agave is life

West Texas town celebrates spiky succulents during annual agave festival

Agave Festival Marfa puts the spotlight on a favorite Texas plant.

Between the wide open spaces, dark night skies, and desert mystique, there are plenty of reasons to head to West Texas — even in summer. And while Marfa is always a popular choice, the small town makes a strong case for a specific escape from June 6-9 during its annual Agave Festival Marfa.

Celebrating the spiky succulent and its influence on culture through food, film, music, science, and spirits, the packed program features talks from preeminent historians, botanists, artists, anthropologists, and archaeologists. Unless otherwise noted, all events are free, including tastings from agave spirit producers, unique dining experiences, and musical performances.

“We want this to be a festival in the broadest sense — one that celebrates the diverse cultures of our region and involves art, ecology, food, drink, music, and dancing,” says festival organizer Tim Johnson on the event website.

The festival kicks off on Thursday, June 6, with a 4 pm screening of the film Agave is Life, which explores 10,000 years of symbiotic relations between agaves and humans. Written and directed by Meredith Dreiss and Sharon Greenhill, the screening will include a Q&A between Dreiss and archeologist David O. Brown.

Other programming highlights include:

Thursday, June 6 - 7:30 pm: The annual Agave Festival Welcome Party at The Pool at the Hotel Saint George, featuring a set from DJ eMCee (Michael Camacho) with music from his weekly program on Marfa Public Radio.
Friday, June 7 and Saturday, June 8 - 9 am: Join an expert-led hike at the Chihuahuan Desert Research Institute to learn more about native plants of the Chihuahuan Desert.
Friday, June 7 - 4 pm: A reading from legendary poet, translator, and revolutionary, Margaret Randall. Stick around at 5:30 pm for a conversation between Randall and editor/author/poet/essayist, Robert Tejada.
Saturday, June 8 - 12 pm: Liquor store and plant nursery Cactus Liquors hosts a tasting with spirit makers from all over Mexico paired with bites from El Paso’s Taco Neta.
Sunday, June 9 - 11 am: Jaqui Delolmo of Mira Marfa, along with Mateo and Malinda Galindo of Tierra y Que, host Crudolandia, featuring food by Taco Neta and a DJ set by Cariño de la Radio.

Beyond the above lineup, El Cosmico will host additional programming featuring local musicians in the Marfa Municipal Alliance and Zona Mutante to benefit the Big Bend Reproductive Coalition on June 7. Ballroom Marfa and The Capri are also hosting a multi-week residency with Michelin-starred chef Michael Diaz de Leon, who will serve food Thursdays through Saturdays.

Be sure to check the Agave Festival Marfa website for the full lineup and latest updates, as well as helpful travel info. (Pro tip: Head to El Cosmico for special discounts on summer travel.)

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Prix Fixe Paradise

Hill Country town introduces new restaurant week with deals and events

Photo by B Side Productions

The initiative is a companion to the Fredericksburg Food & Wine Festival.

The "restaurant weeks" initiative is spreading across Central Texas, with Fredericksburg claiming its own dates. Fredericksburg Restaurant Week is a new event running from May 4-10.

Fredericksburg Restaurant Week is not to be confused with the existing San Antonio Restaurant Weeks, which expanded to include some Fredericksburg eateries in 2025.

No matter what city it's in, the restaurant weeks format sets up inexpensive prix fixe dinners as an incentives for diners to try new restaurants and new dishes. Houston, of course, has its initiatives, but it won't return until August, making this a fun excuse to go to a new city; the Fredericksburg initiative sounds like it'll especially drive visitors looking for a less-pricey Hill Country adventure.

Participating restaurants will be found at fbgfoodandwine.com. However, it looks like that announcement hasn't been made yet.

In addition to the prix fixe menus, Fredericksburg Restaurant Week will offer exclusive dining events and collaborations, a press release says. It starts May 5 with Tacos y Margs at Hill & Vine, pairing food and drinks at tasting stations. Then on May 6 there's the Austin Street Block Party with more bites and live music, followed by East Side Flights & Bites at Elk & Main on May 7 and Smoke & Fire with El Quincho and Eaker Barbecue on May 8.

Fredericksburg Restaurant Weeks also doubles as a preview of the Tex-Mex BBQ Fest, with a kickoff May 9 at Leroy’s TexMex BBQ. Guests can expect barbecue, live music, and traditionally distilled desert spirits.

Finally, a pair of eateries are open in a new capacity for the week. Stout’s Signature at Grape Creek Vineyards and K Bistro at K Estate, which are usually only for wine club members, will be open to the public.

The Fredericksburg Food & Wine Festival is the organizer of Fredericksburg Restaurant Week. The organization says the new initiative is meant to complement the festival and July Preview Week.

“Fredericksburg has become a true culinary destination, and Restaurant Week is a way to celebrate the chefs, restaurants, and hospitality that make our town a wine and culinarydestination,” said Fredericksburg Chamber of Commerce president and CEO Jim Mikula in the release. “It’s a chance for guests to experience the diversity of Fredericksburg’s dining scene while building
excitement for the Fredericksburg Food & Wine Festival later this year.”

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agave is life

West Texas town celebrates spiky succulents during annual agave festival

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Prix Fixe Paradise

Hill Country town introduces new restaurant week with deals and events