March Events in Texas: Best Festivals, Rodeos, and Spring Things to Do

March is one of my favorite times to plan a Texas getaway because you get festival season, spring weather, and that first wave of road trip energy all at once. If you’re looking for the best March events in Texas, this guide rounds up the big statewide events worth planning a weekend around, from massive rodeos and music festivals to spring traditions Texans look forward to every year.

I used official 2027 dates whenever organizers have already released them. If an event has not posted exact 2027 timing yet, I only included it when the official source clearly shows it really does return each March, so you can start planning without me guessing on dates.

If you’re trying to keep your trip budget-friendly, I also put together a separate guide to free March events in Texas so you can decide whether you want the full mix or only the no-ticket-needed picks.

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Seasonal Texas Events

Best Spring Break Road Trips in Texas: March is peak planning season if you want a road trip that feels fun but not full summer chaotic.
Best Spots to See Bluebonnets in Texas: Bluebonnet season usually starts showing off in March, especially if you’re pairing an event weekend with a scenic drive.
Other Texas Festivals: If you want even more statewide options beyond March, this is a good place to keep the road trip inspiration going.

By City

Austin

SXSW: One of the biggest reasons people plan a March Texas trip around Austin. SXSW blends music, film, TV, tech, comedy, pop-ups, networking, and a whole lot of downtown energy into one packed week. If you love being in the middle of what’s next, this is the marquee March event. March 15-21, 2027
Rodeo Austin: If you want a more classic Texas March experience, this is the move. You get the fair food, carnival, rodeo events, livestock competitions, and concerts all in one place, which makes it especially fun for families or anyone who wants a big all-day event. March 12-27, 2027
MotoGP Red Bull Grand Prix of the Americas at COTA: For motorsports fans, this is one of the biggest March weekends in Texas. Circuit of The Americas already has 2027 grounds passes on sale, which is always a pretty good sign that people are planning early. March 27-29, 2027
Dino Days at Zilker Botanical Garden: This one is great if you want something a little more family-friendly and lower-key than the giant citywide festivals. The garden celebrates Dino Days every March with hands-on activities and educational programming, so keep an eye on the official calendar once 2027 details go live.
Jo’s Chili Cook-Off (Free entry, optional tasting): If you want something a little more local-feeling during March in Austin, Visit Austin includes Jo’s annual chili cook-off in its 2027 February and March event lineup. You can show up for the music and atmosphere for free, then decide if you want to buy into the chili tasting once you’re there.
Coltman Competition: This is a nice March add if you want an event that feels more artsy and a little less chaotic than the city’s huge festival weekends. Austin Chamber Music already has the 2027 competition dates posted, making it a good option for travelers who love classical music and want something a bit more niche. March 6-7, 2027

Dallas

North Texas Irish Festival: If you want a lively March weekend in Dallas, this is one of the events people show up for year after year. Think Celtic music, dance, storytelling, cultural exhibits, and enough going on at Fair Park that you can easily make it a full-day outing. March 5-7, 2027
Dallas Blooms: Dallas Arboretum’s spring floral festival is one of those events that makes March feel like it officially arrived. The exact 2027 schedule is still to come, but the festival is an annual spring tradition and one of the prettiest seasonal outings in the city.
Greenville Avenue St. Patrick’s Day Parade & Festival: Even if you’re not usually a parade person, this one has serious Dallas energy. The parade itself is free to attend, and the whole Lower Greenville area turns into a big March celebration with vendors, music, and plenty of people dressed like they planned for this all year.

Fort Worth

Cowtown Goes Green: If you want a March event that feels especially Fort Worth, this one is such a fun pick. The Stockyards turn St. Patrick’s Day into an Irish-meets-Western celebration with live music, lawn games, cattle drives, and an Irish-Western parade that makes the whole district feel like a party. Official 2027 date not posted yet; the Stockyards’ 2026 event was Saturday, March 14, and the event is billed as an annual celebration.

Plano

Texas Forever Fest (Free festival; optional paid tasting): Plano’s official event page makes this one easy to recommend if you want a bigger March outing with live music, food, vendors, and a very Texas-themed atmosphere. The festival itself is free and family-friendly, while the separate Spirit of Texas Tasting is the paid add-on for adults who want the whiskey experience too. Official 2027 date not posted yet; Visit Plano shows the festival as an annual March event.

Frisco

Texas Pinball Festival: If you want a March weekend that feels a little different from the usual rodeo-and-wildflowers lineup, this one is a fun wildcard. Visit Frisco highlights it as a major spring event with hundreds of pinball machines, classic arcade games, and a full weekend built around free play once you’re inside. Official 2027 dates not posted yet; Visit Frisco confirmed March 20-22 for 2026.
Black Heritage Celebration (Free): This is a great cultural event to keep on your March radar if you want something community-focused and family-friendly. Visit Frisco’s spring festival roundup highlights music, art, food, fashion, and Black-owned businesses, and it is one of the cleaner free-event fits in North Texas.

