Hello friends!
Fall is here, and it's a wonderful time to enjoy Houston with your family. From Halloween to Thanksgiving, there's so much to look forward to. One of the best things about this season is the fantastic family-friendly festivals happening around the city.
In this blog post, we're going to take you on a journey through Houston's fall festivals. Whether you're a parent looking for fun activities for your kids or someone who just loves the festive vibe, you're in for a treat.
We'll show you where to find the best pumpkin patches, exciting corn mazes, live music to groove to, and mouthwatering fall treats. So, let's get ready to embrace the fall spirit and discover the top family-friendly festivals in Houston.
Fall Festival in Houston this 2023
BatFest at Houston Arboretum & Nature Center | Sept 23, 2023 – 10:00 am to 2:00pm
Enjoy bat-themed activities and crafts for the kids, a captivating story time, delicious food trucks, and a meaningful blood drive in collaboration with Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center. It's all free, no need to register, and we welcome participants of all ages!
Fall Fest at Sugar Land Town Square | Sept 23, 2023 – 10:00 am to 3:00 pm
At Sugar Land Fall Fest, you'll have a blast with live music, hayrides, face painting, an artisan market, fall-themed photo spots, games, and a corn maze. Plus, explore engaging sponsor booths featuring One Medical, AFC Urgent Care, CLS Health, Rodeo Dental, Resort Vacations, Renewal By Anderson, Board and Brush Creative, Kinetic by Windstream, Russian School of Math, Houston Methodist SL, Baylor College of Medicine, GoApe, and HEB.
Mid-Autumn Festival at Asia Society Texas Center | Sept 30, 2023 – 10:00 am to 2:00pm
Enjoy the Mid-Autumn Festival featuring Taiwanese artists, photography, storytelling, and fun art activities like lantern-making, paper cutting, and creating faux mooncakes. It's free to attend, and you can register online or upon walk-in!
Zoo Boo at Houston Zoo | Sept 29 – Oct 31, 2023 – 9:00 am to 5:00 pm
Enjoy the pumpkin arch at the Reflection Pool, a pumpkin tree, animal-themed pumpkins, and more for great photo ops. Walk through a pumpkin lantern tunnel near the lion exhibit. Even the animals will join the fun with fall-themed enrichment like pumpkins, cinnamon-scented “paw-zzles,” and other treats.
Fort Bend County Fair & Rodeo at FBCF Rosenberg – Sept 29 – Oct 8, 2023
Experience rodeo action, livestock shows, live music, a big carnival with rides for all ages, and a mouthwatering selection of fair food at this event. Please note there's an admission fee: Adults – $15 at the gate or $12 online plus a $2 fee, Children ages 6-11 – $5, and Children 5 & under get in for free!
Greek Festival Houston at Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathdral – Oct 5 – 7, 2023
Delight in Greek food, wine tastings, dancing, games, and other family-friendly fun at this event. Admission is $5, and it's free for those aged 12 and under.
Fall Fest at Buchanan's Native Plants – Oct 7, 2023
This family-friendly event features food trucks, live music, kids' crafts, local vendors, hayrides, and more! Best of all, it's completely free for everyone to enjoy!
Oktoberfest at Sugar Land Town Square’s – Oct 7, 2023
The event boasts a Flying Saucer Biergarten with 50 brews, a Boho Market featuring 50 local artisans, live music from Electric Circus and Eurofest, German and Oktoberfest-inspired dishes by local favorites, fun games like the Dachshund Dash and stein races, plus entertainment like tarot card readers, caricature artists, jugglers, and stilt walkers.
Spooktacular at Tomball Depot Plaza – Oct 7, 2023 – 4:00pm to 9:00pm
Enjoy an array of activities including games, bounce houses, face painting, food, music, and a pumpkin photo booth starting at 4 PM. As dusk approaches, settle in with your chairs and blankets for an outdoor screening of “Hocus Pocus” at around 7 p.m. It's a night of family fun you won't want to miss!
Katy Rice Harvest Festival at Downtown Historic Katy – Oct 13-15, 2023 – 6:00pm to 10:00pm
This is a free public event filled with live music, beer, food trucks, and the return of the carnival! Enjoy arts & crafts vendors, an expanded kids/teen zone, live international music, contests, and much more.
