March Festivals in Texas

Star of Texas Rodeo, Austin

As the weather starts to heat up, so does the festivals calendar with the start of outdoor festivals as well as Texas's biggest rodeo.

2008 Festival Dates:

• always doublecheck festival dates when planning your trip!

Continuing through March 2, 2008: Charro Days, Brownsville. Now in its 71st year, this event filled with parades and family-friendly events. Considered one of the Valley's largest events.

Continuing through March 2, 2008: Texas Cowboy Poetry Gathering, Alpine. The country's second oldest gathering of cowboy poets takes place at Sul Ross State University.

Continuing through March 2, 2008: North Texas Irish Festival, Dallas. From its humble pub origins in the early 1980s, this Celtic compilation of music, dance and traditional cuisine has matured into an annual event which attracts internationally-known performers, up-and-coming recording artists eager to hone their craft, and a gathering over 35,000 strong.

Continuing through March 15, 2008: Star of Texas Fair and Rodeo, Austin. An Austin-area tradition since 1938, this rodeo includes plenty of big name country performances, a large carnival, a barbecue cookoff, livestock show, and more.

March 1, 2008: Daffodil Festival, Round Rock. The town declared by the Texas Legislature the Daffodil Capital of Texas celebrates the blooms with a free festival.

March 1-2, 2008: Texas Independence Day, Washington. This year marks the 172nd year since Texas independence, an event celebrated at Washington-on-the-Brazos State Historic Site with costumed reenactors, craft demonstrations, and more.

March 1-April 20, 2008: Four Winds Renaissance Faire, Whitehouse (near Tyler).

March 2, 2008: Zilker Kite Festival, Austin. This family-friendly fete has been celebrated annually since 1929, making the event the longest-running kite festival in the U.S.

March 3-22, 2008: Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo. Held in Reliant Park, this rodeo is one of the country's largest and features many famous names from the world of country music as well.

March 6, 2008: Dawn at the Alamo, San Antonio. Re-enactors portray Texian and Mexican troops on the raid of the Alamo on the anniversary of the fall of this famous site.

March 6-9, 2008: Oysterfest, Fulton.

March 7-8, 2008: Annual Chocolate Festival, Grapevine. This annual event celebrates all things chocolate and benefits Travelers Aid Dallas/Fort Worth Airport.

March 7-9, 2008: River Oaks Garden Club Azalea Trail, Houston. Private homes as well as public venues take part in this trail; obtain tickets in advance.

March 7-16, 2008: South by Southwest (SXSW), Austin. With a convention at the Austin Convention Center but live performances held at venues throughout the city, this event is one of the largest music conventions in the country and draws music lovers from around the world.

March 8-April 13, 2008. Dallas Blooms. Celebrate Spring with this event at the Dallas Arboretum featuring over 400,000 bulbs.

March 13-16, 2008: Guinness Dyeing O' the River Green, San Antonio. The river--renamed the River Shannon--runs green during this well-attended event which includes a river barge parade.

March 15-16, 2008: St. Patrick's Day Celebration, Shamrock. This citywide event includes a parade, lad and lassie pageant, carnival, and more to celebrate the city's Irish connection.

March 14-April 6, 2008: Azalea and Spring Flower Trail, Tyler. Miles of trails bloom with azaleas as well as dogwoods and other blooms.

March 15, 2008: St. Patrick's Day, Dublin. Highland games, Irish crafts and food fill the day at Dublin City Park.

March 21-22, 2008: Easter Fest and Easter Run/Walk, Kerrville. Live music, a barbecue cookoff, Easter egg hunt, and a run/walk fill the weekend.

March 21-22, 28-29, April 5: Tyler County Dogwood Festival, Woodville. The dogwood blooms take center stage here, joined by three weekends of special activities including an art festival on the first weekend, Western weekend on the second, and Queen weekend on the third.

March 22-23, 29-30, April 5-6: Texas Dogwood Trails Celebrations, Palestine. Palestine celebrates the blooming of the dogwood with parades, arts and crafts, a bike race, live music, and more.

March 28-April 6, 2008: Montgomery County Fair and Rodeo, Conroe

March 28-30 and April 4-6: Day Out With Thomas, Grapevine. A must for families, the Grapevine Vintage Railroad transforms into Thomas the Tank Engine for this special event which features storytelling, video viewing, live music, arts and crafts and more.

March 30, 2008: Statesman Capitol 10,000, Austin. Serious and fun runners and walkers take part in this downtown race that begins on Congress Avenue.

Awaiting Dates:

• Excalibur Faire, Dale (near Lockhart). Held weekends from mid-March to early April.