Taste lechon, join a balut-eating contest at the largest Filipino festival in Texas

Photo from htownfilfest/Instagram

Traveling around the Philippines is like exploring a melting pot of cultural influences where each region has a unique flavor. But this isn’t just limited to the archipelago—it also encompasses the numerous places where the Filipino diaspora exists.

This is what the annual Houston Filipino Street Festival (also dubbed “Salamat”) intends to display when it returns to Constellation Field, Sugar Land, Texas on Oct. 21, 2023.

Spearheaded by the Filipino Young Professionals of Houston, the yearly celebration seeks to offer a vibrant showcase of Filipino culture through traditions, cuisine, and entertainment as well as bridge the gap between generations and appreciate the rich cultural heritage.

According to organization president Clarissa Salazar, the event attracts thousands of attendees from all over the United States and stands as the largest festival of its type in the southern region. Last year’s event brought together around 6,000 attendees.

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The event is open not only to Filipinos but also to anyone who wants to experience the flavors of the Philippines. “We provide a kind of a community for different people to just come in and learn about the Philippines,” Salazar said in an interview with ABC13. “You don’t have to be Filipino to join!”

On festival day, everyone can try the famous lechon or (assuming it makes a comeback) join the balut-eating contest.

In addition to the festivities, part of the proceeds from the Houston Filipino Street Festival will go towards supporting the annual FYP Scholarship, underscoring the festival’s dedication to empowering the future generation of Filipino leaders by means of education.