Kalahari Resorts & Conventions is gearing up for its fifth annual Food & (Not Just) Wine Festival on Oct. 4, with an anticipated 2,000-plus attendees. The 21-plus event will span the entire resort from B-LUX Grill & Bar all the way to the Convention Center, and with over 120 outside vendors and more than 150 unique tasting stops, guests can embark on a culinary journey filled with exceptional food, drinks and entertainment around every corner.

This year’s theme is "Stars, Stripes and Spurs," bringing a high-spirited All-American feel in honor of the 250th anniversary of the U.S.

What food options will be available?

Every signature restaurant and casual dining spot across Kalahari is participating, offering three to four food samples.

Double Cut Steak House will highlight elevated menu items like its rich butterboards, while Sortino’s Italian Kitchen will serve slices of its famous 100-layer lasagna. Over at Cinco Niños, the culinary team is completely reimagining the classic combination of chips and salsa.

“In years past, we have done the chips and salsa on a tower that stood about eight feet tall. This year, we're trying to take over an entire room with an interactive setup,” general manager Brandon Wise said. “It's going to be a ‘Wow’ moment when somebody walks by something they’ve never seen before.”

The culinary journey extends beyond sampling with two chef demonstrations. Kalahari’s French-trained executive pastry chef will demonstrate how he makes rolled ice cream on custom freezer plates, handing out fresh samples. Taking a Texas-inspired approach, the executive banquet chef will present a Southern favorite, brisket jambalaya.

At both demonstrations, guests will be given recipe cards, so they can recreate the dishes at home.

chef demonstration

What beverage tastings can be expected?

Event beverages include liquor, wine, beer, canned non-alcoholic drinks and more. The menu spans national brands, as well as local craft breweries and distilleries, and Kalahari’s own cocktails.

“Each of our bars will be offering two cocktails for everybody to try. Then we’ll have our demo rooms as well, where we're going to have Jack Daniel's featuring their products, Molly Dooker, which has a really unique take on wine, and Sierra Nevada, so it's going to be interactive,” Wise said.

Will there be live entertainment?

Entertainment will also fill the resort. Over a dozen musicians will perform throughout the day, spanning country favorites, American rock anthems and performances by crowd-favorite harpist Kristen Gibbs.

High-energy performances from the Aggie Wranglers dance team, line dance performances and lessons, trick lasso artists, mechanical bull rides and even armadillo racing ensure there is always something exciting to experience between tastings.

people dancing

How does the event impact the local community?

At its core, the festival remains deeply tied to the local community. Kalahari provides free booth space to local mom-and-pop vendors, craft artisans and small-batch distillers. This commitment gives rising local businesses a rare platform to share their passions and build personal connections with thousands of visitors, wrapping up an unforgettable celebration of food, drink and Texas hospitality.

“We're always excited to open the doors and welcome the community to see what we do and see our passion for food and beverage. But beyond that, this continues to be a free-to-participate event for those that want it to be,” Wise said. “Those mom-and-pop vendors and local distilleries can get in front of 1,500 to 2,000 people entirely for free. That's always been important to us to help support the local community.”

What ticket options are available?

Both VIP and General Admission tickets are available.

General Admission tickets include:

  • Event admission from noon - 4 p.m.

  • Souvenir wine glass

  • Food samplings and beverage tastings

  • Interactive cooking demonstrations

  • Live music and entertainment

  • Silent auction by The Nelson Family Life Foundation

  • Photo ops

  • Raffles and giveaways

VIP tickets include:

  • All GA perks

  • Chef-curated brunch buffet with exclusive entertainment at 10 a.m.

  • Early access to the event at 11 a.m.

  • Welcome gift

  • Priority seating at cooking demonstrations

  • Premium tastings

Those interested in learning more and purchasing tickets can find resources here:

Frequently asked questions

What is Kalahari's Food & (Not Just) Wine Festival?

The Food & (Not Just) Wine Festival is an annual event at Kalahari Resorts & Conventions in Round Rock, now in its fifth year. Held Oct. 4, the festival will span the entire resort with more than 120 outside vendors and 150 unique tasting stops. This year's theme is "Stars, Stripes and Spurs," celebrating the 250th anniversary of the U.S. More than 2,000 attendees are expected.

What food and drink tastings are available?

Every Kalahari restaurant participates, including Double Cut Steak House, Sortino's Italian Kitchen and Cinco Niños, which is transforming its chips and salsa concept into a room-sized installation. Two chef demonstrations run throughout the event—rolled ice cream made on custom freezer plates and brisket jambalaya—with recipe cards handed out at both. Beverage tastings include cocktails from each resort bar, plus featured demos from Jack Daniel's, Molly Dooker wines and Sierra Nevada, alongside local craft breweries and distilleries.

What entertainment will be at the festival?

More than a dozen musicians perform throughout the day, with country, American rock and harpist Kristen Gibbs on the lineup. High-energy attractions include Aggie Wranglers performances, line dancing with lessons, trick lasso artists, mechanical bull rides and armadillo racing.

Women in cowboy boots and hats dance on a floor at the Kalahari Food & Wine Festival near a DJ booth.

The above story was produced by Senior Multi-Platform Journalist Sydney Heller of Community Impact's Storytelling team, with information solely provided by the local business as part of their "sponsored content" purchase through our advertising team.