Held in the town of West, Texas every Labor Day Weekend, Westfest celebrates the area’s Czech heritage with a lively mix of authentic food, polka, multiple stages of live music, and more. Founded in 1976 as a local fundraising initiative, the festival has since poured over $1 million back into the West community.
When and where is Westfest 2026
This weekend, the festival returns in celebration of its 50th anniversary. The three-day festival runs from Friday, September 4, to Sunday, September 6. All activations will take place at the West Fair and Rodeo grounds at 1110 S. Main St. a mile south of downtown West, Texas. See the festival’s daily hours below:
- September 4: 5:30 p.m. – 12:30 a.m.
- September 5: 11 a.m. – 12:30 a.m.
- September 6: 11 a.m. – midnight
The festival feature two large parking lots on the grounds.
What to expect at Westfest?
With the atmosphere of a small town fair, the festival is a celebration of Czech culture. Featuring over 25 vendors, visitors can enjoy traditional Czech cuisine including the likes of kolaches, beer bread sandwiches, and sausage, as well as German, Mexican, and barbecue alongside fair food options.
At the Westfest marketplace, visitors can find a medley of artisan vendors offering art pieces, jewelry, retail, snacks, and other craft products.
Across the weekend, the festival will feature a carnival wherein guests can enjoy a range of rides and family activities. Additionally, the festival will feature multiple stages. Visitors can enjoy traditional polka music, dance, and/or ensemble groups throughout the weekend as well as artists performing music ranging from country and accordian-infused Red Dirt to European folk-punk
Featured headliners at the festival include:
- Randy Rogers Band: 10:30 p.m. Saturday at the C.W. Pavilion
- The Dreadnoughts: 5:30 p.m. Saturday at the C.W. Pavilion and 6 p.m. Sunday at West Pavilion
- Sunny Sauceda: 6:45 p.m. at C.W. Pavilion
- Huser Brothers: 8:30 p.m. at C.W. Pavilion
- Wade Bowen: 10 p.m. Sunday at C.W. Pavilion
More competitive folk can participate in one or more of the numerous contests planned throughout the weekend. Over the course of the three-day festival, Westfest will hosts contests ranging from stein-holding, to washers, horseshoes, dominos, and taroky.
Signature events at Westfest
In addition to its many polka programming throughout the weekend, the festival hosts a special Polka Mass – which is exactly how it sounds – at 10 a.m. on Sunday morning at the Westfest Amphitheater. The mass is free to attend.
The Westfest Parade is another signature of the festival. Billed as one of the biggest parades in Central Texas, the Westfest parades sees a glorious assortment of floats, marching bands, and performers coursing through downtown West.
Among its many Kolache-focused activations, Westfest hosts a Kolache 5K on Sunday morning that which regularly draws participants from across the region.
As a part of its preview party Friday night, and longstanding tradition, the festival will host the crowning of Miss Westfest.
How to get tickets to WestFest?
Tickets are available directly through the WestFest website – available either as a weekend package or by day. Weekend passes are priced at $65 for adults and $15 for children. Friday tickets are priced at $30 for adults, $5 for children; Saturday and Sunday tickets are sold both sold at $18 for adults, and $5 for children.
