The annual Bayou City Art Festival returns to downtown Houston October 8 and 9 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and there are attractions not just for art lovers, but food lovers, too. It is a big year for the festival as it celebrates its 50th anniversary with special events and partnerships. The two-day festival takes place at Sam Houston Park along Allen Parkway, and will highlight over 200 artists from all over the world. The event showcases paintings, prints, jewelry, sculptures and art in a variety of other mediums. The festival is a family-friendly, interactive event featuring two large entertainment stages and an Active Imagination Zone that includes a bubble play area and a caricature artist. Tickets are available online only in advance of the event.

Food and beverage have always played an important part of the festival and visitors can look forward to some extra special offerings. For starters, the always popular craft beer garden and food truck park are back. Trucks include Happy Endings with Asian style hot dogs, Vietnamese fusion truck Nom Mi and tacos from Birria Los Primos.

The inaugural Chef’s Table kicks off this year, too, highlighting the Houston food scene with local chefs demonstrating their popular dishes on the Culinary Arts Stage. Chef Aaron Bludorn of Bludorn Restaurant kicks things off Saturday at noon with squash blossoms followed by David Buckley of Sorriso Modern Italian Kitchen  preparing wild boar agnolotti and William Aguiar of Brio Tuscan Grille wrap things up with Pasta Brio. Sunday starts with Tim Reading of GJ Tavern with a pulled mozzarella dish, Chelsea Sargent Lira of Houston Grazing Tables will make hummus and pita, and David Hernandez of George’s Bistro & Bar will finish the event with a short rib.

To honor its milestone anniversary, Bayou City Art Festival collaborated with Karbach Brewing Co. and local artist April Murphy on a handprinted design for the brewery’s Light Circus Hazy IPA six-pack carton. Find the artwork on display throughout the festival at the beverage booths. April Murphy’s self-described “feel good art” is a perfect pairing for the bright and refreshing IPA. Purchase the beer onsite or at area grocery stores.

Additionally, Haak Vineyards is hosting a wine garden and introducing its 2019 Tempranillo with a special-edition 50th anniversary labeled wine bottle that can only be purchased at festival beverage booths. The bottle is $30 with a portion of the proceeds going to the Bayou City Art Festival.

The Bayou City Art Festival is a quintessential Houston event that highlights not just the arts and local food, but gives back to local area nonprofits and charities. The six nonprofit partners benefiting from the 2022 Bayou City Art Festival Downtown are ArtReach, Fresh Arts, Orange Show for Visionary Art, Second Servings, The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston and The Women’s Fund for Health Education and Resiliency.

The weather this weekend is expected to be perfect for a fun and celebratory outdoor event. Visit the website for more information, and purchase tickets online (there are no onsite sales).

Minh Truong

Minh Truong is an avid lover of the Houston food scene and has written about it since 2011, starting as a freelance contributor for the Houston Press. She never stopped exploring all that Houston has to offer, and after a seven-year hiatus returned to writing about it, this time with Houston Food Finder.