The Ultimate Guide to Food and Drink Festivals

If you’ve attended any food events in the past, you’ve learned a few things. You usually need to carry everything, walk a good distance to the festival from your transportation, and be prepared for whatever the weather brings.  Here’s a compilation of tips I’ve learned over the years of going to food, wine, cocktail, and beer events along with links to past posts about it. 

A sling for your glass means your hands are free to stuff your face.

General Tips

1. Wear comfortable shoes.  You'll be walking from where you parked to the festival, and all over the festival.  

2. Sunblock.  Sunblock.  Sunblock.  And sunblock.  UV rays don’t discriminate when you’re eating foie gras.  

3. If you must wear a dress or a skirt, make sure it has some structure and substance so it doesn't get blown around.  The wind was causing some free peep shows.  

4. Neti-pot (with distilled or boiled water) when you get home.  Festivals are usually outdoor, and they can get quite dusty.  Your sinus will thank you.

5. Phone charger.  Also bring a portable charger if you can.  You don’t want to be glued to an outlet. Keep it in a plastic bag big enough for your phone and camera in case it rains. 

6. Bring your own fork and spoon, because you might need your own when the disposables run out. Bring your own glass sling too.  Instructions here: http://misohungrynow.blogspot.com/2013/04/make-your-own-wine-or-beer-sling-for.html

7. ID. Even if you look like you’re 85 years old, TABC could be watching.  No one wants trouble with TABC so bring your license and don’t pitch a fit if you’re required to show it.

8. A designated driver. You can destroy your own liver, but please don’t destroy another person’s life.

9. Cash. While many vendors may take credit cards onsite, cell service can be spotty at large events.  Cash is king.  

10. Your manners. Don’t piss off people.  Don’t be rude.  Everyone here wants to have fun, including the volunteers.  

11. Drink water.  And more water.  And then more water.

12. Benadryl and band-aids.  You never know when you or someone at the festival will have an allergic reaction to food or insect bites.  I always carry benadryl, just in case.  And you never know when you're going to need a band-aid for a blister, burn, or cut. 

12. If Franklin's is at the festival, run to the line first.  RUN! RUN! RUN!

Nothing more satisfying than a man and his meat.  Get your head out of the gutter. 

Great American Beer Festival and Tales of the Cocktail Tips

1. Bring an umbrella to New Orleans if you don’t want to get wet.  It rains almost everyday.

2. Bring some pretzels or a turkey leg on your neck for Great American Beer Festival.  Unless you are going to a food event, you will need food reserves. There are food vendors inside with limited selection.  I would bring my own vittles. 

This man is simply awesome.  Turkey leg necklaces are a must for the ultimate beer loving carnivore. 

Austin Food and Wine Festival Tips

1. Unless you have a VIP pass, it might be wise to wait until the last hour of the grand tasting.  During the VIP period, it was pretty tame.  However, during general admission, it could get a little squishy.  If you wait until after most of the crowd had eaten their fill, the tents started to clear out.

2. Arrive very early to the cooking demos.  The lines can start as far as an hour in advance.

3. Bring a bag big enough to carry all the books and swag that you'll collect.  They do give you a resuable tote bag, but it does get difficult to carry.  I bring my own sling or shoulder strap style bag. 

The cooking demo line for Qui Ingredients at the 2013 Austin Food and Wine Festival. 

Viva La Big Bend!

1. Helmet.  This might seem odd.  There are many bikers (the motorcycle kind) out in West Texas.  You’ll never know when you need one for a ride on a Harley.

2. Boots.  This is mandatory dress code for West Texas.  Boots.  

3. Lotion and chapstick.  Did I mention that this is the desert? You'll dehydrate quickly. 

Boots are a must.

Brewery Events

1. Chair.  If you can’t stand for long periods of time, bring a chair.  The brewery most likely will not have any.

2. Snacks. And sometimes there is no food provided at brewery open houses, though it is becoming less common.  You might find a food truck or two, but selection is usually limited.  Pack a power bar, banana, apple, or some crackers.

Wish you were Beer.....at Big Bend Brewing Company in Alpine, TX. 

Dog Friendly Festivals

1. Dog on leash. Do NOT bring your dog off-leash.  I’ve been to so many festivals where dogs are running the street because the owners are too busy doing something else.  The leash is for safety.  Use it.  No one wants to leave a festival early because their dog got hurt. 

2. Water + drinking bowl.  I bring a water jug with a shoulder strap for my dogs because they drink directly out of the jug.  Dogs need water throughout the day as well.

3. Poop bags.  Nature calls.  Clean it up.  No one wants to step in dog poop.  Or human poop either.  Keep a diaper on the babies.  

4. Snacks.  If you’re out and about for a long period of time, bring snacks for the puppies.  If you can’t go eight hours without food, why should your dog go without food.  I also bring treats for my dogs because I use every outing as a training session.  

5. Your dog’s manners. No one likes cranky people, and no one likes rude dogs.  Please train your dog how to behave appropriately in public before bringing it out to play.

