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- Visit Southlake
Saturday, April 20, 2024
Get ready to don your lederhosen and raise your beer steins, because Oktoberfest Southlake 2023, hosted by the Southlake Chamber of Commerce, is just around the corner! On the weekend of October 13 to 15, the beautiful Southlake Town Square will transform into a lively hub of German culture, music, food, and of course, plenty of frothy beverages. Get ready to immerse yourself in the spirit of Oktoberfest and experience a weekend of unforgettable fun in the heart of Southlake, Texas.
One of the highlights of Oktoberfest Southlake is undoubtedly the mouthwatering German cuisine. Indulge in authentic German delicacies like bratwurst, pretzels, schnitzel, sauerkraut, and more. Savor the rich flavors and experience the true taste of Bavaria right in Southlake Town Square. Prepare to be swept away by the lively sounds of traditional German music and entertainment.
Oktoberfest Southlake features talented live bands performing upbeat, waltzes, polkas and folk songs that will have you dancing along. Submerse yourself in the festive atmosphere and let the music lift your spirits! Raise a glass and toast to the spirit of Oktoberfest with a wide selection of beers in Festival Hall. Be sure and stop in to hear from the head brewer for the German-inspired Altstadt Craft beer Craig Rowen.
Oktoberfest Southlake is a celebration for the whole family. Engage your children in the fun with activities designed specifically for them. From face painting and carnival rides to bounce houses and petting zoo, there’s something to keep the little ones entertained throughout the weekend. Create lasting memories as a family in the joyous atmosphere of Oktoberfest Southlake!
Get ready to participate in exciting contests and competitions that add an extra dose of excitement to Oktoberfest Southlake. Test your strength in the stein-holding competition or showcase your skills in the Ultimate Smash Bros video game competition on Sunday. Two of the most popular contests are the Wiener Dog races and costume contest! Be sure to register your wiener dog online at OktoberfestSouthlake.com or in person by 8:30 AM Saturday morning. Cheer on the competitors or join in the fun and experience the thrill of friendly competition.
Explore the charming vendor booths that line Southlake Town Square during Oktoberfest Southlake. Discover a wide range of unique products, including German-themed merchandise, arts and crafts, unique jewelry, and more. Support local artisans and find special treasures to commemorate your Oktoberfest experience.
Oktoberfest Southlake 2023 in the picturesque Southlake Town Square promises a weekend filled with German charm, delectable cuisine, lively music, and fun festivities. Embrace the spirit of Oktoberfest, raise your steins, and join the community in celebrating German culture right here in Texas. Go to www.OktoberfestSouthlake.com for additional details.
Are you new to Southlake or just wanting to see what all Southlake has to offer? Look no further than the new and improved Visit Southlake website. The website showcases Southlake, Texas as a destination to shop, dine, stay and explore! It highlights restaurants, shops, hotels, events and helpful information for visitors and meeting planners. Don’t wait, go see the site for yourself, go to VisitSouthlakeTexas.com.
Over the past few months, the City of Southlake has been working with website developer, MPISoft, to develop the new VisitSouthlakeTexas.com. The new website provides a cleaner, updated, and improved user interface with enhanced features.
In addition to the Visit Southlake website, the City is also launching new websites for both Southlake Stars and Stripes and Home for the Holidays–Christmastime in Southlake.
Stars and Stripes, Southlake’s Independence Day celebration, is the City’s largest annual event boasting nearly 35,000 attendees on July 3 each year. The Stars and Stripes website, SouthlakeStarsandStripes.com, features event sponsors, food and beverage vendors, parking and shuttle information, entertainment schedules, a list of activities for children and adults, and much more!
The Home for the Holidays–Christmastime in Southlake website, SouthlakeHomeForTheHolidays.com, features the holiday season in Southlake offering information about the City’s annual Christmas Tree Lighting celebration, Santa’s Village, carriage rides, holiday shopping and dining information, and more.
If you’re unable to see the new website right away, don’t worry. It may take viewers up to 48 hours for their web browsers to switch from the old platform to the new one. Questions about the website? Send an email to visitinfo@visitsouthlaketexas.com.
The first Masterworks concert of the season, hosted by the Southlake Public Library, will kick off on Friday, March 17, 2023, celebrating St. Patrick’s Day with themed giveaways, pizza, and a live performance by the Journey Tribute Band, Escape. Food vendors will begin serving pizza and dessert at 6 p.m. and the band will begin at 7 p.m.
