Pumpkin lattes and scarecrows and flannel, oh my! The temperature has dropped a little and fall has officially begun (September 22nd was the first day). This month has lots of fun fall events for the whole family to enjoy in and around Austin, so don’t miss these October events.
Anderson Terrace Pumpkin Patch
Monday, October 1 all day | Anderson Terrace, 11505 Anderson Mill Road, Austin, TX
Free to come out and pose with the pumpkins and props for a photo. Pumpkin prices start as low as $2 with corn stalks and hay bales for sale, also. Fun for kids and furbabies. Pumpkin Painting Station ($10). Schedule your school field trip. Storytime reading corner, Kids and pets photo contest with cash prizes. Come to visit anytime and enjoy a number of fun & free family-friendly activities.
Concert In The Park – Cedar Park
Friday, October 2 | from 7 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. | Elizabeth Milburn Park, 1901 Sun Chase Blvd Cedar Park, TX 78613
Featured band is Dysfunction Junction. Bring your lawn chairs and blankets as there is plenty of space. Food concessions will be available or you are welcome to bring your own picnic and ice chest. Glass containers are prohibited.
Solar System And Galaxy Starry Nights At Girlstart
Thursday, October 4 | from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. | Girlstart 1400 W. Anderson Lane
Girlstart’s STEM Studio and Mini-Planetarium is a unique space for families to explore astronomy! Starry Nights are held the 1st Thursday of every month (except January, June, July, and August), with each month featuring a new astronomy experience and related hands-on activities. All ages are welcome to stop by any time between 5:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. RSVP is recommended, however it is not required, to join us.
Round Rock Chalk Walk Arts Festival
Friday, October 5 from 5 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. and Saturday, October 6 from 9 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. | Centennial Plaza, 301 W. Bagdad Street in downtown Round Rock, TX
The Chalk Walk Arts Festival is Round Rock’s largest festival for the arts drawing tens of thousands of people to downtown Round Rock over the course of two days. The highlight of the event are the hundreds of artists who showcase their amazing talents by creating beautiful sidewalk murals. In addition to the sidewalk chalk murals, the Chalk Walk Arts Festival will showcase tons of local artists and artisans, community performers, non-profits, and businesses. PLUS, this year we will be rolling out new children’s activities in the Sprouts Kids Zone, youth performances on the School of Rock stages, and a concert on Friday AND Saturday night!
Hill Country Heritage Expo – Burnet
Saturday, October 6 | from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. | Inks Lake State Park, 3630 Park Road 4 W, Burnet, TX 78611
The Hill Country Heritage Expo is a massive cultural event beginning with a tipi talk and historical dance on Friday evening and a jam-packed Saturday. You will visit pockets of time from prehistoric weaponry through the Great Depression! Visit the Armaments section where you will see Atlatl demonstrations, Flint Knapping, Cannon fire and Musket Fire! Stroll on over to our Pioneer Town and learn the origins of tea, how to make rope, milk a cow, and spin.
Stop in and chat with the Lipan-Apache Tribe, the Buffalo Soldiers, Civilian Conservation Corps, or learn about the Longhorn Cavern State Park and the National Wildlife Refuge system! Finally, don’t forget about our special performances by the Comanche Nation Youth Dancers, Dutch Oven Demonstrations, and our historical dance by Sisters of the Heart.
Finish your awesome day by picking your favorite chili in the Chili Cookoff Competition and buying a Hill Country Heritage Expo commemorative patch! Event FREE with entry fee, 12 and under get in FREE!
Texas Teen Book Festival
Saturday, October 6 | 9:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. | St. Edward’s University, 3001 S. Congress
The Texas Teen Book Festival is FREE and open to the public. No, you don’t have to be a teen to attend. We welcome all ages. The Festival will feature nationally and critically recognized authors, writing workshops, and workshops for educators. Book sales at the Festival support the one-day event. Thank you for your support!
H-E-B Free First Sunday
Sunday, October 9 | from noon to 5 p.m. | Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum, 1800 Congress Ave
Enjoy FREE exhibition admission all day during Free First Sundays, held the first Sunday of every month. Families can explore the Story of Texas through three floors of exhibitions that showcase artifacts from around the state. Explore 34 artworks by Comanche artist Eric Tippeconnic paired with unique artifacts that blend the past with the present to honor the Comanche people in the exhibition Comanche Motion: The Art of Eric Tippeconnic. Gain an insider’s perspective on what makes stock shows and rodeo an integral part of Texas history in Rodeo! The Exhibition.
Second Saturdays Are For Families: Branching Out
Saturday, October 13 | from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. | Laguna Gloria, 3809 West 35th St.