This durable $10 dress gave me the freedom to shuck 450 oysters at Viva Big Bend and run around.  And it was machine washable.  Get over here and have an oyster!

Working festivals:

If you’ve worked a food festival, there requires just a little more.  

1. Prepare your stomach in advance.  You may not get to eat as you’ll probably get caught up in work and forget to eat.  You might have to eat after midnight after clean up. 

2. Wear something that is durable and machine washable.  You might be hauling 50 lb cases of raw seafood or have someone drop a bowl of salsa on you.  If it wasn’t totally out of theme with the event, I might even consider wearing workout gear.  You might be getting a serious one.  

Eating and Drinking La Dolce Vita

Living in Austin is living La Dolce Vita.  The culture in Austin is simply awesome, unique, creative, and friendly.  Just add tasty bites and vino to the mix, and you're truly living La Dolce Vita in style.  La Dolce Vita (the event) is a fund raiser hosted by the Austin Museum of Art held at the gorgeous Laguna Gloria grounds. A big thanks to AMOA for having Michelle Cheng and I as their guests.  

With rows and rows of food and wine vendors around every corner, this was a "must attend" event.  Here's some photos for your viewing pleasure.  If you missed it this year, kick yourself and make sure you go next year!

Grub from the Hub. Did you know that they are dog friendly? 

Any event with the Tipsy Texan is uber sweet. The drink is the Debonair.

 

The Parkside's offering.

 

The Carillon's Muscat Grape Terrine

The Carillon's Hamachi Crudo

 

 Apple Annie's Chocolate Ganache - Heavenly!

 

 Imperia's Tasty Bites

 

The Driskill's Tuna Tartare with fresh figs and cilantro pop

 

Foie gras with dried fruit relish and mint at the Driskill

 

Tiramisu from the Driskill

 

Lamb Lettuce wraps from East Side Show Room

Incredibly creamy shrimp and cheese soup from San Paulo

Chocolatey bites from Austin Cake Ball

Navigating Food and Music Festivals like a Professional

I proudly admit that I'm a festival junkie. From vino to music to gigantic dog shows, I've become a veteran at navigating crowds, feeding my stomach, and having fun. Here's a few tips and tricks I've picked up. Enjoy and I hope to see you at some of the upcoming events.


Tickets:

• For expensive festivals such as Austin City Limits Festival, Fantastic Festival, or SXSW, you can always opt to buy a wristband early for a cheaper price. If I'm bent on seeing many shows, this is the route to go. 
  
• If you'd like to go to a particular show, but not dying to go, I suggest that you play Russian roulette with some economic principles. This is where supply and demand come into play. According to what I learned in ECON304 (I made an A in that class back in 2000), you have to play the game early in the show or late. Also, our grades were dependent on how we played these economics games in class, so needless to say, I was motivated to make good deals. 
• Playing early means that you're going to go the safe route and buy a ticket or wrist band when they go on sale, even getting codes to presales. You can usually easily Google the show name and the word "code" to get some hits. Playing late in the game is riskier, but can yield better deals. 
• Take Fantastic Fest2008's preview of Zack and Miri Make a Porn and the Air Sex Championships for example. I played the game early, and I played the game late. I secured a ticket, but I was pretty unhappy with my seat (WAY up in the balcony). Luckily, I tried to buy another ticket later, and low and behold, some front row seats were released. I snagged one for the low price of 26.50.  You can see me here at 3:28.  It was pretty easy for me to get rid of my original ticket since demand was still sky high. 
  
• I also played the late game at ACL 2009. I had a wristband, but due to work, I decided to sell it. When I finished up work early on Sunday, I decided to try my luck at a ticket. The game now is in my favor. There is little to no demand for tickets late on Sunday. Unused ticket prices should drop as they are a sunk cost, with little demand. After parking in a free spot just a 3 minute walk away from Zilker Park, I stopped the first person I saw and snagged a free ticket. I offered to pay, but he refused. Go back and brush up on economics. It'll come in handy.My ACL rocked.
  
• If tickets to the festival you want to attend is out of your price range (i.e. most wine and food festivals), volunteer for the event. Usually, shifts are fairly short, you'll get to know the vendors better (always a plus), you'll get to attend other festival events and activities, and you'll probably get a free tee shirt. Houston Cellar Classic has GREAT perks for their volunteers.

Food:  This is an important topic for all of us. If you only hit up one festival a month, you'll probably stay in relatively good health. If you hit up one festival or food event per week (or four in a single week), keeping yourself at a healthy weight can be a challenge. I've been asked many, many times why I don't weigh 400 lbs. These are my tips for staying in shape.