Arts Council Northeast (ArtsNet) and the City of Southlake are delighted to present the return of the Masterworks Concert Series this spring with guests appearances by local chefs! So, grab your lawn chair, cooler, picnic blanket, friends, and family members, and head on over to the Rustin Pavilion for a relaxing evening in the Southlake Town Square.
Families, friends, and groups of all ages will enjoy visiting Southlake to discover a wide range of music genres and styles throughout the concert season. Local and regional talent will be performing at Rustin Pavilion in Southlake Town Square on various Fridays throughout the spring.
Don’t worry about dinner on concert nights. The locally owned 1956 Pizza truck, accompanied by a dessert truck, will be serving specialty pizzas cooked by guest chefs throughout the Masterworks Concert series. The proceeds for guest chefs’ specialty pizzas will go to their favorite charity. For example, Executive Chef Jose Soto has selected Ronald McDonald House. Here’s what a couple of guest chefs had say about their love for pizza:
Private Chef Aly Romero
Jeremy Berlin, Owner and Manager of Ferah Tex-Med Kitchen
Aly Romero, Jeremy Berlin, and other featured chefs will unveil their specialty pizzas at 6 p.m.—an hour before each concerts begins—giving you time to place your order before the show starts. You might even get to try the Mayor’s very own pizza creation if you attend the concert on May 5! For more information about the bands and chefs go to www.VisitSouthlakeTexas.com. In the meantime, here’s a quick glance at the Masterworks Concert Series schedule:
Bands begin at 7 pm; Guest chefs begin at 6pm.
The community is invited to the 9th Strokes for Art in the Square on February 19, 2023. Guests will gather for a reception with refreshments in the foyer of Southlake Town Hall from 5-6:30 p.m.
The Southlake Women’s Club Foundation will present the Northeast Tarrant County charities selected as the 2023 beneficiaries during the reception. The showcased artwork of the nine featured artists offers samplings of the outstanding creatives that can be found April 28-30. The 23rd event t-shirt artwork designed by Niki Gulley will also be unveiled.
Voting begins for the 2023 The People’s Choice in late February. The community can cast a vote at Southlake Town Hall or on the city’s website for their favorite featured artist. Voting will end April 7, 2023.
Strokes is co-sponsored by the Southlake Arts Council, Apex Arts League and Art in the Square/Southlake Women’s Club.
Save the dates April 28-30 to attend Art in the Square… art, music and more!
For more information, visit www.apex-arts.org or www.artinthesquare.com.
Everyone is invited to celebrate the Lunar New Year at the 2nd annual Southlake Spring Festival in Southlake Town Square on January 21!
The Southlake community is hosting its 2nd annual Southlake Spring Festival on Saturday, January 21, 2023! The festival will take place from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Southlake Town Square, located near 1400 E. Southlake Boulevard, Southlake, TX 76092. Join the festivities on Lunar New Year’s Eve for an afternoon of delicious food, cultural performances, and family-friendly activities showcasing the unique cultures of China, South Korea, Vietnam, Thailand, Japan, and Taiwan.
The name Spring Festival, the celebration for the start of the new lunar year in many East Asian countries, is rooted in the lunisolar calendar. In traditional East Asian lunisolar calendars, used primarily for agricultural purposes, a year is divided into 24 solar terms (see the calendar to the right). The first solar term of a lunar year is called the ‘Start of Spring,’ signifying an increase in sunlight for the northern hemisphere of the Earth and the beginning of warmer temperatures. After celebrating the Spring Festival, a new cycle of agricultural activities begins. 
January 21 is Lunar New Year’s Eve, and Southlake Spring Festival has so much in store to celebrate. There will be several photo opportunities to help make every moment memorable, and lots to do! Activities include learning how to write one’s name in Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, Thai, and Japanese, learning about a traditional tea ceremony, watching cultural performances on the stage, participating in the dragon parade, taking a photo with the lion mascot, and engaging in a variety of artistic crafts!
At Southlake Spring Festival, you can learn much more about lunar/solar New Year activities in many East Asian cultures! For more information about the event, visit the “Southlake Spring Festival” on Facebook.
Strategic. Focused. Achiever.
