By: Holly Owen, FestForums | November 12, 2026
This past weekend, the FestForums team traveled to Dallas, Texas for Chefs for Farmers, the city’s top food and wine festival.
Now in its 16th year, Chefs for Farmers has come a long way from its humble beginnings as a single farm dinner in 2010. Today it’s a two-day festival taking over Old City Park, and its heart is still in the same place: bringing Texas farmers and the chefs who cook their produce together, giving both the spotlight and building friendships that last well beyond the weekend.
You could feel that connection everywhere you turned. Every stall was paired with a farm partner, so guests knew exactly where the food on their plate came from. Some stalls took it even further with educational displays that walked visitors through the journey from field to fork.
A Partnership That Took Flight
American Airlines, a major sponsor, delivered one of the standout activations of the weekend. At the end of each day, attendees voted for their favorite dish, and the winning restaurant took home airline miles. It’s a great example of how the right partnership can add real value to a festival, and what a big sponsor can make happen when the activation fits the event this well.
Activations That Drew a Crowd
The other activations kept the energy high all weekend. BMW hosted a sweepstakes for the chance to win a car, with real vehicles on display so guests could get the full experience and picture themselves behind the wheel. One of the most unique activations let guests customize their own cigars, and the long line all weekend showed how popular it was. And the dance parties sent one lucky winner home with a $200 voucher for the restaurant of their choice. Not bad for a few dance moves!
We left Dallas with full stomachs and plenty of inspiration for FestForums. Chefs for Farmers was a great reminder of what’s possible when every part of an event, from the food to the sponsors, comes together.
A huge special thank you to Iris Midler, who will be joining us as a speaker at FestForums’ 10th anniversary, February 3–5, 2027 in Santa Barbara, CA. And thank you to Caryl Chinn and the entire Chefs for Farmers team for having us and hosting such a wonderful event.