SUGAR LAND, Texas (KTRK) — Sugar Land will again come alive with the sights, sounds, flavors, and rich traditions of the Philippines when the Houston Filipino Street Festival returns this fall, bringing more star power to boot.
The Houston Filipino Street Festival is back to bring the fun, culture, tradition, and vibrant cuisine.
Fresh off her NPR Tiny Desk Contest win, rapper, singer, and spoken word artist Ruby Ibarra is this year’s headliner.
She’s already been featured in national and international publications, from the NY Times and LA Times to Vogue Philippines.
Her career and tour stops have also taken her across the U.S. and internationally, according to her bio.
Ibarra’s music was included in the NBA2K23 and NBA2K24 video games and can be heard through a number of mediums and platforms, including digitally, museum exhibits, film, and television.
So it’s no surprise Ibarra’s next step is visiting a global diverse community such as Fort Bend County, which is considered one of the most diverse in the nation.
On a larger scale, the Pew Research Center reports that in 2023, an estimated 4.6 million people in the U.S. identified as Filipino.
But for those who haven’t experienced Filipino culture, that makes the festival the perfect opportunity.
“If you were ever curious about Filipino American culture, specifically the Filipino Texas and Filipino Houston culture, it is the best time to see all the artwork, all the music, all the talent that Filipino Houstonians have to offer,” said Karl Knight, media liaison.
ABC13 meteorologist Elita Loresca joins as emcee.
As in past years, the festival will be held at Constellation Field, home of the Sugar Land Space Cowboys, and this year, will take place from 12 p.m. – 7 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 18.
Of course, a big part of the fest will be the food.
According to Knight, visitors will be able to taste staples such as Lechon, a spit-roasted suckling pig, slow cooked over open coals, Lumpia, Halo-halo, and Sisig. Plus, you can join in a Balut eating contest. Balut is duck embryo and known as a popular street food delicacy.
But the heart of the festival is service.
“The history of the Filipino Street Festival comes from outreach activities during the big storm that wiped out the Philippines, Typhoon Haiyan,” Knight explained.
The super typhoon, one of the most powerful in history, hit the Philippines on Nov. 8, 2023, as a Category 5 storm. Millions were impacted, with 4 million left homeless.
“We had a great amount of outreach coming from a very small, Filipino community back then, so it was our way of thanking the community,” Knight said of the festival’s origins. “It felt like a warm embrace from home for a lot of folks so we just wanted to do it over and over again, and here we are.”
Tickets are on sale now, and parking is free.
Discounted tickets for veterans and seniors are also available only on festival day with a valid ID. Kids seven and under receive free entry.
According to organizers, the festival, put together by the Filipino Young Professionals of Houston, has become the largest Filipino celebration in Texas.
And when you learn of all that it has to offer, it’s easy to see why.
Clarissa Salazar, the street festival chair for Filipino Young Professionals of Houston, has previously told ABC13 the event draws thousands of visitors from across the U.S.
“It’s great that we’re able to bring in so many people to share the rich culture of the Philippines,” Salazar said.
Perhaps the best part is that it’s all designed to do good. A portion of the proceeds from the Houston Filipino Street Festival help fund scholarships for deserving students.
Salazar said the festival, which is presented in English, is a chance for people of all walks of life to celebrate.
“We welcome everybody who’s interested just in learning about our rich culture, and just wants to have a great time,” she said.
“I think what makes everyone who volunteers for this event so proud is that it’s the Filipino American value of community, what it means to be a part of it, what it feels to know that there is a community there for you whenever you need it,” Knight said.
Constellation Field is located at 1 Stadium Dr., in Sugar Land.
ABC13 is proud to serve as the official media sponsor of the 2025 Houston Filipino Street Festival.
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