Mud volleyball, the world’s largest strawberry shortcake, Kevin Fowler on the main stage, mutton bustin’, a BBQ cook-off, carnival rides, a beauty pageant, and four days of pure Southeast Texas fun — the Pasadena Strawberry Festival is a Texas institution.
Just southeast of Houston sits a city that knows exactly who it is — and every May, Pasadena reminds the whole region why its annual festival is one of the most beloved community celebrations in the state. The Pasadena Strawberry Festival turns 53 this year, and if you’ve never been, you’re missing one of the great Texas traditions.
Four days. Two stages. Carnival rides. Mud volleyball. The world’s largest strawberry shortcake. A Selena lookalike contest. Mutton bustin’. A BBQ cook-off. A beauty pageant. Helicopter rides. A parade. Live music every night. And strawberries — every form of strawberries you can imagine.
This is not a boutique festival. This is Pasadena, Texas, going all out.
A City Celebrating Its Heritage
Pasadena’s strawberry story goes back to the early 20th century, when the rich, sandy soils of the Gulf Coast region made it one of the premier strawberry-growing areas in Texas. The refineries eventually replaced the fields, but the pride never went away. The Strawberry Festival was born to keep that agricultural heritage alive — and 53 years later it has become the defining event of the city’s calendar, a community gathering that draws hundreds of thousands of visitors from across Southeast Texas and beyond.
Every dollar raised through the festival goes back into Pasadena — through scholarships, community outreach programs, and local initiatives that make a direct difference in the lives of families in the area.
What’s Happening All Four Days
The festival runs four full days at the Strawberry Festival grounds at 7603 Red Bluff Road. Thursday and Friday open at 3 p.m. and run until midnight. Saturday and Sunday open at 10 a.m. — Saturday runs until midnight, Sunday wraps at 6 p.m.
The main stage brings live music every night at 8 p.m., with Kevin Fowler headlining Saturday night. A second stage runs throughout the weekend with additional entertainment. Between sets, the grounds are packed with activity — the carnival midway for kids, the KidZone, the BBQ cook-off where teams compete for serious bragging rights, mud volleyball on Saturday, mutton bustin’ for the little cowboys in the crowd, and the Salsa Contest for anyone who thinks they’ve got the right recipe.
The Strawberry Festival Parade and Baby Float Parade are community favorites. The Selena Lookalike Contest is exactly what it sounds like and exactly as great as you’d hope. The beauty pageant, the quilting contest, and the photo challenge round out a program that covers every corner of community life.
And then there’s the strawberry shortcake — the world’s largest, made fresh on-site and served to festival-goers who line up for a slice of something genuinely record-breaking.
Know Before You Go
Tickets are $15 online and $20 at the gate. All concerts start at 8 p.m. RV parking is available on-site for the full run of the festival. The grounds are at 7603 Red Bluff Road in Pasadena — about 20 minutes southeast of downtown Houston.
Event Details
Event: Pasadena Strawberry Festival 2026 — 53rd Annual Dates: Thursday, May 14 through Sunday, May 17, 2026
Hours: Thursday, May 14: 3 p.m. – midnight Friday, May 15: 3 p.m. – midnight Saturday, May 16: 10 a.m. – midnight Sunday, May 17: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Location: 7603 Red Bluff Rd., Pasadena, TX 77505 Tickets: $15 online / $20 at the gate Saturday Night Headliner: Kevin Fowler Website: strawberryfest.org Facebook: The Pasadena Strawberry Festival Instagram: @the_strawberry_festival TikTok: @pasadenastrawberryfest
