Top Annual Festivals and Events in Sugar Land
Located just 20 minutes southwest of downtown Houston, Sugar Land draws thousands of visitors each year for its exciting and diverse lineup of annual festivals and events. Foodies, sports fanatics, and families all have an event to look forward to this year in Sugar Land. Here's a look at this year's top events.
Time and Time Again: Fun Recurring Events
Skeeters Baseball
Every spring, the Sugar Land Skeeters baseball season kicks off with a series of home games at Constellation Field that run through summer and early fall. The Skeeters are the current Atlantic League champions, winning the 2016 championship over the Long Island Ducks—the fastest team to ever win a championship in the league after they joined in 2012. Almost every home game has a fun promotion for fans like Margarita Mondays, Dollar Dogs nights, Firework Fridays, themed nights, giveaways and summer “Super Splash” days. Sundays are for families, where kids get to play catch on the field, run the bases and grab autographs from their favorite players. Fans can buy a season pass or single-game tickets. See the 2018 schedule here.
Best for: families, groups
Cost: prices vary, starting at $9 for general admission; children under 3 are free
More info: sugarlandskeeters.com
Heritage Hike
If you’re into history, the Heritage Foundation’s Heritage Hikes hosted every second Saturday of the month are an absolute must. Sugar Land has a rich and interesting history. As its name suggests, Sugar Land’s past is rooted in the town’s early sugar cane production. Sugar cane plantations dotted Fort Bend County during the 19th century, and Imperial Sugar bought a sugar cane refinery in the early 20th century that helped spur development and growth in the town. Sugar Land’s Heritage Hikes take visitors on a walking tour around Sugar Land’s historic district, then continue in the historic neighborhood known as The Hill to see early Sugar Land homes and more. The walk begins at the Heritage Foundation Museum located in the former Imperial Refinery. Tours last 1.5 hours.
Best for: adults and children
Cost: $10 for adults and $5 for children 12-18; children under 12 are free
More info: slheritage.org/about/tours/
Farmers Market at Imperial
Every Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., locals gather at the Imperial Park Recreation Center to stock up on the freshest produce and artisan goods. The Farmers Market at Imperial is a lively event where shoppers can not only buy their fruits and vegetables, but enjoy live music as well. Dozens of tented vendors sell products like homemade jams, pies, local cheeses, pickles, salsas and jewelry. Come hungry because several vendors hand out free samples to entice you to buy more. Grab an Italian ice or freshly-baked pastry while you shop—and sometimes you’ll catch a food truck serving items like lobster rolls and smoked brisket.
Best for: adults and children
Cost: Depends on your shopping list
More info: imperialfarmersmarket.com
There and Back Again: Fun Annual Events
Cultural Kite Festival
You can expect hundreds of beautiful kites, windy weather and cultural performances at the Cultural Kite Festival every March. The festival is held in Sugar Land’s newest park—Brazos River Park. The festival features friendly competitions for largest kite, highest-flying kite, most colorful kite and more. Attendees also can participate in kite-making workshops and kite-flying lessons, and they can enjoy costumed characters and cultural performances that showcase traditional dances from around the world. Come experience the gorgeous sight of colorful kites soaring high in the Sugar Land sky!
Best for: families
Cost: free
More info: visitsugarlandtx.com/events/music-culture/cultural-kite-festival.aspx
Sugar Land Wine & Food Affair
Taste the sweet and savory flavors from Sugar Land and around the globe at the Sugar Land Wine & Food Affair every April. The event is one of the largest food and wine festivals in the region, welcoming the area’s top chefs, restaurateurs and winemakers to showcase their best dishes and featured drinks. Approximately 10,000 people attend the festival each year. The multi-day event includes private tasting events, themed VIP dinners, cooking demonstrations, bartender challenges, whiskey tours, wine seminars and other tasty learning experiences! Tickets go on sale in early January each year, so get yours early to guarantee entry and plan to stay for a few days for a complete experience.
Best for: adults, groups
Cost: varies
More info: sugarlandwineandfoodaffair.com
Gulf Coast International Dragon Boat Regatta
Dragon boats, which are traditional Chinese watercraft powered by paddlers made to resemble dragons, hit Brooks Lake each October for the annual Dragon Boat Regatta. Attendees get to sit right on the edge of the lake to watch the fierce competition in a series of races during the two-day event! Dragon boats are powered by 25-person teams paddling the boats on a 500-meter course. The event features thousands of entrants from across the world, but the races are only a portion of the entertainment during the regatta, attendees can also enjoy live music, art vendors, cultural demonstrations and delicious food.
Best for: families, groups
Cost: free
More info: texasdragonboat.com
Holiday Celebrations
There’s no better place to celebrate the holiday season in the Houston area than Sugar Land. The annual festivities start with Holidays on the Plaza at Sugar Land Town Square with a series of scheduled events, including meet-and-greets with Santa, Mrs. Claus and carolers. Approximately 8,000 visitors and locals attend the annual Christmas Tree Lighting. In addition to the tree lighting, the evening includes a number of fun activities. Kids get to meet holiday characters, write letters to Santa and more!
The holidays keep rolling at Sugar Land Holiday Lights at Constellation Field. The entire field is illuminated with more than 2.5 million lights, turning the stadium into a winter wonderland. Families can explore the stadium and view the festive light displays before meeting Santa and making ornaments.
Best for: families
Cost: mostly free
More info: visitsugarlandtx.com/visitor-info/annual-events.aspx
Enjoy and Stay a While
When visiting Sugar Land to attend one of its festivals or events, bring your appetite with you. The city is home to plenty of delicious eateries that can accommodate large groups in case you're traveling with family or friends. Check out this snapshot of some of the best places to eat while you're here. Also, if you're looking for more things to do in Sugar Land, discover our featured attractions and activities, and start your search for a place to stay on our website.
Make sure to follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for all the latest news on things happening in Sugar Land. Our handle is @VisitSugarLand. Tag us in your posts and share your experience: #VisitSugarLandTX, #TravelSL. For more information, contact us at 281.275.2045 or tourism@sugarlandtx.gov.
