City: Houston, TX

Category: Annual Events & Festivals

Telephone: (713) 654-8808

Insider Pick:

Description: The Houston International Festival—aka iFest—celebrates the city’s diversity and encourages goodwill with the US’ international trade partners. Each year’s festival pays tribute to a different country with interactive exhibits, music, dance performances, fashion shows, cooking demonstrations, and food. iFest is broken into six entertainment zones, each featuring music, art, and food from a different region. One zone is always reserved for the honored country. Other zones include Africa and the Caribbean, Texas/Latin America, International, Louisiana, and Jamaica. There’s also a Kids Zone with a petting zoo, pony rides, inflatable games, a NASA exhibit, and festival treats like funnel cakes and candied apples. More than 500 jewelry designers, photographers, painters, ceramicists, and other artisans sell their work throughout the iFest area. Some of the best art can be found along Fine Arts Avenue, a juried show featuring some of the country’s most talented artists. iFest is usually held for 2 consecutive weekends in late April; the Friday before the festival is iFest Preview Day. This free event takes place at City Hall during lunchtime and features an opening ceremony, concerts, and a chance to sample some of the international fare that will be served at the main event.Admission costs $18 for ages 13 and up, and $3 for kids ages 3 to 12. Kids younger than 3 get in free. Tickets can be purchased on the festival website and at local H-­E-B grocery stores. Food and drinks require iFest coupons, which can be purchased on-­site for $1.50 each and $10 for sheets of nine. Parking is available for $7 in the Theater District Parking Garages. The most convenient parking is available in Garage 2 at Rusk Street between Bagby Street and Smith Street and in Garage 3, located behind the City Hall Annex at Bagby Street and Walker Street.