Every Texan knows there is nothing more exciting than a weekend of steaks cooked to perfection, exquisite wines, and locally brewed beers. Historic Downtown Bryan annually hosts the Texas Reds: Steak & Grape Festival for three nights of steak cook-offs, wine tasting, and live music, which will be held September 23-25 this year.
The City of Bryan began this festival in 2007 and this September will mark its 10th anniversary of celebrating local beef and wine. A festival that was initiated to attract residents to a renewed Downtown Bryan, Texas Reds now gives back funds to non-profit organizations in the community and also contribute to scholarships in the Bryan ISD area.
Since 2014, the festival has contributed almost $25,000 to such local groups. This year, the Downtown Bryan Association hopes to surpass last year’s funds for donation.
More than a dozen wine vendors come each year to showcase their drinks in the sixth largest state in terms of wineries. In hopes that the public might find its next favorite Chardonnay at this festival, representatives from various wineries have been presenting their creations for the last ten years. Whether you are a connoisseur or new to the world of great grapes, they will make sure you stop and smell the rosé.
The festival also offers live music, art exhibitions and amusement areas for children. The Kids Zone includes rides, face painting, crafts and performances by Bryan ISD groups. The festival has a history of being family-friendly, with snacks for kids and activities presented by local art studios. Sunday will welcome Grammy Award Winner Rodney Crowell for an afternoon of classic country music, as the festival has done every year with a well-known artist.
Furthermore, Texas Reds maintains its history of providing tastes for the eyes, with works of local painters, photographer and sculptors, along with many other forms of creativity.
The festival also needs volunteers and the application can be found online at the Texas Reds website. A free park-and-ride service will be available to guests from Blinn College and key roads will be closed in the center of Downtown Bryan to ensure safety for participants. Whether you have a love of grapes, hops, steak or just casual entertainment, this festival has it all.
Ticket packages are available at a wide range of prices and those can be found at the Texas Reds website. But you can also just wander the streets and enjoy the atmosphere. Happy wining and dining!