Houston

RODEOHOUSTON: This is the heavyweight March event in Houston and one of the biggest annual events in the state, period. You get rodeo competitions, concerts, food, shopping, livestock events, and all the big-event energy that makes people build an entire trip around it. March 2-21, 2027
World’s Championship Bar-B-Que Contest: This officially kicks off the 2027 rodeo season just before March starts, so if you’re planning an end-of-February into March Houston trip, this is worth watching. It’s one of those events that instantly makes a rodeo weekend feel bigger than a single venue stop. February 25-27, 2027
Houston St. Patrick’s Day Parade (Free): If you want a big-city St. Patrick’s Day event outside of Dallas or San Antonio, Houston gives you another major option. The official parade commission and Visit Houston both frame it as a family-friendly downtown parade with more than 100 entries, which makes it a useful March trip anchor all on its own.

Lewisville

St. Paddy’s Texas Style (Free): Lewisville already has the exact 2027 date posted, and the whole concept is fun in a very Texas way. It blends St. Patrick’s Day and Texas Independence Day in Wayne Ferguson Plaza, so it is a good pick if you want a themed March event that feels more local than touristy. March 13, 2027

Carrollton

TEXFest: This one is a strong North Texas add if you want something with Texas Independence Day energy instead of only spring-flower or St. Patrick’s themes. The City of Carrollton lists it as a March downtown celebration with Texas music, a food village, photo ops, and a beer garden. Official 2027 date not posted yet; the city lists the 2026 event as March 7 and presents it as an annual celebration.

Mansfield

World’s Only St. Paddy’s Pickle Parade & Palooza (Free festival atmosphere): This is exactly the kind of quirky Texas event that makes a March road trip more fun. The official site treats it as the centerpiece of a full day of parade fun, music, food, and pickle-themed chaos in downtown Mansfield, and it is one of the easiest “only in Texas” picks to add. Official 2027 date not posted yet; the official 2026 date was March 21.

Dublin

St. Patrick’s Day Festival (Free entry): Dublin leans all the way into its Irish Capital of Texas identity, which makes this one a strong small-town March add. The chamber highlights a parade, live entertainment, family fun, vendors, and downtown activity, so it feels like the kind of event you can actually build a day trip or weekend around.

Bay City

Bay City St. Patrick’s Day Parade (Free): If you want a March parade that already has a 2027 date posted, Bay City is an easy add. The official parade site shows the next parade set for March 21, 2027, and it has the kind of long-running small-town tradition that makes it feel more substantial than a one-off street party. March 21, 2027 at 2:00 PM

Orange

Mardi Gras on the Sabine: If you want Southeast Texas festival energy in early spring, this is a good one to keep on your radar. The City of Orange already has a 2027 planning placeholder up, which is enough to treat it as a recurring annual event even before the new schedule is fully posted.

Hitchcock

Good Ole Days (Free entry): This is one of the cleaner small-town March additions because the chamber already shows the 2027 dates and explicitly notes free entry. If you want something more hometown and laid-back than the giant city events, this is a solid option. March 12-13, 2027

San Antonio

St. Patrick’s River Parades & Celebrations: San Antonio somehow makes St. Patrick’s feel completely Irish and completely Texas at the same time. The River Walk page is already pointing to a March 2027 return, with the green river dyeing, artisan show, entertainment, and parade festivities all coming back once the detailed schedule is finalized.
San Antonio Folklife & Dance Festival: This is a great pick if you want something cultural and community-rooted instead of only the giant headline festivals. The festival’s performances and workshops are a long-running March tradition, and the organizers usually share the new schedule closer to the event season.
Fest of Tails (Free): If you want a spring event that feels especially family-friendly, this one is a cute March add. The San Antonio Parks Foundation describes it as a dog fair and kite festival with kites, costume contests, and outdoor fun at McAllister Park. Official 2027 date not posted yet; the 2026 event was March 14 and the foundation lists it as an annual festival.

Fredericksburg

First Friday Art Walk (Free): Fredericksburg is already a good March trip for wildflowers and winery weekends, but this gives you a specific event to plan around too. The official event page says participating galleries stay open until 8 PM on the first Friday of every month for new shows, demonstrations, and receptions, which makes it an easy add-on if you want a Hill Country weekend with more evening energy.

Waco

Spring at the Silos: If you’re planning a March weekend in Waco, this is one of the easiest events to plan around each spring. Magnolia treats it like an annual March tradition, and it usually mixes free daytime fun with optional workshops, pop-ups, and all the spring styling people come to Waco for.

