Scope these Texas fall festivals near you for the whole family to enjoy.
Warm fall days and pleasant nights spread through the Lone Star State make it one of the most beautiful times to visit. While football, fall foliage, and Halloween often dominate family travel during the fall season, there are plenty of other activities to take advantage of here with all your fall favorites. Here are wonderful family-friendly Texas Fall Festivals. I love this time of year!!
October is festival season here in Texas. I’m sure there are plenty of festivals, so this list of events will continue to grow as I find more fall festivals in Texas.
And, halfway down, I’m sharing a cute Pumpkin Season Bucket List “photo” for your enjoyment. Let’s see how many we can get done this year!! Be sure to see it.
Here are Texas fall festivals for 2023 for the entire family!
Who is ready for cooler weather and pumpkin pie? Raise your hand! My hand is raised so high I can touch the clouds! Hopefully, you’ll find a family-friendly event near you so everyone in the family can enjoy a good time outdoors, good food, craft booths, farm animals, and cooler weather.
A family-friendly festival near me is always a priority, and if I find a chili cook-off, that’s even better as I love to taste various chili others make. Being a native Texan, I put beans in my chili, but many of my friends do not. Do you? Well, that’s another story!
North Texas Fall Festivals
Folks, it’s hot here! I know the entire Lone Star State is experiencing hotter than normal weather, so here’s hoping we get cooler weather this fall to enjoy all these outdoor Texas fall festivals a little better!
1. Fall Vintage Market Days – Denton/North Fort Worth
September 29 – October 1, 2023, 10 am-4 pm
Vintage Market Days of Denton at NRS Event Center Decatur
Tickets: $15 on Friday; $10 on Sat-Sun. Children under 12 are free.
2. Dallas Arboretum
September 16 – November 5, 2023, 9 am-5 pm
One of DFW’s favorite fall spots to visit. This is a must-visit just for the pumpkin village. Autumn at the Dallas Arboretum theme will be It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown. It’s a site to see and a great place for photo taking. Family-friendly. No pets.
Tickets: General tickets: $14-$20 (online). Parking is $11 (online).
3. GrapeFest – A Texas Wine Experience – Grapevine
September 14-17, 2023, 11 am
Grapevine’s 37th Annual GrapeFest
Grapevine’s wine festival – Grapefest is an annual festival I’ve been attending for years …and it is always a spectacular outdoor event. Make plans to come out and taste wines from all over the world and, of course, Texas Wines.
Tickets: Buy Online
- Thursday – Free all day
- Friday – Free until 5 – Adults $10. 62+ and children $5.
- Saturday – Adults $10. 62+ and children $5.
- Sunday – Adults $10. 62+ and children $5.
- Weekend passes are also available.
- People’s Choice – $28 – buy online – it sells out! It is $30 at the gate if there are tickets available.
4. Octoberfest Fort Worth
September 21-23, 2023, at Trinity Park
Voted “Best Festival” in the Fort Worth Magazine Best of Awards!
It’s time to get out your lederhosen and dirndl for this 3-day German fest at the Fort Worth Oktoberfest with good ole German bier, food, live music, and more!
Tickets: $10-$20 – link not working as of 8/20/23
5. Fort Worth Zoo – Boo At The Zoo!
Halloween Weekend – 9-4 pm. No dates, but Halloween weekend would be 27-29, 2023.
Fort Worth Zoo’s annual Boo at the Zoo
Be sure to wear your costume!
Tickets: $13-$17. Parking is $5.
6. The Flower Mound Pumpkin Patch (Closed)
October 1-31, 2023
Unfortunately, the Flower Mound Pumpkin Patch did not find enough workers to help this year.
Tickets: Parking – $10-$20
7. Gourdgeous Pumpkins Festival (Denton County)
October 23-24, 2023, 10 am-4 pm
TX-Ture Farm 1833 Dr. Sanders Rd, Cross Roads TX. Get excited about their autumn gourd harvest.
Pumpkin crafts, vendors, local artists, scarecrow trail, hay rides, alpaca yoga, live music, food & alcohol.
