Panda Fest Returns to Dallas With 150+ Asian Street Foods

<p>Across much of Asia, the best eating happens standing up: on a night-market lane in Taipei, at a charcoal grill in Bangkok, in the steam of a stall that has spent years perfecting a single dish. Dallas doesn’t have that infrastructure, so for one weekend it borrows the format. Panda Fest returns to Carpenter Park, 2201 Pacific Avenue in downtown Dallas, from Friday, November 6, through Sunday, November 8, 2026, with more than 60 Asian food vendors serving over 150 street food options.

Hours are 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Friday, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Sunday. Advance general admission is $14 and VIP is $35, with Saturday tickets running $2 more. Gate admission is $20 plus tax and subject to capacity, with advance ticket holders getting priority entry. Children under 6 get in free.

This is the festival’s second year in Dallas, and founder Xuan “BiuBiu” Xu says the city gave Panda Fest “such an incredible welcome last year” that a return was an easy call. Xu built New York’s Dragon Fest before launching Panda Fest in 2024 as a one-day event called Panda Day. In its first year, the festival staged 13 events across 11 cities and drew more than 500,000 people.

The economics are worth noting. Food runs from $7 to $25, every vendor offers at least one item under $10, and Panda Fest takes no percentage of food sales, so the money goes straight to the small businesses doing the cooking. For an operator working a three-day booth, keeping every sale is no small thing.

The local contingent is the place to start. CupBop began as a Salt Lake City food truck in 2013 and built a national following by stacking rice, noodles, slaw, and grilled protein in a cup under house sauces. The name comes from bap, the Korean word for steamed rice. VK Delicious Khmer represents Cambodian cooking, a cuisine built on kroeung, the pounded lemongrass paste that gives it a herbal, sour-salty character distinct from its Thai and Vietnamese neighbors.

The traveling vendors bring the spectacle. Le Poke packs sushi into push-pop tubes, a format designed for the phone camera as much as the appetite. King Squid brings giant grilled squid, a fixture of night markets from Taipei to Bangkok. Mumu Sweet makes Japanese soufflé pancakes, the tall, trembling stacks that rise on whipped egg whites and can’t be hurried.

Every performer on the Dallas program is local this year, with J-pop and anime performances, dragon dancing, and kung fu exhibitions on the schedule. The full entertainment lineup will be announced closer to the festival. Between sets, the grounds hold a merchandise market, activities for kids, and panda installations at nearly every turn.

Those pandas have a collector’s angle. General admission includes a custom pin and a panda headband, and the pin carries a new panda design created specifically for Dallas, part of the festival’s tradition of a fresh city design each year. VIP adds a bag, fast-pass entry, and access to exclusive VIP areas and restrooms. All tickets are non-refundable, and general admission covers a single entry during the time slot you select.

A few house rules apply. Strollers are allowed, and friendly dogs are welcome if they’re leashed, vaccinated, and kept away from food areas. Outside food and drinks aren’t permitted, with exceptions for medical dietary items, infant formula, and one factory-sealed water bottle of up to 16.9 ounces per guest. Smoking and vaping are prohibited on the grounds.

Carpenter Park itself makes a fitting host. The 5.75-acre park reopened in May 2022 on the eastern edge of downtown, near Deep Ellum and Old East Dallas, reclaiming a corner once boxed in by highway and surface parking. It sits directly across from DART’s East Transfer Center, and organizers encourage rideshare and carpooling, with paid parking available at nearby lots including Lot 185 at 2018 Pacific Avenue and Lot 23 at 2306 Pacific Avenue.

Go hungry, bring people willing to split everything, and treat the sub-$10 tier as a tasting menu rather than a consolation prize. Advance tickets for Panda Fest Dallas 2026 are on sale now, and at a few dollars under the gate price, they’re the obvious call.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is Panda Fest Dallas 2026?

Panda Fest Dallas takes place at Carpenter Park, 2201 Pacific Avenue, Dallas, TX 75201, on the eastern edge of downtown Dallas near Deep Ellum and Old East Dallas.

What are the dates and hours for Panda Fest Dallas?

The festival runs Friday, November 6, 2026, from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m.; Saturday, November 7, from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.; and Sunday, November 8, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

How much are tickets to Panda Fest Dallas?

Advance general admission is $14 and VIP admission is $35, with Saturday tickets priced $2 higher. Gate admission is $20 plus tax and depends on capacity. All tickets are non-refundable.

Where can I buy Panda Fest Dallas tickets?

Advance tickets are sold through Eventbrite, which is linked from the official Panda Fest website at pandafests.com. Advance ticket holders receive priority entry over gate buyers.

Do kids need a ticket for Panda Fest?

Children under 6 get in free and receive a panda headband. Children 6 and older need a ticket, and strollers are allowed.

Is there a phone number for Panda Fest Dallas?

Panda Fest does not publish a phone number. Questions can be sent to customer@pandafests.com, and updates are posted on social media at @pandafestdallas.

How much does food cost at Panda Fest Dallas?

Food items range from $7 to $25, and every vendor offers at least one item under $10. Panda Fest takes no percentage of food sales, so revenue goes directly to the vendors.

Where do I park for Panda Fest Dallas?

Paid parking is available at nearby lots, including Lot 185 at 2018 Pacific Avenue, Lot 21 at 2218 Elm Street, Lot 12 at 2203 Elm Street, Lot 23 at 2306 Pacific Avenue, and Lot 10 at 2201 Main Street. Organizers encourage rideshare and carpooling, and Carpenter Park sits directly across from DART’s East Transfer Center.

Can I bring my dog to Panda Fest?

Yes. Friendly dogs are welcome if they are leashed, well-behaved, vaccinated, and kept away from food preparation and eating areas.

Can I bring outside food or drinks?

No outside food or beverages are allowed. Exceptions include medical dietary items, baby formula and milk for infants and toddlers, and one factory-sealed water bottle of up to 16.9 ounces per guest.