The Red River Rivalry at the Fair Park Cotton Bowl is one of college football’s most electrifying spectacles, split dead-center down the 50-yard line. If you aren’t making the trek north up I-45 to Dallas, Houston offers plenty of high-octane venues to take in the drama, complete with massive LED screens, game day sound, cold craft beer, and mouthwatering Texas eats wherein to watch the Red Rivalry in Houston.
Karbach Brewing Co.
The Karbach Biergarten, at 2032 Karbach Street (77092), hosts a free watch party from 12 to 6 p.m.
The schedule runs like this:
12 to 2 p.m.: Pose for a photo with a live Longhorn steer. Guests who RSVP can also pick up free BBQ samples from three Texas Monthly Top 50 BBQ joints, while supplies last.
2 to 2:30 p.m.: The University of Texas Longhorn Alumni Band performs ahead of kickoff.
During the game: Surprise BBQ samplings from an acclaimed Texas BBQ brand, again while supplies last.
Guests 21 and over can buy Karbach beers to drink during the game, including ZiegenBock, Karbach Lager, Love Street, Hopadillo and Karbachtoberfest. Entry costs nothing, but you’ll need to RSVP for free online. Find more details on the event page.
Little Woodrow’s
Little Woodrow’s has several Houston locations with big screens, so you can follow every snap of the game with bar food and a long list of cold beers. Between quarters, the patios have yard games to keep you busy until play resumes.
The Midtown location, at 2306 Brazos Street, runs an “early birds get the brisket” event starting at 11 a.m. The first 60 guests who show Texas Exes credentials get a free chopped brisket sandwich, so arrive early if you plan to claim one.
Truckyard
Truck Yard is hosting a special watch party for the Red River Rivalry this weekend, screening the matchup on big screens with full audio and a live DJ spinning during commercial breaks. Food trucks and the venue’s full kitchen run throughout the event, and dogs are welcome to join.
Guests 21 and older can sign up on-site for a free quarterly squares game. Prizes scale up as the game progresses, awarding gift cards ranging from $25 in the first quarter to $100 by the fourth.
Bungalow Heights
For you boomers, Bungalow Heights is the base for Oklahoma Sooners fans throughout the football season. The venue screens every game across wall-to-wall TVs and a large projection screen with full surround sound, offering both indoor and outdoor seating. In addition to food options and a full bar, the venue serves its own house remake of the Sooner Swirl Margarita.
The Pit Room
This season, The Pit Room is hosting watch parties for four of UT’s biggest match-ups. This weekend will be no different; here, UT fans can catch Red Rivalry on the hotspot’s many screens while enjoying top-notch barbecue and cold drinks.
If you want to catch the Red Rivalry game in a high-energy, big-screen setting, Kirby Ice House has four locations throughout the city—each with expansive backyards featuring giant jumbo screens and indoor TV layouts designed for great views from any angle.
The Houston Heights location boasts a 146-foot bar—currently the longest in Texas—while the Memorial and Upper Kirby destinations offer roughly 35,000 square feet of patio space. Leashed dogs are always welcome on the outdoor patios.
Patrons can enjoy a daily rotating selection of food trucks serving Texas barbecue, gourmet burgers, and Cajun dishes, alongside popular weekly steak nights. Events for groups of over 25 people require no rental fees or catering restrictions, giving you the flexibility to bring your own outside food or arrange personalized catering.
If you’re planning to catch the Red Rivalry in The Heights, head to Bayou Heights Bier Garten. Open from 8 am to 2 am daily, it takes its inspiration from fellow Kirby Group concept, Heights Bier Garten on North Shepherd. Key features include a 36-foot-long bar, floor-to-ceiling windows, and lounge seating. The patio and courtyard is equipped with plenty of seating, including swings and fire places.
If you’re looking to watch the Red Rivalry in the upper Heights, serve up good times with a side of sand volleyball at Wakefield Crowbar. The volleybar features 4 sand volleyball courts, plus a full kitchen, bar, and patio. You’ll also find a plethora of TVs all tuned into the wide world of sports. The patio is dog friendly and, until 10 pm, kid friendly.
For a game-day watch spot that feels a little more like a getaway, head to Patterson Park and immerse yourself in the nature at its Bayou-inspired rooftop deck and patio. With scenic Bayou and downtown vistas, Patterson Park emulates a treehouse fit with wood accents and lush accents both inside and outside the 4,000-square-foot patio and sports bar in Houston. The venue also features a rotating fleet of food trucks on the grounds.
If you’re watching the Red Rivalry game in the Galleria/Uptown area, Post Oak Ice House is a solid pick for exceptional cocktails and craft beers. The 11,000-square-foot indoor and outdoor space is pet-friendly and is outfitted with 200″ projectors and HDTVs so you can catch every detail of the game. Plenty of free parking. Children are welcome during the day.
