Katie Starr Photography
Photo by Katie Starr Photography

Ahhh Fall. It just makes me want to let out a long, much-needed sigh of relief. Fall means the sweltering days of 100+ degree Central Texas heat are behind us, and what’s ahead are the crisp, fresh air moments that we wait for all summer long.

Hello leggings and tunics! Here comes football and color-changing leaves. Sip apple cider and savor pumpkin season… we’ve been waiting patiently for you.

So when you’re not too busy sipping and baking all things pumpkin, refer to this list to get some ideas for what to do with your family in Austin this fall. Enjoy!

100 things to see and do in Austin this fall:

  1. Visit the Great Pumpkin Patch
  2. …and other great, seasonal Pumpkin Patches .
  3. Pumpkins, Hayride, Barrel Train… need we say more?
  4. Visit the Great Hill Country Pumpkin Patch
  5. Neighborhood Pumpkin Carving Party :: Everyone brings their own pumpkin, dish, and beverage of choice. A great time for the kiddos and adults.
  6. Paint Pumpkins! Easier clean up than carving!
  7. But if you DO like to carve, check out these cool cut-outs.
  8. Take your family to the Old Pecan Street Festival.
  9. No doubt one of the best things about Austin… go to ACL.
  10. Get your read on at the Texas Book Festival.
  11. Fall into the Autumn Spirit at the Elgin Fall Festival.
  12. Get inspired by filmmakers at the Austin Film Festival
  13. It’s Chili season, y’all, at the Pflugerville Fall Chili Pfest
  14. Trucklandia Fest :: Yummy food trucks (formerly Truck by Trickiest).
  15. Visit the Cedar Park Fall Festival for more Fall fun!
  16. AustOberfest 2016 :: German culture comes to Austin!
  17. Texas Monthly BBQ Festival :: as if you need more of a reason to eat BBQ.
  18. Calling all Irish Austinites :: Austin Celtic Festival
  19. Oktoberfest in Fredericksburg.
  20. Halloween fun with the animals! Boo at the Zoo
  21. Come celebrate at the Texas Renaissance Festival
  22. Festival de las Artes Latinoamericanas Austin 2015 at Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center.
  23. Ensure everyone receives a warm meal on Thanksgiving with Operation Turkey
  24. Partner and join in the fun with HEB to help provide meals to everyone.
  25. Get your run on at the annual Turkey Trot.
  26. Family Fun at Crowe’s Nest Farm
  27. Attend the Texas Clay Festival in New Braunfels
  28. Pumpkin sculpting competition and family fun at Last Straw Fest

    fall
    Photo: Parker Knight via Flickr       
  29. Wurst Fest in New Braunfels.
  30. Visit a Haunted House
  31. Go on a Ghost Tour
  32. Bake pumpkin bread
  33. Check out a Ghost Town in Manor!
  34. Make a pumpkin candle
  35. Get yourself a treat and sip a Pumpkin Spiced Latte.
  36. Hit up Trader Joe’s for all the pumpkin goodness you can handle
  37. Indulge in a sweet treat at Big Top Candy Shop
  38. Leaf Coloring Fun
  39. Support our Longhorns and go to a UT football game.
  40. Friday nights in Texas mean one thing… Football! Go to a local high school game.
  41. Austin Museum Day.
  42. Watch It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown!
  43. Get in the spirit :: make or buy a cute pumpkin t-shirt for your pumpkin!
  44. Listen to the Austin Symphony perform The Big Fall Dance.
  45. The Long Center presents the Halloween Children’s Concert.
  46. Go see Disney in Concert: The Nightmare Before Christmas.
  47. Take the kids to see a classic… Annie at the Long Center.
  48. Shopping! Dripping Spring Market Days – Fall Artisan Market.
  49. Barre3 :: Try a Barre3 class!
  50. Take advantage of the cooler weather and take the family camping!
  51. Have a Moms’ Day Out and discover Texas wine!
  52. Enjoy the Chalk Walk, a free art festival in Round Rock.
  53. Watch incredible racing AND see Taylor Swift at Formula 1.
  54. Stare at the Stars on Wednesday’s!
  55. Visit the Zilker Botanical Garden’s Butterfly Trail.
  56. Austin Vampire Ball: Royal Blood.
  57. Breathe in that crisp air: Segway tour around Austin
  58. Make a Fall Family Bucket List!
  59. Mini Golf: Peter Pan is a local favorite.
  60. Word War 1: Homebrewer vs. Homebrewer Beer Competition at NxNw.
  61. Go see the I Love You So Much on South Congress
  62. Dig at the Austin Nature and Science Center
  63. Take some selfies at Graffiti Park – N. Lamar & Baylor Street
  64. Plan a family picnic at Zilker Park
  65. Visit the fishes at Austin Aquariam
  66. Explore Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center’s Family Garden
  67. Head to the Austin Zoo (you get a discount if you are an AMB member!)
  68. Hit up the Arboretum Duck Pond and feed the ducks!
  69. Take your furry friend to a dog park!
  70. Eat Delicious Food :: Drive yourself and your family to Marble Falls and eat PIE at Blue Bonnet Cafe. You’re Welcome.
  71. Take a cooler of beer and enjoy the cooler weather with BBQ at Salt Lick (and hit up the winery while you’re there too!)
  72. Eat under the stars at the Food Trucks at Midway Food Truck Park
  73. Celebrate the season at Kerbey Lane Cinnamon Roll Pancakes!
  74. See Live Music at Stubb’s
  75. Visit Farmers Markets :: The ones downtown and in Sunset Valley have Imagination Playgrounds.
  76. Go drink a craft beer at one of the many breweries around town! Maybe they’ll have pumpkin beer…
  77. Make Pumpkin Tacos. I’m not saying it’s going to be delicious, but it’s worth a try if you’re from Austin. 
  78. Kiddie Acres :: Amusement Park designed for kids 10 and under
  79. Walk/Run/Jog at Lady Bird Lake!
  80. I went ahead and just typed in the search term for you
  81. Movie at Ski Shores :: Family Movie Night at Dusk, plus free S’mores for the kids.
  82. Try Movies with Babies on a Tuesday at Alamo Drafthouse :: Wanting to go see a movie during the day but don’t want to pay for a sitter? Thanks to Alamo, you can! At the Alamo Village, Alamo South Lamar, Alamo Lakeline and Alamo Slaughter, you can go to regular shows that start before 2:00pm on Tuesdays with your little one in tow.
  83. Go see and cheer for the Texas Stars Hockey Team!
  84. Get a babysitter and join an adult coed sports team!
  85. Or just get a babysitter
  86. Movies at Lake Park at Faulk Central Library.
  87. All Ages Library at Laura’s Library.
  88. Crafter noon at Spicewood Springs Branch.
  89. Dual Language Storytime – Hora de cuentos en dos idiomas at Southeast Branch.
  90. Kid’s Chess Open Play at North Village Branch.
  91. Kid’s Chess Open Play at Yarborough Branch.
  92. Lego Lab at North Village Branch.
  93. Mad Science Maelstrom at Yarborough Branch
  94. Movies in the Morning presents “Into the Woods” at Cedar Park Library.
  95. Wild and Wacky Weather at Willie Mae Kirk Branch
  96. Live Music at Central Market North
  97. Live Music At Central Market Westgate
  98. Space 8: A Makers Lab at Thinkery
  99. Sprouts at Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
  100. Stay in, snuggle your family, and enjoy the season!
Fall
Photo: Ken Kozak via Flickr

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