Fall is arguably Houston’s nicest season, which is easy to say because it’s not summer. The temps will slowly begin to drop, leaves will kinda sorta change color, and people will drink their pumpkin spice lattes whether there’s humidity lingering in the air or not. Also, tacos will be smashed, Blanket Bingo will be played, and steins will be hoisted, all in the name of the great outdoors. Look out for the return of your favorite fall festivities, plus a couple of exciting new ones rocking things like tequila, rap music, and all-you-can-eat steak. Here’s everything you should have Siri add to your calendar this fall:
Help crown a banh mi champion
September 18
EaDo
Taste inspired bahn mi as Houston chefs battle it out at this year’s Great Banh Mi Cook-Off, held at Chapman & Kirby from 6:30 to 9:30pm. Participants include chefs from Local Pho, Poitin, BCK Kitchen, Banh Mi Bus, and more, all bringing their banh mi A-game for People's Choice and Judges' Choice.
Cost: Tickets are $30 and include banh mi eats and bite-sized dessert
Play Blanket Bingo
September 20
Downtown
Head to Market Square Park to win big money with a riveting game of Blanket Bingo. You can bring your own blanket and lawn chairs or show up early to snag one of the tables at the park. The event runs from 6 to 9pm, with Bingo beginning at 7.
Cost: $10 admission includes one bingo packet (approx. nine games); additional games and daubers can be purchased for $1 a pop
Complete the Saint Arnold Midtown Pub Crawl
September 22
Midtown
Houston’s OG brewery brings its fan-favorite pub crawl to Midtown, hitting up Front Porch Pub, Christian’s Tailgate, 3rd Floor, Pub Fiction, Irish Cowboy, and Dogwood before finishing with the after-party at Little Woodrow’s at 6pm. You can pick up your punch cards at any of the stops between 2 and 3pm, and those that complete the crawl will earn a coveted Saint A pint glass.
Cost: Free to attend, not free to drink
VolunBeer at Memorial Park
September 22
Memorial Park
Celebrate National Public Lands Day by volunteering with Saint Arnold -- that’s volunteering then drinking beer, in case that wasn’t clear. Volunteers will meet behind the Cullen Running Trails Center at 4:30pm, then help clean up Memorial Park and enjoy some tasty beverages until 7. Wear pants and closed-toe shoes. Food trucks will be on hand.
Cost: RSVP for free
Feel the burn at the Texas Hot Sauce Festival
September 22-23
Central Southwest
Houston’s hottest (no, seriously) festival hit the Bayou City Event Center on Saturday from 11am to 6pm and Sunday from noon to 5pm. Those looking to feel the burn can do so with samples of hot sauce, salsas, wing sauce, marinades, rubs, jams, condiments, chili mixes, and more, all alongside live music, festival eats, and kids activities.
Cost: Tickets are $12, or free for kids 12 and under
Work on your Broadway body
September 25
Downtown
Market Square Park and the Theatre Under the Stars are bringing Body by Broadway back to Market Square Park, where you can sing, squat, and plank along to top Broadway tunes. The hour-long sweat sesh runs from 6:30 to 7:30pm.
Cost: Free
Eat gumbo and shrimp by the beach
September 28-29
Galveston
The Galveston Island Shrimp Festival returns in all its seafood-fueled glory. Things kick off with a VIP Sponsor Party and Fried Shrimp Dinner on Friday from 7:30 to 10pm, followed by the annual Gumbo Stroll and Strand Merchant Walk-About on Saturday from noon to 4pm. Stick around for the awards ceremony at 6 and post-stroll festivities, which run until 9. Those who want to earn their eats can sign up for the 5K Fun Run, starting Saturday morning at 9am.
Cost: Friday’s VIP Party tickets are $50; Saturday’s Gumbo stroll tickets are $14, with shrimp and beer dinner tickets available for $20; 5K + Gumbo Stroll combos run from $46 to $66
Attend a bottomless brunch extravaganza
September 29
Central Southwest
Houston Press presents its annual brunch event, The Morning After, in which locals gather to recover from the prior night’s festivities via bottomless brunch and booze samples. This year brings bites and sips from hotspots like Alice Blue, Broken Barrel, Helen Greek Food & Wine, Peli Peli, and Snooze. The event will be held at the Bayou City Events Center Pavilion from 11:30am to 2:30pm.
