The Best Fall Activities in Texas

It is officially fall in Texas, which means bootie season, slightly cooler weather, and the return of pumpkin-flavored products in every respectable grocery chain ever (we’re looking at you, Trader Joe’s!).

While it might not be the same fall that the Northeast gets to enjoy, there are still a ton of things to celebrate about fall in Texas. We’ve rounded up a list of the best fall-related activities in Texas. Check it out below!

Get Lost in a Pumpkin Patch at Barton Hills Farms

Dates: Saturdays and Sundays until November 5

Website: http://www.bartonhillfarms.com/

This is the mother of all pumpkin patches. Barton Hills Farms is located between Austin and Bastrop on FM 969. With a 5-acre corn maze, farm animals that you can feed, an enormous pumpkin patch, music, activities and BBQ, it’s easy to see how you could make an entire day out of this little patch of wonderland.

Curl Up With a Good Book at the Texas Book Festival

When: 11/4 – 11/5

Website: https://www.texasbookfestival.org/

Nothing says fall like reading a good book with a cup of hot tea. The annual Texas Book festival features 250+ nationally and critically recognized authors and takes place across downtown Austin. Previous authors in attendance have included Margaret Atwood, Sandra Cisneros, Salman Rushdie, Cheryl Strayed and more. This year’s lineup includes a really famous dude by the name of Tom Hanks. You may have heard of him.

Satisfy Your Sweet Tooth at Henrietta Creek Orchard

When: Mid-September through October

Website: http://www.henriettacreekorchard.com/index.html

Henrietta Creek Orchard is an absolute behemoth of an orchard, with over 500 hybrid dwarf apple trees and around 200 peach trees. They also have a “pizza garden” (yeah, we freaked out too) with tomatoes, peppers, garlic and other herbs.  

Twist and Turn in the South Texas MAiZE

Dates: Open through November 26

Website: http://www.southtexasmaize.com/

Located in Hondo, Texas, this twisty corn maze is 7-acres long and takes more than an hour to complete. When you finish up with the maze, check out the two jumping pillows, mountain slide, hayrides, trains and all the food you could ever possibly hope for.

Texas Renaissance Fair

Dates: September 30 – November 26

Website: https://www.texrenfest.com/

Want to get weird? The Texas Ren Fair is officially the largest Renaissance theme park in the nation. The fair takes place on 55 acres northwest of Houston, Texas, and draws hundreds of thousands every year for shops, art, crafts, food and drinks, events and daily performances.

Get beer and sausage happy for Oktoberfest at Wurstfest

Dates: late October through mid-November

Website: https://wurstfest.com/

Wurstfest is deliciously described as a “10-Day Salute to Sausage.” Each year, thousands descend upon New Braunfels for music, brats, turkey legs, dancing and a dose of Texas-German culture.  

Get Outside

Dates: Year-round

The beauty of Texas is that even when it’s supposed to be cold, it’s not that cold. (Unless you live in the Panhandle.) Take advantage of the cooler temps by getting outside, whether it’s for a quick day hike, a weekend camping trip, or a little bit of both! Lost Maples State Park, Colorado Bend State Park and Big Bend are guaranteed to be absolutely gorgeous this time of year.

Attend a Football Game

You literally can’t spell “football” without “fall,” and football season in Texas is a beautiful thing indeed. Tis the season to wear a jersey, grab a beer and roar for your favorite team with a few thousand of your closest friends. Not too keen on getting out for a game? You could always binge watch Friday Night Lights instead.