Fall is my favorite season. I admit, weather-wise, fall is not very long or memorable in Austin, but when it happens, it’s the best day! Fall is when Texans emerge from summer hibernation, breathe in the crisp air, and say “I can finally go outside without immediately starting to sweat!”
So, fill up your October and November with some of these things to do in Austin this fall.
1. Visit a pumpkin patch
Pumpkins and pumpkins as far as the eye can see! All of these places have pumpkins for purchase and photo opportunities. Most of them require an admission fee.
- Sweet Eats Fruit Farm in Georgetown
- Sweet Berry Farm in Marble Falls
- Texas Pumpkin Fest in Leander
- Pumpkin Fest in Dripping Springs
- Pumpkin Nights at Pioneer Farms
2. Go to a food event
Some popular annual events are coming up. Check your budget and buy your ticket!
- Austin Food and Wine Festival (November 1-3)
- Texas Monthly BBQ Fest (November 2-3)
- Texas Craft Brewers Festival (November 16)
3. Watch a Halloween or spooky movie
I don’t typically like scary movies, but I’m ok with ones that are a bit spooky. I’ve never watched Hocus Pocus or The Shining! The Nightmare Before Christmas and Beetlejuice are popular choices. Any other recommendations?
4. Carve or paint pumpkins
Get into the Halloween spirit by carving or decorating a pumpkin. Local grocery stores (the modern-day pumpkin patch) make it easy to get a pumpkin. They also carry carving kits. You can use the seeds and pulp for baking.
5. Eat on the patio
For the few months/weeks we Texans can enjoy patio eating, we take advantage of it! Here are a few Austin restaurant patio recommendations:
6. Watch football
Of course! In Austin, we’re cheering on our hometown Texas Longhorns, but Austinites have plenty of loyalties between NFL and college teams.
7. Celebrate Oktoberfest
Oktoberfest is an annual event in Munich, Germany celebrating Bavarian culture. It usually starts in mid-September and runs for two weeks. Oktoberfest beer, a type of lager, is a popular choice at breweries this time of year, and many places put on their own Oktoberfest festivities to celebrate.
- Easy Tiger and Banger’s are two beer gardens with Oktoberfest festivities and specials
- Live Oak Brewing Company, Meanwhile Brewing Co, Austin Beerworks, and St Elmo Brewing Company are a few local breweries that typically have events.
- Wurstfest (November 1-10) happens in New Braunfels annually. Think giant soft pretzels, bratwursts, and beer in steins while enjoying traditional music and dance.
For more info about breweries, see my ultimate Austin brewery guide.
8. Take a weekend getaway
The fall season can be overwhelming! Get away from Austin to relax and unwind. A wine-focused trip to Fredericksburg sounds fun or if you can hop on a plane, go to another state where you’ll experience some fall weather and colors. See this post for getaways from Austin.
9. Get outdoors
Spend some time outdoors in the beauty of nature! Catch the brief period the leaves change around Lady Bird Lake or visit some Texas parks known for their fall colors.
10. Live your best plant dreams
As the temperatures drop, we tend to stay indoors more often, which means time to cultivate our indoor plants. I’m planning to add more greenery to our home, including a tabletop herb garden, so this would be a good time to start. It’s also time to plant your fall and winter vegetables. Visit Succulent Native for their indoor plant selection.
11. Get scared at a haunted house
This year, House of Torment in Austin will scare you with three themed houses. They enhance the experience with scarier costumes and sets every year, so good luck trying not to be scared!
12. Start training for a run
Training season is here as runners prepare for the Decker Challenge (December), 3M Half-Marathon (January), and the Austin Marathon (February) in Austin. The cooler weather makes it an ideal time to run.
13. Join Dia de Muertos festivities
Día de Muertos (Day of the Dead) is a Mexican holiday celebrating friends and family who have died. It has nothing to do with Halloween other than the date; Día de Muertos is October 31 through November 2. The Mexic-Arte Museum’s annual festival and parade usually happen a few days before the holiday.
14. Shop for the holidays
Get an early start and shop local! Blue Genie Art Bazaar is one of my favorite places to browse local makers and it opens November 15th. Get more ideas for gifts in this post.
15. Take a haunted tour
Austin has its fair share of spooky locations. Want to know the creepy stories no one likes to talk about? Austin Ghost Tours offers downtown walking tours while Haunted ATX will take you to haunted locations in their hearse limo.
16. Try seasonal foods and drinks at restaurants
It’s everywhere! From lattes to cookies, you can indulge in pumpkin and spiced foods and drinks in restaurants and grocery stores. I love all the apple and cinnamon foods that Kerbey Lane provides in their pancakes and Lick Honest Ice Creams offers in their ice creams. Don’t forget seasonal cupcakes and pastries, so check your favorite local Austin bakery for Austin desserts.
Visit bars and breweries for seasonal drinks. Look for maple, cinnamon, apple, persimmon, and pear in your cocktails, as well as warm cocktails like hot toddies.
17. Give back to others
‘Tis the season! The holidays are a popular time to rally together to give back. You’ll find canned good drives, fundraising events, and more. Whether you give your time or money, here are some opportunities to consider:
- Austin Empty Bowl Project is a fundraiser for two local organizations fighting hunger. Donors create and decorate bowls for the event. The event is happening on Sunday, November 24. (This post features my experience a few years ago.)
- Operation Turkey delivers meals around the city on Thanksgiving Day.
- The Coats for Kids event gathers over 30,000 winter coats for kids in Central Texas.
- Central Texas Food Bank could always use a helping hand. Their volunteers help sort donations in their warehouse, distribute food through their mobile pantry, and prepare food in their community kitchen.
18. Experience new art exhibits
See something new! Austin has a handful of opportunities to see art this season.
- The Annual Creek Show is put on by Waterloo Greenway and features creative light art along Waller Creek downtown. You can see this on November 8-16.
- Wonderspaces features multiple exhibits and new exhibits also rotate in.
19. Run the Turkey Trot
A long-standing Thanksgiving tradition, the Turkey Trot is a family-focused event to get some exercise in before you spend the rest of the weekend eating turkey and watching movies in your sweatpants. Austin’s Turkey Trot offers a five-mile or one-mile run.
20. Cook and bake seasonal recipes
As the temperatures drop, warm soups and hearty dishes are a must! I crave turkey stew, chili, chicken soup, and shepherd’s pie. What are your favorite slow cooker dishes?
Don’t forget pies and baked goods with seasonal flavors. These chai latte cupcakes are on my list. Are you an apple, pumpkin, or pecan pie fan?
What’s on your fall bucket list?
P.S. A couple of years ago, I made a list of fall recipes to try. See it here!
You might also like
