smoke has invited several other restaurants to come dish out their best in brunch to bring together a delicious foodie happening. There will also be music and entertainment, because it is brunch after all. A portion of proceeds will benefit the San Antonio Food Bank.
Photo via Facebook / All Access Promotions & Entertainment
Gruene Music & Wine Festival
Prices vary, Thursday, Oct. 10-Sunday, Oct. 13, various locations, gruenemusicandwinefest.org
The 33rd annual events lets you have loads of fun at four events across four days. With a focus on food, wine and live music, the festival is a favorite for wine connoisseurs and music junkies alike.
Photo via Instagram / patricio.ap
Pflugerville Pfall Chili Pfest
Saturday, Oct. 19, noon, Downtown Pflugervillepfallchilipfest.com
The 12th annual event centers around a Chili Cook-Off and tasting, but also features live music, vendors and plenty of food and drink booths. In addition to the cook-off, folks can also get excited about the jalapeño- and pickle-eating contests.
Photo via Instagram / arosca10
Fredericksburg Food & Wine Festival
$25, Saturday, Oct. 26, noon, Marktplatz, 100 West Main St, Fredericksburg, fbgfoodandwinefest.com
Enjoy the drive out to Fredericksburg and you’ll be in store for a day of wine. Considering itself a “full-course celebration of Texas food, wine, beer and music” the day-long event means you’re in for delightful wines and tasty bites to match.
Photo via Instagram / fredericksburgfoodwine
Tamale and Chicharron Fest
Free?, Saturday, Nov. 16, noon, R&J Music Pavilion, 18086 Pleasanton Road,
The details on this one are limited since this fest is all-new this year. But, SA loves tamales and chicharrones too, so we’re sure we’re in for a grand ol’ time. In addition to food, there will also be music and crafts.
Photo via Instagram / roninreckless
Wine Down at the Garden
21+, $55+, Saturday, Nov. 16, 6pm, San Antonio Botanical Garden, 555 Funston Pl, eventbrite.com
Take the opportunity to roam around the SA Botanical Garden and discover new wines, made in the Hill Country, while doing so. You’ll even be able to enjoy tasty bites! Confirmed wineries include Farmhouse Vineyards, Dry Comal Creek Vineyards and more, while verified food vendors include Russo’s New York Pizzeria and La Botanica. There will also be classical music by Cello Vida for you to really feel high-brow.
Photo via Instagram / sanantoniotidbits
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GumboFest
$12, Saturday, Nov. 9, 1:30pm, Quatermain's Pub, 13920 Interstate 35, Live Oak, eventbrite.com
Head to this Live Oak pub to get some perfectly-seasoned gumbo. The family-friendly event, now in its fourth year, will also off a variety of Cajun and creole dishes as well as barbecue. Live music, food trucks and vendors will also be on-site – what else could you even need?!
Photo via Facebook / Jewell's
Margarita Pour Off
21+, $15, Saturday, Sept. 28, 2pm, Nelson W. Wolff Municipal Stadium, 5757 US-90, sabestmargaritas.com
The 37th annual margarita event allows you to get boozy how San Antonians know best. You’ll be able to sample a variety of margaritas from vendors – and this year you can conveniently purchase your drink tickets online. What are you waiting for?
Photo via Instagram / unexpected_distractions
Annual Mole Throwdown
Thursday, Oct. 17, 6pm, Centro Cultural Aztlan, 1800 Fredericksburg Road, Ste 103, facebook.com
Get back to your roots and save the date for the 11th annual Mole Throwdown. Centro Cultural Aztlan focuses on Chicano & Latino art and culture, or in this case, mole. Local restaurants and chefs will cook up the mole, and there will be beer (or cocktail) offered to complete your puro meal. Just don’t forget to vote for your favorite mole.
Photo via Facebook / Centro Cultural Aztlan
JASSA Fall Festival
$16+, Saturday, Sept. 21, 5:30pm, 555 Funston Pl, facebook.com
Taking over the San Antonio Botanical Garden this year, JASSA celebrates Japanese culture by creating a “matsuri” or “festival” feeling for the grounds. The event includes food booths, so expect delicious bites while you stroll the grounds and take in the performances.
Photo via Facebook / Japan-America Society of San Antonio
Liquor, Beer & Wine Fest
$50+, Saturday, Sept. 28, 7pm, Freeman Coliseum, 3201 E Houston St, worldliquorfest.com
If getting boozy is more than just a pastime for you, it makes sense that you’d want to head to to this annual booze-filled offering. The event welcomes distillers from around the world, as well as local chefs, to share their finest products and creations. Seriously, there’s more than 500 spirits of whiskeys, tequila, vodka, rum, scotch, gin and more!
Photo via Instagram / lbwfsa
San Antonio Grilled Cheese Fest
$30+, Saturday, Oct. 12, 1pm, St. Paul Square, 1174 East Commerce St, facebook.com
Back for a second year, this cheesy event is a perfect way to celebrate the season. Yes, with a warm, gooey grilled cheese sandwich! With your ticket you’ll be able to taste the classic sammich from local restaurants, chefs and vendors – and you’ll have to pick which one is your favorite. Decisions, decisions...
Photo by jonryangarcia via Instagram / egcollaborations