Cost: Tickets are $40 for general admission and $65 for VIP, with 4-packs available for $23.75 per person
Say Prost! to Oktoberfest
September 29
Buffalo Bayou Park
Dust off last year’s lederhosen and dirndl and head to The Water Works at Buffalo Bayou Park, where you’ll find a crowd of like-minded individuals ready to sip some biers and crush some brats. The highlight of the event are the free-to-compete-in Olympiad Games, including a Stein Race, Barrel Roll, Stein Hoisting, and legendary Brat Toss. 11am to 6pm.
Cost: Tickets are $25 for general admission and $100 for VIP; you can also sign up for Beer Pong and Flip Cup Tournaments for $60 and $80, respectively
Experience taco overload at Tacoworld
September 29
East End
Hit up Guadalupe Plaza Park and you’ll find Tacoworld, the new taco-filled fiesta from the team behind Tamale Festival Houston. Guests can dig into a variety of Tex-Mex classics from local restaurants, chefs, and pop-up vendors, plus live music, arts, crafts, street artists, and entertainment (including a hottest salsa contest).
Cost: Tickets are $10 in advance and $15 at the door; tacos and festival eats are available a la carte
Visit a moonGARDEN
September 29 - October 7
Downtown
Dubbed “moonGARDEN,” Discovery Green’s newest art installation transforms the park and plaza into a magical moonscape via a series of 22 illuminated spheres ranging in size from 6 to 30 feet in diameter. The installation will be visible during all park hours and activated nightly from 6pm to midnight. A lounge will be set up on the Jones Lawn, offering special food and beverage options throughout the 10 days of the exhibition.
Cost: Free
Live out your GoT fantasies at RenFest
September 29 - November 25
Todd Mission
The largest Renaissance Festival in the nation is back for nine straight weekends, running Saturdays, Sundays, and Thanksgiving Friday. This year’s Texas RenFest will host themed weekends from Barbarian Invasion (October 13) to Celtic Christmas (November 23), with every weekend rocking live music and shows, shoppes and costumes, mead and ale, after-dark parties, and feasts fit for a king.
Cost: Daily passes are $24.95 for adults and $12.95 for kids up to 12, with camping and weekend packages available
Celebrate meat, wine, beer, and charity at Southern Smoke
September 30
Montrose
Formed in 2015, the annual Southern Smoke is easily one of the most anticipated food events of the year, and this year, the charitable organization is once again raising funds for the MS Society (along with featuring a year-round Emergency Relief Fund for people in the food and beverage industry, inspired by the success of last year’s Hurricane Harvey relief efforts). Chef Chris Shepherd and the Houston BBQ Collective will be joined by chefs Aaron Franklin, Daniela Soto-Innes, Vivian Howard, Ryan Prewitt, Edouardo Jordan, Chris Bianco, Pat Martin, Billy Durney, Jason Vincent, Matthew Rudofker, Tae Strain, and Sam Jones. The outdoor block party runs from 4 to 8pm behind the The Hay Merchant.
Cost: Tickets are $200 for general admission and $350 for VIP
OCTOBER
Greek out at the Original Greek Festival
October 4-7
Montrose
Gyros, souvlaki, baklava, and spanakopita will all be up for grabs at the 52nd annual Original Greek Festival, which takes place at the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral on Yoakum. Besides the traditional Greek eats, you can also expect authentic music and dance, a market, Greek wines, and plenty of good times. Thurs 5-10pm; Fri 11am-3pm and 5-10pm; Sat 11am-6pm; Sun noon-6pm.
Cost: Tickets are $5 for adults (free on Friday before 3pm) and free for children 12 and under
Double down on King’s Oktoberfest
October 5-7, 19-21
Pearland & Shady Acres
Father-son duo Hans and Philipp Sitter are lacing up their lederhosen for King’s Oktoberfest, kicking off at King’s Biergarten (Pearland) on October 5-7, and followed by the festivities at King’s BierHaus (Shady Acres) on October 19-21. Both celebrations will feature a massive three-day extravaganza, complete with German food and drink (think German biers, wursts, and eight-hour roasted turkey legs), plus live music and special events including a Bavarian Strongman Competition, arm wrestling, beer pong competition, and adult carnival games.
Cost: General admission tickets are $12 for single day pass, $20 for a weekend pass, and $30 for the extreme “Oktoberfester” double weekend pass
Sip beers and jam to live music at Achtoberfest
October 6
EaDo
8th Wonder Brewery hosts its third annual Achtoberfest, featuring a lineup of live music, Achtoberfest bier, limited-edition steins, and German-inspired grub from Eatsie Boys. Doors open at 11am.
