Big As Texas Fest is coming to Montgomery May 10-12, 2024. Aside from the amazing line-up of artists, dozens of vendors and artisans and immersive art installations, there’s even more to the festival that we are excited to share with you. We had the opportunity to chat with festival co-founder, Trey Diller, to learn even more about the festival and the mission behind it.
Hi Trey! Thanks so much for taking the time to chat with us. Before we dive into learning about Big As Texas, let’s get to know you a little better!
Wonderful. I’m Trey – a lifelong Montgomery County resident. My entire family is here! My father’s businesses are in the area, my mother has been a teacher with CISD for 15 years and my youngest sister is also a teacher. My middle sister is an esthetician at Galindo’s, and you’ll often find me there getting a haircut!
I love Montgomery County and everything it has to offer. I love bringing people together, spreading good vibes and positivity to as many people as possible. Music is one way to do this and lucky for me, my professional life and personal life have some cross over. Some of my favorite local restaurants are Baja Cantina within The Woodlands Waterway, Pallotta’s Italian Grill in Oak Ridge North and Johnny’s Italian Steakhouse – it is a true hidden gem in Shenandoah! Another favorite is Dosey Doe – you just can’t go wrong.
Such great spots and thanks for that tip on Johnny’s Italian Steakhouse – sounds like an amazing date night spot! As we’ve learned, Big As Texas is not your first rodeo. Can you tell us a bit of your history and what led you to Big As Texas?
My company, Inspire Productions, is a local full-service event planning, entertainment and production company, and was born from my entrepreneurial spirit that started at a young age. After college football and a short stint in the NFL, I started putting together events in the area like Woodlands Sole Expo, which was a great start for me. After that, I started Beyond the Pines, a country music festival in The Woodlands and there really wasn’t anything like that event happening in the area. We did Truck or Treat, which brought out close to 10,000 people. After the success of those events and a few more sprinkled between them, I decided it was time to do this full time. I’ve since produced 70+ music/food/family-friendly events in Texas.
I’ve been working with my partners Steve Said of Dosey Doe (pictured on left with me on right) and Robert Marling, on Big As Texas festival since September of 2022. We are so excited and pumped to bring this caliber of entertainment to our backyard.
The line up for May looks amazing and we know so many families are looking forward to it. However, when we first spoke to you we learned that there was much more behind the reason for this event. Let’s dive into that a bit more.
Definitely. The artists we have for this three day festival are top-notch. And that’s what is going to bring people in. But you’re right – there is much more behind the event. Not only is Montgomery County one of the fastest growing counties in the country, but it is also facing an unprecedented epidemic with rapidly rising rates of suicide deaths. This is an alarming statistic that not enough people are talking about. Can you imagine if everyone who has been personally impacted by a suicide death did something to bring attention to the cause? What a difference that could make.
With Big As Texas, we aren’t just looking to throw a party. We are looking to raise money and make an impact. Make a change for the people in our backyard. We’re donating 10% of net proceeds from each individual ticket sold to a number of non-profit organizations that promote suicide death prevention both in Montgomery County and across Texas.
That’s amazing that you are addressing this issue head on. What else sets Big As Texas apart from other events?
It’s family-friendly! I’m a very family-oriented guy, and so are my partners. We wanted this to be something families can enjoy together. All ages are welcome, 10 and under are free. It’s not just music – it’s food, art, installations, vendors, activities and more. People will have a chance to learn about the organizations that are here in our area helping people (just a sampling of them are pictured here – click for the full list). Our goal is to bring as much awareness to mental health and suicide as possible. We want to inform this county about the organizations and services that are joining together to help others.
Big As Texas is going to be a Montgomery County honky-tonk experience that no one has ever done or seen. We’ll have limited glamping opportunities and fully-furnished RVs, limited number of elevated/shaded cabanas – going to be a great time for everyone!
Aside from having a great time at the event, what do you hope patrons take away after attending?
I hope they take away the fact that talking about this topic can make a difference. I’m hoping people become a little more vulnerable, and I hope they know we are in a crisis. Suicide can affect everyone – it isn’t limited to male or female, old or young. Not talking about it isn’t going to help. I also hope the organizations we’ve partnered with can get more support and visibility from the community. All in all, I want Big As Texas to be something the community looks forward to and grows with.