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Fall Festivals
Fun happenings this season
Make the most of the cooling temperatures and the spirit of autumn by heading to one of the many fall festivals Houston has to offer.
Celebrate fall festivities at the Houston Zoo during Zoo Boo. (Photo courtesy of the Houston Zoo)
Houston Zoo, 6200 Hermann Park Dr.
Oct. 1-31, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; Zoo Boo After Hours each Friday in October until 8:30 p.m.
$19.95-$22.95
Party animals and ghouls come together for the Houston Zoo’s annual Zoo Boo festival in which visitors can experience a pumpkin lantern tunnel, an immersive dance floor, and carved pumpkins galore. Costumes are strongly encouraged.
National Museum of Funeral History, 415 Barren Springs Dr.
Oct. 1-31, Open Monday-Friday: 10 a.m.- 4 p.m.; Saturday: 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sunday: 12 p.m.-5 p.m.
$5
Get up close and personal with spooky spirits in this family-friendly haunted house. Recommended for age 7+.
CityCentre, 800 Town and Country Blvd.
Oct. 1, 11 a.m.-9 p.m.; Oct. 2, 11 a.m.-8 p.m.
Free admission. All ages are welcome to relax in the plaza. Guests 21+ can buy alcoholic drinks. Nonalcoholic drinks are available for purchase as well.
CityCentre is hosting its first Biergarten, Oct. 1-2, and will draw beer aficionados and football fans to enjoy specialty Oktoberfest drinks and screens to watch college and professional games all day long. Cheers!
Enjoy Greek culture - including authentic Greek food, live music and dance - at this annual festival.
Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral, 3511 Yoakum Blvd.
Oct. 6, 5 p.m.-10 p.m.; Oct. 7-8, 11 a.m.-10 p.m.
$5 adults; children 12 and under admitted free. Free admission Oct. 7, 11 a.m.-3 p.m.
Immerse yourself in Greek culture through authentic Greek food, live music, dance programs, Cathedral tours, crafts and gifts, and more.
Miller Outdoor Theatre, 6000 Hermann Park Dr.
Oct. 6-8, 7 p.m. each night
Free
Experience a night of Chicano music, influenced by a variety of styles including tejano, rock and roll, rhythm and blues, mariachi, and much more. Thursday performers will be Jay Perez and David Farias Band; Friday performers will be Elida Reyna y Avante and La Fiebre; and Saturday performers are Little Joe y La Familia and Ram Herrera.
Discovery Green’s new art installation, Mi Casa, Your Casa by Esrawe + Cadena, features 16 glowing house-like play structures where visitors are invited to sit, swing, and relax together. (Photo: Shawinigan - Creos)
Mi Casa, Your Casa Installation
Discovery Green, 1500 McKinney St.
Oct. 8-Nov. 14
Free
Discovery Green’s new art installation, Mi Casa, Your Casa by Esrawe + Cadena, features 16 glowing house-like play structures where visitors are invited to sit, swing, and relax together. The opening night celebration takes place on Sat., Oct. 8, 6-10 p.m. and will include performances such as acrobatic dance group Lifted by Mimbre. Other special events throughout the fall include arts and crafts activities for kids and a sing and dance-along with Encanto characters.
The 50th Annual Bayou City Art Festival, produced by Art Colony Association, Inc., draws more than 220 national and international artists for a weekend full of art, food, music, and entertainment. (Photo: Catchlight Group)
Bayou City Art Festival - Downtown
Sam Houston Park, 1000 Bagby St.
Oct. 8-9, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
$15 for adults; $5 for children 6-12; children under five are free
The 50th Annual Bayou City Art Festival will draw more than 220 national and international artists for a weekend full of art, food, music, and entertainment. Bayou City Art Festival, produced by Art Colony Association, Inc., benefits local nonprofits; this year, a portion of proceeds will go to ArtReach, Fresh Arts, Orange Show for Visionary Art, Second Servings, The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, and The Women’s Fund for Health Education and Resiliency.
The Powder Keg Houston, 1300 Brittmoore Rd.
Oct. 15, 2-6 p.m.
Free; tickets available for beer tastings and separate registration charge for dog costume contests
Assemble your best furry and human friends together for Barktoberfest, an event benefiting Houston Pets Alive!. Enjoy local beer, food trucks, a dog costume contest, a vendor market, dog adoptions, and more.
PUMPKIN SEASON Nature Discovery Center’s Pumpkin Patch Fall Festival, Oct. 15-16, offers pounds of pumpkins to choose from, plus carnival games, concession stands, opportunities to meet animals, and family photo opps. (Photo: Rachel Cruz Auwarter)
Nature Discovery Center, 7112 Newcastle
Oct. 15-16, 11 a.m.-4 p.m.
Free
Fulfill your pumpkin picking fantasies by heading over to Nature Discovery’s Pumpkin Patch Fall Festival with tens of thousands of pounds of pumpkins to choose from, in addition to carnival games, concessions, opportunities to meet animals, family photo opps, and more.
ALL TREATS The ArBOOretum event at Houston Arboretum and Nature Center features fun fall activities, including a trick-or-treat nature trail (pictured), a pumpkin patch, Halloween market, petting zoo, pony rides, train rides, pumpkin decorating, and more. (Photo: Christine Mansfield, Houston Arboretum)
Houston Arboretum & Nature Center, 4501 Woodway Dr.
Oct. 15, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Free for children under 3; $15 presale for ages 3 and up; $20 for nonmembers ages 3 and up at the door
Head to the Houston Arboretum for their 20th annual fall festival and take advantage of a host of activities, including a trick-or-treat nature trail, pumpkin patch, Halloween market, carnival swings, petting zoo and pony rides, pumpkin decorating, and train rides.
