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Hico’s Annual Texas Steak Cookoff and Wine Festival Features Lone Star State-Style Family Fun

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Tony Maples Photography

 

For 14 consecutive years now, people have been raving about and gathering at the Texas Steak Cookoff and Wine Festival in Hico, Texas. And with good reason. As the largest steak cookoff in the American Southwest, it draws crowds from throughout the U.S. into the small town of Hico for a great getaway that’s tough to top. “The Third Saturday in May” is always referenced by event coordinators as the day that connoisseurs of Texas cookoffs get to experience the granddaddy of them all!

Hico’s Annual Texas Steak Cookoff and Wine Festival Features Lone Star State-Style Family Fun

Photo: Facebook/Texas Steak Cookoff

The Annual Texas Steak Cookoff and Wine Festival begins with live entertainment on Friday, May 19, featuring the Push N’ Luck band, and then starting at 10 a.m. on Saturday, May 20, in the Historic Downtown Business District of Hico, the food fun begins. The event is family-friendly, offering vendors, live entertainment throughout the day, and the opportunity to see shade-tree chefs from all around the Southwest vie for the chance to be pronounced the best steak-cooker in Texas! In addition, a wine tasting has been coordinated to complement the event (because everyone knows a good steak requires a great pairing!) featuring local Texas wineries and their wonderful vintages. Serving lines will open at 5 p.m. and the steak cookoff top honors will be announced at 7:15 p.m.

Hico’s Annual Texas Steak Cookoff and Wine Festival Features Lone Star State-Style Family Fun

Photo: Facebook/Texas Steak Cookoff

A live entertainment lineup is available on the event webpage, along with an event overview, sponsor details, and travel information. Welcoming tourists and a foodie following for quite some time now, the Texas Steak Cookoff and Wine Festival in Hico, Texas, provides a full day of truly Texas flavor. Those with smaller stomachs can purchase a $10 appetizer wristband, and full steak dinner wristbands, which include all the fixings and an appetizer, go for $25. Wine tickets can be purchased for $20 apiece. As well, there’s a VIP experience entitled “Stay Cool and Help Hico Schools” for the cost of $100, which benefits the Hico Education Foundation. Whether you’re eating out on the street or rubbing elbows with the swells at the VIP fundraiser, the steaks are all prepared by those competing for the coveted top title, and they have the cooking option of wood, propane, or charcoal but are not allowed to bring their own meats to the challenge. All event tickets can be bought online, but must be picked up at will call on Saturday, May 20. For more event information, visit the FAQ section of the website, or call (254) 485-7134.