Take advantage of the (slightly) cooler fall weather in Austin by visiting pumpkin patches, haunted houses, and festivals galore! This list of fall festivals is so gigantic that we had to break it into two, just to make sure you didn’t miss all of the fun that Central Texas has to offer. Keep an eye out for part 2, which covers the rest of the month, into November, coming soon!
Photo via Pixabay, creative commons licensed.
2017 Fall Festivals in Central Texas
Please note that not all events listed are free, and many offer activities for an additional fee. Please click on the links for more information.
Texas Big Worm Pumpkin Patch (Bertram)
October 6 through 29 | 4625 E. State Highway 29, Bertram
Fridays and Saturdays, from 9 a.m.-6 p.m. and Sundays from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. FREE admission! Look for the Giant Chair and all the pumpkins! Pumpkin patch and fun activities including, pumpkin painting ($5.00 includes pumpkin), hayground (playground of hay- free), and hay rides ($2.00 per person). You can also purchase your annual pumpkin here. Also enjoy Storytime in the Patch: Fridays 10:30 a.m.- 11:15 a.m. Come out and hear great fall themed books read among the pumpkins. Find more information here.
Harvest of Fall Fun! (Marble Falls)
September 23 through November 5 | 1801 FM 1980 Marble Falls
Harvest of Fall Fun runs September 23-November 5, 2017. Hours: 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday; 11 a.m.-5 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, scarecrow stuffing, a train, and flower picking, and pumpkin painting just to name a few (seriously, there are a TON of activities for an additional fee). Visit the Sweet Berry Farm website for pricing. Payment by cash or check only. (Check the website for exact directions as GPS isn’t always accurate for this location.)
The Robinson Family Farm (Temple)
September 23 through October 29, from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. | 3780 White Owl Lane, Temple
Open Saturdays and Sundays through October 29, 2017. Hours are 10 a.m-6 p.m. This pumpkin patch offers various games and activities for those of all ages which include: hay rides, kiddie train, corn maze, hay maze, bounce houses, bean bag toss, football throw, ring toss and pumpkin sand art, horseshoes, corn hole, ladder golf, a corn pit, and a large playground for your little ones to play. Parking and admission are free, wristbands are $10 per person for unlimited turns on the activities listed above. One dollar individual activity tickets are also available.
Barton Hill Farms (Bastrop)
September 23 through November 5 | 1115 Farm to Market 969, Bastrop
Open weekends through November 13, 2016. Saturdays, from 10 a.m. – 8 p.m. and Sundays, from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. Admission is $14 for ages 3 and up. Kids 2 and under are free. You can save $1 if you purchase tickets online. Barton Hill Farms boasts a 5-acre corn maze, frontier games, a pumpkin patch, food, and more. Check their Facebook page for updates.
Cross Plants and Produce (Kyle)
October 7 through 31 (closed Mondays) | 701 N. Old Highway 81, Kyle
Cross Plants and Produce is an everyday farmer’s market and plant nursery in Kyle, TX. There is a large kid’s play area with picnic tables, a mini horse and mini donkey, a farm dog and bunny rabbit. The Pumpkin Patch will be open on weekdays (except Mondays), with free activities on weekends. Pumpkin Patch will be open from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Admission is FREE. Paint-a-pumpkin is $5. October 12, 19, and 26 is their special Pumpkin Patch Story Time and Paint a Pumpkin event. More information on events can be found on their Facebook event page.
Evergreen Farms (Elgin)
Weekends in October | 242 Monkey Rd, Elgin
Visit the Pumpkin Hunt, weekends in October for a special day with the Down Home Ranch Friends at Evergreen Farms. Hours: Saturdays from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and Sundays from 1-5 p.m. Admission is FREE, but some activities cost $2.50 to $5. FREE activities include wagon rides around the farm and a petting zoo. Activities that cost $2.50 per ticket include a train ride, a maze, fishing pond, pumpkin hunt, and face painting.
