Fall is festival season in Dallas and the surrounding area, but it’s true for the entire state of Texas too. If the season has you yearning for a road trip, here’s a “quick hits” list of some first-rate Texas festivals to explore before you make your travel plans.
Sept 14 | Kolache Fest in Caldwell, TX (Near College Station) – FREE Admission
While most Texans associate kolaches with West, Texas (which is different from West Texas), it’s Caldwell that holds an annual festival in honor of the popular Czech pastry. Enter a kolache-eating contest or simply purchase all the goodies you can eat…all to the tune of polka music.
Sept 14 | Viet Cultural Fest in Houston
Sept 13-21 | Washington County Fair in Brenham, TX (Between Austin & Houston)
The oldest county fair in Texas
September 14 – November 3 | Yesterland Farm in Canton, TX
First off, Canton isn’t a road trip by any stretch, but it’s about an hour’s drive from Dallas. This farm and amusement park has a fall festival and a sunflower patch through September and a pumpkin patch in October. Starting in October, there are “Spooktacular” events and activities every Friday and Saturday night. Tickets include many of the activities and rides if that feels fest-y to you or your kids! Some activities require an additional fee.
Sept. 13-15 | Texas GatorFest in Anahuac, TX (49 miles east of Houston)
Sept. 19-22 | Texas State Forest Festival in Lufkin, TX (171 SE of Dallas)
Sept. 19th – 26 | Fantastic Fest at Alamo Drafthouse in Austin, TX
Oct. 4-6 | Oktoberfest in Fredericksburg
Oct. 4-16 and 11-13 Austin City Limits
This needs no explanation. Many events are already sold out, so jump on the tickets fast if you want to go.
Oct. 9 | Punkin’ Days in Floydada, TX (West Texas, between Amarillo and Lubbock)
The pumpkin capital of the U.S.
Oct 10-12| Silofest in Waco, TX
Oct. 11-13 | Conroe Cajun Catfish Festival in Conroe, TX (40 miles north of Houston)
Oct 11-13 | Turkeyfest in Cuero, TX
Weekends, October 12th through December 1st and Thanksgiving Friday
Texas Renaissance Festival, Todd MIssion (near Houston)
Oct 17-20 | Texas Rose Festival in Tyler, TX
Oct. 26-27 | Harvest Moon Festival of the Arts in Granbury, TX
Oct. 26 | Festival of Pumpkins in Paris, TX
Oct. 25-27 | Autumn Daze in Ennis, TX
Oct 30- Nov 2 | The Original Terlingua Chili Cookoff in Terlingua, TX
Oct 30-Nov 2 | CASI Terlingua International Chili Championship in Terlingua TX
Terlingua is near the southern border of Texas and Mexico, near Big Bend State Park.
Nov. 1-10 | WurstFest in New Braunfels (32 miles northeast of San Antonio)