Laguna Gloria is the proud home of many kinds of trees, both natural and artist-made. Make your own botanical work of art with unusual materials, then learn about our tree population from the educators at TreeFolks. Don’t forget to grab your very own sapling to take home! Workshop free with reservation—coming soon! The Contemporary Austin offers free monthly hands-on art-making activities, recommended for ages 2–11. Reservations are requested for family art-making workshops; please reserve your spot here beginning the 1st of each month. Thank you to H-E-B and HomeAway for supporting our free family programs!
Pfloating Pumpkin Patch – Pflugerville
Saturday, October 13 | from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. | Gilleland Creek Pool, 700 Railroad Ave. Pflugerville, TX
Don’t miss the coolest pumpkin patch in Pflugerville! Take a dip in the pool, pick your pumpkin, decorate it and stay for pfun games and treats. The pool will also be open for recreational swim during the event.
Admission prices:
$10 per person (includes 1 medium pumpkin)
$5 per child (includes 1 small pumpkin)
$3 per person (no pumpkin)
12th Annual Murder, Mayhem , & Misadventure Walking Tours
Saturday, October 20 | from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. | Oakwood Cemetary 1600 Comal St.
Join us for the 12th annual Murder, Mayhem & Misadventure Walking Tour Oct 20, 2018 at Historic Oakwood Cemetery in Austin. The free tours cover the chilling, untimely deaths of “residents” of Oakwood portrayed by actors at their grave sites. The 45 minute tours highlight historical – not scary – events and start every 15-20 minutes between 10 a.m. through 3:15 p.m. near the newly restored Oakwood chapel. Kids under adult supervision are welcome, but please leave your pets at home and wear closed-toed shoes. Sponsored by Save Austin’s Cemeteries -Donations welcome!
Old Town Summer Nights – Leander
Saturday, October 20 | from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. | 100 N Brushy St, Leander, TX 78641
Leander Old Town Summer Nights is a concert series, a small town shopping experience, a farmers market, dining, the Leander Car Show, and other small businesses in our regional area, hosted in partnership with the City of Leander & the Leander Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Center. The 3rd Saturday of the month from June-October, 6-9PM.
Pfall Chili Pfest – Pflugerville
Saturday, October 20 | from noon to 5 p.m. | 100 East Main St., Pflugerville TX 78660
Join us in Downtown Pflugerville for the 11th annual Pfall Chili Pfest, pfeaturing the Chili Cook-off and tasting, live music, vendors, food & drink, the jalapeño eating contest, a kid’s area and the Heat Wave Car Show.
Texas Archeology Month Fair
Saturday, October 20 | from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. | JJ Pickle Research Campus, 10100 Burnet Rd.
It’s that time again! TARL is planning our annual Texas Archeology Month Fair! This year’s Fair will take place on International Archeology Day, October 20, 2018. Join us on the main field at the J.J. Pickle Research Campus in north Austin from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. for free, hands-on fun for all! The Texas Archeology Month Fair brings together dozens of professional and vocational archeologists from across Texas, who lead a wide variety of hands-on educational activities and demonstrations on many different archaeological topics. The event is open to all visitors and there’s something fun for everyone!
Hairy Man Festival – Round Rock
Saturday, October 20 | from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. | Cat Hollow Park 8600 O’Connor Dr., Round Rock, TX 78681
Free Admission. * Suggested donation for the Round Rock Serving Center: 2 non-perishable food items OR $2.00 per person. Bring the entire family to the 24th Annual Hairy Man Festival®! Listen to LIVE MUSIC, grab a bite from the Food Vendors and shop the Arts & Crafts Fair. Visit the Haunted House & Petting Zoo, Ride the Train, Enjoy Halloween-themed Crafts, Treats, and Games for the kids!
Fable Fest – Cedar Park
Saturday, October 27 | from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. | Elizabeth Milburn Park 1901 Sun Chase Blvd Cedar Park, TX 78613
Fable Fest is a FREE event being held on October 27, 11-4 PM. Attractions and entertainment include: The Kings Carnival where kids of all ages can play games, win prizes, make arts and crafts, face painting, costume contest and enjoy inflatables, a petting zoo, train and pony rides (some attractions may require tickets purchased at event); The Cobblestone Market provides the opportunity to shop with a variety of area merchants; The Pig’s Pub will provide an opportunity to eat your fill from food trucks of all kinds; The Troubadour’s Court will feature live music, drama and dance performances; and The Royal Academy is home to Live Jousting demonstrations. Costumes are encouraged! We encourage everyone to dress up as their favorite literary character or in Halloween costume. Bring the whole family and have some fun! Proceeds benefit the Cedar Park Public Library.
