Embrace the Season
Photo courtesy of Dewberry Farms
As autumn approaches and temperatures cool (hopefully), the spirit of celebration comes alive in the heart of the Lone Star State. From the vibrant city streets of Austin to the rich cultural tapestry of San Antonio, and the bustling urban landscape of Houston, fall festivals are the perfect way to embrace the season. These events offer a chance to indulge in local flavors, enjoy live music and experience the unique traditions that define each region. Whether you're a family looking for a fun outing, a foodie looking to sample some new fare or you are simply looking to make the most of the season, there's a festival waiting for you this fall in Central Texas.
Texas Pumpkin Fest (Leander/Austin area)
October 4–31, weekends + Halloween | Admission: $15 | texaspumpkinfest.com
“Where joy is as abundant as the pumpkins!” If you love all things Halloween, don’t miss this festival that’s sure to get you in the spooky spirit. This is the largest pumpkin patch in the state, making it the perfect place to spend an afternoon wandering along the “Yellow Hay Road,” choosing your own pumpkins from a massive colorful array. With the festive fall decor, there are great photo ops all over the property. To facilitate your pumpkin-picking experience, wheelbarrows and wagons are available. They also sell carving kits. If a good scare is what you’re after, check out the Hall of Monsters, a terrifying indoor attraction, featuring state-of-the-art animatronics and props that will get your spine tingling. Other activities include zombie hayrides, pony rides, laser tag, pumpkin smashing, axe throwing, costume contests, a petting zoo and amusement park-style rides if all the monsters and horrors aren’t enough to get your adrenaline pumping. They also offer tasty food as well as kid-friendly and adult beverages to make sure the whole family stays fueled up.
Sweet Berry Farm’s Harvest of Fall Fun (Marble Falls area)
September 21–November 16 | Admission: Free! Just pay for activities you choose | sweetberryfarm.com
Enjoy old-fashioned family fun at Sweet Berry Farm in Marble Falls. Activities include corn mazes, pumpkin painting, scarecrow stuffing, flower picking and pony rides. The farm is home to many animals that visitors can interact with. On weekends in October, hot dogs, sandwiches and refreshments are available. And, of course, there’s a pumpkin patch full of pumpkins and gourds to buy and enjoy for the rest of autumn. This is a quintessential fall farm experience!
Gruene Music & Wine Fest (New Braunfels/San Antonio area)
October 10–13 | Admission: See below, prices vary | gruenemusicandwinefest.org
The Gruene Music & Wine Fest, benefiting the United Way of Comal County, is all about promoting Texas and Americana music and celebrating Texas wine and beer. Festivities start on Thursday with the free Kickoff Party at The Grapevine where visitors can enjoy live music and optional tastings for $45 per person. Friday features Stars and Guitars — a private concert plus meet-n-greet with the headliner, a full-service dinner catered by Gristmill River Restaurant, wine tastings and auction, Saturday is Tastings and Tunes. Admission to enjoy the live music is free and it’s $45 for 10 tasting tickets and a wine glass. Sunday features the Showdown that boasts a lineup of favorite Americana and country artists, pop-up market and food extravaganza.
Dewberry Farm Fall Festival (Brookshire/Houston area)
September 14 – November 3 + Boorific Nights every weekend September 28 through November 3 | Admission: $35 | dewberryfarm.com
Dewberry Farm’s original owners had a vision of transforming their property in Waller County into a top destination for family-friendly, farm-based fun. Today, Bryan and Jill Lank — along with their children and grandchildren — are continuing that legacy by providing unforgettable agriculture-focused experiences for visitors. During their Fall Festival, they offer an eight-acre Peanuts (the cartoon)-themed corn maze, a sizeable pumpkin patch, barnyard animals to interact with, a flower garden where you can pick wildflowers, rides galore, tasty treats and endless child-friendly activities. And when the sun sets, it’s time to get your scare on with BOOrific Nights. Depending on how much frightening fun you want to experience, you can opt for the Haunted Hollow’s Trail of Terror, Spooky Acres Creepy Corn Maze, The Freaky Fun Pit or The Haunted Barn. Wander among replica sets of favorite movies and shows like Beetlejuice and Stranger Things and life-sized lanterns of favorite “heroes of horror.” You can even do some axe-throwing with Jason from “Halloween.”