ArBOOretum at Houston Arboretum & Nature Center – Oct 14, 2023
Experience fall fun for all ages, featuring live animals, pumpkin decorating, and Houston's exclusive Trick-or-Treat Nature Trail. It's FREE for Arboretum Members and children under 3!
Texas Family Literacy Festival at Story Square in Discovery Green – Oct 14, 2023 – 10:00 am to 5:00pm
Experience a fantastic festival filled with delicious food, giveaways, family-friendly booths, face painting, local school and organization performances, balloon art, and delightful desserts. Explore unique Story Square edutainment that celebrates the joy of learning, reading, and writing for families. Enjoy free books, meet-the-author sessions, Boogie Famland, Our Lighthearted Reading Hollow, Alphabet Magic Booths, and a Famagination Zone that encourages imaginative family fun!
Super Hero Fall Fun Fest at Rosenberg Railroad Museum – Oct 14, 2023
Join the Superhero Fest for a day of fun with superhero games, a bounce house, and an obstacle course. Enjoy a ride-on trackless train, a DJ, food trucks, and train excitement. Admission prices: $10 for adults (13-64), $8 for children (3-12), and $8 for seniors (65+). Children aged 2 and under and active-duty military personnel (with valid ID) get in free!
Pumpkin Patch Fall Festival at Nature Discovery Center – Oct 14-15, 2023
Enjoy an abundance of pumpkins, festive games, crafts, activities, delectable foods, casual family photo opportunities, a chance to meet the animals, and more! Best of all, admission is FREE!
Bayou City Art Festival at Downtown Houston – Oct 14-15, 2023
Discover Houston's iconic Bayou City Art Festival, featuring 300 artists in 19 categories at both Memorial Park in the spring and Downtown in the fall. Kids aged 12 and under enter for FREE!
Wings Over Houston Airshow at Ellington Airport, Houston – Oct 14-15, 2023
Witness the breathtaking USAF Thunderbirds and elite pilots, both military and civilian, soaring through the skies, including a remarkable lineup of historic vintage aircraft! Secure your tickets here!
Sugar Land Dia de Los Muertos Celebration at Sugar Land Town Square – Oct 21, 2023
Experience traditional mariachi music, captivating ballet folkloric performances, the vibrant energy of Aztec dancers, indulge in customary Hispanic cuisine, explore cultural art exhibitions, engage in children's activities, and participate in an adult costume contest (register here). Also, discover historical displays and more at this lively event!
George Ranch Frontier Days at George Ranch Historical Park – Oct 21, 2023
Have a blast with interactive activities, thrilling battle re-enactments, live entertainment, immersive costumed interpreters, guided historic home tours, games, cowboys, classic vehicles, delicious food, craft vendors, and much more!
Houston Energy Day Festival at Sam Houston Park – Oct 21, 2023
Energy Day is Houston's largest annual free family festival highlighting science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). With nearly 70 interactive demonstrations and exhibits, Energy Day educates students and families about diverse forms of energy within STEM disciplines. It also covers topics like efficiency, conservation, and related STEM industries.
Scream on the Green at Discovery Green – Oct 27, 2023
Join the fun with a costume contest (eight categories), DJ Mohawk Steve's dance party, Cirque Olympus performances, and a screening of “Hocus Pocus.”
Island Oktoberfest at historic downtown Galveston– Oct 27-28, 2023
This enjoyable family weekend brings you non-stop live entertainment, including music and dancing on two stages! Beyond the fantastic music and dance, savor delicious food like smoked sausage, bratwurst, and a “Wurstabendessen” – a sausage dinner featuring German-style and Polish-style sausages with all the traditional German side dishes.
Día de Muertos Festival at Meca Houston – Oct 28-29, 2023
Enjoy children's art activities, ofrendas/altar exhibition, artist vendors, delicious festival foods, and three fantastic performance stages featuring MECA Ballet Folklórico, EZ Band, Grupo Aliados, and more!
7 Acre Wood Thrill at 7 acre wood The Mill – Oct 28, 2023
Experience a pumpkin patch, over 40 vendors, pony rides, hayrides, face painting, and admission is free!
