houston festivals in October

The Best Houston Area Fall Festivals in October (2023)

There are all kinds of Houston festivals in October! You can find tons of free family activities and fall festivals to enjoy in the Houston area this Autumn. From kid-focused festivals to cultural events, you’re sure to find something that’s perfect for your crew this season.

There are cultural festivals to celebrate the many people who make up the Bayou City and kid-friendly pumpkin patches. Learn about animals with the FFA Fall Festival and grab some delicious eats at the Southern Smoke Festival.

If you’re searching for a list of the very best Houston area fall festivals and Halloween events, you won’t want to miss this list. Enjoy everything from King’s Bierhaus to the Kemah Boardwalk!

Houston festivals in October

Fun Houston Festivals In October

Bayou City Art Festival

The Bayou City Art Festival is held at Sam Houston Park in downtown Houston each year.  The festival lasts for two days and includes showcases and art sales by more than 200 artists. You can view and collect works by both national and international artists while sampling craft beer and wine. There’s even a fun community art project to join and live performances you won’t want to miss this October.

Black Heritage Festival

If you’re looking for cultural events to attend with your family this October, don’t miss the Black Heritage Festival at Emancipation Park. This festival celebrates Houston’s African American community with artists, guest speakers, poets, live performances, and craft fairs from the Houston area. This is a free event for children 8 and under.

Texas Renaissance Festival

The Texas Renaissance Festival is a one of a kind experience that’s filled with fantasy, history, and tons of fun! It’s the perfect event for the whole family to enjoy this fall. This year new attractions at the festival include a dragon forge experience, a magic hat shop, and visiting with Opal the fairy.

fall festivals in Houston

What’s your favorite Houston fall festival for family fun? Share your favorite fall festivals and Halloween events in the Houston area in the comments. I can’t wait to check them out with my family this year too!

Halloween Events in Houston

Zoo Boo at the Houston Zoo

Who said the Houston zoo is just for daytime fun? Every October, our beloved Zoo transforms into a spooktacular playground for kids and adults alike. We’re talking pumpkin patches, spooky (but not too scary) decorations, and loads of critters in their best costumes.

Houston Halloween events

My personal favorite? The numerous photo ops scattered throughout the facility!

Whether you’re taking a creepy-crawly candy-filled journey, carving pumpkins, or just soaking in the festive vibes with the animals, Zoo Boo is a must visit.

Related Post: Houston Zoo Guide

ArBOOretum Family Fall Festival

This year don’t miss the opportunity to check out the ArBOOretum Family Fall Festival. This festival is the Arboretum’s biggest event of the year! There are plenty of activities for the whole family from the carnival swings to the pumpkin patch to the festive Halloween market. The ArBOOretum trick-or-treat trail is a nature trail adventure that’s filled with animals and candy for children to discover and collect along the way as well.

Boo on the Boardwalk

There are lots of great Halloween events in the Houston area that you won’t want to miss this October. Boo on the Boardwalk at Kemah Boardwalk is one of our family favorites! You’ll find live music from local artists and kid-friendly movies like Hocus Pocus.

Houston festivals in October

Speaking of hocus pocus, there’s a super fun Witches’ Night with aerial shows and tarot card readings that’s the perfect way to spend an October night! Take the kids to trick-or-treat on the boardwalk this year and enjoy one of the many Freaky Food contests for some fun eats and carnival games too.

Houston’s Best Pumpkin Patches

As October rolls around, there’s a certain magic in the air, and it’s painted in vibrant shades of orange. Pumpkins aren’t just for carving; they’re the essence of fall, capturing the spirit of the season.

From the excitement of finding the ideal pumpkin to getting lost in a corn maze or hopping on a hayride, Houston and its surroundings offer some of the best pumpkin patch experiences.

Ready to embrace all the joys of autumn? Let’s discover the best places pumpkin patches in Houston!

Blessington Farms

Blessington Farms in Wallis is best known for its strawberries, but each fall the pumpkins and hay bales take over.

Every weekend in October, kids and families are entertained with a hay maze, tractor jungle gym, fishing, digging for fossils, hay rides, and animal encounters while they search for the biggest most perfect Halloween pumpkin.

But do you know their unique feature? Animal encounters! From camels to emus, the farm introduces you to a world of feathery and furry friends. My last visit had me feeding goats and trying my hand at Gem Mining too.

While you’re at the Pumpkin Patch Fall Festival, don’t miss the seasonal vegetables and local delights at the fall farmer’s market. Especially the homemade strawberry popsicles!

Dewberry Farms

Having been a staple in our community for years, this farm screams “fall fun”. Spanning over 50 acres of pumpkin glory, you’ll be spoiled for choice. But pumpkins are just the beginning.

With their famed 8-acre corn maze and the delightful wagon rides, there’s no end to the adventure.

I personally can’t get enough of their roasted corn and kettle corn (hint: great for munching as you explore).

Dewberry Farm Pumpkin Patch

Oh, and for families with kids – the Cow Train and giant roller slide are absolute hits year after year!