Tickets: $5 for kids; $10 for adults.
8. Mesquite’s PumpkinFest
October 21, 2023, Noon-5 pm
Mesquite’s family-friendly event will occur at Paschall Park, where everyone dresses in costume (dogs, too) and comes out to play. There will be a dog costume contest, so spiffy up your fur baby. For more info, visit PumpkinFest in Mesquite.
Admission is FREE—food and fun for purchase.
9. Oktoberfest Food Festival At Six Flags Over Texas
September 2 – October 31, 2023
Oktoberfest Food Festival- Enjoy craft & seasonal brews complemented with a menu of German-inspired cuisine.
10. Fright Fest At Six Flags Over Texas
September 15 – October 31, 2023
A Spooktacular Celebration of Freaky Frights
Fright Fest – Get ready for the best Halloween event of the season: shows, attractions, thrilling rides, and scary haunted houses at night.
Tickets: Daily Admission:
10. State Fair of Texas 2023 – Dallas
Sep 29 – Oct 22, 2023
It’s that time of the year for the Texas State Fair. Come out and see Big Tex at Fair Park!
Tickets: On sale now. All kinds of deals and prices – check the website. Daily tickets are $15-$20.
11. Texas Country Reporter Fall Festival – Waxahachie
October 28, 2023
The 26th Annual TCR Festival – Texas Country Reporter, will be held at the Downtown Waxahachie Courthouse Square. Come out and see Texas arts, live music, food trucks, vendors, and lots of fun!
Neal McCoy is the concert headliner this year! WOW!
Admission: Free
12. Team Family Farms – Aubrey, TX
September 30 – N0vember 5, 2023, 10 am -7 pm
Barrel train rides, farm animals, playgrounds, and more for the kiddos. Photo ops galore, Texas Longhorns, and more. Food for purchase.
8th Annual Pumpkin Patch Festival
Note: no pets
Tickets: M-F $12. Weekends $15 for everyone 2 yrs & up.
13. Mainstay Farm Park Pumpkin Days – Cleburne, TX
September 23 – November 4, 2023, on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays (times vary, see website)
Put this farm on your fall Texas activity list. New this year at Mainstay Farm, the biggest backyard in Texas is the Texas Big Wheel – a Ferris wheel for everyone to enjoy! This year, it’s going all out with over 40 activities for the whole family: food, chilly wine, fresh squeezed lemonade & more.
See the website for certain days before heading there. Lots and lots of activities will be happening there.
Admission: Farm Pass $25-$30 (last’s year price). Tickets go on sale on 9/14/23.
14. 36th Annual Addison Oktoberfest
September 14-17, 2023,
Addison’s Oktoberfest German Fare has been celebrating with prosts and polkas for thirty-six years now but look for new features.
While you will still celebrate with polkas and the Chicken Dance, this year, there will be several brand-new musical groups performing.
Tickets: Friday/Saturday – $10.
15. McKinney Oktoberfest
September 22-24, 2023, Friday 2-11 p.m. Saturday 11 a.m. – 11 p.m. Sunday 12-5 p.m.
McKinney Oktoberfest will boast authentic German music, traditional costumes, dancing, food vendors, children’s activities & more! New this year is a VIP Biergarten for upgraded beer and food – tickets can be bought online. The vendors accept credit cards and digital pay.
Location: Historic Downtown McKinney. Admission and parking are free. There will also be a complimentary shuttle service.
16. Grandscape Fall Fest
October 7th, 10-6
Lone Star Family Farm – Stephenville, TX. 2023 – After ten years of providing the public with fun fall activities, the Lone Star Family Farm has decided to close its farm for good. It was a good one, too.
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East Texas Fall Festivals
1. Lufkin/Angelina County Chamber
September 14-17, 2023, times vary
Get ready for carnival rides, a car show, a kids’ area, ax throwing, and more at the 39th Annual Texas State Forest Festival
at the George H. Henderson Exposition Center, Lufkin, TX.
Tickets: $8 at the gate.