Children’s Festival: Dino Party at Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion – Nov 11-12, 2023
Get ready for a dino-mite time at The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion's Children's Festival, presented by Texas Children's Hospital—The Woodlands! Join on November 11 (10 a.m. to 5 p.m.) and November 12 (12 p.m. to 5 p.m.) for just $10 per person, covering all performances and activities. With multiple stages, character meet and greets, a toddler area, arts, crafts, hands-on fun, and thrilling adventures.
Places to see Fall foliage in Houston
1. Buffalo Bayou Park – Buffalo Bayou Park, Memorial Drive, Houston, TX, USA
Buffalo Bayou Park, just a five-minute drive from our Downtown Houston, is the closest spot for fall leaf-peeping. With 160 acres of urban green space, you can witness stunning autumn hues in various tree species like Bald Cypress, Cottonwood, White Oak, and more. While Live Oaks are prevalent, they shed their evergreen foliage in winter, making way for vibrant spring growth. Don't miss the children's playground and skate park, making it a family-friendly destination. Open daily from 6 am to 11 pm, and best of all, it's free!
2. Lost Maples State Natural Area – 37221 RM 187, Vanderpool, TX 78885, United States
If you're up for a 4.5-hour drive from downtown Houston, Lost Maples State Park awaits you. This scenic destination offers the perfect opportunity to witness the vibrant yellows, oranges, and reds of the bigtooth maples. Beyond the stunning foliage, you can immerse yourself in hiking, bird and wildlife watching, photography, or simply unwind while stargazing and enjoying the tranquility.
One of the park's highlights is a loop trail that takes hikers along the edge of a remarkable 2,200-square-foot cliff, providing breathtaking views.
3. Memorial Park – 6501 Memorial Dr, Houston, TX 77007, United States
Only a brief 10-minute drive from Club Quarters Houston, Memorial Park sprawls over 1,500 acres. It's an outdoor enthusiast's paradise with walking, running, and cycling trails. The park offers picnic spots, playgrounds, a golf course, and vibrant fall foliage featuring various Oak subspecies, Cypress trees, Elms, Maples, and more. Check the park's calendar for exciting fall events. It's open daily from 6 am to 11 pm, and the best part—it's completely free!
4. Hermann Park – 6001 Fannin St, Houston, TX 77030, United States
Nestled in the heart of Houston, Hermann Park is just a short 15-minute drive from our hotel. This sprawling 445-acre park beckons with hiking, cycling, fishing, pedal boating, golf, and even a visit to the Houston Zoo. With approximately 10,000 trees, some almost a century old, including Crape Myrtle, Bald Cypress, Cedar Elm, Red Bud, and various Oak species, it transforms into a colorful wonderland in the fall. Entry is free, except for the Houston Zoo, pedal boat rentals, and train rides.
5. Houston Arboretum – 4501 Woodway Dr, Houston, TX 77024, United States
Experience a color-changing wonder in October or November at this natural forest area. Golden foliage adorned with red berry clusters and Sweetspire's dark red to purple leaves await. Open daily from 7 am to 7 pm, and it's absolutely free!
Get Lost in Corn Maze
Dewberry Farm – 7705 FM 362, Brookshire, TX 77423, United States
A short drive from Houston, Dewberry Farm offers an Astros-themed corn maze spanning 8 acres. It's a family-friendly adventure by day and transforms into a spooky ‘Field of Screams' every Friday through Sunday in October starting at 7 pm!
P-6 Farms – 9963 Pooles Rd, Montgomery, TX 77356, United States
Get ready for a thrilling autumn adventure at the P-6 Corn Maze in P-6 Farms! Every Saturday and Sunday starting September 30th, from 10 am to 6:30 pm. Get lost in the corn maze and enjoy thrilling carnival slides, vintage rides, jumping pillows, apple blasters, and more! Fun for all ages!
Old MacDonald's Farm – 3203 Farm to Market 1960 Rd E, Humble, TX 77338, United States
Explore a 15-acre children's paradise with a corn maze, petting zoo, pony rides, train adventures, swimming pool, farm fun, a pumpkin patch, and so much more! It's a paradise for kids of all ages!