Cost: Tickets are $5 in advance and $10 day of
Celebrate Oktoberfest in a German-style beer hall
October 6-7
Downtown
Saint Arnold’s annual Oktoberfest gives props to Bavarian culture with a special German dinner, live music, King and Queen of Oktoberfest costume contest, and a full lineup of Saint A beers that you’ll be able to enjoy from a commemorative Oktoberfest glass boot. Saturday 6 to 9pm; Sunday 1 to 4pm.
Cost: Tickets for each day are $50 each and include admission, beer, dinner, and a commemorative Oktoberfest glass boot; space is limited
Enjoy Whiskey! Beer! And Tacos!
October 7
Heights
Eight Row Flint is hosting its second annual Whiskey+ Beer+Taco event, combining WhistlePig booze, Saint Arnold Brewing Co. brews, and Eight Row Flint eats. Doug Ward of WhistlePig will walk the crowd through the whiskey selections, Aaron Inkrott of Saint Arnold Brewing Co. will pair the whiskey with his brews, and Eight Row’s Christina Ramey and Marcelo Garcia will bring the fuel in the form of corned beef breakfast tacos, Jalisco-style seafood tostadas, and chocolate babka with a Mexican vanilla ice cream.
Cost: $100 per person (tax and gratuity is included) for three courses with pairings
Get the meat sweats at the Woodlands BBQ Festival
October 7
Woodlands
Hit Town Green Park to eat all the meat at the third annual Woodlands BBQ Festival, held from 1 to 4pm. The family-friendly fest offers an afternoon of the finest local ‘cue, live music, cold beer, activities for the kiddos, and raffles with proceeds benefiting the Pulmonary Hypertension Association.
Cost: Tickets are $50 for general admission (including all-you-can-eat samples of BBQ) and $100 for VIP (with early entry and two drink tickets, plus a festival tee and tote filled with goodies)
Get an inside look the next hottest food trends
October 8
Lazybrook/Timbergrove
Part culinary think tank, part idea incubator, The Epicurean Project brings together local chefs and tastemakers to find out what’s hot in the Houston food world. Chefs will compete for Best Overall Dish and People’s Choice, as guests eat, mingle, and get inspired. Benefiting the Recipe for Success Foundation, the event will be held at The Revaire from 6:30 to 9:30pm.
Cost: Register online (prices to be announced)
Work on your Broadway body
October 9
Downtown
Market Square Park and the Theatre Under the Stars bring Body by Broadway back to Market Square Park, where you can sing, squat, and plank along to top Broadway tunes. The hour-long sweat sesh runs from 6:30 to 7:30pm.
Cost: Free
Leave the loop for the Conroe Catfish Festival
October 12-13
Conroe
Expect Cajun eats and a stellar musical lineup at the Conroe Cajun Catfish Festival, which benefits the nonprofit Friends of Conroe, Inc., a group that works to enhance the quality of life in Conroe and Montgomery County through civic and cultural improvements. The family-friendly event will also feature craft booths and exhibits, kids rides, a mural, petting zoo, and pony rides. Friday 6pm to midnight; Saturday 11am to midnight, Sunday noon to 6pm.
Cost: Tickets are $10 for general admission, $20 for a 3-day weekend pass, and $75 (Sat) and $40 (Sun) for VIP
Be dazzled by the Big Top at Market Square
October 13
Downtown
For one night only, Market Square Park will transform into a big top featuring Cirque Mythos, with aerialists, contortionists, jugglers, and fire breathers putting on mesmerizing performances from 6 to 10pm. You can also expect local bars, restaurants, and venues to host specials and pop-up performances until 2am.
Cost: Free
Peruse a ton of local art
October 13-14
Downtown
The two-day Bayou City Arts Festival will showcase the works of over 300 of the finest artists in the world, bringing around 20,000 people into the heart of Downtown Houston. Now in its 47th year, the festival has raised over 3.6 million dollars in support local nonprofit organizations. The event will take place in the streets surrounding City Hall, Hermann Square, Houston Public Library, and Sam Houston Park and is open from 10am to 6pm.
