April is always one of the most exciting months in our community, and being here for Texas A&M University’s Family Weekend (April 9 – 11, 2021) puts you right in the middle of all the action! The wildflowers are in full bloom, the restaurants have fresh spring menus, and there are festivals and events aplenty all across town. Keep scrolling for all the top things to do & best places to eat in our corner of Aggieland during Family Weekend 2021.
Festivals & Events
A couple of Bryan’s signature festivals will be underway just in time for Aggie Family Weekend this year, as well as several other events the whole family can enjoy throughout the weekend.
April 9 – April 11 at Messina Hof Winery & Resort
Messina Hof Winery & Resort is all about family! In fact, the owners are known across the state as the “First Family of Texas Wine!” To kick off the 37th Annual Wine & Roses celebration, they’ve planned a full weekend of activities for you and your loved ones.
Friday night will feature two opportunities for a wine & chocolate pairing, and Estate Tours will be offered throughout the day on Saturday for the first time since 2020. On Sunday, Messina Hof is celebrating the four-legged members of the family! Waggles & Wine will take place from 1:00PM-4:00PM, complete with chef-made dog treats! (We’re told there will be plenty of treats for humans as well 
To learn more about these events, and find the full Wine & Roses celebration calendar, click here!
April 9 at 7:00PM at Lake Walk
Live music is back at Lake Walk! They’re kicking off a full slate of spring programming with a free outdoor concert on Friday, April 9 at 7:00PM! The concert features Rococo Disco, a Texas indie pop duo influenced by the likes of The Beatles, D’angelo, Tame Impala, and Stevie Wonder.
April 10 from 8:00AM – 12:00PM in Historic Downtown Bryan
The Brazos Valley Farmers’ Market is a year-round farmers’ market supporting our region’s farms by connecting consumers directly to local food producers. The Brazos Valley Farmers’ Market is open every Saturday from 8:00AM-12:00PM at 500 North Main Street in Historic Downtown Bryan. The market features more than 50 vendors, live music, treats for the whole family, and is your go-to spot for locally-grown foods!
You can learn more about the Brazos Valley Farmers’ Market & their vendors here: www.brazosvalleyfarmersmarket.com/
Downtown Bryan Street & Art Fair
April 10 from 10:00AM – 6:00PM in Historic Downtown Bryan
Located in Historic Downtown Bryan – an official Texas Cultural District – the Downtown Street & Art Fair features artists and artisans from across the region selling their handmade creations.
With live art demonstrations, live music throughout the day, activities for kids, and featured artists from across the state, the Downtown Street & Art Fair is sure to be a day of fun for the whole family!
Admission is free and everyone is encouraged to spend the day and experience all that Historic Downtown Bryan has to offer.
For more details, and a complete schedule of the day’s events, click here!
The Children’s Museum of the Brazos Valley’s GRAND OPENING
April 10 from 10:00AM – 6:00PM at Lake Walk
In what is sure to be a celebration the entire family will love, and perhaps a great opportunity for some sibling bonding time, The Children’s Museum of the Brazos Valley is opening their brand new location on Saturday, April 10! Head out to Lake Walk for a day full of fun, including STEAM activities, food trucks, and few surprises!
Visit cmbv.org for additional information.
Follow us on Instagram to keep up with events in Bryan all year long!
Where To Eat
Most of our office went to A&M, so we know how much students look forward to family coming to town (free food!). Historic Downtown Bryan is home to Mexican, German, Italian, and Czech restaurants, a sake bar and one of the top-rated BBQ joints in the state. Food really doesn’t get more fresh than what you’ll find on the north end of Downtown, where Ronin serves up delicious bites from their own farm! Looking for something a little fancier? Christopher’s World Grille and The Vintage House serve some of the finest dishes around. You definitely won’t be disappointed.
We’ve put together some recommendations for all tastes & styles below, so keep scrolling! You can click the link on each restaurant’s name for hours, reservations, etc.
Make Your Reservations Now:
Some of the nicest spots in Bryan-College Station are located north of University Drive, and you’ll want to make sure you have reservations for these spots during Family Weekend.
Christopher’s World Grille presents classic steak & seafood dishes with delightfully unexpected twists. For more than 20 years, Christopher’s has garnered national recognition for exceptional quality and delightfully unexpected flavors.
A recipient of the Sante Award and first to be named as an elite Chaine des Rotisseurs Restaurant, The Vintage House at Messina Hof Winery & Resort offers a fine dining experience unparalleled among Texas wineries. Using their trademarked Vineyard Cuisine
Ronin features family farm cuisine with a constantly evolving menu. Set in the beautiful, newly-renovated historic Ice House on Main in Downtown Bryan, the restaurant shares an open-air kitchen with their dining room, floor to ceiling exposed brick, and hand-built, suspension tables made using wood salvaged during renovation from the original office flooring. Their menu is updated daily, based on the current growing season and what they’ve harvested from their garden during that given week. Ronin‘s farm is located just seven miles from our restaurant, ensuring that ingredients are always fresh and sustainable. We definitely recommend their Sunday brunch!
