Fall festival season has arrived, bringing with it Fort Worth’s biggest Oktoberfest celebration that will encompass three days of Munich-inspired food and fun. This weekend also brings a culinary cook-off with some adventurous “bite” by way of rattlesnake – the main ingredient. Pairing dinners and Sunday outdoor food fest round out the list.

Tuesday, September 23

Cowtown Comfort Book Dinner at Rex’s Bar & Grill
Restaurateur Rex Benson (Ol’ South Pancake House, Rex’s Bar & Grill) and his sister Pam Benson (who owns Japanese Palace) will host a unique pairing dinner featuring takes on recipes featured in Cowtown Comfort: Fort Worth Recipes, Places, and Food Traditions [a cookbook by author Celestina Blok]. After the same dinner sold out last week, the cookbook signing event has a few seats left for this encore edition. The four-course menu was created by Rex’s chef Brian Olenjack, and includes a savory Dutch baby with crab, smoked salmon, and dill, Japanese tempura, California roll, Japanese braised pork belly with crispy Brussels sprouts, and a sweet Dutch baby with berry compote and mascarpone. Each course comes with a unique cocktail pairing. The dinner is $75 and includes a signed copy of Cowtown Comfort. Arrive at 6 pm.

Thursday, September 25

Fort Worth Oktoberfest
Fort Worth’s annual three-day, Munich-style celebration of German culture kicks off Thursday at Trinity Park (near Farrington Field) featuring loads of German fare, carnival games and rides, stein hoisting, barrel racing, dachshund parades, and plenty of bier. There’ll also be more than 50 live performances across three stages, including polka music from the Happy Hour Oktobefestband, returning this year from Bavaria. Admission is $10 on Thursday and $15 on Friday and Saturday. Or pay $20 for a three-day pass. A commemorative stein glass is guaranteed when purchasing tickets in advance. Admission is free for children under 12 with a paying adult. The festival runs from 5-11 pm Thursday and Friday, and 11 am-midnight on Saturday.

Around the World: A Culinary Tour of Puerto Rico at Ellerbe Fine Foods
Time-honored farm-to-table restaurant is exploring global flavors during its “Around the World” dinner series. This one will feature tastes from Puerto Rico, with a menu of tostones, corn and vegetable stew, slow-roasted pork shoulder with black beans and rice, and coconut rice pudding. The prix-fixe menu is $58 with an optional wine and cocktail pairing for $22 more. Seating times begin at 5 pm.

Old Forrester & Woodford Reserve Dinner at Fixe Southern House
After a summer hiatus, pairing dinners are back at the Clearfork destination for Southern cuisine. Bourbons and whiskeys from Old Forrester and Woodford Reserve will be paired with dishes like shrimp and grits cake, deviled eggs, and coffee-crusted filet mignon. The five-course dinner with cocktails and neat pours is $150, including tax and gratuity, and begins at 6:30 pm.

Ranch to Table: Dinner with Heartbrand at Bricks and Horses
Bowie House hotel steakhouse will host a seven-course communal-style dinner featuring Texas-based Heartbrand beef. Menu highlights include tenderloin parissa, bone marrow toast, and hot rock Wagyu cap. The dinner is $225 plus tax and service fee, and begins at 6:30 pm.

“Meat” the Martinis at Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steakhouse
Seven-course martini journey will feature savory and sweet martinis paired with chef-inspired bites, with highlights including a dirty martini dip tower, Dubai chocolate espressotini, and tarte au citron. The immersive experience is $170 and will take place at 6:30 pm.

Saturday, September 27

Rattle Battle
Tim Love’s rattlesnake cook-off is back for year three in Mule Alley. The competition will feature 16 chefs who’ll create their best dish using rattlesnake – a popular ingredient in Tim Love’s culinary repertoire. Participants this year include Preston Paine (Emilia’s, The Blue Room), Alessandro Salvatore (Bocca Osteria), Grant Morgan (97 West Kitchen & Bar), Christian Lehrmann (Tinie’s), Antonio Votta (Bowie House), and Juan Rodriguez (Magdalena’s), among others. General admission is $50 and includes unlimited tastings and access to a cash bar. VIP tickets are $150 and include an open bar with TX Whiskey cocktails and Deep Ellum Brewing Company beers. The event will run from 12:30–2:30 pm, with VIP admission entry at 12 pm.

Sunday, September 28

Fort Worth Eatz Food Festival at Trinity Park
The all-day food fest promises 30-plus food vendors serving barbecue, gourmet bites, and desserts, craft cocktails and frozen margaritas, live music, family-friendly games, and a special performance by the Grambling State University alumni drumline. The event is free to attend and will run from 11 am–8 pm.

Monday, September 29

Four-Course Dinner at The Basement Lounge
The Basement Lounge has partnered with Fort Worth-based culinary pop-up, Milpa, for a pairing dinner. The menu will include snapper ceviche, roasted squash with sunflower seeds paired with a seasonal spritzer, pork belly glazed with agave chile paired with a Mendoza malbec, and granita with masa crumble and coconut cream paired with a lemon crème cordial. The dinner is $98 plus tax and gratuity, and begins at 6:30 pm.