If you’ve stepped outside before 9 a.m. in recent weeks, you’ve probably felt it: the first cool breezes of the season, whispering in the first signs of fall.
Okay, we may be romanticizing it. In fact, it’ll likely be some time before we get true fall in Austin (here’s when to expect changing leaves + days below 70º).
However, that doesn’t mean we can’t jump headfirst into the autumn spirit. Here are 20+ fall bucket list activities to check off your list before winter begins.
Pick a pumpkin
You knew this one was coming. Check out these pumpkin patches, corn mazes, and harvest festivals in Central Texas:
- Barton Hill Farms | 1115 FM 969, Bastrop | Activities: Five-acre corn maze, flowers, hay rides, train rides, cider garden
- Sweet Berry Farm | 1801 FM 1980, Marble Falls | Activities: Texas-shaped corn maze, scarecrow stuffing, pony rides, pumpkin painting
- Sweet Eats Fruit Farm | 14400 E. State Hwy. 29, Georgetown | Activities: Pig races, pumpkin house, live music, food trucks
- The Robinson Family Farm | 2651 Bob White Rd., Temple | Activities: Axe throwing, pumpkin picking, yard games, biergarten
Go to an outdoor concert
What’s better than an outdoor concert in Austin? An outdoor concert where you’re not sweating from 100º heat.
Check out this list of upcoming music festivals + keep an eye out on our events page for shows at venues including Stubb’s, Historic Scoot Inn, and Mohawk.
Get spooked
Haunted houses are all the rage in October (and with good reason — stay tuned for ATXtoday’s ultimate guide to local houses of horror), but we’re here to provide you with a few ways to scare yourself from home.
Queue up your preferred streaming service, grab the candy corn, and settle in to watch these scary movies filmed near ATX:
- The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974)
- D.O.A. (1988)
- All the Boys Love Mandy Lane (2006)
- Death Proof (2007)
- Friday the 13th (2009)
Pro tip: Share the scare at screenings for Blue Starlite Mini Urban Drive-In’s Halloween Month — see showtimes here.
Get a headstart on Christmas shopping
Sure, you have time, but with so many great local markets, why wait?
- Texas Book Festival | Sat., Nov. 5-Sun., Nov. 6 | Downtown Austin | Listen to panels + shop books from local authors
- The Front Market | Weekends from Sat., Nov. 12-Sun., Dec., 4 | Ani’s Day and Night | Features more than 400 local women and LGBTQ+ vendors
- Blue Genie Art Bazaar | Fri., Nov. 18-Sat., Dec. 24 | 6100 Airport Blvd. | Shop products from hundreds of local artists + craftspeople
Go outside
Texas trees aren’t all evergreen. Starting in late October, see fall colors start to come out at McKinney Falls State Park. A day trip to Garner State Park or Lost Maples State Natural Area will also reveal autumn leaves.
Got a secret spot to see fall colors in Austin? Share it with us.
Wine and dine
Step aside, summer — fall just might be the true foodie season in ATX. From a month-long celebration of Texas wine to a slew of locally brewed fall drinks, there are plenty of ways to lean into the tastier traits of the season.
Mark your calendars for:
- Austin Oktoberfest | Sat., Oct. 8 | German Free School | $15
- TLC Oyster Festival | Sat., Oct. 15 | TLC Austin | Free
- Wine & Swine | Sun., Oct. 30 | Camp Mabry | $95+
- Austin Food + Wine Festival | Fri., Nov. 4-Sun., Nov. 6 | Auditorium Shores | $625
- Texas Monthly BBQ Fest | Sun., Nov. 6 | Lockhart City Park | $43+
Cheer your heart out
Slap on the burnt orange, because UT football is well underway. Get tickets here for the home games left this season.
Football not your thing? Stay tuned for a fall sports preview, but for now, here are some key dates to keep in mind:
🏀 Thurs., Oct. 6 | First San Antonio Spurs preseason game, vs. the Orlando Magic
⚽️ Sun., Oct. 9 | The last Austin FC home game of the season
🏒 Fri., Oct. 14 | First Texas Stars game, vs. Colorado Eagles
🏎 Fri., Oct. 21-Sun., Oct. 23 | Formula 1 Aramco Grand Prix
🏋️ Fri., Oct. 28-Sun., Oct. 30 | Rogue Invitational at Dell Diamond
🏀 Sat., Oct. 29 | First UT Men’s Basketball game, vs. Arkansas
🏀 Sun., Oct. 30 | First UT Women’s Basketball game, vs. DePaul
🏀 Fri., Nov. 4 | First Austin Spurs game of the season, vs. the Texas Legends