To the casual observer, Tourism Marketing Manager Cambria Jones can appear quiet and unassuming, but looking a little closer, it is easy to see that she is a woman on a mission, a force of nature, intent on performing at a very high level. She is willing to get into the game and compete. A great time manager, she works to accomplish as much as she can during her day. An enthusiastic person with great people skills, she can leverage partnerships to get even more done.
She is intent on winning the tourism game and uses her significant intellect and talent to get the job done.
Cambria is an outstanding employee, but she doesn’t seek the limelight for herself. Instead, she works to draw attention to Southlake and encourages visitors to spend time (and money) in the City.
Here are a few highlights of how Cambria has worked to market Southlake as a destination to visitors (think shopping and dining, bolstering sales tax collections, supporting local businesses):
As a result of Cambria’s efforts, followers of Visit Southlake social media accounts have increased significantly. In FY 2019, the Visit Southlake Facebook account had a 42% increase in followers, and the Visit Southlake Instagram account had a 34% increase in followers. Cambria is telling Southlake’s story to more people, in improved ways.
She successfully managed the Visit Southlake video and photography refresh project, resulting in updated assets that are timely, diverse, and representative of Southlake as a destination.
Cambria successfully managed a destination video project, highlighting Southlake. The video is featured as the cover photo on the Visit Southlake Facebook page. She has also audited video assets and prioritized needs for FY 2020.
Throughout 2019, Cambria made significant progress in building rapport with destination partners, including the Hilton Hotel and RPAI (the real estate investment trust that owns most of Town Square). Working together, Cambria and these partners highlight local businesses to strengthen the local economy.
To Alison Ortowski, who oversees economic development and tourism programs for the City, working with Cambria is “a dream.”
“Cambria is one of those employees who possesses the ‘X’ factor that makes her highly productive, but also pleasant and inspirational,” she said. “We have supreme confidence in Cambria’s ability to support local businesses and deliver strong results.”
For her strong commitment to marketing Southlake as a destination of choice and for behind-the-scenes, effective work, Tourism Marketing Manager Cambria Jones is one of Southlake’s best secret weapons and an unsung hero.
Summer is officially underway, as is grilling season. With a new name in town offering grills and accessories, and longstanding favorite retailers fully stocked for the season, Southlake has everything you need to be well equipped to tackle a summer filled with backyard barbecues.
Hot off the grill and new to Southlake, Premier Grilling is now open and offers everything grilling-related. One of four locations found only in Texas, stop by and shop popular brands and various grill types (BBQ smokers, built-in grills, freestanding grills, flat-top grills and griddles, pizza ovens and portable grills). Find all the tools and gadgets, grill accessories, and seasonings, sauces and rubs you need. Specializing in more than grills, Premier Grilling also sells beverage coolers, compact refrigerators, ice makers and machines, kegerators and wine coolers to help you keep cold items perfectly chilled during hot weather entertaining. Looking to expand your al fresco cooking from a grill to an entire outdoor kitchen? Premier Grilling offers free patio consultations and patio construction, as well as service and maintenance for existing outdoor cooking areas and equipment in need of cleaning or repair. Turn up the heat on your grilling skills and learn a few new techniques at Premier Grilling’s classes and events. Premier Grilling is located at 3020 E. Southlake Boulevard.
A Southlake staple for outdoor living needs since 2006, family-owned BBQ Outfitters has over 50 years combined experience in the industry to assist customers with everything from grilling to refrigeration and heating to illumination. The showroom inside BBQ Outfitters hosts a collection of completed kitchen venues to offer clients a vision of possible outdoor retreats. Whether you are looking for the ultimate in gas grills, gas logs, smokers, spices and everything in between, BBQ Outfitters offers a wide selection. With the philosophy that a grilling area is not only a space for cooking, but also a space for living and relaxing, BBQ Outfitters offers everything to complete an outdoor kitchen, including storage cabinets, refrigerators, heaters, lights, ventilation, fireplaces and more. Specializing in turning simple outdoor cooking into exceptional outdoor entertaining, visit BBQ Outfitters at 2366 E. State Highway 114.
