Panda Fest Returns to Dallas With 60 Vendors
Panda Fest returns to Dallas Nov. 6-8 with 60-plus food vendors serving 150-plus street foods, marking the festival’s second year in the city. The event takes over Carpenter Park at 2201 Pacific Ave. for three days of Asian culinary offerings and cultural programming.
Food Pricing and the Direct-Revenue Model
Food items at the festival range from $7 to $25, with every participating vendor offering at least one item under $10. A defining feature of Panda Fest is its revenue model: the festival does not take a percentage of food sales, allowing revenue to go directly to participating vendors. This structure is designed to support small businesses directly, a point emphasized by founder Xuan “BiuBiu” Xu.
Cultural Programming and Family Attendance
The festival features an entirely local lineup of cultural performers, including J-pop and anime acts, as well as dragon dancing and kung fu exhibitions. Children under 6 are admitted free and receive a complimentary panda headband. Ticket options include $14 general admission, $35 VIP, and $10 early-bird tickets, with Saturday admission priced $2 higher than other days.
New Panda Design and Growing Influence
This year’s edition introduces a new panda design created specifically for Dallas, continuing the festival’s tradition of city-specific artwork. Panda Fest illustrates how US food festivals act as cultural bridges, showcasing the expanding influence of Asian culinary traditions to global audiences. The event allows families to try foods they may have never tasted, serving as cultural immersion for a diverse public.
Ticketing Details and Festival Schedule
According to S1, the three‑day program will run Friday, Nov. 6 from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 7 from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Sunday, Nov. 8 from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. In addition to general admission ($14) and VIP ($35) tickets, gate admission will be $20 and is subject to venue capacity, with advance ticket holders receiving priority entry. A limited number of $10 early‑bird tickets go on sale Sept. 24, giving early purchasers a discounted price before regular sales begin.
The festival will also feature more than 20 merchandise vendors alongside the 60+ food stalls, offering shoppers a variety of Asian‑themed goods, apparel, and souvenirs. Interactive experiences—such as photo‑worthy panda installations and hands‑on activities for children—will be scattered throughout Carpenter Park, creating “pandas at every turn,” as noted in the source. These elements, combined with the scheduled cultural performances, aim to keep visitors engaged from the opening bell on Friday through the closing hour on Sunday.
Award-Winning Panda IP Extends Beyond Dallas
The festival’s popularity extends beyond its local culinary scene through a unique licensing partnership with Mothfire Brewing Company of Ann Arbor, Michigan. This collaboration highlights how the “Panda” brand has achieved recognition in national craft beer competitions, specifically at the Great American Beer Festival held in Denver earlier this month.
Mothfire Brewing Company secured a Gold medal for its Panda Double Hazy IPA in the Juicy or Hazy Imperial IPA category. Representatives of the brewery stated in coverage from WXYZ that as first-time attendees and submitters, they were excited to be part of such an incredible gathering of craft brewers. Bringing home GOLD for their Panda Double Hazy IPA was described as an unexpected and humbling highlight, with the team expressing immense gratitude for the recognition.
This achievement marks the first time Mothfire Brewing Company has won a medal from the Great American Beer Festival. The victory occurred alongside other Michigan successes, including Founders Brewing Company winning gold for its Hoppy Mood in the Hop Water category and Bearded Lamb Brewing Company taking home a Gold for its Chugga Chocolate Milk Stout.
To celebrate their win at GABF, Mothfire is brewing up another batch of Panda beer and plans to host a Panda Party in November. The festival’s influence illustrates how Asian culinary traditions and cultural symbols like the panda are expanding their global reach, connecting local community events with international competitive achievements in the beverage industry.
Michigan Brewery Wins Gold for Panda-Themed Beer
Mothfire Brewing Company of Ann Arbor earned a Gold medal at the Great American Beer Festival in Denver earlier this month for its Panda Double Hazy IPA in the Juicy or Hazy Imperial IPA category. The competition featured 7,267 entries judged by 225 professionals over three days. The win marks the first GABF medal in the brewery’s history.
Representatives of Mothfire Brewing Company told WXYZ that as first-time attendees and submitters, they were excited to be part of such an incredible gathering of craft brewers. They described bringing home Gold for their Panda Double Hazy IPA as an unexpected and humbling highlight, expressing immense gratitude for the recognition.
Two other Michigan breweries also captured Gold: Founders Brewing Company of Grand Rapids won for its Hoppy Mood in the Hop Water category, and Bearded Lamb Brewing Company of Plymouth took top honors for its Chugga Chocolate Milk Stout in the Sweet Stout or Cream Stout category. To celebrate the victory, Mothfire is brewing another batch of Panda beer and plans to host a Panda Party in November.
Broader Brewery Recognition Across Michigan
The Great American Beer Festival featured 7,267 entries judged by 225 professionals over three days in Denver. While Mothfire Brewing Company secured a Gold medal, other Michigan breweries also achieved significant recognition during the competition.
Founders Brewing Company of Grand Rapids won a Gold for its Hoppy Mood in the Hop Water category. Additionally, Bearded Lamb Brewing Company of Plymouth took home a Gold for its Chugga Chocolate Milk Stout in the Sweet Stout or Cream Stout category.
Two other Michigan breweries also captured Silver medals. Urbanrest Brewing Company in Ferndale won Silver for its Perpetual Fog in the Juicy or Hazy Strong Pale Ale category, while Short’s Brewing Company in Bellaire won a Silver for its Summer Heat in the Specialty Beer category.
Sources
- Panda Fest returns to Dallas Nov. 6-8 with 60+ food vendors
- Links and resources mentioned on Action News
- Michigan Breweries Shine With Gold and Silver Wins at Great American Beer Festival
Photo: Eetzie (CC0)
