Annual Events

Rice Festival

Our Bay City Lion's Club Rice Festival celebrates the agricultural accomplishments of rice farmers whose history stretches back to 1899 in Matagorda County. Since 1945, the Bay City Lion's Club has sponsored the four-day Rice Festival with carnival rides, a concert, rice dish competitions, a Rice Queen and Court and a Parade.

Matagorda County Rodeo

Each year we all get together at the Matagorda County Fairgrounds to enjoy the PRCA rodeo and everything from cook offs and calf scrambles to barrel racing and bull riding.

Pedal Palacios

Just down the road in Palacios a community of bicyclists get together every fall to pedal scenic routes of 12, 26 or even 60 miles enjoying views of water, birds and great landscape. The Pedal Palacios event supports local biking and hiking trails and tourism education.

Texas Paddlers' Rally on the River

Every spring, Riverside Park in Bay City comes alive with boating enthusiasts from all over who grab their kayaks, canoes, rafts and row boats to join a float trip down the Colorado River. The Texas Paddlers' Rally on the River event also includes live music and kids events in the park.

Wild Game and Wine Camofest

Wild Game and Wine Camofest is held in January in Historic Downtown Bay City. The annual Camofest is January 27,2024 from 1-6 pm. Cooking “guides” will provide locally caught samples of wild game, fish and fowl and food inspired by Texas wines. Festival goers will enjoy samples of wine from local wineries, live entertainment, shopping with festival specialty vendors, Texas beer and wine and activities for the kids. The "welcome mat" will be out at as the many retail merchants of Downtown Bay City open their doors with discounts and specials. CAMOFEST highlights our one of a kind Downtown Bay City and Matagorda County as the “gateway to the great outdoors".