2. Blueberry Ridge Farm Pumpkin Patch- Mineola, TX
September 30, 2023 – Opening day
Just outside Mineola is this Organic you-pick farm, Blueberry Ridge Farm.
If you have all day, visiting downtown Mineola is a must. It’s such a darling downtown with lots of shopping at unique stores.
Tickets: ??
3. Texas Rose Festival – Tyler, TX
October 19-22, 2023
Celebrate Tyler’s 90th annual Texas Rose Festival. The Story of Film. Stop by the Tyler Rose Museum and learn why Tyler is the “Rose Capital of America.”
Texas Hill Country Fall Festivals
1. Dripping Springs Pumpkin Festival
September 23 – October 29, 2023 – 10 am to 7 pm, rain or shine – 6 fun weekends!
The 3rd Annual Dripping Springs Pumpkin Festival is held at the Dr. Pound Historical Farmstead, a Texas State Historical Landmark.
Each weekend brings something different – I love that!
Lots of games and activities for the entire family, including:
- pony rides
- face painting
- petting zoo
- food trucks
- live music
- marketplace
- pumpkin patch
Tickets: Sat/Sun $15. Parking: FREE
2. Sweet Berry Farms – Marble Falls
September 23 – November 5, 2023
Sweet Berry Farms Harvest of Fall Fun will offer activities for families during the fall. I was there with my grandson for their fall season in 2020, and we got to stuff a scarecrow—the best $20 I’ve ever spent. Look for hayrides, many pumpkins of all kinds, mazes and scarecrow stuffing, food, and more.
There are no admission or parking fees, but most activities will cost. Cash and credit cards are accepted.
3. New Braunfels Wurstfest
Novemember 3-12, 2023, times vary
Wurstfest will again shine its German food, special events, and everything that has to do with celebrating German culture. All at beautiful Landa Park.
Tickets: ???
4. Texas Marigold Festival Market – Blanco
October 23-28, 2023
The 3rd Annual TX Marigold Festival is underway in one of my favorite hill country towns.
Central Texas Fall Festivals
1. Texas Pumpkin Fest – Leander, TX
September 30 – October 29, 2023, 10 am-7 pm Thurs-Sun only
8760 FM 2243, Leander, Leander TX
Tickets: Thursdays $10. Fri/Sat $13 – lots included in the price, but some attractions are extra.
2. 49th Texas Renaissance Festival – Tom Mission, TX
October 7 – November 26, 2023, 9 am -8 pm – Thanksgiving Friday too!
8 Weekends of different themes are ahead!
Tickets: Varies + Season Passes of all prices. Check the TRF website. On sale now.
3. Stagecoache Pumpkin Palooza – Early, TX
October 27-29, 2023, 4 p.m.
Live music with Zak Webb Band, trunk or treat, games, food, vendors, hay rides, and more.
Address: 400 Old Comanche Rd, Early – FREE
West Texas Fall Festivals
Fall Fest Abilene
October 28, 2023, Noon to 6 pm
Handmade Market at Allen Ridge. Vendors, live music, activities for kids, and more.
South Texas Fall Festivals
1. P-6 Farms – Montgomery, TX
September 30 – November 5, 2023, 10 am-6:30 pm, Saturdays and Sundays
A U-pick-pumpkin patch plus pick-your-own flowers. Fall dates TBA. P-6 Farms
largest pumpkin picking – I’m sure you’ll find that perfect pumpkin for your front porch.
Tickets: $22 (last year). Tickets go on sale 8/28/23.
3. Annular Eclipse UTOPiAfest 2023 – Utopia, TX
October 13-14, 2023,
Utopiafest 2023 will be at Four Sisters Ranch.
Family-friendly – BYOB – Two Main Stages. Free Tent Camping and Parking – Hiking – Mountain Biking -Vendors – Workshops – Yoga – Disc Golf—Pre-party on the 12th. WOW!
Tickets: So many different prices and packages – see website.
There you have it – lots of Texas Fall Festivals, spooky events, pumpkin carving, bounce houses, craft vendors, and the like happening this fall. See you in 2023 for all Fall Festivals!
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