Houston has SO many amazing fall festivals to choose from this year! All fall long, we are spoiled for choice. Make sure you put these on your calendar!
Zoo Boo at the Houston Zoo runs October 1-31. Admission is free for members, but ticketed for non-members. Ticket prices vary by date, but average $22-23 for adults and $17-19 for children over three. Visit the Giant Pumpkin, Spooky Train, the Lantern Tunnel and the Wildlife Carousel – decorated for Halloween! Lots of fun photo ops, too – make sure the kids wear their costumes.
Sugarland Oktoberfest is October 1 from 4-9pm at Sugarland Town Square. Admission is free for all, but beer tasting for adults requires tickets! Buy online ahead of time for the best deal. Oktoberfest will feature Bavarian music and dancing, authentic German food, games, and of course a beer tasting.
Boo on the Kemah Boardwalk The Kemah Boardwalk is going all-out in the month of October with weekend festivities! Each day is a little different but Saturdays and Sundays generally have the most kid-focused events, like spooky crafts, a “witch kitchen,” balloon artists, trick or treating, and more! Be sure to check out the schedule for the day you’re looking to visit before you head out and see the times the various events will take place! While you’re at Kemah, you can also ride the boardwalk rides. Those are ticketed per ride, while Boo on the Boardwalk is free. The rides generally open at noon.
Bayou City Art Festival returns this October 8-9. This is a fun and interactive outdoor art festival for all ages! The two-day festival features the works of more than 220 artists, and also a food truck park, entertainment, an Art Bar, an Active Imagination Zone for kids of all ages (yay!), a Culinary Arts Stage, and more. This is a ticketed event, and tickets are $18/adults, $5/kids ages 6-12, free for children under 6.
Katy Rice Festival takes place October 7-9. Admission is free for the Friday night festivities, with live music, a carnival, food trucks, and adult beverages. The fun continues Saturday and Sunday, with a kids zone, local vendors, and more added. Saturday and Sunday admission for those over 12 is $10/person. There will also be a free shuttle to and from the Merrell Center.
Greek Fest returns on October 6-8! Join the festival for authentic Greek cuisine, wines, dance performances, family fun, games, shopping, and more. Tickets are $5 at the door, and free for ages 12 and under. No pets, as an FYI!
ArBOOretum at the Houston Arboretum will be celebrating its 20th anniversary on October 15! Guests of all ages can enjoy the beautiful Arboretum with fun fall activities, including the interactive Trick-or-Treat Nature Trail, pumpkin patch, Halloween market, petting zoo, pony rides, and more. Arboretum members can attend for free. Non-members may pre-purchase tickets for $15 online, or $20 at the door. Children under 3 are free.
Nature Discovery Center Pumpkin Patch Fall Festival takes place October 15 and 16. Join for pumpkins, festival games, crafts and activities, family photo ops, meet the animals, and more! Outside exhibitors and vendors will also be there. Admission is free, although note that games/activities, concession, and purchasing pumpkins do have a cost.
Celebrate Galveston Island Oktoberfest on October 21 and 22 – this is their 40th annual Oktoberfest! This event is free to all, with live music, authentic German food, kids’ rides, crafts, and games! German costumes are encouraged. Homemade strudel will even be baked on site, specially prepared from recipes handed down from generation to generation.
KBR Kids Day at Buffalo Bayou takes place on October 22. Join for free family fun at the 15th annual event, held at Tony Marron Park. Lots of activity stations with hands-on activities from over 20 Houston partners, plus local entertainment, Dia de los Muertos face painters, balloon artists, a rock climbing wall, and more! Costumes encouraged.
Sea Center Spooktacular will be held October 23. Join Sea Center Texas for a fun and free Spooktacular at their Wetland Boardwalk – live animals, trick or treating, games, and more! Halloween costumes are encouraged.
Wings Over Houston Airshow flies back into town October 29-30. Ticket prices vary, but standard admission, which includes one adult and up to six children, is $42.50. Standard admission includes good views of the show (the Blue Angels are back), the chance to meet and talk to pilots and aircrew, a kids’ carnival, many aviation displays, and a variety of food vendors. You can upgrade the package for extras like VIP parking.
Hands-on Houston Family Festival at Center for Contemporary Craft, a free community event for all ages, takes place November 5. There will be indoor and outdoor hands-on activities in this supersized version of HCCC’s Hands-On Houston event! A food truck will also be available. Visitors can also visit across the street at Lawndale Art Center, where there will be performances by artists and Trees For Houston will be giving away a few hundred native trees on behalf of the work Symbiosis.