Cost: General admission is $15 per adult and $5 per child (12 and under), family and two-day passes are also available
Catch The Addams Family on the big screen
October 17
Downtown
Chill with Uncle Fester and Cousin Itt at a special screening of The Addams Family at Market Square Park, with the show starting at 7pm. Get there early for a Saint Arnold Pumpkinator release party and Wednesday costume contest starting at 6pm; and don’t forget to bring your own blankets and lawn chairs. Food and beverages are available for purchase from Niko Niko’s in the park.
Cost: Free
Catch Goosebumps (2015) on the big screen
October 20
Downtown
Throw it way back with a special evening screening of Goosebumps, based on R.L. Stine’s cult favorite "Goosebumps" series, at Discovery Green. Bring blankets and chairs to view from the hill; food and bevys are available for purchase from The Lake House. Show starts at 7:30pm.
Cost: Free
Discover the vibrant East End
October 20
East End
Head to Houston’s birthplace for the annual East Street Fest, which brings live bands, DJs, artisans, street performers, and good eats together for a giant three-block party on Navigation Boulevard. Celebrating the neighborhood’s rich heritage (it hosts two of the Houston's oldest Hispanic neighborhoods, Magnolia Park and Second Ward), the family-friendly event runs from noon to 10pm.
Cost: Free to attend, with food and drink available for purchase
Drink beer on a historic ship
October 20
Galveston
It’s the official birthday month of The Official Tall Ship of Texas, the 1877 ELISSA -- a super cool, iron-hulled sailing ship built in Aberdeen, Scotland, that spent 90 years carrying cargos to ports around the world and is still a functioning vessel today. You’ll find it at the Texas Seaport Museum, where you can honor its birth with a one-day-only History on Tap tasting featuring brews from Saint Arnold Brewing Company (including Elissa IPA). 6 to 8pm.
Cost: A $20 ticket gets you admission to the Texas Seaport Museum, onboard the ship, and complimentary craft beer
Work on your Broadway body
October 23
Downtown
Market Square Park and the Theatre Under the Stars bring Body by Broadway back to Market Square Park, where you can sing, squat, and plank along to top Broadway tunes. The hour-long sweat sesh runs from 6:30 to 7:30pm.
Cost: Free
Watch E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial under the stars
October 26
Downtown
Everyone’s favorite friendly alien hits the big screen at Discovery Green beginning at 7:30pm. Bring blankets and chairs to view from the hill; food and bevys are available for purchase from The Lake House.
Cost: Free
Honor thy tacos at Tacolandia
October 27
Buffalo Bayou Park
Get unlimited samples of some seriously good tacos from over 35 vendors at the Houston Press’ annual Tacolandia. All you need to do is show up hungry. Oh, and buy a ticket. The outdoor event takes place at The Water Works at Buffalo Bayou from 4 to 7pm; and this year’s vendors include favorites from Hugo’s to Luna Y Sol.
Cost: General admission tickets are $35 in advance and $45 day of (if available); VIP tickets are $75 in advance and $85 day of (if available) and include early entry at 3pm, plus access to a VIP lounge and bar, exclusive VIP tacos, and four drink tickets
Feast on beers under the big tent
October 27
Sugar Land
Now in its seventh year, The Flying Saucer BeerFeast is bringing the good stuff to Sugar Land Town Square from 2 to 6:30pm. The outdoor beer-sampling event shows off the beer emporium’s prowess through a cherry-picked selection of 100 craft beers from around the globe, plus food vendors and live music to boot.
Cost: General admission tickets are $35 presale and $45 at the door, and include 12 (2-ounce) beer samples and a taster glass; VIP tickets are $68 and include early entry (1pm), access to six rare beers, a food voucher, and T-shirt
NOVEMBER
Feast with the Beasts at the Houston Zoo
November 2
Museum District
The Houston Zoo’s 13th annual food, beer, and wine celebration opens up the park for guests, plus 60 of Houston’s hottest restaurants and musical guest Everclear. This year’s restaurant list includes top spots like Fluff Bake Bar, Hopdoddy Burger Bar, Izakaya, Ono Poke, The Grove, and MAX’s Wine Dive. The magical evening takes place from 7 to 11pm and is 21-and-up only.
Cost: Now through Sept 20, pre-sale tickets are $109 for zoo members ($119 regular) and $119 for non-members ($129 regular), with VIP tickets available for $219
Catch a free screening of Black Panther under the stars
November 3
Downtown
Watch Black Panther defend Wakanda on the big screen at Discovery Green, with the show beginning at 7:30pm. Bring blankets and chairs to view from the hill; food and bevys are available for purchase from The Lake House.