Old Time Christmas Tree Farm Fall Family Fun (Spring/Houston area)
Weekends in October $10 + Christmas Family Fun | oldtimechristmastree.com
Celebrate the entire holiday season, starting October 1, at this old-timey farm near Houston. In addition to a pumpkin patch, kids can enjoy hayrides and a petting zoo. This family farm is all about getting away for an afternoon and spending quality time with one another, browsing pumpkins, enjoying a variety of food and beverage vendors or engaging in one of their eight attractions. After Halloween celebrations are over, you can visit again for a picturesque country Christmas experience that includes cutting down your own tree. The farm grows and cares for their pine and Cypress trees year-round so your family can find a full, healthy, beautiful tree to enhance the warm fuzzy holiday feel in your home. Saws and measuring sticks are provided, so all you have to do is wander the farm until you find the tree that makes you hear angels sing (think “Christmas Vacation”)! If you’d rather not cut down your own tree, the farm offers a variety of pre-cut firs and spruces grown up north that are kept fresh in water. Throughout the season, there are also Christmas attractions and photos with Santa.
Texas Renaissance Festival (Todd Mission/Houston area)
Weekends from October 12 to December 1, including Thanksgiving Friday | Admission: Daily tickets, weekend and season passes, prices vary | texrenfest.com
Come celebrate the 50th year of the country’s largest Renaissance-themed festival! The festival offers a fantasy land of fairies, pirates and mythical creatures and 19 stages where you can take in a show of your choosing, losing yourself in another time and place. Activities and entertainment abound, including wine tastings, escape room adventures, scavenger hunts, a “Dragon Forging Experience” in which you wield the hammer to forge your own piece, tea and strumpets, jousting, magic, rides and over 400 shops! And with countless food and drink vendors, you will not go hungry! From refreshments like mead or hot cocoa to fun snacks like funnel cakes and beef jerky to Mexican, German, Italian cuisine and more … there is something for everyone. The 77 acres of festival grounds can be overwhelming to the Texas Renaissance Festival newcomer, so you can check out the website for a “Survival Guide for Newbies” as well as maps and details on all of the attractions and activities.
Tasting Texas Wine + Food Festival (San Antonio)
November 8-10 | Admission: Ticket prices vary for each day, see website for details | culinariasa.org/tasting-texas
This weekend of epicurean indulgence is a must for food and wine lovers. Enjoy live music; discussion panels; workshops on food and drink pairings; cooking classes; and samplings of wines, craft beers, cocktails and delectable bites from Texas chefs and restaurants. Proceeds benefit the James Beard Foundation and its grant program that supports culinary students in Texas. Tickets are available for the following events throughout the weekend:
• The Grand Tasting is “the ultimate exploration of all things wine, food and cocktails!” This is a casual experience in which visitors can stroll and sample food and drinks at their own pace, getting to know the makers and learning more about their products. You can also take advantage of educational seminars to enhance your cooking skills and learn more about pairing dishes with wine.
• The Becker Luncheon is a luxurious multi-course meal in which each course is thoughtfully paired with a Texas wine. Becker Vineyards, where the luncheon occurs, is a gorgeous and serene oasis surrounded by fields of flowers, lavender and grapevines.
• The Dinners each night are a great way to connect with fellow foodies while enjoying creative dishes invented by local and guest chefs.
San Antonio Beer Festival (San Antonio)
Saturday, October 19 | Admission: $45–100 | sanantoniobeerfestival.com
San Antonio’s original beer fest, founded in 2005, is a must for beer lovers. Going beyond local beers, offerings include over 400 premium and craft beers — porters, stouts, pilsners, ales, ciders, lagers and more — from over 150 breweries from around the world. A great way to soak up a beautiful autumn day, you can also enjoy music, games, local vendors, food trucks and wine. Visitors (21 and up only) are encouraged to bring blankets or chairs and relax for the afternoon. A portion of the proceeds benefit San Antonio Food Bank.
Dia de los Muertos at Hemisfair/Muertos Fest (San Antonio)
October 26-27 | Admissions: Free | muertosfest.com
This beloved celebration of the traditional Mexican holiday — named one of the 7 Best Fall Festivals in the country by National Geographic and one of the ten Great Day of the Dead Celebrations in the world by USA Today — offers a diverse array of food vendors, processions, music, dance and community-built altars. This year’s festival will be featured on the Cooking Channel’s nationally broadcast show “Carnival Eats!”
