Fall Celebrations in Texas: Top Events and Activities You Don’t Want to Miss

Participation

San Antonio area

Celebration of the Day of the Dead

Día de los Muertos in San Antonio, the largest Day of the Dead celebration in the United States, returns October 25-November 3 with vibrant parades, altar displays and cultural performances. The Dead River Day Parade On October 25, there will be richly decorated floats floating on the San Antonio River, gathering thousands of people to honor the memory of loved ones. Community altars were set up throughout the city in various locations such as Market Square, the San Antonio Museum of Art, and local businesses. These ofrendas they are decorated with photographs, flowers, candles and offerings in honor of deceased loved ones. Visitors can participate in these traditions by adding their own input or simply observing the beautiful displays. Muertos Festival (October 26-27) returns to the Hemisfair district for the 11th time a year of celebrations with a two-day celebration.

Dead River Day Parade at the Westin Riverwalk

Buy tickets to celebrate the spooky season at The Westin Riverwalk in San Antonio, where they host their annual Day of the Dead River Parade on October 25. Enjoy prime seating along the Riverwalk for the best views of the parade, indulge in gourmet cuisine and cocktails, and delight in live music, stilt walking, sugar skull face painting, and other fun surprises.

Fright Fest at Six Flags Fiesta in Texas

Fright Fest Six Flags Fiesta in Texas is a popular event for thrill-seekers. Open on selected days September 7 – November 3, Fright Fest offers haunted attractions, themed rides and scare zones. NEW places for this year’s edition are:

• Stranger things – Students from the Hawkins School District decide to band together to create a little innocent Halloween fun for their community – but everything quickly turns upside down and turns into something much darker.
• The Summoning Universe – Buckle up and take a tour of the Warrens’ most chilling and gruesome cases, including those that inspired The Conjuring, Annabelle and The Nun. In any investigation, encounters with cursed artifacts make you a target for possession.

Provecho! Food festival

Food lovers will be able to enjoy the flavors of San Antonio on October 2 in ¡Provecho! Food Festival that celebrates the city’s diverse culinary scene. The event, hosted by the San Antonio Hospitality Foundation, will be held on the University of Texas at San Antonio Southwest campus from 6 p.m. Guests will be able to visit various culinary stations and enjoy a variety of exquisite dishes prepared by talented chefs and culinary students.

San Antonio Beer Festival

The 18th annual San Antonio Beer Festival, the city’s original beer celebration, will be held on Saturday, October 19 at Crockett Park. Festival-goers can expect hundreds of premium and craft beers from breweries around the world, as well as music, food, games and more. Buy tickets Now! A portion of the proceeds goes to the San Antonio Food Bank.

Stable Stein Fest: Oktoberfest celebration

Enjoy free admission to Oktoberfest celebrations in the Stable Hall with traditional polka music, German snacks, Stein Holding competitions, raffle tickets and more. Stable Stein Fest: Oktoberfest celebrations will take place on Saturday, October 5 from 1:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Although this event is FREE, you must RSVP on the TIXR website HERE. The principle is “first come, first served”. The number of places is limited. RSVP does not guarantee entry. Guests may use the open picnic table areas on a first-come, first-served basis.

Bryan College Station

Great Escapes RV Resort – Halloween Themed Weekends

The recently expanded Great Escapes Bryan-College Station offers attractions, activities and accommodations on more than 80 acres for families. Special Halloween themed weekends run from now until October 27. Pumpkin painting and other thematic arts and crafts will stimulate children’s creativity. Games will include a variety of challenges, from pumpkin rolls and spider races to monster bingo and candy counting. Guests with the most creative costumes will be awarded prizes, as will those with the best window decorations.

With Halloween, fall in Bryan College Station means Aggie football. Great Escapes is a great place for football weekends. Don’t have tickets? Experience all the excitement with other guests as they open the trunk Texas style.

Austin

Werewolf costume and dog paw competition

Does your dog have the best costume? Then head to Meanwhile Brewing Co. on October 30 for a fun-filled evening of support Happy Hearts Dog Rescue! Get to know All about the dog market featuring local vendors and dog-friendly activities, all set to music DJ Kurt Lammers . Shop local treats, leashes, collars, bandanas and more! The fun starts at 6:00 p.m. RSVP Here.

Bastrop

Hyatt Regency Lost Pines Resort & Spa – Fall Harvest Festival

Lost Pines, a Texas resort located on the banks of the Lower Colorado River, is the perfect place for those who want to experience the best of fall. From seasonal culinary delights to outdoor adventures like golf, stargazing and horseback riding, there are activities for the whole family. On October 12, guests are invited to celebrate the season at the annual fall festival, which includes hayrides, an expansive pumpkin patch, face painting, exciting games and a festive menu, and fall-inspired infusions and cocktails.

Country of hills

50th anniversary of the Texas chainsaw massacre

Hooper’s Restaurant, a restaurant in Kingsland, Texas, is excited to host a celebration on October 26 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the 1974 horror classic “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre.” Hooper’s headquarters in the iconic house from the movieand will host a weekend full of unique experiences.

This event will feature your favorite Texas Chainsaw Massacre actors and co-stars: Roger Bartlett, Ed Guinn, Teri McMinn, John Dugan, Bill Vail, Ed Neal and Allen Danzinger. Come listen to live music, see the haunted house, take photos, buy spooky merchandise, eat themed food and enjoy a classic horror movie show at The Lawn. BYOC – Bring your own chair or blanket to enjoy music and movies on The Lawn. Enter one of the costume contests taking place throughout the weekend for a chance to win limited edition Texas Chainsaw Massacre gear. Wristbands include access to all weekend events at Hooper’s and The Lawn. Buy wristbands Here.

Fort Worth area

Texas wildlife dealers at the Fort Worth Zoo

A unique interactive experience for children is a newly introduced, one-of-a-kind experience Texas Nature Traders Program at the Fort Worth Zoo. Kids from across the Lone Star State can bring to the zoo any items they find outdoors, from antlers, horns and snakeskin sheds to intriguing rocks and shells. Program members can “trade” their natural discovery for points or another found item in the collection, encouraging outdoor exploration and learning about wildlife conservation.

The Fort Worth Zoo also offers exciting vendor tasks that you can complete at home to earn more points, including: hiking, recognizing different species of insects, volunteering for your local communityand more.

Halloween Festival at Fort Worth Stockyards Treat Street

On October 31, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., the Stockyards will come alive with the magic of Halloween Treat Street – Spooky Halloween Festival in the Stockyards! Enjoy trick-or-treating for kids 12 and under, hay rides, face painting, spooky Legend of Texas displays, and a costume contest on the Exchange Lawn. Don’t miss the Halloween fun!

Ghost tour of the shipyards

Fancy some extra fear? Due to their rich past, paranormal phenomena reported in the Fort Worth shipyards are among the most active in the USA. Visitors can take part in The Stockyards Ghost Tour, a 90-minute walking tour that will share stories of the paranormal as well as a detailed history of the district – the Bordello brothel, legendary shootings, hangings and much more.

Vine

Great Wolf Lodge Howl-O-Ween Grapevine

Great Wolf Lodge is bringing spooky season to its resorts to celebrate the most haunted time of the year, Howl-O-Ween. Throughout October, families can join the pumpkin patch in a variety of seasonal celebrations designed to get everyone in the family into the Halloween spirit. This year’s spooky event will feature the family favorite Trick or Treat Trail, Monster Bash Dance Party, Howl-O-Ween Arts and Crafts, and more!

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Cover photo by Kelly Jean on Unsplash