Boo at the Zoo
Friday and Saturday nights in October from 6:30-9 p.m. | 10808 Rawhide Trail, Austin
Wear a costume (no adult masks, please), ride the haunted train ride, explore the haunted house, and see the animals by the glow of special illumination throughout (no need for flashlights this year). Plus, enjoy the special musical entertainment, ScottyRoo and Christini, for an additional $3. Feel free to bring a picnic to enjoy in the Picnic Grove. The Zoo will be illuminated and decorated for the occasion. Tickets are $17.50 per person. Purchase your tickets at the gift shop or by calling 512-288-1490.
Crowe’s Nest Farms Fall Family Fun Days (Manor)
Saturdays in October (October 7, 14, 21, & 28) | 10300 Taylor Lane, Manor
There will be four Fall Family Fun Days this year: October 7, 14, 21, & 28! There will be lots of local vendors selling everything from fresh organic produce, eggs, honey, jam, and bread, to a variety of hand-made crafts, plus lots of special events, like raptor shows, snake lessons, a corn and potato cannon booth, and much more! Admission is FREE under 2 $3 for 2-year-olds, $7 for ages 3 to 12, and $9 for ages 13+. Check the Facebook page to get the latest details.
Elgin Christmas Tree Farm (Elgin)
October | 120 Nature’s Way off Roy Davis Road, Elgin
The Pumpkin Festival and October Fall Fun will take place on various dates through October for $7 admission for kids (age 2 and up) and $9 for adults. Activities are included in the price of admission. There will be hayrides, mazes, kiddie train rides (weekends only), a playground, pumpkin painting (with the purchase of a pumpkin), visiting with farm animals, and more.
Oktoberfest
October 14 11 a.m.-7 p.m. | German Free School, 507 East 10th Street Austin
The German-Texan Heritage Society will hold their annual festival, which will include live music, food, a biergarten, activities for kids, and more. Adult tickets are $10 at the gate; children 12 and under are FREE.
PumpkinFest at Red Barn Garden Center
October 14 10 a.m.-4 p.m. | 12881 Pond Springs Rd, Austin
PumpkinFest 2017 will be FREE and will feature a bounce house and petting zoo along with a giant pumpkin patch.
Texas Archaeological Month Fair
October 14 from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. | University of Texas J.J. Pickle Research Campus, 10100 Burnet Rd, Austin
In partnership with the Texas Historical Commission, UT’s Texas Archeological Research Laboratory (TARL) will be hosting a public Archeology Fair to celebrate this year’s Texas Archeology Month. The Fair will feature hands-on activities for kids and adults, demonstrations from the community of professional archaeologists, and displays that highlight Texas’ rich archeological history. FREE! Bring your family, your scout troop, and your friends of all ages. Learn more and confirm event details here.
Pfall Chili Pfest (Pflugerville)
October 21 from 12-5 p.m. | 100 E Main Street, Pflugerville
Annual chili cook-off contest with as many as 40 teams entered! Plus vendors, car show, and children’s area, with live music on stage. FREE to attend, with packages of tasting cups and spoons for sale. For a full schedule and more information check out their website here.
Family Festival Pumpkin Patch
October – every weekend | Proof & Cooper Restaurant, 18710 Hamilton Pool Rd, Dripping Springs
Offering fun and activities for the whole family, the pumpkin patch will feature kid-friend programming, carnival games, petting zoo, vendors, and live music.
Texas Avid Outdoors Annual Fall Expo
October 13-15 from 12-5 p.m. | Oxford Ranch Campground, 11380 S State Highway 16, Llano
Come one, come all to Texas Avid Outdoors Annual Fall Expo. This is a FREE, family-friendly event to help celebrate a love for the outdoors. There will be lots of educational and interactive things for both kids and parents to take part in that are geared towards camping, hiking, and the outdoors. With many great returning participants like Backwoods of Austin, Whole Earth Provisions, Pronghorn Overland Gear, Ethos Offroad, and many others, there will be plenty to see and do. There will also be prize giveaways from participants. Food will be available for purchase. Learn more and confirm event details here.
Stay tuned for Part 2 of our enormous list of Harvest Festivals and Halloween Fun in Austin — coming soon!
Know of more fall festivals coming up? Share them in the comments!
Featured photo courtesy Red Barn Garden Center.