Cost: Free
Get your holiday shopping done early
November 8-11
NRG Park
Houston’s hottest holiday bazaar returns to NRG Park for a massive, four-day shopping extravaganza. The Nutcracker Market is chock full of vendors offering everything from chic home décor and gourmet food products to eclectic accessories and all the toys, so come prepared to spend some dough.
Cost: Discount tickets can be purchased online or at participating stores for $18 (good for one entry); $20 day of
Smash burgers, steak, and BBQ at Cowabunga
November 9-11
Buffalo Bayou Park
Houstonia’s all-you-can-eat Cowabunga event starts off strong with Friday night’s Burger Bash, featuring endless burgers, drink pairings, and live entertainment. On Saturday, the meat sesh continues with rubbed, fired, smoked, and grilled beef at BBQ on the Bayou, followed by the Seared steakhouse, wine and spirits experience that evening. Things close out with Sunday’s Country Brunch, where favorite local brunch spots will compete in a Bloody Mary Smackdown.
Cost: Tickets are $45 for the Burger Bash, $65 for BBQ on the Bayou ($20 ages 13 to 20), $150 for Seared, $65 for the Country Brunch, or $250 for The Full Moo Pass
Pair tequila, tacos, and cerveza
November 10
TBD
The traveling Tequila, Taco, & Cerveza Fest is making its way to Houston, packing Mexican beers, 40+ worldwide tequilas, and a lineup of unique tacos along with it. Expect taco trucks, live music, DJs, roaming mariachi bands, shots, water pong, corn hole, and hourly lucha libre matches. Details to come.
Cost: Tickets are $30 general admission day of and include 10 tequila samples and a sampling cup; $50 VIP and $10 designated driver tickets are also available
Catch Meet the Parents on the big screen
November 11
Downtown
Watch Ben Stiller milk a cat a special screening of Meet the Parents at Market Square Park, with the show starting at 7pm. Get there early for a Saint Arnold Pumpkinator release party and Wednesday costume contest starting at 6pm; and don’t forget to bring your own blankets and lawn chairs. Food and beverages are available for purchase from Niko Niko’s in the park.
Cost: Free
Sing along to the King of Pop live
November 11
Museum District
Featuring Michael Jackson tribute artists who can pull off the moonwalk, “I Am King: The Michael Jackson Experience” may just be the closest you’ll get to seeing the King of Pop live in concert. The music and visual journey take place at Miller Outdoor Theater at 8pm. The show goes on rain or shine.
Cost: Free, with open seating on the hill or advance tickets for the covered seating (available for pickup at the Miller Outdoor Theatre box office the day of the performance from 10:30am to 1pm)
Work on your Broadway body
November 13
Downtown
Market Square Park and the Theatre Under the Stars bring Body by Broadway back to Market Square Park, where you can sing, squat, and plank along to top Broadway tunes. The hour-long sweat sesh runs from 6:30 to 7:30pm.
Cost: Free
Jam out at the Astroworld Festival
November 17
NRG Park
Houston-born rapper Travis Scott has gifted his hometown a brand new music festival. Taking place across the way from the beloved (but defunct) AstroWorld amusement park at NRG Park, the Astroworld Festival will see Travis Scott headlining, alongside a sure-to-be-dope lineup that will include some of today’s biggest national acts and up-and-comers.
Cost: General admission tickets start at $109, prices will increase as the festival nears
Earn a guilt-free third helping of stuffing at the Turkey Trot
November 22
Galleria
Work up your Thanksgiving Day appetite by completing the 1K (kids), 5K, or 10K Turkey Trot, taking place in three separate races in the Uptown Galleria area. All ages and experience levels are welcome, and the competitive, timed events are sanctioned by USA Track & Field. Start time is 7:30am for the 10K, 8am for the 5K, and 9am for the Kids Run.
Cost: Register for the 5K and 10K for $35 (untimed) or $40 (timed), and the Kids 1K for $20 (12 and under)
Work on your Broadway body
November 27
Downtown
Market Square Park and the Theatre Under the Stars bring Body by Broadway back to Market Square Park, where you can sing, squat, and plank along to top Broadway tunes. The hour-long sweat sesh runs from 6:30 to 7:30pm.
Cost: Free
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