9 Towns In Texas With Unique Traditions

Friday night football, wild and rowdy rodeos, and delicious barbeque are all well-known traditions in the state of Texas. In just about any town or city, you can more or less find these things going on at various times of the year. But, if you happen to be in the Lone Star State and want to experience some of its more unique traditions, you have come to the right place to learn more. We will cover nine towns that will certainly expose you to Texas' diverse cultural happenings. Get the inside scoop on these events and where and when you can take part in them in this great state.

Burnet - Blue Bonnet Festival

Bluebonnets are a brilliantly blue species of wildflower that thrives in much of Texas. Because of its widespread natural habitat in the state, many Texas towns have their own bluebonnets festival, generally held in late April when the flowers should be in full bloom.

Burnet is a town of around 6,500 residents, just northwest of Austin, and it is just one of the places that features a festival celebrating the iconic plant. What makes Burnet's celebration perhaps a bit more special is that it has been running for over 40 years, and it doesn't hurt that it is so close to the Austin metro area, drawing sizable crowds. Its popularity also draws a wide variety of vendors and entertainment. Expect carnival foods, live music, parades, games for children, and drink tents for the adults.

Salado - Christmas in October

For some, Christmas simply can't come soon enough. It appears that many of these people live in the town of Salado in central Texas, and because of this, you can celebrate Christmas in early October.

Taking place in mid-October, this holiday tradition is much like any other Christmas festival - featuring decorations, vendor booths selling anything from arts and crafts to food and drinks, and fundraisers for local charities.

Situated between Waco and Austin, Salado and its unique tradition will make for a perfect stop this year if you happen to be traveling between the two larger cities. Make a point of also checking out one of the local parks, like Chalk Ridge Falls, and see the foliage change color as the fall season is in full swing around the same time of year.

Weslaco - Texas Onion Fest

Weslaco, a small town near the border of Mexico and a couple of hours south of Corpus Christi, is famous for its onions—particularly one kind. The Texas 1015 onion is notable for its sweet taste and, moreover, for being the official state vegetable of Texas.

You can celebrate this fresh and tasty variety of onion at the annual Texas Onion Fest, which will next be held in March 2025. Make sure to see the onion-eating contest and demonstrations on how best to cook the 1015 onion, and obviously make a pit stop at one of the many local food vendors that will be available.

Brenham - Blue Bell Ice Cream

Texas can get hot, really hot in the Summer. What better way to quell the heat than with some delicious ice cream? Blue Bell Creameries, based out of Brenham, Texas, has been serving Texans and customers across the southwest since 1907 and should absolutely be a stop for you as you journey across the state.

In Brenham, you can take a tour at the visitor center in their main headquarters to learn more about this company's history, and of course, grab a scoop of their famous ice cream at the parlor while you're at it. There are dozens of flavors and types of the frozen treat to choose from, from sugar-free options to special seasonal offerings and beyond.

Poteet - Poteet Strawberry Festival

Texas, with all of its high-quality farmland, is clearly a haven for fresh and abundant produce. Strawberries are just one of several important agricultural exports, and they are best celebrated in the town of Poteet at the annual Poteet Strawberry Festival which has been going strong for over 70 years. Held in early April, this celebration conveniently takes place just south of San Antonio and draws over 100,000 visitors and counting per year.

For over 3 days you can indulge in locally picked strawberries, either fresh or cooked into many amazing dishes. The festival is also widely visited by avid concertgoers who are looking to see their favorite country and folk acts at the multiple stages that will be present.

Marfa - Marfa Lights Festival

The Marfa lights are the name for the mysterious and slightly spooky phenomenon that takes place in the open deserts just outside of the west Texas town of Marfa. People have occasionally been observing inexplicable lights, often in the shape of orbs seemingly dancing around in the distance, for decades now. The lights have been blamed on a number of things ranging from ghosts and UFOs to more grounded explanations like headlights reflecting from nearby highways. Regardless, waiting in the desert from one of the viewpoints around Marfa has become a bit of a tradition.

The Marfa lights are also celebrated at the annual Marfa Lights Festival. Going for nearly 40 years, this fun Labor Day weekend event hosts several bands, food vendors, and a parade featuring intricately designed floats.

Port Aransas - Texas SandFest

Come see the largest sand-related festival in the United States at SandFest, which is held every April in the Gulf Coast town of Port Aransas. Known for its extensive, and better yet, pristine, beaches, this small town that is located on Mustang Island just west of Corpus Christi is simply a top destination for anyone looking to soak up some sun, regardless of what time of the year it is.

At SandFest, the sand sculpting competition is a must-see, as it regularly draws some of the best sand sculptors from around the world. Stick around to find out which of the amazingly ornate sand creations will take the top prize! This competition is also complemented by live music, shopping, food vendors, and other family-friendly activities.

Rockport - Rockport Art Fest

Another great small town on the Gulf of Mexico with an equally great tradition is Rockport, Texas, with its Rockport Art Festival. Taking place annually since all the way back in 1969, this famed celebration of the arts in Texas draws artists from around the nation every summer.

Featuring well over 100 artists, you will be able to view and purchase from a wide variety of vendors, including paintings, photography, sculptures, and other crafts. Live Music and special events for children will also be on the schedule, as a themed art in case you were looking to take home a more rare/expensive work.

Huntsville - Prison City Film Festival

This multiday film festival rivals some of the bigger movie-centric events that you may find in bigger cities like nearby Houston. Here, you will have the opportunity to see some truly unique films, both short and feature-length, and be able to interact with many of the creative minds behind them.

But why the name "Prison City"? The town of Huntsville, where the festival takes place in late February, is also home to a whopping 7 different correctional facilities, including the Texas State Penitentiary at Huntsville, the oldest prison in Texas (opened in 1849). Although this film festival does not have much to do with this longstanding punitive history, the name is a wink to the region's past, and according to the fest's founders- it simply sounds cool.

Experience the Unique Culture of small-town Texas

Texas is the biggest state in the contiguous United States, and with that comes a wide variety of traditions, festivals, and other unique cultural traits. From regional cuisines like Tex-Mex and Texas-style BBQ to sculpting competitions and specialty onions, there seem to be special traditions in all corners of the Lone Star State for every taste and interest. How many of these events have you never heard of before? How many can you add to your list of things to do in the coming months?