Panda Fest is coming back to Dallas for a second year, bringing more than 60 food vendors, over 150 street-food options and more than 20 merchandise vendors to Carpenter Park this November. The three-day, family-friendly Asian food and culture festival is billed as an all-ages event packed with panda-themed installations, live cultural performances and interactive activities for kids.
The festival will set up at Carpenter Park, located at 2201 Pacific Ave. in Dallas, according to CW33. The Dallas run is scheduled for Nov. 6-8, 2026. The Star-Telegram's Nov. 7-9 dates refer to the 2025 event.
This marks the second year Panda Fest has landed in Dallas, following its debut in the city last year, as Dallas CultureMap notes. Festival founder Xuan “BiuBiu” Xu told CW33 the decision to bring the event back came down to demand: “people wanted us to come back,” Xu said.
What's on the Menu and the Ticket Price
Food prices at the festival will range from $7 to $25, and every vendor is expected to offer at least one item under $10, per the CW33 report. Vendors will serve both small sampling portions and full-sized plates, according to the Star-Telegram, which highlighted viral offerings like Korean corn dogs, spicy wontons, soup dumplings, souffle pancakes, mochi donuts and mango sticky rice as among the food highlights fans can expect.
Tickets run $14 for general admission and $35 for VIP admission. A $10 early-bird offer is available through the event's ticketing platform, Panda Fest's official site, running from Thursday at 10 a.m. CDT through Oct. 4 at 10 p.m., or until the discounted time slots sell out. CW33 also reports Saturday admission is priced at $16, with gate admission at $20 depending on venue capacity. Children under 6 attend free.
What Ticket Holders Get
General admission includes a customized Panda Fest pin featuring a Dallas design and a headband, a package the organizer values at $11. VIP admission steps things up with the same pin and headband plus a bag, fast-pass entry, and access to exclusive VIP areas and restrooms, a bundle valued at $28 according to the festival's site. Kids under 6 skip the ticket requirement entirely and still get a free headband, though pins aren't included for the youngest attendees.
Entertainment at the festival is expected to include J-pop and anime performances, dragon dancing and kung fu exhibitions, according to CW33's reporting. Panda-themed installations and children's activities will reportedly be scattered throughout the venue, giving families plenty to explore between food stops and market browsing.
Rules to Know Before You Go
Tickets are nonrefundable, per the event's published policy on its official ticketing site. Outside food and beverages are barred from the grounds, though the policy carves out exceptions for baby formula or milk for infants and toddlers, plus one factory-sealed water bottle of up to 16.9 ounces per guest. Weapons, smoking materials, vaping devices and cannabis smoke or vapor are also prohibited, along with other combustible or aerosolized products.
Panda Fest's Dallas stop is part of a broader expansion for the traveling festival, which is also making its debut in San Antonio this year as a two-day event, Nov. 21-22, at Hemisfair's Civic Park, according to CultureMap San Antonio. That version is planned to feature more than 70 food vendors serving over 150 dishes from across Asia, alongside artisan crafts, live performances, calligraphy and sugar painting. Xu told the outlet that “San Antonio's rich culinary landscape and strong sense of community made it the perfect destination for Panda Fest.”
As with any outdoor event, organizers note that Panda Fest's Dallas schedule is subject to change due to weather or other concerns. Anyone planning to attend should keep an eye on official updates as the November weekend approaches.
