Kalahari Resorts and Conventions in Round Rock, Texas, home to America’s largest indoor waterpark resort, hosted its third annual Food & (Not Just) Wine Festival on Sunday, September 22, 2024. The festival, themed “Peace and Love,” showcased a delightful array of food samples from the resort’s on-site restaurants and catering, along with offerings from local and national wine, beer, and spirit vendors. Attendees were treated to live entertainment, including the soulful rhythms of Ronnie Hall, disco ball dancers, and roller skaters.
Brandon Wise, Assistant General Manager of Kalahari Resorts and Conventions, Round Rock, expressed enthusiasm about this year’s event: “Guests from our second annual Food & (Not Just) Wine Festival last year described their experience as ‘unbelievable’ and ‘not to be missed.’ They were amazed by the variety of options, entertainment, and the sheer scale of the festival. This year, we aimed to surpass those expectations.” Wise noted that the 2024 festival was more extraordinary than ever, featuring over 80 beverage partners, 33 food sampling stations, and 28 entertainers, delighting more than 2,000 attendees with an afternoon of endless exploration.
Festival-goers enjoyed chef demonstrations from several on-site chefs, a wine sampling presentation from Caymus Winery, and an engaging mixology course.
“For those who couldn’t attend this year’s event, don’t worry!” Wise encouraged. “Follow Kalahari Resorts on social media to stay updated on our upcoming events, including our Full-Day Spa Wellness Retreat and Oktoberfest celebrations at our Round Rock resort!”
The founders of Kalahari Resorts and Conventions, Todd and Shari Nelson, began their journey with a pizza restaurant in Wisconsin Dells, which ignited their passion for culinary excellence and inspired the Food & (Not Just) Wine Festival.
The Round Rock festival marks the final Food & (Not Just) Wine Festival Kalahari will host at its resorts nationwide in 2024. The festival will return to Round Rock, where it all began, for its fourth year on May 4, 2025, and will also take place for the second time at the Poconos location on April 13, 2025.