Colonial Park, 4130 Byron St.
Oct. 21, 5:30-7 p.m.
Free
This annual Halloween celebration has everything including pumpkin decorating, face painting, and costume contests. Top off this celebration by staying for a spooky movie screening in the park, 7-9 p.m.
Discovery Green, 1500 McKinney St.
Oct. 22, 11 a.m.-10 p.m.
Free
K-Fest provides incredible free performances including folk musicians, TaeKwonDo masters, and traditional Korean dancers, as well as delicious food.
The Great Pumpkin Hunt in Bellaire
Bellaire Town Square Great Lawn & Pavilion
7008 S. Rice Ave.
Oct. 27, 4 p.m.- 5:30 p.m.
Free
Scour Bellaire Town Square for candy and prize-filled pumpkins, starting at 4:30 p.m., and be sure to wear your spookiest costume. There will be music, games, and more.
Discovery Green, 1500 McKinney St.
Oct. 28, 6 p.m.-10 p.m.
Free
Celebrate Halloween with a costume contest, music, fun prizes, and a screening of Monster House at Discovery Green.
King & Spalding’s annual West University Halloween Dash takes place Oct. 29 starting at the West U Community Building.
West U Halloween Dash and Kids Fun Run
West U Community Building, 6104 Auden St.
Oct. 29, 6:45 a.m.-9:30 a.m.
5K Registration: early - $35; same day - $40
Kids’ Fun Run Registration: early - $30; same day - $35
Race to register for King & Spalding’s annual West University Halloween Dash and come dressed in your favorite creepy costume for the 5K and Kids’ Fun Run.
Asia Society Texas, 1370 Southmore Blvd.
Nov. 4, 6-10 p.m.
Free
Experience an East and Southeast Asian inspired street market complete with Bollywood and K-pop dance performances, artistic activities, food, and more.
10th Annual Houston Margarita Festival
The Water Works in Buffalo Bayou, 105 Sabine St.
Nov. 5, 12-10 p.m.
Tickets start at $20
Celebrate this popular mixed beverage with other enthusiasts and be sure to cast your vote for your favorite margarita from the participating bars and restaurants. Top your night off by enjoying live music including mariachi, Latin salsa, and reggae.
Worth the Drive
Blessington Farms is open for fall family fun, Saturdays and Sundays, Sept. 17-Nov. 20.
Blessington Farms Fall Festival and Pumpkin Patch
Blessington Farms, 510 Chisolm Trail, Wallis, TX 77485
Saturdays and Sundays through Nov. 20, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
General admission: $24; Senior Citizens: $18; Children under 2: free
Blessington Farms offers family-friendly fall festival staples, including hayrides and giant slides. A newer venture is a walk-through aviary.
Austin City Limits will take place over two weekends in Zilker Park and features more than 100 performers at 9 different stages. (Photo: Todd Owyoung for ACL)
Zilker Park, 2100 Barton Springs Rd., Austin, TX 78704
Oct. 7-9, 14-16
Tickets start at $145
ACL features a variety of musical acts with 9 different stages and over 100 performers. Headliners include: The Chicks, SZA, P!NK, Lil Nas X, Wallows, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Kacey Musgraves, and more. Check out the full lineup on their website. The ACL Eats Food Court will be offering tacos, brews, vegan selections and other delicious options from all around Austin.
Travel back in time to the Renaissance age by experiencing the 48th annual Texas Renaissance Festival. (Photo courtesy of Texas Renaissance Festival)
Texas Renaissance Festival grounds, 21778 FM 1774, Todd Mission, TX 77363
Weekends Oct. 8-Nov. 27 & Thanksgiving Friday, 2022 (Nov. 25), 9 a.m.-8 p.m.
Ticket prices vary; kids under 12 get free admission on Sunday
Travel back in time to the Renaissance age by experiencing the 48th annual Texas Renaissance Festival. An abundance of entertainment, food and drink, shopping, and other activities are available to attendants, all of which are fit for a king or queen. Themed weekends include Oktoberfest (Oct. 8-9); 1001 Dreams (Oct. 15-16); Pirate Adventure (Oct. 22-23); All Hallows Eve (Oct. 29-30); Heroes and Villains (Nov. 5-6); Barbarian Invasion (Nov. 12-13); Highland Fling (Nov. 19-20); and Celtic Christmas (Nov. 25-27).
Dewberry Farm, FM 362 & Morrison Rd., Brookshire, TX 77423
Sept. 24-Nov. 13; Tuesday-Friday from 9 a.m.-2 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. -9 p.m., and Sunday 11 a.m.-6 p.m.
$34.95-$41.95
With over 40 attractions to choose from, including riding the Dewville Express, running through the corn maze, and more, there is something for everyone at Dewberry Farm’s Fall Festival.
Browse a wide selection of artwork and enjoy food and entertainment in Galveston’s Historic Downtown Cultural Arts District at ARToberFEST. (Photo: Kathy VanDewalli)
Galveston’s Historic District, Postoffice St., between 21st and 23rd
Oct. 15, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Oct. 16, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Virtual event hours through Oct. 31.
$5; free for kids under 12
ARToberFEST is an outdoor fine arts festival displaying the masterpieces of over 120 artists. Browse a wide selection of artwork, meet the artists, and enjoy food and entertainment in Galveston’s Historic Downtown Cultural Arts District.
Editor’s note: Browse our online event calendar for more upcoming happenings.
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