Round Rock Diwali Festival Of Lights
Saturday, October 27 | from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. | Centennial Plaza 301 West Bagdad Avenue Round Rock, TX 78664
It’s a pleasant night and strings of lights adorn the night sky. The sound of laughter and family fun mingles in the air. What could this scene possibly be? The picture depicted is actually one typical of the Indian festival – Diwali. The festival of Diwali is a ‘celebration of light’ and all that it encompasses. This includes the triumph of good over evil, knowledge over ignorance, and strength over fear. Bring out your friends to enjoy beautiful street lights, savory food, music, cultural dance, beautiful Rangoli (Sand Art) and a fashion show! Kids can learn various arts and crafts while others can partake in free Bollywood dance lessons. In such a vibrant atmosphere, local vendors will display colorful arts and crafts, Indian clothing, jewelry and artists will offer Henna temporary tattoos.
Viva La Vida 35th Annual Festival And Parade
Saturday, October 27 | from noon to 6 p.m. | 100-200 block of E. 4th St.
Mexic-Arte Museum’s Viva La Vida Fest is Austin’s largest and longest-running Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) festival. The festival features a Grand Procession, the Education Pavilion with hands-on art activities and artist demos, and a celebration with traditional foods, local artist and retail booths, a low-rider exhibition, live music and performances throughout the day.
Fall Fun Fest 2018 – Round Rock
Wednesday, October 31 | from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. | Old Settlers Park 3300 E Palm Valley Blvd, Round Rock, TX 78665
We’re calling all of our little preschool monsters to jump in and join in on the fun! Our Superhero themed festival will be filled with lots of activities for all of our little ghouls and goblins. Lots of fancy Fun including Carnival games, Hayrides, Cookies and Punch, Storytime and much more! Don’t forget to come in costume and bring a canned food item to donate to the Round Rock Serving Center! This year’s theme is Superhero Fun!
Harvest Of Fall Fun – Marble Falls
Now Through November 4th | Sweet Berry Farm 1801 FM 1980 Marble Falls, TX
Hours: 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday; 11 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Sunday. Closed all Wednesdays. Parking is FREE. The pumpkins and gourds are individually priced. Admission is FREE, but each activity has a fee. Activities include a hayride, corn maze, and pumpkin painting just to name a few. Payment by cash or check only. (Check the website for exact directions as GPS isn’t always accurate for this location.)
Evergreen Farms Pumpkin Hunt – Elgin
Saturdays in October from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sundays from 1 p.m to 5 p.m. | Evergreen Farms 242 Monkey Road, Elgin, Texas 78621
The Pumpkin Hunt is a family-friendly event where children of all ages can enjoy fall activities. All activities are ongoing throughout the day, allowing families to customize their experience at the farm. Pumpkins of all sizes will be available for purchase. The premier event, the Pumpkin Hunt, includes a wagon ride into the Christmas tree fields where mini pumpkins are hidden in the trees. After the Hunt, enjoy pumpkin decorating on the pavilion along with great concessions at the concessions stand and other activities and games. The Evergreen Farms authentic pumper fire truck will again be at the Pumpkin Hunt. The truck will stop on the ride and demonstrate how the hoses and pumps work as well as sounding the sirens along the way. Each child will receive a fire hat after the ride. Admission and Parking are Free.
Barton Hill Farms Fall Festival And Pumpkin Patch – Bastrop
Saturdays and Sundays now through November 4th | Barton Hill Farms 1115 Farm to Market 969, Bastrop, TX 78602
Hours are for September 29th thru November 4th. Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The farm is also open on Monday, October 8th from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Come out to Barton Hill Farms and make memories with friends and family! We have fun activities for all ages! From taking fall photos and picking out your pumpkin in the pumpkin patch, to getting lost in the corn maze, jumping on the jumping pillow, playing human foosball, corn hole, and more, you are sure to have a great day! If you’re looking for delicious food and cold drinks, check out our concession stand! We have Lavell’s Lemonade, cold beer, frozen sangria, and other refreshing beverages. We know how easy it is to work up an appetite on the farm, so we also offer 100% all beef hot dogs, 100% angus beef burgers, sno-cones, pulled pork sandwiches, and kettle corn.
Kids Are FREE:
Austin City Limits Music Festival
October 5-7 & 12-14 | Zilker Park, 2100 Barton Springs Rd, Austin
ACL Festival features a diverse lineup of acts every year with 8 stages, more than 130 bands – and two weekends. With an Art Market, a mini-fest for kids, and photogenic spaces, there’s plenty to do for the entire family. Tickets aren’t cheap, but kids 10 and under are admitted FREE with a ticket-holding adult.
