Annual Events & Festivals

Food Festivals

Irving is a foodie’s dream. You’ll find everything from innovative restaurant concepts to tried-and-true Texas BBQ. Irving’s food-related festivals are no different. Check out Lone Star BBQ & Music Festival, a fun outdoor festival featuring the best BBQ in Dallas-Fort Worth and live music. Stroll along the shore of Lake Carolyn while enjoying this truly Texan experience. Live music, cooling stations, and a multitude of beverage options round out this fun festival experience. The festival is also home to a marketplace with crafts from local artisans.

For a wide array of ideas on where to eat, what to try, and what's coming next in the foodie world, the Visit Irving Foodie Blogs are full of great information. Learn more about the chefs behind Irving's most famous restaurants, read about the most fun things to see and do, and where to stay while you take in all the action. 

Arts & Cultural Festivals

If you’ve never seen a dragon boat race, you’re missing out. This 2,000-year-old tradition features dragon-shaped boats and is becoming one of the most popular water sports in America. Come see for yourself at the DFW Dragon Boat, Kite, and Lantern Festival. Dragon. If you’re feeling inspired, you can put together a team and participate yourself, or you simply come to spectate. Whichever you decide, you’ll have a blast. The festival also offers colorful kite displays, cultural performances, a lantern festival, traditional Asian food, arts and crafts, and educational activities.

Music Festivals

Every concert or event at the Toyota Music Factory, including The Pavilion or the Levy Event Plaza on the shores of Lake Carolyn, feels like a festival. With year-round events in these incredible venues, you can’t go wrong. Check out the calendar listings for all that’s happening in this exciting multi-venue entertainment complex.

Irving loves live music. Bring a blanket or chair, and prepare to sit back, relax, and enjoy the best music from Texas and beyond at the annual Irving Concert Series. This fun concert series showcases live music performances by bands from across the state, usually following a theme like “Vintage Vibes” or “Latin Rhythms.” Gourmet food trucks provide delicious meal options for guests.

For the young music fans, don’t miss Irving Concert Series 4 Kids. This popular Friday morning music series for toddlers and preschoolers features fun performances by top children's music groups, encouraging children to sing, dance, and play along. Children ages five and younger are invited to participate and learn at these interactive shows. Prior to showtime, families can enjoy a covered playground, free balloons, craft activities, noisemakers, and the chance to meet and take photos with characters from popular children's television shows.

Seasonal Festivals

In January, Irving hosts an annual winter festival, Frost Fest, complete with a snow tubing hill, snow play area, skating rink, ice sculpture demonstrations, and much more. Kids can pet animals at the petting zoo, ride trains, and imagine themselves lost in a special winter wonderland, or, better yet, at the North Pole.

Lighten the mood with some laughter on your next trip to Irving. Lake Carolyn is the backdrop for Laughs by the Lake, a live outdoor comedy show held in August. Perfect for adults looking for a fun night out, thousands flock to hear local comedians, enjoy local food truck cuisine, and take in a scenic sunset on the lake and canals.

Holiday Festivals

Irving is also the proud home to an Independence Day Celebration that rivals any 4th of July fest in the country. Beginning with an award-winning parade, guests enjoy juicy watermelon wedges, fun, and activities while they relax and listen to live music at a city-wide reception. The fireworks display over Lake Carolyn is a sight to behold as Irving gathers to celebrate American independence.

Bring the whole family out to Eerie Irving in the Fall where over 4,000 visitors annually get to enjoy fun, games, photos and, of course, CANDY!  

In Irving, the holiday season doesn’t officially begin until Holiday Extravaganza. This community celebration holds a special holiday parade through the Heritage District as spectators line the streets to watch. Following the parade is a tree-lighting ceremony, complete with music, food vendors, hot chocolate, and more holiday fun.

No matter what time of year you’re in town, chances are good there’s an Irving festival taking place. Explore the many events above to get started!

Food Festivals

Irving is a foodie’s dream. You’ll find everything from innovative restaurant concepts to tried-and-true Texas BBQ. Irving’s food-related festivals are no different. Check out Taste of Irving, a fun and free outdoor festival featuring family-friendly activities and food from a variety of Irving restaurants. Enjoy a relaxing stroll through the culinary delights of the town as you absorb the smells and tastes of tantalizing food from Irving’s best chefs. Live music and plenty of festivities for kids round out this fun festival experience. The festival is also home to a large craft marketplace where visitors can explore goods from local artisans.

For more food-sampling festivities, visitors can also explore Taste of Addison in nearby Addison, Texas. Here you will also find food, music, and family fun. This three-day festival features over 60 Addison restaurants serving generous samplings of their menus at reduced prices, exciting music performances, celebrity chef demonstrations, wine tasting seminars, carnival rides, games, award-winning children’s entertainment, and more. There’s something for everyone at this action-packed festival.

For a wide array of ideas on where to eat, what to try and what's coming next in the foodie world, the Visit Irving Foodie Blogs are full of great information. Learn more about the chefs behind Irving's most famous restaurants, read about the best places to visit around the holidays, and best of all, find out more about your favorite restaurants or learn about Irving's newest eateries ... including food trucks. There's never a shortage of foods to try or places to eat in Irving.
 

