Austin’s fall may be short, but it’s packed with vibrant events, seasonal flavors, and festive activities. Check out some ideas below on ways to take full advantage of fall this year.
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Autumn in Austin: Events
Save the date! Check out these exciting events happening in Austin this fall.
Now – October 26 | Bring the kids in costume for a spook-tacular night at Boo at the Zoo! Every Friday and Saturday in October, the Austin Zoo transforms after dark with train rides, musical entertainment, and unlimited Haunted House visits.
October 18 – 20 | Formula 1 returns to Texas for an epic three-day celebration of speed, championship racing, and live music from top headliners! Can’t make it to COTA? Head to Mozart’s Coffee for ‘Espresso and Exotics’—coffee and cars, F1 style.
November 1 – 3 | Treat your taste buds at the Austin Food + Wine Festival, where top chefs, sommeliers, and winemakers unite for a three-day culinary adventure. Delight in gourmet flavors and vibrant live music in the heart of Texas!
November 9 – 17 | A free, self-guided art event that combines the West Austin Studio Tour and East Austin Studio Tour where Austin artists can connect and the public can experience art safely both in person and virtually.
November 20 – 24 | A Christmas Affair is a five-day holiday market benefiting The Junior League of Austin. The annual event hosts 200+ retail merchants and attracts 25,000+ patrons. You can also shop the event online at A Christmas Affair Virtual Marketplace.
November 28 | ThunderCloud Subs’ annual Turkey Trot is a great way to work up a Thanksgiving-sized appetite. This year, compete with the best of Austin or join virtually and head outside with the kids for a more relaxed holiday jog.
Autumn in Austin: Activities
Celebrate fall in Austin with seasonal activities, from savoring a Texas Hill Country wine tour to exploring the great outdoors.
Spend a day exploring sprawling vineyards and sipping your way through a lineup of award-winning wines throughout the greater Fredericksburg area with either Creekstreet Wine Tours or Texas Wine Tours.
Enjoy Austin’s fall foliage while exploring outdoor art. Visit The Contemporary Austin’s Sculpture Park at Laguna Gloria or the Umlauf Sculpture Garden for stunning outdoor sculptures. For an interactive experience, check out Fortlandia, designed to connect visitors of all ages with the environment.
Autumn in Austin brings stunning weather ideal for outdoor dining. Savor brunch at Josephine House in Clarksville, enjoy casual bites on the spacious patio at Redbud Ice House, or unwind with a creative cocktail on the shaded patio at Bar Peached.
Embrace Austin’s fall weather with an outing on Lady Bird Lake! Rent paddleboards, kayaks, or canoes from the Rowing Dock or Texas Rowing Center. For a unique experience, join a guided tour with Austin City Kayak Tours, or glide along in style on a vintage boat from Retro Boat Rentals.
Join one of Austin’s fantastic fall workshops, from a wine and floral arrangement session with Margot Blair Floral to cocktail crafting with The Roosevelt Room. Don’t miss Antonelli’s Cheese for a delightful cheese and Halloween candy pairing that celebrates the season!
Explore the best of Austin and the picturesque Texas Hill Country. Enjoy stunning city views along the Ann and Roy Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail, wander the scenic paths at Enchanted Rock State Natural Area, or discover new trails using the outdoor app AllTrails.
Autumn in Austin: Prepared Foods
Here are a few of our favorite local spots to grab pre-made essentials for the upcoming holidays.
Dai Due, a Cherrywood butcher shop, carries a cornucopia of meats to be cooked this holiday season, including brined turkeys, smoked wild boar ham, turducken sausages, brined quails, and more.
2406 Manor Road | 512.524.0688
Get everything in one stop at Fresa’s Chicken al Carbon! A roasted turkey with gravy, chorizo stuffing, spicy citrus-serrano cranberry sauce, and choice of sides. Make sure to also order a pozole kit for any turkey leftovers.
