Hot Luck is back

Power pitmaster Aaron Franklin's Hot Luck Fest returns with smokin' lineup from Texas and beyond

Hot Luck is back.

Photo by Alison Narro

We know, we know: SXSW hasn't even started yet, but another festival announcement just dropped, and Houston and Texas food lovers will want to pay attention. Aaron Franklin's Hot Luck Fest is back and returning to Austin Memorial Day Weekend, May 25-28, and tickets go on sale today, at 10 am (Tuesday, March 7).

Founded by the James Beard awarded chef — along with Guerilla Suit principal and Mohawk owner James Moody, and Mike Thelin, cofounder of Feast Portland — Hot Luck is more casual family get-together than loud, showy music and food fest. Franklin invites some of his favorite chefs, cooks, and musicians from across the country and beyond.

“We are excited to welcome our friends to Austin, and kick off summer with Hot Luck,” say the Hot Luck founders via release.

According to a release, the Hot Luck weekend means fun food events by day, and music by night at some of Austin's most iconic clubs, including Mohawk and Hotel Vegas. This year, Hot Luck is excited to welcome The King Khan and BBQ Show, The Gories, Frankie and the Witch Fingers, Shinyribs, Robert Ellis. and more.

The fest is again partnering this year with Southern Smoke Foundation, renewing their partnership focused on helping folks in our industry when they need it most. Southern Smoke has been the Hot Luck Fest charity beneficiary since 2022.

Guests can choose to attend every event over the full weekend with the Whole Enchilada Pass or sample one or two food or music events individually. Ticket prices for music shows start at only $12, and the 2023 events and chef lineup is as follows:

Thursday, March 25 - Hi, How Are You?: Franklin Barbecue

Join Hot Luck for this East Side backyard industry get-together featuring some of Aaron’s favorites, including: Franklin Barbecue (Austin, TX); Jeremy Sewall, Row 34 (Boston, MA); Ashley Christensen, Poole’s Diner (Raleigh, NC), Dana Cree, Pretty Cool Ice Cream (Chicago, IL); Sophina Uong, Mister Mao (New Orleans, LA); Misti Norris, Petra and the Beast (Dallas, TX); Tracy Malechek-Ezekiel, Birdie’s and Arjav Ezekiel, Birdie’s (Austin, TX), Evan Leroy, Leroy and Lewis (Austin, TX); Todd Duplechan, Lenoir (Austin, TX); Mashama Bailey & Kristine Kittrell The Diner Bar (Austin, TX); Patrick Feges, Feges BBQ (Houston, TX); Erin Smith, Feges BBQ (Houston, TX); Damien Brockway, Distant Relatives (Austin, TX)

*This event is from 6 pm to 9 pm and is included in the Whole Enchilada Ticket Package who can get in early at 5:30 pm. Individual tickets are also available for $180.

Friday, May 26 - Big Top: Fair Market

A brand new event, this is an ode to carnivals and fairs. Join Hot Luck under the Big Top at Fair Market, a beautiful and iconic venue in East Austin, for a night of fun and games and delicious food. The full chef lineup includes: Chris Bianco, Pizzeria Bianco (Phoenix, AZ); Stuart Brioza, The Anchovy Bar (San Francisco, CA); Mason Hereford, The Turkey and the Wolf (New Orleans, LA); Gabe Rucker, Le Pigeon (Portland, OR); Marc Vetri, Vetri Cucina (Philadelphia, PA); Amanda Shulman, Her Place (Philadelphia, PA); Sarah Grueneberg, Monteverde (Chicago, IL); Paola Velez (Washington D.C.); Marc-Olivier Frappier, Mon Lapin (Montreal, CAN); Becky Masson, Fluff (Houston, TX); Tavel Bristol-Joseph, Emmer & Rye Hospitality Group/Canje (Austin, TX); Sarah McIntosh, Épicerie (Austin, TX); Yoshi Okai, Otoko (Austin, TX); Edgar Rico and Sara Mardanbigi, Nixta (Austin, TX); Fiore Tedesco, L’Oco d’Oro (Austin, TX); Luis ‘Beto’ Robledo, Cuantos Tacos (Austin, TX)

*This event is from 7 pm–10 pm and is included in the Whole Enchilada Ticket Package; Whole Enchilada passholders can get in early at 6:30 pm. Individual tickets are also available for $180.

