Festival Fun Time!

Hay! Just when you thought you'd gotten all the festing you could, what with last weekend's Art Car fun, Houston's got even more to offer! This weekend features two - count 'em - two "country" themed festivals, as well as the Festival of Greece! And with Houstonist's weekend weather forecast predicting perfection, there's no reason to stay inside. Update that resume in June and enjoy some good two-digit temperature while it lasts.

- Country Roots Music Festival
Head straight north on Eldridge from the Festival of Greece, and you'll end up at the "unique" Trader's Village, where the hoedown goes down this Saturday and Sunday. You'll hear Hank Williams (Sr., of course) and Johnny Cash covers performed by bands such as Country Jim and Sean Reefer & the Resin Valley Boys. Sounds honky! While you're there, do your fair share of flea-style shopping, as there is much junk to be had, and maybe some treasures to be found. Maybe.
Country Roots Music Festival
May 19 & 20, noon - 5PM
Trader's Village, 7979 North Eldridge Road
admission is free, $3 to park

- A Day in the Country Music Festival
If you need more recognizable names to show up to a country concert, this is the one for you. 93Q country radio station is putting on this event, which takes place outside of Houston on Saturday and features Jo Dee Messina, Tracy Byrd, et al. This might be a pretty good example of a "Texas" event, for better or for worse, for those of you who have out-of-town visitors this weekend.
A Day in the Country
Saturday May 19, 11AM-night
at the 6E Ranch in Damon, TX
admission is free, but you need a ticket

- Festival of Greece
Get your Greek on this weekend at the 12th Annual Festival of Greece at St. Basil's Greek Orthodox Church on the westside of town. Now this festival may be easily confused with the Greek Festival that Houstonist told you about back in October. However, this is the Festival of Greece, not the Greek Festival. Ponder that when you're shoving pita down your throat at the Gyro Eating Contest, which takes place at 7:30PM on Saturday (potential contestants should sign up). Fortunately, the gyros will be provided by Niko Niko's, which should make the challenge much less challenging.
Festival of Greece
May 17 - 20, morning to night
St. Basil the Great Greek Orthodox Church
1100 Eldridge Parkway, south of Memorial Drive
admission is $2

Even though the Festival of Greece starts today, May 17, you won't be able to attend until May 18. Why, you ask? Why, because tonight is the Houstonist Happy Hour! No gyros, but lots of heroes. Awww.