Family Things To Do In Texas In April

Kim Croisant

2 months ago

April in Texas brings wildflowers, beautiful blue skies, scenic drives, Texas bluebonnets, and the Total Eclipse events.

Great family things to do in Texas in April of 2024.

With warm, mild weather, April is one of the best times to visit Texas and my favorite time of year. Temperatures can range from 70s-80s across the state, making it ideal for outdoor activities and exploring top destinations without heavy crowds. However, a lot is happening this year in April. With the total eclipse on April 8th, many small towns are gearing up for events, including their already scheduled events and festivals. So, if crowds are not your thing, you may want to visit Texas later in the month. That goes for Waco and a few other towns that are sporting total eclipse events. So, if you’re not coming through Texas to see the eclipse, I suggest you wait until a week after April 8th.

As the Bluebonnet state, Texas puts on an incredible wildflower show each spring that should not be missed. Take a scenic drive on one of the many Bluebonnet Trails to experience the natural beauty of millions of bluebonnets blooming across the Texas landscape. My favorite towns for scenic drives to see blankets of blue are Ennis, Brenham, Burnet, and Fredericksburg.

Family Things To Do In Texas In April 2024

Before peak summer pricing starts, April is a great time to take advantage of lower spring rates. Spring break here in Texas is over, and resorts may offer spring golf packages, romance packages, or vacations 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. Think East Texas and the Texas Hill Country for all this.

Photo Credit: Kim Croisant

See The Texas Bluebonnets Bloom

One of the most iconic sights in Texas every spring is the blooming of our state flower –the bluebonnet. Each April, billions of beautiful blue flowers cover our fields, roadsides, and parks throughout Texas. For visitors, witnessing endless bluebonnets is one of the quintessential spring experiences in the Lone Star State – even for us natives.

Small towns in the Texas Hill Country and East Texas are the best places to view bluebonnets (in my opinion). Some of the most popular trails are located near Chappell Hill, Brenham, Ennis, and Burnet (East Texas). The peak blooming period is typically early April but can start as early as the end of March – this can vary from year to year depending on weather and rainfall.

Some of the best trails include the Ennis Bluebonnet Trails, the Brenham Heritage Bluebonnet Trails, and the Burnet Bluebonnet Trails. These routes wind through gorgeous countryside covered with bluebonnets as far as the eye can see. In addition to scenic drives along the trails, numerous Bluebonnet Festivals celebrate the Bluebonnets each spring.

So be sure to incorporate bluebonnet sightings in everything you do in Texas in April!

If you’re looking for Eclipse Events, go here – Eclipse Events in Texas for April 8th.

North Texas

• Dallas International Film Festival (DIFF)

April 26 – May 2, 2024

Dallas International Film Festival

• Granbury “Rocks The Eclipse”

The Celebration Capital of Texas is having an eclipse party…and you’re invited!

Monday, April 8, from 11 am-2 pm

The premier event will be the Lunch in Black, hosted by the Historic Granbury Merchants Association and sponsored by Visit Granbury. Guests will be treated to a special box lunch, a bottle of local souvenir eclipse wine, wine glasses and eclipse-approved viewing glasses, and entertainment provided by JetBlacq. Also, 50 black rocks will be hidden for you to find!!

Tickets are $100. The event will take place around the historic courthouse square. Guests at this VIP event are encouraged to dress in all black to enhance the experience. Get more information right here >>> Granbury Rocks the Eclipse Event.

• Muenster Germanfest – Muenster, TX

Always the last weekend in April

Events include a 5k Germanfest Fun Run, a Metric Century Bicycle Rally, a Sausage and Rib Championship Cook-Off, and more. There will be entertainment for the whole family, including puppets, balloon artists, and dancers, or the Karneval and Kinder Theater for the children. Parents can also delight in dancing, music, arts and crafts, a rock-climbing wall, folk dancing, and two stages with nonstop entertainment.

The Festival will be at Heritage Park. No pets.

Tickets: $10-$15. Parking is $5.