Arts and Crafts Festivals

Even though Irving is in the heart of the Dallas-Fort Worth area, it retains its small-town charm. Come experience this special feeling at Irving Main Street, as the streets of historic downtown Irving come alive during a two-day hometown celebration. You can marvel at antique cars while the kids take part in a wide range of fun activities. Browse crafts and goods, listen to live music, and munch on delicious food.

Irving Vintage Trail Market Day offers one-of-a-kind products such as original art, vintage and antique treasures, handmade crafts, and edibles from locally owned businesses. Vintage cars, music, special sales and giveaways, food, and lots of shopping round out this wonderful event. Visitors can also explore any of the Irving Vintage Trail shops and many downtown Irving Heritage District destinations and restaurants.

For those looking for a little old-world entertainment, let yourself be whisked across the pond for the annual Texas Scottish Festival & Highland Games. Delight in the enchanting sound of bagpipes as you enjoy Scottish heavy athletics, highland dancing, food, clan tents, children’s activities, and more. Scottish delicacies such as meat pies, haggis, sausage rolls, and authentic fish and chips represent just a sampling of the culinary delights you’ll discover. The festival is perfect for the whole family. Nessie’s Nook Children’s area has live music, and there are highland games for children, crafts, face painting, bounce house, tea parties, treasure hunts and more. Don’t miss it!

If you’ve never seen a dragon boat race, you’re missing out. This 2000-year-old tradition is quickly becoming one of the most popular water sports in America. Come see why at the DFW Dragon Boat, Kite, and Lantern Festival. Dragon Boating consists of a team captain, 20 paddlers and a very interesting boat built in the shape of a dragon. If you’re feeling inspired, you can put together a team and participate yourself, or you can simply settle on being a spectator. Whatever you decide, you’ll have a blast. The festival also offers colorful kite displays, cultural performances, a lantern festival, traditional Asian food, arts and crafts, and educational activities.

For classic car aficionados, Chevy lovers, and for those who just love old-timey Americana, the Lone Star Classic Chevy Convention is not to be missed. A jam-packed weekend complete with food, music, and, of course, classic cars, brings people from all over the United States to Irving. Take a step back in time and marvel at the restored vintage Chevys from the ‘50s and ‘60s.
 

Music Festivals

Irving is a city that adores its live music. Bring a blanket or chair, and prepare to sit back, relax, and enjoy the best music from Texas and beyond at the annual Irving Concert Series. This fun concert series showcases live music performances by bands from across the state, usually following a theme like “Vintage Vibes” or “Latin Rhythms.” Gourmet food trucks provide delicious meal options for guests.

For the young music fans, don’t miss Irving Concert Series 4 Kids. This popular Friday morning music series for toddlers and preschoolers features fun performances by top children's music groups, encouraging children to sing, dance, and play along. Children ages five and younger are invited to participate and learn at these interactive shows. Prior to showtime, families can enjoy a covered playground, free balloons, craft activities, noisemakers, and the chance to meet and take photos with characters from popular children's television shows.

Irving offers an expansive list of bars, restaurants, and events. Every concert at Toyota Music Factory, The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory and Levy Event Plaza feels like a festival. With events all year-round in three incredible venues, you can’t go wrong spending some time exploring all that Toyota Music Factory has to offer. Check out the calendar listings for all that’s happening in this exciting multi-venue entertainment complex.
 

Seasonal Festivals

In January, Irving hosts an annual winter festival, Frost Fest, complete with a snow tubing hill, snow play area, skating rink, ice sculpture demonstrations, and much more. Kids can pet animals at the petting zoo, ride trains, and imagine themselves lost in a special winter wonderland, or, better yet, at the North Pole.

Lighten the mood with some laughter on your next trip to Irving. Lake Carolyn is the backdrop for Laughs by the Lake, a live outdoor comedy show held in August. Perfect for adults looking for a fun night out, thousands flock to hear local comedians, enjoy local food truck cuisine, and take in a scenic sunset on the lake and canals. So if you love a good stand-up routine, plan to enjoy this great event.

Holiday Festivals

Each January, the City of Irving holds a special event in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. Observance, including a variety of music, dance, and theatrical performances at the Irving Arts Center to recognize and appreciate the life and achievements of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. And each Arbor Day, the City of Irving puts on a special Arbor Day Celebration. The fun-filled party includes activities and interactive displays about trees, nature, and the outdoors.

Irving is also the proud home to an Independence Day Celebration that rivals any 4th of July fest in the country. Beginning with an award-winning parade, guests enjoy juicy watermelon wedges, fun, and activities while they relax and listen to live music at a city-wide reception. The fireworks display over Lake Carolyn is a sight to behold as Irving gathers to celebrate American independence.

Bring the whole family out to Eerie Irving in the Fall where over 4,000 visitors annually get to enjoy fun, games, photos and, of course, CANDY!  

In Irving, the holiday season doesn’t officially begin until Holiday Extravaganza. This community celebration holds a special holiday parade through the Heritage District as spectators line the streets to watch. Following the parade is a tree-lighting ceremony, complete with music, food vendors, hot chocolate, and more holiday fun.

No matter what time of year you’re in town, chances are good there’s an Irving festival taking place. Explore the many events above to get started!