Get Spooked at a Haunted House
Houston Terror Dome Haunted House – 16030 E Freeway Service Rd, Channelview, TX 77530, United States
Prepare for sheer terror at the Houston Terror Dome Haunted House! With new themes, effects, and characters, it's a scream-worthy experience you won't forget. Opening Night: September 22, 2023. Final Night: October 31, 2023. Click here to see the schedules.
Houston Scream Fest – 1500 Elton St, Houston, TX 77034, United States
Houston Scream Fest – the ultimate Halloween extravaganza in Houston! Your ticket unlocks unlimited haunted houses, free drinks (even adult beverages!), a carnival midway, access to H-Town Paintball, live concerts, and a massive entertainment stage. Enjoy it all in comfort with indoor restrooms and well-lit, secure parking. Open rain or shine, every Friday and Saturday in October, and also open on November 3rd and 4th. It's the Halloween event you can't miss!
Phobia Haunted Houses – 5250 S Sam Houston Pkwy E, Houston, TX 77048, United States
Get ready for a seriously spooky time at Houston's one of the scariest haunted house, open in late September and on weekends in October. If you're 16 or older and have parental permission, vsiit for a thrilling experience that'll get your heart racing!
Purgatory Scream Park | 1965 Northpark Dr Kingwood, TX 77339
Open on the weekends for all the fright to take place, Purgatory Scream Park was listed in the Top 5 Walk-Through Haunts of the country in 2020.
Outdoor Movie Events
Moonstruck Drive-In – 100 Bringhurst St Houston, TX 77020
Bring your friends, family and pets to watch some movies under the moonlight! Enjoy the shows with a breathtaking view of the city skyline in the back, tickets are $30/car.
Showboat Drive In Cinema – 22422 Farm to Market 2920 Hockley, TX 77447
Enjoy this drive-in theater with two screens to choose from! Enjoy the comfort of inside your car or bring chairs (or anything else) you can sit on outside.
Best Places that Sell Pie
House of Pies – 6142 Westheimer Rd, Houston, TX 770
Known for its diverse selection of pies and late-night hours.
Flying Saucer Pie Company – 436 W Crosstimbers Rd, Houston, TX 77018
A well-loved local spot with a variety of fruit and cream pies.
Three Brothers Bakery – 4606 Washington Ave, Houston, TX 77007, United States
Offers a range of pies and other baked goods with a long-standing reputation for quality.
Favorite Places to Black Friday Shop
Houston Premium Outlets – 29300 Hempstead Rd, Cypress, TX 77433
This is the ultimate place to get all your Black Friday shopping needs met. With over 140 different stores, you'll be able to spend all day getting the best deals! Stop at Coach, Columbia, Gap, Nike, Express and so much more.
Vintage Park – 110 Vintage Park Blvd #270, Houston, TX 77070
There is lots of shopping to be done at Vintage Park. It is filled with a gift shop, a boutique, authentic French products and more! There are also many restaurants here to choose from for when you get tired from shopping.
The Woodlands Mall – 1201 Lake Woodlands Dr Suite 700, The Woodlands, TX 77380
Walking through this 2-story mall and more than 160 shops, you'll be looking at all sorts of deals left and right. A food court is also fitted right in the center for you convenience!
Market Street – 9595 Six Pines Dr, The Woodlands, TX 77380
Want more of a luxury shopping experience? Shop among the 90+ stores in the open air.
Katy Mills Mall | 5000 Katy Mills Cir Katy, TX 77494
Find some of the best Black Friday deals while shopping at your favorite stores under one roof.
LaCenterra at Cinco Ranch | 23501 Cinco Ranch Blvd Katy, TX 77494
Fitted with dining and shopping, this outdoor mall space is a great way to experience the fresh air and get shopping done.
First Colony Mall – 16535 Southwest Freeway, Sugar Land, TX 77479
The ultimate shopping stop in Sugar Land for an upscale experience. Fitted with 150 stores, dining features and entertainment, you are sure to find all the great deals offered here.
Wrapping Up
There is so much to do in and around Houston, TX. We might have missed some favorites, so be sure to share with us any new finds. You can email us, leave a comment below, or tag us on Instagram! @jordanschilleci and @byjoandco
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