Come Along

Follow Houston's 'taco journalist' for a memorable night at Austin's Moody Center

On May 17, musician Pepe Aguilar performed his Jaripeo "Hasta Los Huesos" tour with family members Ángela Aguilar, Leonardo Aguilar, and Antonio Aguilar at Austin's Moody Center.

And Marco Torres was there for it. The Houston-based "taco journalist" known as @marcofromhouston on Instagram reflects below on his 24-hour stop in ATX enjoying food, music, and family.

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Growing up in Texas, a quick road trip to Austin was always full of excitement. From the live music to the fancy hotels, bustling nightlife, and amazing food, a night in Austin will forever be a remarkable experience.

After a long and stormy evening in Houston last week, I packed a bag and headed west. With my father as my co-pilot, we were off on yet another adventure. We made a mandatory pit stop at Buc-ee’s, and then it was time for lunch.

Truth BBQ in Brenham is one of the premier barbecue joints in the state, conveniently situated along Highway 290 en route to Austin. We ordered a two-meat plate of brisket and turkey, with tater-tot casserole and baked beans as our sides. What a perfect way to start this road trip!

The new Thompson Hotel in downtown Austin was our choice for a relaxing evening. This beautiful boutique hotel is right in the middle of the action, located on San Jacinto between 5th and 6th Streets. Our room was modern yet cozy, with friendly staff that made our check-in smooth and hassle-free. They even offered us a complimentary beer and wine during the lobby happy hour, which was delightful.

After a much-needed afternoon nap, we got ready for a night out at Moody Center, Austin’s newest and coolest music venue.

The entertainment that evening was Jaripeo Hasta Los Huesos presented by Pepe Aguilar and his talented family. The event is a mix of traditional Mexican music with a Las Vegas-style variety show.

My dad and I were really impressed by this new venue. We parked at the Manor Garage next to the event and were inside in a manner of minutes. We were fortunate to score seats within the Indeed Club level, which provided an excellent view and access to a large private lounge. After eating pulled pork nachos and drinking a couple of cocktails, we ventured to our seats.

A “jaripero” is a traditional form of bull riding in Mexico with origins in the state of Michoacan, and has evolved to include other spectacles such as music performances and carnival acts. For this show, the basketball court was filled with a base of sand, flanked by a large stage at the north end and a smaller stage at center court.

Each artist, starting with Leonardo Aguilar, made their appearance while riding a horse, which was trained to prance, side step, and trot along with the music. Leonardo’s horse was named El Rio Grande, and was gorgeous white color with black accents.

This evening was a special day, as it was Don Antonio Aguilar’s birthday. This legendary Mexican icon passed away in 2007, and his legacy lives on through his children and grandchildren. His son Antonio Aguilar-Hijo was next to perform, paying tribute to his father by singing classic Ranchera songs like “Gabino Barrera” and “Tristes Recuerdos.”

After a bull riding showcase, it was Ángela Aguilar’s turn. She rode onto the arena floor on an absolutely beautiful black horse while wearing a gown covered in Mexican marigold flowers. She sang an inspired rendition of “La Gata Bajo La Lluvia” by Rocio Dúrcal, along with many more of her hits.

The headliner of the show was Pepe Aguilar, who calls himself a “Zacatecas Texan” since he was born in San Antonio and raised in Mexico. His voice is robust and refined, almost operatic. His set included crowd favorites such as “Aca Entre Nos,” “Hermoso Cariño,” and “Por Mujeres Como Tu.”

Near the end of the show, he dedicated “Las Mañanitas” to his father, and was accompanied by the entire audience. It was a super emotional moment for him and the crowd alike. He sang looking up toward the heavens, and tears rolled down his cheeks. A special tribute to a true legend of Mexican music.

I leave Austin with my heart full once again, happy to have shared this quick trip with my father. We were welcomed as visitors and left as family. “Y’all come back now!”

Yes, we definitely will!

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See what's coming up at Moody Center here.

Photo courtesy of Moody Center

Pepe Aguilar performed May 17 at Moody Center.

concerts music vacations barbecue promoted

50 years of TRF

First Renaissance Festival since owner's death draws strong attendance

Photo by Steven David Photography

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Those who were worried about the Texas Renaissance Festival (TRF) not performing well the first year after a court mandated its sale and the death of its founder can rest easy. The final gate totals show that the 2025 season was just as well attended as previous ones.

“The 51st annual Texas Renaissance Festival was another successful season thanks to our wonderful guests and dedicated team members,” TRF marketing director Tyler Moyer said. “Our team worked tirelessly to bring the magic of the Renaissance to life every weekend, and we’re grateful that our patrons love us more and more with every passing year. We’re so thankful to everyone who helped make this another great event, and we can’t wait to welcome folks back in 2026.”

In total, 492,910 patrons visited TRF over its eight themed weekends, with almost 100,000 coming through the gates for the final, extended Christmas weekend alone. On Friday, November 28, some, including this reporter, might have felt the event felt too crowded. Still, people made merry in medieval Santa costumes and the occasional Krampus.

While attendance was down about 8 percent from 2024 (533,356), that year featured many 50th anniversary celebrations. Over the past five years, TRF has averaged about 486,000 visitors according to the TRF media office. The numbers for 2025 are even more impressive considering that the last week of October featured torrential rain across the Houston area.

There was much concern about how well the festival would run. Earlier this year, founder George Coulam lost a court case mandating that he sell the festival after Coulam attempted to back out of a deal with Austin developer Meril Rivard. The matter was further complicated by Coulam's death in May, throwing the appeal process into chaos.

Throughout the tangled legal maneuverings, everyone running the festival vowed to keep it going just as it is. Grimes County Judge Gary W. Chaney appointed a pair of special masters to administrate TRF at the top while the matter sat in court, which they appear to have done flawlessly if the gate receipts are any indication.

Now that the season is over, all parties involved with the lawsuit will have free rein to continue the fight and another indicator of how popular and profitable TRF is. The 90 day appeal window open to Coulam's beneficiary closes in early 2026, Hopefully, the matter will be settled before the next season looms.

texas renaissance festival