Peaches, watermelons, blueberries. Heck, even oatmeal gets its only small-town festivities here in Texas. But the most delicious and therefore most important food gets its flowers every year, only a very short drive from Lubbock.
Slaton Bakery’s Banana Pudding Festival
Is there any beating ice-cold banana pudding on a hot summer day? Yes, there is: FOUR ice-cold puddings on a summer day. That’s what a Puddin’ Pass will get you at the annual Slaton Bakery’s Texas Banana Pudding Festival. In addition to pudding, there are vendors, classic cars, live music, and you get to enjoy beautiful downtown Slaton and the historic Slaton Bakery.
What To Expect In 2026
You always get 1 classic banana pudding with your pudding pass, and it’s Slaton Bakery’s own famous recipe. Two of the puddings will be a creative take on banana pudding (last year it was Strawberry and Banana and Knob Creek Bourbon Banana), and then a wild card pudding that doesn’t contain bananas- last year was Key Lime Pie. The “puddin’ path’ is an extra layer of fun, as you retrieve your various puddings at different stations, and yes, all the pudding is kept nice and cold no matter the temperature that day.
Fun Fact: The event itself is free to attend. And these folks have kept the puddin’ pass at only $25 for a whopping 20 ounces of pudding total, making it easy to share a pass if you wish. It is also thoughtfully packaged if you’d like to take it to-go, too.
Don’t Skip The Bakery
There’s going to be a line at the historic Slaton Bakery, but don’t skip it. The Slaton Bakery has been around for 103 years for a reason- it’s absolutely magical and charming, friendly and delicious. It feels like a bakery in a theme park, but a theme park could never match its authenticity. Even if you’re not a big sweets person, or you think you’ll be “puddin’ed out” they have plenty of other awesome items like savory breads, snacks, and pickles. I cannot pass up their signature cookies, particularly the peach flavor, which is truly special and perfect.
Bring Extra For Vendors
The vendors, every year, have been absolutely wonderful- from local wine to hand-sewn vintage clothing. There are food trucks, too, if you need something in your belly before or after you indulge in pudding.
Take Your Picture In The Banana, Unless You’re A Coward
It’s become a tradition for me, and I like to print out copies to hang in my coworkers’ offices. Everybody likes that!…