Texas Trotter

T he drifting leaves of Fall have arrived and you know what that means! Holiday family fun for everyone! For Houston residents, there’s a ton of reasons to get excited with all the different Halloween-themed activities across the city, especially in the Downtown area! This month, running from October 16th to October 17th, the wonderful Nature Discovery Center will be hosting its annual Pumpkin Patch Festival.  This amazing event will feature over 12,000 pumpkins, festival games, crafts, activities, a variety of delicious food options, family photo opportunities, animal meets, and more! Outside exhibitors and vendors will be available with everything from live animal presentations to biofacts. Plus, there will even be tasty treats including lemonade, goat milk ice pops, food trucks, and plenty more! It’s a great opportunity to get some fresh air and celebrate the spirit of the season with friends and family! Plus, especially for those with little kids, this is definitely the kind of...

Ready for an exciting way to spice up the Fall season in Houston? Look no further! On October 2nd, starting at 11:00 AM, Houston is hosting its amazing Creole Heritage Festival event! This awesome opportunity will feature a full day of live music, outstanding food, restaurants, food trucks, dancing, a special Mardi Gras punch, an open bar, Kids Zone, and more!  For anyone who loves the taste of delicious Creole food, this is the perfect opportunity to capture a true sense of culture, heritage, and history as guests gather together to celebrate as one. Plus, it all takes place at Midtown Park, one of Houston’s top areas for festivals and fun! There will even be VIP opportunities as well, featuring special guest Chef Gason, The NOLA Chef, demonstrating his skills at creating savory Creole treats for everyone!  Houston’s festival outings are definitely a sight to behold, especially since there’s something new going on throughout the Fall and Winter seasons! You can expect a wide ...

Austin knows how to keep things classy. And I truly mean that--there’s always an event going on that’s tailor-made for special occasions, family get-togethers, and romantic nights out.  On Saturday, April 17th, Austin is preparing a special Moonlight & Music event for everyone to enjoy! This outdoor event will feature a safe socially-distanced atmosphere, along with the kind of pomp and polish you’d expect from an engaging outing in a luxurious bohemian-inspired environment. There will be low-floor seating, dried floral arrangements, twinkle lights, and candlelight--perfect for a date with your special someone! But let’s not forget about the bigger things. This event will feature gourmet pizza by Marye’s, wine, bubbles, or beer. Plus, guests can enjoy some exquisite live music, along with an available choice of a complimentary bottle of red, rose, and white wine. Vegetarian options will also be available upon request so that everyone can enjoy.  Austin always knows how to ...

The Nutcracker Market! It’s finally here! Or, at least, the Spring edition of it is!  For those of you who are new to this, the Nutcracker Market is one of the most exciting shopping experiences of the year in Houston! Every Spring and Winter, an exciting selection of local vendors gathers at NRG Stadium to sell some truly unique items. From food to clothing to toys and art, guests can expect to fill their bags with all that catches their fancy from the stalls. And the best part? Not only do the proceeds go to great independent vendors, but also to fund the special Houston theater production of the Nutcracker!  While the Spring edition of the Nutcracker Market is typically smaller in scale, you can still expect all the finest of shopping options if you’re looking for some much-needed socialization and fun. I have fond memories of going with my mother back in the time before Covid. I always look forward to the tasty selection of snacks they have there, from fresh chocolate chip...

Now don’t play coy with me, Dallas residents. I know you. I know exactly how you work. And like Austin, you love looking at the bizarre and unusual. Don’t try to deny it--I don’t blame you. I love it just as much as you do. And when it comes to things both unusual, brightly-colored, and FUN, I’m always game, especially for what I have in store for you here. Dallas is adding a bit of spring to everyone’s steps this April with the Big Bounce America tour. This exciting event features the largest touring inflatable exhibit in the entire world! And the king attraction is the world’s largest inflatable bounce house, the most GINORMOUS bounce castle on the planet! It includes a basketball court, a giant slide, and a massive ball pit. And at the center of it all is a world-class DJ playing a variety of sweet soundtracks to give off a superb nightclub-esque atmosphere. I can already hear your kids squealing. And the great thing is that parents and adults can enjoy just as much as they certainl...

After being cooped up inside for months on end, have you ever stopped and wished for some much-needed taste and atmosphere added to your schedule?  Not that you’re not already a true showman of the arts and modern sensibilities, of course! But when it comes to great things to do around the Houston area, you’ll find that there’s no finer place to be than the Texas Wine & Art Festival!  The Texas Wine & Art Festival is a FREE-ADMISSION event located in the Old Town Spring area and features some wonderful attractions and exhibits. Running from April 10th to April 11th, you and your family and friends can experience a deliciously tasteful adventure at this sunny market event! Guests can enjoy some exquisite samples of wine from some of the best Texas wineries in town with the opportunity to purchase a bottle of their favorites! Talented Texas artists will be there to showcase their lovely displays of photography, clothing, hand-made jewelry, paintings, crafts, and more! An...

Not wearing green? You better pinch yourself because you’re not going to want to miss this exciting St. Patrick’s Day event! Dallas is always booming with new things to do, especially during key holidays like St. Patrick’s Day! And what could be better than having a good run outside with friends and family, and all while getting to taste over 20 unique craft beers? Starting at TUPPS Brewery at 9 am on March 13th, the McKinney Shamrock Run 5K will kick off the city’s main St. Patrick’s Day celebration! Guests will race across the McKinney Cotton Mill straight to the finish line, where they will receive their finishers medal and get to enjoy the best brews from local vendors, complete with ice-cold green TUPPS beer!  And at the McKinney St. Patrick’s Day Beer Walk, guests will get to sip and stroll across the streets of downtown McKinney while listening to some awesome live Irish music throughout the day. But it doesn’t stop there! There will also be an outdoor vendor market, St. Pad...

60 years! That’s how long Six Flags Over Texas has served as a staple of fast-paced entertainment within the Dallas and Arlington area. That’s why, on January 23rd, 24th, and 30th, Six Flags Over Texas will present the Fire & Ice Festival to celebrate the park’s 60th anniversary season! The Fire & Ice Festival will feature a wide variety of great things to see and do, including The Frosty Snowhill, four live performance stages, the Fire and Ice Marketplace, the Mystic Acres Winter Wonderland, and a Dancing Fountain Show at Texas Star Mall. And to put the icing on the cake, guests will get to enjoy the glow of millions of twinkling lights at the Fire and Ice Light Show every night after dark, along with fireworks.  While I’ve covered Six Flags Over Texas before, this is the perfect place for all Dallas and Arlington residents to enjoy if they like high-speed adventure and family-friendly fun. And now as the park is celebrating its 60th anniversary, there will be plenty of op...