• Doc Holliday Saints And Sinners Festival – Denison, TX

April 27th, Downtown Denison

• New Vintage Wineries & Galleries Trail – Grapevine, TX

April 13, 2024, 11 am to 6 pm

New Vintage Wine Trail will be held in the Historic Main Street District. Grab your tickets for this cool trail featuring tastings from seven (7) wineries on Main Street, and enjoy fine art galleries along the way. New this year will be meat & cheese vendors in Liberty Park (next to Messina Hof).

Tickets: $50 in advance, $55 the day of.

• Fort Worth Food + Wine Festival

First of April

Connoisseur tickets are sold out.

The Weekender tickets are available but limited.

The Kit tickets are still available.

Fort Worth Food & Wine Foundation is held at the Heart of the Ranch at Clearfork.

• Main Street Fort Worth Arts Festival

Middle of April

This is one of the top fine arts events in the country. The Main Street For Worth Arts Festival is for the whole family and showcases over 200 juried visual arts. There are food vendors, live music, craft beer, and wine tastings all over downtown Fort Worth.

• Arts in Bloom Art and Wine Festival – McKinney, TX

April 12-14

In the streets of downtown McKinney.

• Ennis Bluebonnet Trails & Fesitval

April 19-20, 2024

Ennis Bluebonnet Trails & Festival will have more than 40 miles of mapped trails for bluebonnet viewing, making up the Official Texas Bluebonnet Trail in Ennis, southeast of Dallas.

• Scarborough Renaissance Festival – Waxahachie, TX

April 6 – May 26 Weekends

Get your tickets and more information at SRFestival.

South Texas

• Victoria, Texas Turns 200

Varies Days in April

Victoria, TX, is celebrating its 200th year with several events in April, including Guided trolley tours, De Leon’s Legacy History, Historic home tours, and downtown rhythms. Check out VictoriaTX200.com.

• Strawberry Festival – Poteet, TX

April 12-14

Another year of strawberries! Seventy-seven years of strawberries in Poteet! Poteet is the Strawberry Captial of Texas and shows off its delicious strawberries during the festival. Plus, concerts, gunslingers, a carnival, a contest, and a rodeo performance. See it all at the Strawberry Festival.

• Fiesta San Antonio

April 18-28

Gulf Coast

The Art Car Parade – Downtown Houston

Saturday, April 13, 2024

The Art Car Parade gathers like-minded artists and individuals – and has been since the 80s.

The Houston Art Car Parade is the largest celebration of its kind in the world. It features over 250 entries and attracts thousands of spectators every April.

Central Texas/Texas Hill Country

• Total Eclipse Events In Texas On April 8, 2024

Towns like Waco, Burnet, Dripping Springs, and more are having events that will attract thousands, if not millions. Texas is going to be crowded in every city and town. Days before and after the total eclipse will be busy. And I’m sad that most places to stay that are in the total eclipse view are already taken. I’ve compiled Total Eclipse Events that you’ll want to check out ASAP!

• Relax At A Texas Hill Country Resort

One of the best ways to enjoy the pleasant spring weather in Texas is by relaxing at a scenic hill country resort. The Texas Hill Country region in central Texas is known for its rolling hills, spring-fed rivers, lakes, charming small towns, wineries, and beautiful views.

Before the summer crowds arrive, April is a perfect time to visit many top luxury resorts and ranches in the Texas Hill Country. Resorts like Lake Austin Spa Resort, Marival Austin Resort & Spa, and Marriott’s Horseshoe Bay Resort offer a peaceful escape with spa treatments, golf, water recreation, and more. Or stay in a charming bed & breakfast or guest house close to Enchanted Rock State Park to experience the authentic Texas Hill Country atmosphere.

• Wine & Wildflower Journey

Through April 19th

Texas Hill Country Wineries

Tickets: Individual $65, Couples $100

Photo Credit: City of Ennis, Gary Ray

East Texas

• The Official Bluebonnet Festival of Texas – Chappell Hill, TX

April 13-14

Chappell Hill is the Bluebonnet Capital of Texas and honors that heritage with more than 400 vendors, food, live music, and family-friendly fun – Downtown.