Fall in love with Texas with these fun, autumnal activities.

Whether you’re heading north, south, east, or west, your whole family is sure to fall for these autumnal activities with a Texas twist. Pumpkin patches and hayrides, lively street festivals, crisp hikes under colorful foliage, and festive culinary treats welcome kids of all ages to one of our state’s most celebrated seasons.

AUSTIN AND TEXAS HILL COUNTRY

When the leaves and the jerseys turn orange, you know it’s fall in Austin. Cheer on the University of Texas Longhorn football team at a tailgate party or explore a multi-day festival, such as the Pecan Street Festival of arts and music or one of the area’s many Octoberfest celebrations. Enjoy German brats, beers, and the oom-pah band at Banger’s on Rainey Street or catch shows from some of your favorite artists at the epic Austin City Limits Music Festival. The fall season makes for gorgeous natural excursions. Cruise the Ann and Roy Butler Hike and Bike Trail along Ladybird Lake, explore the Barton Creek Greenbelt, or rent a canoe and paddle under overhanging cypress trees on Red Bud Island. Pick your own apples in Medina or refresh with a variety of ciders from Austin Eastciders. The craft brew scene makes Austin a playland for adults, and kids appreciate outdoor playscapes at Jester King and Meanwhile Brewing. Day trips: Round Top Antiques Fair, horseback riding in “The Cowboy Capital of the World” (Bandera), Texas Pumpkin Fest (Leander), brew and barbecue at Salt Lick (Driftwood), farmtastic fun and corn maze at Jenschke Orchards (Fredericksburg).

SAN ANTONIO

Celebrations happen year-round in San Antonio, and fall offers some of the city’s best family-friendly cultural events and activities. Join the dance circle at Beethoven Männechor’s Oktoberfest or admire colorful altars at Muertos Fest, the city’s award-winning Día de los Muertos celebration. Stroll booths of seasonal produce and artisanal products at The Pearl Farmer’s Market, and keep an eye out for fall flavors like pumpkin and black bean tamales and Mexican hot chocolate. Pack a picnic to enjoy at Hemisfair Park’s Yanaguana Gardens, an outdoor wonderland for kids, or rent a bike and ride the 30-mile River Walk Hike and Bike Trail. Day trips: fall-themed farm activities at Owl Creek Farm, Graff 7A (Hondo), and Circle N Corn Maze (La Vernia); Leaf peeping at Lost Maples State Park (Utopia); Wurstfest (New Braunfels).

HOUSTON

After Labor Day, Houston comes alive with fun fall activities, including musical events in Hermann Park at the Miller Outdoor Theatre, where you can enjoy an outdoor picnic dinner and free performances in the cooler temperatures. For visitors ages 21 and older, don’t miss Brew at the Zoo, a fundraiser for wild animals where attendees can sip beer tastings from several area breweries while enjoying live music and games. And fall evenings are the perfect time to explore the universe at Saturday evening stargazing sessions, run by the Houston Museum of Natural Science at the George Observatory in nearby Brazos Bend State Park.

The city is also teaming with festivals in the fall! Houston’s thriving international communities celebrate the season with unique foods, flair, and festivities, and everyone’s invited. Enjoy craft beer and polka music at Oktoberfest Houston, watch some incredible aerial acrobatics at the Wings Over Houston Airshow, peruse the work of more than 300 national artists at the Bayou City Art Festival, taste baklava and other sweet treats at The Original Greek Festival in Montrose, and partake in colorful arts and crafts at multiple Dia de los Muertos celebrations around town. Treat your family to pumpkin pie waffles and pumpkin spice lattes from The Waffle Bus before exploring Memorial Park’s Eastern Glades or the nearby Houston Arboretum and Nature Center. Want a ride? Rent a bike and cruise miles of trails within the park and along Buffalo Bayou or hop on the zoo train at Hermann Park. Day trips: Make merry at the nation’s largest Renaissance-themed attraction, The Texas Renaissance Festival (Todd Mission)

EAST TEXAS

Bustling markets and peaceful forests are quintessential fall scenes in East Texas. “First Monday Trade Days,” which happen the weekend prior to the first Monday of each month, bring more than 5,000 vendors to Canton for the “world’s largest flea market.” With items antique to shabby chic, Vintage Market Days of East Texas also offers live entertainment and handmade goods (Lindale). Observe stunning fall foliage at Caddo Lake State Park, particularly the 400-plus-year-old cypress trees rising from Saw Mill Pond. Hardwood trees at Angelina National Forest’s Boykin Springs Recreation Area also show off their fall colors along the Sawmill Hiking Trail. You can even pick your own pumpkin and enjoy other fall activities and treats at various local farms in the area!

WEST TEXAS

The stars at night are especially big and bright out in far West Texas. Marfa’s dark skies attract stargazers and lovers of the paranormal, particularly during the Marfa Lights Festival. Feast on barbecue from James Beard-nominated restaurant Convenience West, then fuel up with a double espresso from Big Bend Coffee Roasters for a night of live music and a sighting of Marfa’s legendary “Mystery Lights.” Other popular area events include the Other popular area events include the iconic Terlingua Chili Cookoff, West Texas Fair and Rodeo (Abilene) and the Big Bend Bluegrass Festival (Alpine). Cool air makes for comfortable hiking through Guadalupe Mountains National Park and Big Bend National Park to see fall colors. Also, El Paso has one of the best places to go bouldering — Hueco Tanks State Park & Historic Site — and the community celebrates it in the fall with a two-day fair with educational tours and exhibits, captivating performances, and of course, rock climbing.

Fall is also the ideal time for discovering El Paso's history, as Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated here from mid-September to mid-October. Explore the nine-mile El Paso Mission Trail and visit two mission churches, Ysleta and Socorro, and the presidio chapel of San Elizario. Don’t miss the annual Ysleta del Sur Pueblo Pow Wow and Rock Fest, held each October, offering two days filled with local arts, crafts, and food, as well as traditional song and dance. And the season’s cooler temperatures also make the free self-guided historical walking tour of downtown El Paso an ideal way to learn more about the town’s incredible architecture, historic neighborhoods, and top sites.

DALLAS–FORT WORTH

Wave back to the 55-foot-tall cowboy (“Big Tex”) and get ready to experience the biggest showcase of entertainment and cuisine options in Texas. Not only does the State Fair of Texas offer rodeo and livestock show events, a midway of rollercoasters and rides, and eclectic shopping, it’s also home to one of college football’s most competitive arenas: The Cotton Bowl. Don’t leave without trying some newsworthy fair food, like the bourbon banana caramel sopapillas. While people know Dallas and Fort Worth as fashion hubs, these cities’ parks and gardens set the standard for autumnal style. At the Dallas Arboretum’s “Autumn at the Arboretum,” over 150,000 blooms and 90,000 gourds invite visitors to stroll pumpkin-lined pathways. Admire the vivid colors of Japanese maples at the Fort Worth Botanical Garden, and stay for Lightscape, the outdoor lighting exhibition.