At Amico Nave, you are guaranteed to enjoy a meal which will leave you wanting more. They are a family owned establishment that offers a mix of traditional and modern Italian dishes which are sure to please your palate. Dishes include, but are not limited to tasty appetizers, delicious homemade salads, chicken, veal, seafood entrees, and their famous pasta dishes.
Campfires are gathering places, welcoming us to a circle of friends where food, warmth and storytelling combine to create memorable moments. At Campfire, the story is just the same. They are a gathering place; inviting, comfortable and familiar. Our fusion of local flavors, sprawling patio, and central Texan-inspired interiors layer together to build a place you’ll want to return to again and again.
More Casual Bites:
Whether you’re looking for a quick lunch or a more laid-back dinner, we’ve got plenty of options in Bryan! Here are just a few:
The Proudest Monkey is a burgers, fries, and craft cocktail bar. Bordering The Queen Theater in Historic Downtown Bryan, “The Monkey” has been serving up unique tacos, tasty burgers, yuppy fries and specialty drinks to the Brazos Valley since 2012.
Cilantro has become a regular spot beloved by residents of Bryan! Serving tasty Tex-Mex dishes, you can’t go wrong with this local spot.
Casa Rodriguez is a Tex-Mex fixture in Historic Downtown Bryan, and has been an Aggie tradition for decades! They’ve got some of the best enchiladas and most mouthwatering quesadillas in town.
Tilted Pint has quickly become a destination for locals & visitors looking to gather with friends & neighbors, unwind with a craft beer or signature cocktail, and recharge with classic pub fare like fish & chips, or modern bites like roasted red pepper hummus.
Affectionately called just “Carney’s,” this spot has been a Brazos Valley favorite for years. Carney’s is located in the heart of the up-and-coming Midtown area, and serves great drinks, delicious burgers, tasty tacos, and other lighter menu offerings. Carney’s is a must on any trip to Aggieland.
Great food and a unique atmosphere are the reason the Chicken Oil Co. has been an Aggie tradition since 1977. With a menu offering a wide selection, including burgers, salads, chicken fried steaks and their famous Tijuana Fries, Chicken Oil is sure to have something for everyone.
Outdoor Dining:
Springtime is patio season in Aggieland! From Sunday morning brunch to late night drinks and everything in between, we’ve put together a list of some of the best patios in town for you. Click here for the full list!
These are just a few of the many restaurants we would recommend in Bryan! Follow us on Instagram for more.
More Things To Do
Explore Historic Downtown Bryan on Sunday
Several Downtown Bryan businesses who would normally be closed will be opening their doors this Sunday! Take the opportunity to wind down with a leisurely stroll to see all that Historic Downtown Bryan has to offer.
Some of the businesses who will be open on Sunday include:
•Savage Diva: 11:00AM – 4:00PM
•The Frame Gallery: 11:00AM – 4:00PM
•Rising Dawn Home Interiors: 12:00PM – 4:00PM
•Brazos Glassworks: 11:00AM – 4:00PM
•Corner of Time Antiques: 11:00AM – 4:00PM
•Ed’s Bookstore: 11:00AM – 4:00PM
•Ronin: 11:00AM – 2:00PM
•Marooned Tiki Bar: 2:00PM – 10:00PM
•5 Knocks Speakeasy: 2:00PM -10:00PM
•Velvet Leaf Cigar Lounge: 12:00PM – 10:00PM
•Bird’s Nest Gifts & Antiques: 11:00AM – 4:00PM
•Old Bryan Marketplace: 11:00AM – 4:00PM
•St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church: 11:00AM – 1:00PM (service at 11:30AM open to visitors)
•The 101: 4:00PM – 1:00AM
•The Village: 7:30AM – 5:00PM
•Proudest Monkey: 11:00AM – 9:00PM
•All The King’s Men: 11:00AM – 9:00PM
•RX Pizza: 11:00AM – 10:00PM
•Blackwater Draw Brewing Co: 11:00AM – 4:00PM
There are plenty of things for the whole family to do in Bryan all year long! We’ve got a list of 21 Things You Need To Do This Year here: destinationbryan.com/21thingstodo
Follow along on Facebook & Instagram for information on events, things to do, and more inspiration to help you discover all the best that Bryan has to offer throughout the year!
Meet The Blogger
Chris Riggins
Chris is the Destination Marketing Manager for Destination Bryan. Originally from North Texas, Chris has called Bryan-College Station home since 2014. Chris is a proud graduate of Texas A&M University’s Recreation, Park & Tourism Science program. When he’s not telling you about the restaurant he tried this weekend that was “SO good,” he’s probably talking about his dog or taking photos of a Brazos Valley sunset.