Complete your grilling grocery list at Southlake’s longstanding gourmet grocer, Central Market. The supermarket chain offers specialty, organic and craft food and beverages, with a wide selection of everything needed for a backyard barbecue. Shop the expansive fresh meat market with options ranging from grass-fed beef and bison to pork, lamb, chicken, turkey, sausages and game meats. Save a little time and effort by choosing seasoned, marinated or prepped meats. Central Market also offers a large variety of fresh seafood, with options like salmon, sea bass, shrimp, tilapia, tuna, crab, lobster and more. Also find an array of locally grown and imported produce, as well as locally brewed and imported beers, cold cases filled with prepared salads sold by the pound, grocery staples, unique condiments and everything else needed for summer cooking, grilling and smoking. Central Market is located at 425 E. Southlake Boulevard.
If you can’t handle the heat, stay away from the kitchen (or patio) and let Feedstore BBQ do the cooking for you. Satisfy your Texas-sized appetite for smoked meats and more, including traditional barbeque favorites like brisket, pork, chicken, turkey, ham and sausage, as well as catfish, salads and homemade desserts. With as many awards and accolades as menu items, it’s no wonder that Feedstore BBQ has become a Southlake dining staple since opening as a restaurant in 2001. Feedstore BBQ is the oldest retail establishment in town, having previously operated as a feed store in the 1950s. Dine in, take out or order catering for your next summer party. Feedstore BBQ is located at 530 S. White Chapel Boulevard.
With so many sizzling options to make your backyard barbecue a smoking success, head to Southlake and get fired up about grilling and summer entertaining.
The summer sizzle has started and Southlake is the spot to fuel up on fresh and exciting flavors. Already home to several uniquely delicious restaurants, Southlake recently added a few more tasty options to satisfy appetites for healthy or exotic dishes.
If the hot weather has you hungry for cool options, check out Coolgreens. The fast-casual restaurant chain offers a chef-inspired menu of signature salads, wraps, bowls, flatbreads and more. Southlake is currently the only location open in Texas. From California Cobb (romaine, egg, avocado, bacon, chicken, blue cheese, grape tomatoes and ranch dressing) and Caprese (spring mix, grape tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, red onion, croutons and balsamic vinaigrette) to Asian Crisp (spring mix, Mandarin oranges, crunchy noodles, sliced almonds, edamame, shredded carrots and soy ginger vinaigrette) and more, each signature dish is available as a salad or wrap. With multiple sandwich varieties, quinoa bowls, flatbreads and options for kids, guests will find one element across the menu—healthy, natural and flavorful food that fuels your life. For added convenience, order online and pick up in store. Coolgreens is located at 2211 E. Southlake Boulevard, Suite 500.
Cool Greens Salmon Club
Craving exotic? Fusion Flavors brings a taste of India to Southlake with fresh ingredients, imported spices and an abundance of menu options, including an expansive offering of vegetarian appetizers and vegetarian main courses. Fusion Flavors serves breakfast, lunch and dinner, and offers catering. Find traditional entrée favorites including Chicken Tikka Masala (grilled boneless chicken cooked in special herbs and spices), Palak Paneer (fresh spinach cooked with cheese cubes in special sauce) and Lamb Curry (lamb cooked in Indian special sauce), among others, as well as several biryani and rice dishes. Save room for Pineapple Pudding or a sweet drink like Mango Milkshake. Fushion Flavors is located at 2001 W. Southlake Boulevard, Suite 119.
F2 – Fusion Flavors Plate Samples
Satisfy your appetite for flavors from the far east at Dragon House. Specializing in Shanghai-style cuisine, Dragon House is open for lunch and dinner, and is available for private events and catering. The restaurant’s chef has 20 years of experience cooking in fine restaurants and has built a vast menu of appetizers, soups, various dim sum, hand-pulled noodle bowls, chef specials (Beijing Style Pork, Honey Walnut Beef, Shrimp and Chicken with Cashew Nuts and more), traditional Chinese dishes (Boiled Fish Fillet with Picked Cabbage, Braised Meat Balls with Boy Choy, Chicken Strips with Mango and more), and traditional Chinese desserts like Steamed Pumpkin with Red Bean Paste and Kung-fu Sesame Ball. A feast for the eyes first, each dish is beautifully presented and can be enjoyed with traditional hot teas, as well as imported beers and more from the bar. Dragon House is located at 2640 E. Southlake Boulevard.
Dragon House Plate Samples
Hungry for unique eats? From Brazilian-style pizzas to Japanese sushi and Texas barbeque, Southlake has a variety of distinctive dining options to satisfy any appetite. Savor one-of-a-kind flavors from across the country and around the world in Southlake.
