Houston’s Southern Smoke Festival returns with its biggest lineup yet
Sample bites from 85+ top chefs, sip signature cocktails, and enjoy live music at Houston’s biggest culinary block party on October 4.
The fragrant aroma of sizzling meats will draw curious crowds and traveling tourists to Discovery Green on Saturday, October 4, when the annual Southern Smoke Festival returns to downtown Houston.
Billed as “the biggest and boldest block party yet,” the festival brings together more than 85 acclaimed chefs from as far away as Chicago and New York City and as close as just down the street. Beverage professionals join the festivities to pour signature cocktails as attendees stroll the green, sampling bites and rubbing shoulders with some of the most respected chefs in the county.
The festival is the brainchild of Southern Smoke Foundation, a national nonprofit that offers emergency assistance and mental health support to food and beverage workers. Every ticket sold through the Southern Smoke Festival raises funds for these hospitality workers, so each admission price benefits not just the local community but also workers across the U.S. It’s a bonus to an already widely anticipated and fun-filled day.
What to expect at the 2025 Southern Smoke Festival
While much of what draws the crowds will return this year, some new additions to the Southern Smoke Festival 2025 lineup will provide even more to enjoy. The 2025 class of Food & Wine’s Best New Chefs will cook together for the first time, creating delicacies for the Houston crowd. And guests can cool off at The Lake House, an air-conditioned area in the center of Discovery Green, where they can check out the brand new immersive activation courtesy of the luxurious Resort at Paws Up in Montana.
Ticket holders can also expect to enjoy cooking demos; meeting and chatting with chefs, sommeliers, and mixologists; and cookbook signings, as well as presentations, live music, and a festive atmosphere.
This year, Southern Smoke is presented by Sysco, the world’s largest distributor of food and food-related products to commercial establishments like restaurants, healthcare and educational facilities, lodging, and entertainment venues. Chief Merchandising Officer and Senior Vice President Victoria Gutierrez shared that Sysco has contributed more than 123 million meals through its Global Good Program, making it a natural sponsor for the Southern Smoke Festival.
According to the Southern Smoke Foundation, this year features more food and beverage talent than ever before. Guests will meet award winners and newcomers to the festival, like Calvin Eng of Bonnie’s in New York City, Aaron Franklin of Franklin BBQ in Austin, and Tyler Akin of Bastia in Philadelphia. They’ll also welcome back favorite chefs like Aaron Bludorn of Navy Blue, Bar Bludorn, his newest iteration, Perseid, and of course, one of Houston’s Michelin-recognized restaurants, Bludorn. Other returning chefs include Tracy Malechek-Ezekiel of Birdie’s in Austin, Jeff Chanchaleune of Mar Der Lao Kitchen in Oklahoma City, and Sarah Grueneberg and Bailey Sullivan, the chef duo from Monteverde Restaurant and Pastifico in Chicago.
Southern Smoke Festival also features mixologists from popular cocktail bars, such as 13 Celsius in Houston, Bacchanal in New Orleans, and Kingfisher in Durham. And not to be left out, wine is well represented through Montrose Cheese & Wine, Stella’s Wine Bar, and Vin Santo, all in Houston, and The Roots Fund in Sonoma. Finally, beer supporter Stella Artois and non-alcoholic beer supporter Athletic Brewing Co. round out the drink offerings.
How to get tickets to Southern Smoke Festival
Tickets are available now, with three tiers of choices. General admission is $225 and includes all food, drinks, live music, and access to the YETI Culinary Stage and cookbook signings. Entry begins at 4 p.m. Lexus VIP tickets are $550 and provide access to the air-conditioned Lexus VIP lounge, plus specially curated bites and premium cocktails and wine.
Big spenders can opt for the third tier, Talent Supporter, with ticket prices starting at $5,000. The sponsorship covers the cost of one chef’s attendance at the event, allowing the ticket holder to skip the line for their chef, enjoy two VIP passes with earliest entry at 2:30 p.m., and an invitation for two to attend the Chef Welcome Party on October 2.
The Southern Smoke Foundation was established in 2017 by James Beard Foundation award-winning chef Chris Shepherd and Executive Director Lindsey Brown. It funds its food and beverage support program, Behind You, in part through the Southern Smoke Festival. To date, the foundation has provided more than $14.5 million and over 7,400 no-cost counseling sessions to restaurant, bar, and cafe workers; farmers and ranchers; winemakers, distillers, and brewers; and anyone in the industry faced with financial hardship because of a natural disaster, medical emergency, accident, or other unforeseen incident.
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