Austin Mac & Cheese Festival Returns With a Tropical Twist
Sample this favorite American comfort dish served with a variety of creative flavors at this festival full of food, fun and community spirit
Say “cheese” because Austin’s festival for mac & cheese lovers is back — and with a twist. Entering its ninth year, the Austin Mac & Cheese festival — a one day celebration featuring mac & cheese dishes, drinks and desserts from Austin’s top chefs, food trucks and restaurants — will return to Star Hill Ranch in Bee Cave on Sunday, Nov. 16. Following a new tropical island theme, this year’s festival will feature flavors from coastal Mexico, Hawaii and the Caribbean with dishes such as Spam and pineapple grilled cheese, tropical surf and turf mac, as well as mac & cheese al pastor.
Presented by Austin Food Magazine and Austin Bergstrom International Airport’s Beats, Bites & Flights, the festival highlights 28 total vendors, including 18 local mac & cheese restaurants, three dessert shops and five beverage partners. The participating vendors compete for titles such as Mac & Cheese Championship Belt, Judge’s Champion and People’s Choice Award, which is determined by attendee votes. When curating the lineup, festival founder Hayden Walker said he always tries to reach out to different chefs and vendors whom he’s met over the years.
A Feast of Flavors
“We don’t close the door to anyone,” said Walker, founder of Austin Mac & Cheese Fest. “Whether it’s a food truck or a super fancy restaurant, we welcome all because we want to have a variety of offerings, and everyone’s got their own unique take on what they can do with this type of dish.”
Attendees can enjoy tiki bar activations, island-themed games, photo-ops, live DJ sets and entertainment, while indulging in a variety of sweet and savory flavors. Walker said his main goal for the festival each year is for people to leave full and happy. He said that while many people have eaten mac & cheese, the festival offers an elevated experience that can broaden people’s senses and views on the dish.
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Walker noted, “We have a lot of people that come every year, and it’s because they just love it. It brings them back to their childhood.”
Connecting the Community
Walker believes the event fosters collaboration and community. In the past, chefs teamed up on projects for the event, and people discovered the venue for hosting events and parties. Walker hopes that after people try what the vendors sell, they are inspired to try other menu items they offer.
Ticket Information
VIP admission for the event opens at 11 a.m. and general admission opens at 12 p.m. Online tickets are available for purchase.