As of 2010, Texas has a population of almost 25 million people, and of those, approximately 22 million people live in areas that qualify as "metropolitan," reports the U.S. Census Bureau. Therefore, you can say the "hearts of Texas" include Dallas, Houston, San Antonio and the state capital Austin. If you are a resident or just visiting the state on vacation, you can find events to attend that encompass a broad spectrum of interests.
Texas is known for football. From grade school to high school and college, to the Dallas Cowboys and the Houston Texans, football is revered throughout the state. During the fall, you can find football games on both college and pro levels on Saturday and Sunday, respectively; in addition, pro football games are sometimes played on Monday and Thursday. Other major sports franchises within the state include the NBA basketball teams, the San Antonio Spurs, Dallas Mavericks and the Houston Rockets. The NBA basketball season spans from October through June, depending on how the Texas teams perform in the play-offs. Fans of baseball can watch Major League teams play like the Texas Rangers and Houston Astros. Their seasons run from April through October. Finally, Texas has one National Hockey League team, the Dallas Stars. Their schedule spans October through June. Thousands of fans attend these teams' games every season.
Texas is known for barbecue, and barbecue events abound in the state. The terms "low and slow" describe how meat is cooked in the heart of Texas. A barbecue festival is held yearly in Vidor, Texas, during the last week of April, and people from around the state and country compete for the best barbecue. Wine lovers can visit Sugar Land, Texas, where the yearly Grand Wine and Food Affair takes place. Patrons can taste wine from more than 100 wineries while sampling high-end cuisine prepared by professional chefs. The Texas Rice Festival occurs each year in Winnie, Texas, which celebrates the rice harvest, a major economic force for the southeast portion of the state. Aside from rice-based dishes, you can enjoy carnival games, rides and a barbecue cook-off.
Texas offers a host of performing arts events. Whether you like state plays, musicals, comedians, ballet or live concerts, Texas provides venues that host all of these major acts. The City of Dallas features the Center for the Performing Arts, the Texas Ballet Theater, Dallas Children's Theater and the Improv. In the state capital Austin, the Austin Theater Alliance brings shows to the Paramount Theatre and State Theatre. Houston offers a number of locations to attend live shows such as the Houston Ballet, the Houston Grand Opera, the Alley Theater and the Houston Symphony.
Born out of the tradition of cattle herding, rodeo became an official sport in and around the Pecos area in 1883. Since then, the rodeo has become a beloved event that has helped define Texas culture. The Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association operates events throughout the state, where cowboys try to stay on broncos and take down bulls with a lasso. Other competitions, such as steer riding and speed obstacle courses, are typically part of the rodeo competition.