For a unique pizza experience outside of the [cardboard] box and with roots tracing to South America, head to Delucca Gaucho Pizza at 2001 W Southlake Boulevard, Suite 103. Inspired by Italian immigrants’ influence on Brazilian gauchos (who serve bountiful selections of meats in popular churrascaria steakhouses), this pizzeria similarly offers a seemingly endless variety of pizzas to try. With a fixed price and no menu, guests are seated, welcomed with a charcuterie and antipasto platter, served lobster bisque, and then select options from the roaming pizza servers who come to each table with numerous handcrafted pizzas—like Sopressata Salami & Candied Bacon and Brazilian Hearts of Palm, to name a few. Complete your meal with a glass of wine and save room for gourmet dessert pizzas.
Pizza is also on the menu at Armend’s, which serves authentic Italian cuisine in a casual, family-friendly environment (which is also BYOB). Family-owned and operated, Armend’s is one of the first restaurants in Southlake, having originally opened in 1994 in a different location from its current spot at 2315 E. Southlake Boulevard, Suite 101. Find traditional Italian appetizers, salads, soups, hot subs, chicken, veal and seafood entrees, and homemade pastas like Eggplant Parmigiana and Penne Alla Vodka. Italian cuisine could not be fresher, as all items are cooked to order and are made with carefully sourced ingredients.
For flavors from the coast, visit Shuck Me at 585 Randol Mill Avenue. Find oysters, shrimp and fish on the menu prepared in various ways—fried, grilled, in chowders, jambalaya and salads, on Po-Boys and in fish tacos, with plenty of starters, sides and drinks (including beer on tap, margaritas and sangria). Don’t overlook the popular Whole Fried Red Snapper with optional spicy garlic butter sauce and served with beans and rice. For those who would rather turf than surf, Shuck Me also offers chicken and burger options, and has items for The Minnows (kids).
Also specializing in fish, Sushi Sam serves authentic Japanese cuisine and was the first restaurant to bring sushi to Southlake back in 1998. The family-owned and operated restaurant sources the finest ingredients. Sushi rolls are made with fresh, high quality fish and the sake and beer are ordered straight from Japan. With beautifully styled and colorful presentations, eat with your eyes before savoring a bento box at lunch or a traditional Japanese entrée at dinner—Beef Teriyaki or Chicken Katsu—or sample the various rice bowls, specialty noodles and of course, sushi. End on a sweet note with fried bananas or mango rice. Sushi Sam is located at 500 W Southlake Boulevard, Suite 138.
No need to head south of the border for “real Chicano flavor,” just head to Frezko Taco Spot at 3105 E. Southlake Boulevard. The restaurant keeps the options simple, offering only burritos, tacos, quesadillas and salads, but keeps customers coming back by using flavorful family recipes, fresh, never frozen ingredients and locally-sourced meats. Cool off from the spicy flavors with house-made agua frescas and save room for tres leches cake. Frezko was voted as One of the Top 10 Taco Shops in DFW by Fort Worth Star Telegram.
Craving Southern flavors? Wildwood American Grill puts a contemporary spin on wood-fired grill favorites—steaks, seafood, burgers and more, all with a regional flare. Try customer favorites like Dragon Dip, a tribute to Southlake Carroll Dragons (mustard seed-infused cheddar beer dip with toasted pretzel bread), or the Ribeye Steak with Texas whiskey butter, Sweet Tea Rotisserie Chicken, or the Texas BBQ Burger. Don’t miss the Cheese-Infused Poblano Grits as a side. The restaurant also boasts an extensive wine list, and carries specialized liquors and craft beers. Wildwood is located at 2700 E. Southlake Boulevard.
Nothing satisfies a Texas-sized appetite quite like smoked meats and Feedstore BBQ has perfected their craft. Located at 530 S. White Chapel Boulevard, the restaurant is the oldest retail establishment in town and has been selling barbeque since 2001 (after originally operating as a feed store in 1950’s). In addition to traditional barbeque favorites, such as brisket, pork, chicken, turkey, ham and sausage, customers also keep coming back for the catfish, big bowl salads and homemade desserts. With as many awards and accolades as menu items, it’s no wonder that Feedstore BBQ has become a dining staple in Southlake.
Getting hungry yet? Come savor Southlake. We promise to save you a seat at one of our favorite tables.