1703 S 1st Street | 512.992.2946
Garbo’s is serving up more than just lobster rolls this season—enjoy caviar, oysters, and other gourmet bites alongside their DIY lobster roll kits.
626 N Lamar Boulevard | 512.291.6541
From turkey to pineapple-sage-glazed ham to brisket, this local favorite barbecue joint is selling its smoked meats for the holidays, along with an array of sides.
12233 Ranch Road 620 North | 512.382.6248
Elevate your holiday feast with chef-prepared mains and sides from Lee’s Meat Market, from tender roasts to gourmet accompaniments for an unforgettable gathering.
1601 W 38th Street #12 | 512.467.6700
It’s tamale season! From chicken to pork to vegetarian, Tamale House East has tamale kits which include six large handmade tamales, and one of their signature homemade salsas.
1707 E 6th Street | 512.495.9504
This Westlake favorite is the perfect spot to grab your holiday feast of honey-glazed ham, roasted turkey breast, and an array of side dishes.
3736 Bee Caves Rd #6 | 512.330.9888
Small pies, big taste – Tiny Pies is doing what it does best for the holidays! Grab an assortment of these individually-sized pies, baked fresh daily with ingredients sourced from local farms.
Multiple Locations
Let Uchi handle your holiday feast with their ‘Uchi at Home’ experience, featuring menu favorites from Uchi, Uchiko, and Uchibā—all enjoyed from the comfort of your own home.
801 S Lamar Boulevard | 512.916.4808
Autumn in Austin: Giving Back
As we start to embrace the holiday season, our thoughts turn to giving back. Here are just a few of the countless organizations dedicated to improving the lives of our neighbors. This time of year is a perfect opportunity to find a personally meaningful way to make a difference.
Art From the Streets’ mission is to create a supportive space for those experiencing homelessness by offering art supplies, classes, and opportunities to earn income through selling their work. Explore their unique art pieces for everyone on your list this upcoming holiday season.
Austin Parks Foundation, founded in 1992, enhances Austin’s parks, trails, and green spaces through volunteerism, programs, advocacy, and support. Join their ‘In the Park,’ a free and inclusive event series with storytime, crafts, and more.
Austin Pets Alive! transforms the lives of animals through life-saving programs that provide homes, support in times of crisis, and foster community involvement. Don’t miss their ‘Meowlloween‘ Cat Adoption Drive, featuring storytimes and a fun Cat Costume Contest!
Caritas of Austin is committed to ending and preventing homelessness by providing access to safe housing, nutritious food, stable employment, and educational opportunities. You can support their mission by donating Care Kits filled with essential supplies for individuals experiencing homelessness in Austin.
Community First! Village is a thoughtfully designed community offering affordable, permanent housing and vital support for individuals transitioning out of chronic homelessness. Since 2021, we’ve proudly supported the Gottesman Residential Cluster at Community First! Village. Enjoy a film at the Community Cinema & Amphitheater, where residents earn a dignified income by serving concessions.
Foster Angels of Central Texas whose mission is to improve the lives of children in foster care by ensuring each child has their basic needs met and providing life-enhancing, life-enriching opportunities whenever possible. Make their holidays a little brighter this year by sponsoring a teen in foster care with their annual Toys for Teens gift drive.
Family Eldercare thoughtfully partners with older adults and people with disabilities to create stability, dignity, and well-being. Through their Holiday Giving Drive, explore the stories and holiday requests of some of the resilient and inspiring individuals Family Eldercare currently serves.
Helping Hand Home offers a nurturing and therapeutic environment for severely abused children, aiming to restore them to healthy family settings. You can support their mission by volunteering, becoming a foster parent, donating funds, or contributing to their wish list for the children.
The SAFE Alliance exists to stop abuse for everyone by serving the survivors of child abuse, sexual assault and exploitation, and domestic violence. From tree donations to sponsoring a SAFE family, help create joy and magic this holiday season through their SAFE Holiday programs!