• If you're going to a festival with subpar food (not tasty or healthful), eat prior. That just goes without saying or bring your own. I've never been stopped from bringing my own food to an outdoor festival. Indoor festivals can be trickier, but I've still never had a problem.
• If you are going to a food festival where free samples will be offered, do not eat before. The old tip of "eat a little so you won't be too hungry" is a joke in my professional opinion (as a social psychologist). The problem with food samples at a festival is NOT eating unhealthful foods (though they usually are). IMO, the problem is with over-eating because one wishes to try all the samples. If you're going to over eat, you're going to over eat. You're not going to stop eating simply because you're not hungry. Most of us are opportunistic eaters. I keep this problem at bay with a few tricks. 
• I have a rule about what foods I eat. I only eat foods that are really good for me, or taste really fantastic. When I sample foods, I take just a big enough bite so I know what it tastes like. Enjoyment from eating a particular food drops off after the second bite, so it's not like I'm really enjoying that 3rd, 4th, or 5th bite. If you've been to food event with me, you'll notice I'll end up with a plate of food with only one bite missing.
  
• If you don't like it, you can discretely spit it out. Don't waste stomach space and calories on food you don't like. 
• If you do come home with a plethora of food, get rid of it quickly. I came home with a gigantic box of chocolates from the Austin Chocolate Festival this year, and it left the house as quickly as it came, in someone else's stomach.
• Exercise on a regular basis regardless of whether or not you are a festival junkie.

Rules, Regulations, & Tidbits:

• Make sure that you check all the rules and regulations of the venue. Some common rules are no backpacks, no strollers, no dogs, no gigantic cameras, no outside drinks (especially alcohol). Many festivals will check your bags. Make sure that you abide by the rules to prevent getting the boot. 
• If the event is free and open to the public, be assured that food will run out and parking will be a pain.  Get there early to get in on the fun, or else go hungry, thirsty, and park five miles away.
• Bring a festival partner.  You may need someone to drive you home, or you might need someone to help you tag team the long lines.  At Taste of Austin, my sister would stand in the longest lines while I got food from vendors with no lines.  By the time I had my hands, bags, and mouth full, she was already at the front of the long time.  I'm efficient all the time, not just when I drive.
• Use websites like Yelp, Do512, Facebook, and other local event bloggers to find unofficial events and specials that are going on along with the festival.  I follow AustinEavesdropper & This is Life in Austin. 

What to Pack:

• If the event is dog friendly, make sure you bring some water for your puppy and clean up supplies in case he/she needs to make a potty.  Check the weather, and leave Fido at home if the festival is in direct sun or over 80 degrees.  Make sure your puppy is also well-behaved and read these guidelines. 
  
• If the event is outside, wear sunblock.  It doesn't matter if it isn't sunny, wear sunblock.  Skin cancer isn't fun.  If it is rainy, bring a poncho or umbrella and carry a ziploc bag for your cell phone.  Water logged cell phones don't work.  
• Ladies, pack light.  You don't need 30 lbs of make up with you.  Sunblock, sunglasses, and lip gloss is all you really need. After five hours of walking, your tiny purse is going to feel like a cinder block. 
  
• If you bring your children, make sure they are under control.  Kids should not be allowed to run amok grabbing food off of tables and playing chase in crowded areas.  

What to Wear: 

• Dress for the weather.  If it is going to be 60 degrees outside, leave that cute little black dress at home unless you want to suffer from hypothermia.  
• If the event is going to be 100 degrees, wear shorts because heat stroke isn't cool.  No pun intending.  The EMS isn't going to care about how fashionable you look when they are trying to save your life. 
  
• No high heels, unless you want to break your ankle or suffer from blisters.  Remember, it's a festival, not a fashion show.  Save high heels for the run way.  Wear something comfortable.
  

Getting to know the vendors: 

• Don't be afraid to bring your own business cards if you make a connection with a vendor you like.  If you see a musician, food vendor, or artist that you'd might like to see again, give them your card.  
• On the other hand, only take promotional items from vendors you like.  If you'll never buy their products, please don't grab the expensive promotional fliers and brochures.  You'll just throw it away anyways.  It's a lose-lose situation. 
  
• If you stay late, you might be able to get donations from the vendors.  They don't want to take home all their extra products.  I had vending space at the Eukanuba Reliant Dog Shows for many years, and at the very end, I would get massive amounts of dog and cat food donations as I was trying to load my equipment.  I took those donations to local rescue groups and animal shelters. At food events, you might go home with boxes of sandwiches, tacos, burritos, or pizzas.  I'd freeze it, and feed myself for a month. 

Searching for Deals: 

• Local restaurants and hotels might run deals during large festivals.  For SXSW 2009, many local restaurants offered dishes at half off.  Check those out here. Yes, indeed.  
• Uchi (I've visited again and had a wonderful time since my last post) was running deals so good that I ate there twice during SXSW and once during ACL.  The average price per diner across these three visits was a mere $20.  I'm very happy to see that Uchi had my favorite roll at half off.  Shag me, baby!
• For very large festivals like SXSW, someone somewhere on the internet will take time to sort through all the event and activities into an easy to use spreadsheet.  Check out this spreadsheet from SXSW 2009.  Thank you to who ever made this wonderful guide. 
• Book your hotel ASAP, especially for SXSW. You can always cancel, but once they are booked, you'll be sleeping on the sidewalks or in a hotel lobby.
  

*This guide was previously intended for a website I had many moons ago: howtosurvivegradschool.com.