Saturday, May 27 - Al Fuego: Wild Onion Ranch

This is Hot Luck’s main event and live-action celebration of flame-fueled and open-air cooking styles that run the gamut. Boots optional. Koozies required. Participating chefs include: Crystal Wahpepah, Wahpepah’s Kitchen (Oakland, CA); Alon Shaya, Safta (Denver, CO); Erick Williams, Virtue (Chicago, IL); Arlin Smith, Eventide Oyster Co. (Portland, ME); Andrew Taylor, Eventide Oyster Co. (Portland, ME); Jordan Rubin, Mr. Tuna (Portland, ME); Ashleigh Shanti, Good Hot Fish (Asheville, NC); Matt Lightner, Okta (Portland, OR); Diane Moua (Minneapolis, MN); Michael Cimarusti, Providence (Los Angeles, CA); Reem Assil, Reem’s California (Oakland, CA); Eric Wareheim; Joe Beddia, Pizzeria Beddia (Philadelphia, PA); Chuy Villarreal, Orinoco (Monterey, MEX); Chava Orozco, Mi Compa Orozco (Mexico City, MEX); Kevin Fink, Emmer & Rye Hospitality Group/Ezov(Austin, TX); Davis Turner, Huckleberry Hospitality (Austin, TX); Michael Fojtasek, Albert Hotel (Austin, TX); Amanda Turner, Olamaie (Austin, TX); Shane Stark, Mongers (Austin, TX); Andy Knudson, Tillie’s (Wimberly, TX); Fermín Núñez, Este (Austin, TX); Ariana Quant, Uchi, Uchiko (Austin, TX); Kareem El-Ghayesh, KG BBQ (Austin, TX); Jakub Czyszczon, Garrison (Austin, TX); Blake Ransom, Revue (Austin, TX); Brad McDonald, Nido (Austin, TX); Thomas Malz, Carpenters Hall at Carpenter Hotel (Austin, TX); Jeffrey Hundelt, Summer House on Music Lane (Austin, TX)

*This event is from 7 pm–10 pm and is included in the Whole Enchilada Ticket Package; Whole Enchilada passholders can get in early at 6:30 pm Individual tickets are also available for $250.

More details on various ticketing options, including the Whole Enchilada Package are available at Hotluckfest.com.

Love the Land

New PBS docuseries spotlights conservation efforts across Texas

Photo courtesy of Hogaboom Road, Inc.

Making of a Million: Daytripping with The Nature Conservancy in Texas is free to watch online.

Thanks to a new three-part PBS docuseries, you don't need to go to all of Texas' protected lands and waters to appreciate their breadth. Making of a Million: Daytripping with The Nature Conservancy in Texas follows The Daytripper host Chet Garner from West Texas to the coast, discussing conservation efforts by the conservancy (TNC) along the way.

"Making of a Million" refers to the one million acres in Texas that fall under TNC's protection. The one million figure is a milestone TNC is celebrating with the series, but it's not the full extent of its work; actually, according to the 2025 annual report, its total impact is 1.6 million acres. TNC also works in Africa, Europe, Latin America, the Asia-Pacific region, and more specific smaller regions within those.

The Daytripping project has been rolled out slowly in 2026, from YouTube previews, to an official release on PBS in April, to an Austin event in May that formally introduced the works. The Contemporary Austin hosted an outdoor screening on behalf of TNC's Board of Trustees, specifically focusing on the episode that explores West Texas.

The 26-minute video shows off striking aerial images of mountains, close ups of plants and wildlife, and even a quick feature of an archeological find. Water, of course, is a big topic in the desert and it's a large topic across the series. Fresh water even has its own dedicated episode.

Although conservation experts are consulted throughout the series, viewers can do more than passively watch other people solve environmental problems. One story, toward the end of the West Texas episode, highlights how a rancher directed researchers to a habitat for an endangered species of fish on his property, simply because he overheard a scientist at a café claim they were extinct.

On a larger and perhaps less direct scale, producing video series like this can kick off similar effects. The more civilians know about conservation efforts in their neck of the woods, the more they might know their place in helping out.

Garner spoke on a panel after the Austin screening with TNC director of land protection Jeff Francell, spatial analyst Jacqueline Ferrato, and director of land protection/stewardship Dan Snodgrass. They discussed the series and the broader conservation topics it connects to.

“This new series really captures the spirit of our efforts and collaborations to protect Texas lands and water,” said Snodgrass in a recap for press. “Chet’s storytelling skills spotlight our partners and projects in a unique, engaging way — we’re excited for more Texans to see why conservation matters and learn how they can get involved.”

“Daytripping with The Nature Conservancy in Texas allowed us to visit some of the most amazing places in Texas and to meet people who are making a real difference for conservation,” said Garner. “Folks will love traveling with us across wildly diverse landscapes and learning the solutions shaping the future of our state’s biggest environmental challenges.”

Viewers can watch the series for free on the Nature Conservancy's website or on YouTube.

conservation nature pbs videos science ecology education sustainability