P6 Farms

Located in Montgomery, TX this Houston area pumpkin patch is worth the drive everytime!

P-6 Farms has this infectious energy that just pulls you in. It’s not just about pumpkins here (though their patch is picturesque to say the least). What stands out about P-6 is their dedication to ensuring everyone – from toddlers to grandparents – has a ball.

Their annual corn maze is both challenging and fun, and the themes change every year keeping the experience fresh. I’m a sucker for their hayrides, providing the perfect moment to relax and soak in the farm’s beauty.

If you’re feeling particularly festive, their weekend fall festivals are brimming with activities, food stalls, and lively music.

United Methodist Church Pumpkin Patch

A gem within the city, the United Methodist Church Pumpkin Patch stands out for its heartwarming blend of tradition and community spirit.

Located in Cypress off Cypress N. Houston Dr. this pumpkin patch is a must visit when you’re ready to pick out your pumpkins!

While the radiant sea of orange pumpkins draws you in, it’s the genuine connection with the local community that makes the visit truly memorable. Each pumpkin purchased contributes directly to the church’s missions, adding a meaningful touch to your autumn celebrations.

Houston festivals in October

Engage with the friendly volunteers—they’re a treasure trove of stories, pumpkin lore, and even some tips on picking out the perfect pumpkin. Plus, they dedicated their time, crafting skills, and energy into creating and decorating the fun and festive backdrops so be sure to tell them thanks!

Before you head out, don’t forget to treat yourself to their delectable homemade pumpkin treats; they encapsulate the cozy essence of fall in each bite.

More Fall Festivals in Houston

Festival Chicano

The Miller Outdoor Theatre hosts the oldest ongoing free Chicano music concert in the world at this time of year. Chicano music includes tejano, mariachi, and conjunto.

Houston festivals in the Fall

This cultural celebration is one of the most fun live concert events for the entire family during the month of October.

FFA Fall Festival

Who doesn’t love good old fashioned hay rides? What about a cake walk or a vintage car show? The annual FFA Fall Festival at CyWoods has all those things and much more for everyone to enjoy this October. 

There are more than 200 vendors with everything from local crafts to photo booths and inflatables for children. You’ll get to sample delicious local food too. Plus, you won’t want to miss the annual chicken bingo game!

Dia de Muertos Festival

The Sixth Ward hosts a Dia de Muertos Festival every year with delicious food, dance performances, cultural arts, local vendors, artists, and more.

Dia De Los Muertos Festival Houston

You can even view traditional oferendas (altars with offerings for the dead) for Dia de los Muertos. It’s a beautiful cultural celebration that’s fun for all ages.

Filipino Street Festival

Celebrate the Philippines and local Filipino culture at Constellation Field during the biggest Filipino festival in the Sugar Land area. Experience fun things like participating in cultural traditions, viewing live performances, and tasting cultural street food.

Galveston County Fall Festival

If you’re a foodie, don’t miss Galveston County’s Fall Festival. More than 30 BBQ masters come to compete in the annual cookoff and you can sample it all for just $10. 

The best part is that kids 13 and under can eat tasty BBQ for free! You’ll also find lots of fun fall activities including face painting, bounce houses, apple picking, and a petting zoo to explore and enjoy together.

Greek Festival

Each year, the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral shares its faith and culture with the community in an annual festival that’s been a Houston tradition since 1996. There’s lots of Greek music, authentic Greek dishes, and even a chance to learn a traditional Greek dance.

Houston Fall festivals

I love shopping at the local vendors for unique jewelry, Greek pottery, cookbooks, and other special gifts.  

KBR Kids’ Day

The annual KBR Kids’ Day is a Houston area favorite! Buffalo Bayou’s annual family festival happens in Second Ward Park each year in October.

There are lots of amazing hands-on activities for kids to engage in and live performances that are fun for everyone. 

Plus, you won’t want to miss the Dia de los Muertos face painting and various local entertainers throughout the park during this fun free event. Kids can come in costumes and have fun climbing the rock wall or getting balloon animals made throughout the day.

King’s Bierhaus Oktoberfest

Looking for an event that’s perfect for adults this fall? King’s Bierhaus in the Heights has a wide selection of German beer and foods available during their annual Oktoberfest.

Plus, there are fun mug lifting competitions, costume contests, and carnival games for adults to enjoy throughout the weekend long event. 

Puerto Rican & Cuban Festival

There are so many fun events that offer opportunities to experience other cultures during October.

Enjoy some of the fun activities and great food at the Puerto Rican and Cuban Festival in Sugar Land. It’s a full day of concerts, dancing, food trucks, and car shows.

Southern Smoke Festival

Chef Chris Shepherd’s foundation hosts a 3-day fall festival in Houston to support food and beverage workers each year.

The festival features dozens of top chefs from the area. Events will happen all over the city in different locations featuring tasty bites you can sample and live music.  It’s the perfect October date night.

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