As summer fades away and leaves start changing colors, Texans know it’s time for one thing: fall festivals! This season brings a variety of exciting events that showcase the state’s culture, food, and traditions. From live music to pumpkin patches, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. Here, we’ve listed the 10 best fall festivals in Texas that are guaranteed to bring warmth and joy to your heart.
Table of Contents
10 Best Fall Festivals in Texas
Texas Renaissance Festival
This festival takes place in Todd Mission, Texas, and is one of the state’s largest and most popular fall events. Visitors can immerse themselves in 16th-century England with live entertainment, jousting knights, and delicious food.
State Fair of Texas
Texas State Fair Rides | Photo by Meagan Wristen
Held in Dallas, the State Fair of Texas is a must-visit event for families. Besides the famous fried foods and carnival rides, there are also livestock shows, art exhibitions, and live music concerts. This fair typically runs from the end of September through mid-October.
Wurstfest
Photo by Wurstfest
This festival celebrates German heritage in New Braunfels, Texas. At Wurstfest, visitors can enjoy traditional bratwurst, beer, and polka music while exploring the town’s charming architecture. This year the festival runs from November 7 – 16, 2025.
Texas Book Festival
Photo by Texas Book Festival
For literature lovers, the Texas Book Festival in Austin is a dream come true. You can meet your favorite authors, attend book talks and signings, and discover new books to add to your reading list. This year’s Texas Book Festival will take place from Nov. 8-9, with events taking place in downtown Austin and at the Texas Capitol, featuring renowned authors, panels, book signings and activities.
Oktoberfest Fort Worth
Photo by Oktoberfest Fort Worth
Fort Worth’s Oktoberfest is a four-day event that features German food, beer gardens, and live music performances. Don’t miss the Dachshund Race or the stein hoisting contest! This year the festival is September 24 – 27, 2025.
South Texas Maize
Photo by South Texas Maize
This festival in Hondo, Texas, invites visitors to explore a 7-acre corn maze and enjoy attractions such as a pumpkin patch, hayrides, and pig races. For more info visit https://graff7aranch.com/. The dates for 2025 are September 20 – November 22.
Dia de los Muertos
Also known as the Day of the Dead, this Mexican holiday is celebrated in several cities across Texas, including San Antonio and Houston. You can witness colorful altars, performances, and parades that honor the deceased.
Texas Mushroom Festival
Madisonville hosts this unique Mushroom festival that celebrates mushrooms in all forms. Attend cooking demonstrations, mushroom hunts, and live music concerts. All on OCTOBER 18TH, 2025.
Apple Fest
The town of Medina, Texas, is famous for its apple orchards and Apple Fest, a one-day event that features apple cider, pie, and jam tastings, as well as a vintage car show. This years festival is October 4-5 and 11-12, 2025.
North Texas Teen Book Festival
Young adult readers will love this free event in Austin that brings together popular authors, book signings, and panels on various genres and topics. For more info visit https://texasbookfestival.org/. Dates are November 8 – 9, 2025.
Conclusion
As you can see, Texas has no shortage of fall fun and festivities. Whether you’re a foodie, a history buff, or an avid reader, there’s a festival on this list that will pique your interest. Make sure to mark your calendars and prepare to have a great time with family and friends. Happy fall!
Get Travel Insurance
Unfortunately, there are a lot of things that can go wrong on any trip. Be prepared for the worst with travel insurance. We use Travelex or Safety Wing (often cheaper).
I recommend using Expedia.com or Hotels.com for most hotel bookings. I prefer to book directly with Marriott when I stay there because of their excellent military discount.
If you prefer staying in a vacation rental instead, I recommend VRBO or Whimstay for last-minute deals. If you are looking for a hostel, I use HostelWorld.
Choose Activities and Tours
To find great activities in any area, I use Viator. If we are visiting a city with lots of popular attractions, I always check CityPass, GetOut, and GoCard to see if they have discount cards available. Groupon also tends to have a lot of local travel deals.
When I want to book a full-on multi-day tour, I use TourRadar. They’ve got fantastic weekly deals. If going somewhere in Mexico or the Caribbean, I use Apple Vacations.
If you found this information helpful consider buying me a cup of coffee aka helping me pay to put kids through college! Just scan the QR code or click the link. As always, thank you for your support!
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links, we may receive a commission if you click a link and purchase something we have recommended. this doesn’t cost you any extra. Please check out our disclosure policy for more details. Thank you for your support!
Lubbock, located in the Texas panhandle, is a city that has a lot to offer for people of all ages and interests. Here are the best things to do in Lubbock, Texas.
