Past Festivals in The Woodlands
The Woodlands has hosted festivals since the early 1980s, and some of the best-known ones have ended or changed names. This page keeps a record of them: when they ran, where, and who put them on. For festivals running now, see our Festivals in The Woodlands page.
Food and drink festivals
The Woodlands BBQ Festival
2016-2018, Town Green Park
Pitmasters handed out samples each fall at a festival from the law firm Stibbs & Co. and The Woodlands Area Chamber of Commerce. The third, on Oct. 7, 2018, is the last on record.
Throwdown Texas Burger & Beer Fest
2016-2017
Eleven local restaurants competed for burger awards at the first one, April 23, 2016, with proceeds for the Montgomery County Food Bank. It returned in 2017 as the Throwdown Texas Burger & Music Fest.
BB&T Woodlands CrawPHish Festival
March 24, 2018, Town Green Park
Thousands of pounds of Louisiana crawfish, plus Rudy’s barbecue, live music and kids’ activities. All proceeds from the day went to the Pulmonary Hypertension Association.
Crawfish festival, 2010
2010
A crawfish festival on a park lawn in The Woodlands, with a row of tents and families on picnic blankets. Its name and organizer aren’t on record.
Battle of the Texas Breweries
2010s, Hubbell & Hudson Bistro, Waterway Avenue
Texas breweries poured side by side, and guests voted in the Texas Beer Drinker’s Choice Awards for the best Texas brewery. In 2015, its third year, admission came with a souvenir stein.
Groundhog Beer Festival
Jan. 30, 2016, Hubbell & Hudson Kitchen
The Research Forest Drive store’s first Groundhog Day beer tasting ran for three hours that Saturday afternoon, with samples from about a dozen breweries.
Woodlands Craft Beer & Music Festival
June 2015, Town Green Park
Two days, a Friday and a Saturday, of craft beer and live music on the Town Green Park lawn.
Truck or Treat
2016-2018, Town Green Park
A Halloween food truck festival from Inspire Productions. The third one, on Oct. 27, 2018, also took in that year’s Oktoberfest after rain pushed it back from September.
Four Wheel Food Fest
October 2016
A food truck festival with live music under the tents. Its organizer and venue aren’t on record.
Holiday festivals
Winter Wonderland light display
Through 2018
A walk-through display of lighted toy soldiers, elves, doves and snowmen beside the Ice Rink. It moved to the corner of Six Pines and Lake Robbins drives in 2016.
Hughes Landing and Creekside Park holiday afternoons
December 2016
Two free afternoons from The Woodlands Development Company, with reindeer, a petting zoo, carnival games and snow hill rides.
Caroling on the Square
From 2011, Waterway Square
Saturday evenings of carols at Waterway Square in December, with Santa on some nights. 2013 was its third year.
International Winter on the Waterway (iWoW)
2007-2016
Holiday music, dance, food and traditions from other countries, held with the Lighting of the Doves each November. After its tenth year it was folded into the Doves festival in 2017.
Family and community festivals
Woodlands Oktoberfest
About 2009-2011, Town Green Park
The Woodlands Rotary Club Foundation’s three-day Oktoberfest raised money for local student scholarships. The second one ran Sept. 24-26, 2010.
The Woodlands Family Fun Fest
2016-2017, Town Green Park
A free festival from Houston Area Shows with rides, games, live shows, food vendors, a free kids’ workshop and a reptile exhibit.
Live at Night
At least 2013-2016, Waterway Square
Free Saturday-evening concerts by local and regional bands each spring and fall, from The Woodlands Convention and Visitors Bureau. The Township’s Waterway Nights series now fills that spot.
Project Hero
October 2011
A family festival in a Woodlands park, with craft tables, games, a foam pit and a hand-painted Project Hero banner. Its organizer and cause aren’t on record.
Renamed or merged
Children's Festival, now Pavilion Palooza
About 1996-2025, The Pavilion
A weekend of children’s performers, hands-on activities and crafts at The Pavilion each November. The 22nd one was in 2017, and in 2026 The Pavilion renamed it Pavilion Palooza.
Arts in the Park
About 2009-2024, Rob Fleming Park
A free Township afternoon of local art for sale, food trucks and live performances, with nearly 40 artisans at the tenth one in 2018. The Township’s Spicy Tails Art Sale now fills that March spot.
For this year’s festivals and where they’re held, see Festivals in The Woodlands. More of the community’s past is on The Woodlands Texas History page.
The Woodlands Texas Activities Guide
Family Activities
For the same reasons many choose to make their home here, families find charm and appeal in spending a day, a weekend or a week in The Woodlands.
Waterway Activities
The centerpiece of Waterway Square is the 120' Waterwall and circular fountain featuring regularly scheduled light and music shows. The public venue also features restaurants, hotels, and is the nightlife area of The Woodlands Texas.
Festivals in The Woodlands
Several festivals and other outdoor events held throughout the year in Town Center. Festival events are frequently held on the Great Lawn in Town Green Park including, the Annual Crawfish festival.
Sports Activities
From the jogging loop in Grogan's Mill, you can travel along the pathways to Disc Golf courses, pickle ball courts, Bocci Ball, and various playfields.
Swimming Pools
Live Music in The Woodlands
Throughout the year, you’ll hear about concerts, performance art shows, festivals and free live music, all happening in The Woodlands.