The Ultimate Texas Bucket List for March

Kim Croisant

3 months ago

Texas in March brings unpredictable weather, spring breaks, & March Madness.

Here is your Texas bucket list for March 2024.

Explore Texas in March 2024 with rodeos, festivals, quaint towns, and sunny days—experience spring’s best in the Lone Star State.

March is a great time to take advantage of lower spring rates before peak summer pricing starts in some locations. Resorts may offer spring golf packages, romance packages, or spring breaks tailored to families. With pleasant sunny days and cool nights, spring is perfect for enjoying resort pools, gardens, hiking trails, boating, horseback riding, and the beautiful wildflowers blooming across the state in late March.

Your Texas Bucket List for March 2024

Getting out of the house while the kids are out of school for spring break is a big deal here in Texas. It may still be a little chilly in some parts of the state – so dress in layers and bring sunscreen. Here are more spring break ideas in Texas to check out.

If you’re a basketball fan, the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) men’s and women’s college basketball tournaments, also referred to as March Madness, come around mid-March through the beginning of April, so you’ve got time to hit the road before it all starts.

North Texas

• Dallas Fair Park – North Texas Irish Festival

March 3-5 – Fair Park

Grab your don kilts and enjoy Irish music, dancing, storytelling, food, and culture. Events include horse shows, fencing demonstrations, and beer and whiskey tastings. North Texas Irish Festival

Tickets: $15 and up.

• Texas Pinball Festival – Frisco

March 15-17

There’s no need for quarters to play the hundreds of pinball machines and classic video games in this 40,000-square-foot game room. Texas Pinball Festival

• Visit Six Flags in Arlington

March is one of the busiest times for Six Flags Over Texas as crowds flock to the park during Spring Break. Dress in layers and expect long lines. With some planning, Six Flags can offer endless family-friendly thrills and excitement all month in Texas.

• Travel & Adventure Show – Dallas

March 23-24

America’s favorite travel show is back at Dallas Market Hall – go early for up-close parking (free)—a public event showcasing all kinds of places to travel to worldwide. It’s a great place to plan your upcoming vacations. Get tickets at Travel Shows/Dallas.

Tickets: $9 special price – use promo code DAPC24 (until March 22) $16 after that; kids 16 & under are free.

• Dallas Blooms: A Picture’s Worth a Thousand Words

Through April 8

This annual floral festival is filled with more than 5K spring-blooming bulbs. You’re sure to find the perfect spot for that family photo. Look up Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden.

• Texas Pinball Festival In Frisco

Middle of March

The largest Texas Pinball Festival features over 400 vintage and new pinball machines. It’s located at the Embassy Suites & Frisco Conference Center.

• St. Paddy’s Day Parade – Granbury, Texas

March 16

Historic Granbury Square – wear green if you don’t want to get pinched!!

• McKinney Asian Festival

March 23

Dr. Glenn Mitchell Memorial Park.

• Butterflies In The Garden – Fort Worth Botanic Garden

March 1 – April 14, 2024

The Fort Worth Botanic Garden has some of the most beautiful pollinators in one convenient place. Butterflies in the Garden, presented by Central Market, will take flight in the Rainforest Conservatory. One of the Garden’s most anticipated seasonal exhibits, guests will enjoy thousands of breathtaking exotic and native butterflies as they flutter through the lush foliage and tropical flowers in the conservatory. Butterflies in the Garden is the largest exhibit of live, exotic butterflies in north central Texas.

South Texas

• Bud Light St. Patrick’s Festival – San Antonio

March 17-18, 2024

Location: Riverwalk – see the eco-friendly green river! It is a fantastic festival with family-friendly activities, live entertainment, vendors, and more. St. Patrick’s River Walk Festival

• Brownsville – Charro Days

February 29–March 2

Charro Days celebrates Mexican heritage on both sides of the Rio Grande. Things to do include the Illuminated Parade, the Color Guard Parade, the Children’s Parade, a costume ball, a carnival with rides, family-friendly games, and food.

Tickets: $15.

Gulf Coast

• Experience Spring Break in South Padre Island

South Padre Island is one of the top spring break destinations in Texas and the United States. Located on the southern tip of Texas along the Gulf of Mexico, South Padre draws enormous crowds of college students and families for spring break each March.

With its beautiful beaches, warm weather, and lively party atmosphere, South Padre Island offers the quintessential spring break experience. Miles of sandy beaches provide plenty of room for beach games, sunbathing, swimming, and enjoying the ocean views. Many beachfront hotels host pool parties with DJs and events to keep the energy going day and night.

Accommodations get booked up early for peak times – s0 book early.

• Houston Livestock Show And Rodeo

Through March 17, 2024

The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, also known as RodeoHouston, is one of the world’s largest livestock shows and rodeos. This annual event is held for three weeks every March at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas.

The Rodeo has an action-packed schedule with something for everyone. The heart of the event is the livestock shows and rodeo competitions. Top cowboys and cowgirls worldwide compete in events like bull riding, steer wrestling, team roping, saddle bronc riding, and barrel racing. The open horse shows feature different horse breeds and categories. There are also livestock shows for cattle, swine, goats, lambs, and poultry. Judging takes place and prizes are awarded to the top animals.

In the evenings, RodeoHouston has an impressive concert lineup with famous performers.

The carnival at RodeoHouston will have games, rides, and attractions for all ages to enjoy.

Fair food like funnel cake, turkey legs, and corny dogs can also be found.

• Wild West Brew Fest – Katy, TX

March 21-23, 2024

Wild West Brew Fest will be held at Typhoon Texas Waterpark in Katy and presented by the Rotary Club of Katy.

• Brew On The Bayou – Lake Jackson, TX

March 23, 2024

Sample brew from local brewers, listen to live music, sip wine, food trucks, auction, relax and have fun. Gulf Coast Bird Observatory.

Tickets: $20

Central Texas / Texas Hill Country

• Austin SXSW 2024

March 8-16, 2024

Every March, Austin is taken over by the massive South by Southwest (SXSW) festival. What started in 1987 as a small local music festival has exploded into a citywide takeover spanning tech, film, music, comedy, and more. Over the years, SXSW has become a premier event for discovering up-and-coming artists, seeing innovative tech products and films before their wide release, and networking with creators and industry leaders.

During the two weeks of SXSW, downtown Austin is packed with street parties, crowded bars and clubs, pop-up brand activations, and people looking to explore the latest and greatest.

• Dripping Springs Brewers Festival

March 23, 2024

Location: 311 Old Fitzhugh Road

Tickets: $25 & $40 – purchase online, print voucher

Link: Dripping Springs Brewers Festival

• Balloons Over Horseshoe Bay Resort

March 29-31, 2024

Balloons Over Horseshoe Bay (Marble Falls)

Balloon Festival in the Texas Hill Country – Annual Balloons Over Horseshoe Bay.

East Texas

• Texas Dogwood Trails Celebration In Palestine, TX

March 22 – April 7, 2024

Palestine, Texas, proudly presents its Texas Dogwood Trails Celebration. for the whole family. It’s one of my favorite places to see the dogwoods bloom!

• Herb Festival at the Wynne Home – Huntsville, TX