Temple

Texas Tulip Fest at Robinson Family Farm: If your ideal March outing involves flowers, photo ops, and a full day outside, this one is worth keeping on your radar. Robinson Family Farm already has a 2027 placeholder live and treats the tulip fest as one of its big spring traditions, with tulip fields, food trucks, attractions, and plenty to do beyond just snapping pictures.

Beaumont

SOAR Family Day (Free): Beaumont already has one of the clearer 2027 March event pages live, and this is such a sweet family-friendly spring pick. Expect butterflies, garden activities, live music, community booths, and a reason to slow down for a more local-feeling event weekend. March 7, 2027, from 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM
SOAR Celebration: Even if you miss the main family day, the museum treats SOAR as a month-long March celebration in the gardens, which makes it a nice add-on if you are road tripping through Southeast Texas and want something seasonal without needing a giant festival footprint.

Brackettville

Fort Clark Days (Free admission): If you want a living-history style March weekend instead of another parade or flower event, this is a fun one. The official site already lists the 2026 schedule and notes free admission, with museum tours, music, demonstrations, and family activities tied to the historic Fort Clark Springs setting. Official 2027 dates not posted yet; the event is presented as an annual early-March tradition.

Palestine

Texas Dogwood Trails Celebration: Palestine is a really strong spring add because the whole celebration stretches across the last two weekends in March and into early April. If you want dogwoods, scenic drives, and a fuller celebration weekend instead of a single one-day stop, this is worth looking at.
Dogwood Festival: The chamber’s March festival page gives this one a nice anchor event within the broader celebration, with live music, art, food vendors, kid activities, and a downtown festival setup. It is an easy way to make the bigger dogwood season feel more concrete for trip planning. Official 2027 date not posted yet; the chamber lists the 2026 festival for the third weekend in March.

Amarillo

First Friday Art Walk (Free): This is a solid Panhandle add if you want something artsy and easy to drop into. Arts in the Sunset says the event happens every first Friday from 5 to 9 p.m. and is free, kid-friendly, and built around local art, music, and food trucks.

Nacogdoches

Azalea Season and the Nacogdoches Azalea Trail: If you want a quieter March trip that still feels beautiful and seasonal, Nacogdoches is a really good pick. The official tourism site says azalea season typically runs from mid-March through mid-April, and the city leans hard into its reputation as the Garden Capital of Texas with trail stops, historic neighborhoods, and garden-focused spring outings.

Tyler

Azalea & Spring Flower Trail (Free): Tyler in spring is one of those classic Texas seasonal trips that really does live up to the hype. The trail takes place in March and April each year, with more than ten miles of gardens, historic homes, azaleas, tulips, wisteria, and all the dreamy East Texas spring color you could want.

Sugar Land

International Art & Kite Festival (Free): This is one of those spring events that feels cheerful in the best possible way. Sugar Land’s annual festival mixes kite flying, cultural performances, art cars, and family-friendly programming, so it works well if you want a March outing that feels festive without being overwhelming.

Weslaco

Texas Onion Fest (Free admission): If you want a Rio Grande Valley event with a little more personality, this one definitely has it. The Weslaco chamber highlights three performance stages, a horse show, car show, kids rides, and free admission, which makes it a strong one-day March festival pick. Official 2027 date not posted yet; the chamber presents it as an annual downtown event.

Galveston

Galveston ArtWalk (Free): If you want a lower-pressure March idea that still feels special, this monthly event is such a good excuse for a weekend on the island. It is a free, self-guided evening through galleries, studios, and creative spaces in historic downtown, and it lands on the second Saturday of each month.

Pilot Point

Texas Tulips: For a March day trip that is mostly about flower fields and photos, this is one of the easiest North Texas spring picks. The official site notes the tulip season usually runs from late February through the end of March or early April depending on weather, so it works well if you want something flexible instead of a single fixed festival weekend.

Longview

Longview Kite Festival (Free): This is an easy family-friendly March event to add because the city already has the 2027 details posted. Expect kite flying, arts and crafts, activities, and food vendors at Lear Park. March 10, 2027

Washington-on-the-Brazos

Texas Independence Day Celebration (Free): If you love living history events, this is one of the most uniquely Texas March traditions you can plan around. The official site confirms the celebration returns around Texas Independence Day with an opening ceremony, parade, demonstrations, performances, and scenes from the Convention of 1836. Check the official listing for the final 2027 schedule.

March in Texas can look wildly different depending on what kind of trip you want. You can do a giant rodeo weekend, a flower-filled small-town escape, a music-heavy city trip, or a free festival crawl that still feels like a real getaway. That’s what makes this month such a fun one to plan around.

And if you want to narrow it down to the no-ticket-needed ideas first, head over to my full guide to free March events in Texas.

Last Updated 1 day ago ago by Jessica Serna | Published: March 2, 2024

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