Pumpkin patches, haunted houses are fall favorites, but the season also brings festivals across Houston, from art and music to food and culture. Here are the top ones to know.
Houston Pumpkin Festival
Pumpkins made into a Houston logo on a hill with a tree swing at the first annual Houston Pumpkin Festival at Discovery Green. (Karen Warren/Staff photographer)
Discovery Green’s fall attraction brings farm-themed fun to downtown Houston, with a 2,000-square-foot bouncy pumpkin, a giant corn pit, more than 50 pumpkin varieties, photo stations and glowing LED crystal kayaks on the lake. Reservations are recommended.
When: Through Nov. 2: Monday-Thursday 3-10 p.m. and Friday-Sunday 10 a.m.-10 p.m.
Where: Discovery Green, 1500 McKinney
Details: $18 and up; discoverygreen.com
Zoo Boo at the Houston Zoo
Zoo Boo returns to the Houston Zoo. (Houston Zoo)
Zoo Boo is back at the Houston Zoo with carved pumpkins, a Pumpkin Tree, Peek-a-Boo Pumpkins and the new PhantomScape projection at the Galápagos Islands exhibit. Families can enjoy the Scary-Go-Round, photo ops and Zoo Boo After Hours with spooky lights and a dance party. For ages 21 and up, the zoo debuts Spooky Spirits on Oct. 16, a Halloween night with cocktails, a DJ set and a scavenger hunt.
When: Through Oct. 31
Where: 6200 Hermann Park Dr
Details: $31.90 and up; houstonzoo.org
Bayou City Art Festival
People view the art on display during the Bayou City Art Festival at Memorial Park on Sunday, March 26, 2017, in Houston. ( Brett Coomer / Houston Chronicle ) (Brett Coomer/Houston Chronicle)
This three-day event in Memorial Park showcases work from more than 250 artists. Visitors can shop for unique, custom art while enjoying live entertainment, a food truck park, and beverage stations throughout the festival. This year’s featured artist is Jonah Ballard.
When: Oct. 10-12: 10 a.m-6 p.m.
Where: Memorial Park along South Picnic Lane
Details: $20, $5 for ages 6-12, free for ages 5 and under; bayoucityartfestival.com
Conroe Cajun Catfish Festival
Eleanor Mixon pets a boa constrictor during the annual Conroe Cajun Catfish Festival in Conroe. (Jason Fochtman/Staff photographer)
The Conroe Cajun Catfish Festival, now in its 36th year, celebrates Cajun culture with live music, carnival rides, catfish cook-offs and the Mr. & Miss Catfish Pageant.
When: Oct. 10: 6 p.m.-midnight, Oct. 11: 11 a.m.-midnight and Oct. 12: Noon- 11 p.m.
Where: Montgomery County Fairgrounds, 9201 Airport Road, Conroe
Details: $35 and up, free for ages 12 and under; friendsofconroe.com
Korean Festival Houston
Jennifer Giang smiles as her friend Michelle Ho helps her with a Korean traditional head piece at the Korean Festival Houston. (Marie D. De Jesús/Staff photographer)
The 16th annual Korean Festival returns to Discovery Green with traditional performances, K-pop dance showcases, Korean cuisine, a kimchi-eating contest and more. This year’s event also features a K-pop dance competition judged by artists from the boy group WITHUS and choreographer Kiana Tangonan.
When: Oct. 11: 10 a.m.-9 p.m. and Oct. 12: 11 a.m.-8 p.m.
Where: Discovery Green, 1500 McKinney
Details: Free: kfesthouston.com
Katy Rice Festival
The Katy Rice Festival celebrating the history of Katy. (Gary Fountain/Contributor)
The annual Katy Rice Festival celebrates the city’s culture and history with live music, craft beer, food trucks and a kids and teen zone. The event benefits the Rotary Club of Katy.
When: Oct. 11: 10 a.m.-10 p.m. and Oct. 12: Noon- 6 p.m.
Where: 901 Avenue C., Katy
Details: $10 and up, free for ages 12 and under; katyricefestival.com
Texas Renaissance Festival
Performers are shown during a media tour at the Texas Renaissance Festival in Todd Mission Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2025. (Melissa Phillip/Houston Chronicle)
The 51st annual Texas Renaissance Festival brings food, entertainment and 21 stages of performances. New this year are Phil Nichols’ buzzard puppet “Buzz,” a Dubai-style chocolatier, new meads and wines, an upgraded Chimney Cake booth with a windmill and glamping huts from Arched Cabins LLC. Themed weekends include Oktoberfest, Pirate Adventure, All Hallows Eve and Celtic Christmas.
When: Weekends, Oct. 11-Nov. 30
Where: FM 1774, Todd Mission
Details: $13 and up, free for ages 4 and under; texrenfest.com
MORE FALL FUN: 13 pumpkin patches to visit in the Houston area
ArBOOretum Family Festival
Houston Arboretum & Nature Center presents Houston’s best fall festival, ArBOOretum. (Henrich Perez)
The Houston Arboretum & Nature Center’s annual ArBOOretum festival features pumpkin decorating, live animal encounters, a Trick-or-Treat Nature Trail and a Halloween market, along with carnival swings, train rides and food trucks. Costumes are encouraged.
When: Oct. 18: 10 a.m.-4 p.m., last entry is 3 p.m.
Where: Houston Arboretum & Nature Center, 4501 Woodway Dr.
Details: $20; houstonarboretum.org
Houston Energy Day Festival
Families at the annual Energy Day Festival in Houston. (Craig Moseley/HCN staff)
This festival educates the public on the energy industry with interactive exhibits, STEM activities and live demonstrations.
When: Oct. 18: 11 a.m.- 3 p.m.
Where: Sam Houston Park, 1000 Bagby
Details: Free; energydayfestival.org
Houston Filipino Street Festival
The Houston Filipino Street Festival at Constellation Field in Sugar Land, Texas. (Katrina Martinez/Contributor)
The Houston Filipino Street Festival returns to Constellation Field in Sugar Land with traditional music, dance, art and Filipino street food. Organized by the Filipino Young Professionals of Houston, the event also features family-friendly activities and a performance by headliner Ruby Ibarra. A limited number of meet-and-greet tickets with the artist are available.
When: Oct. 18: Noon-7 p.m.
Where: Constellation Field, 1 Stadium Dr., Sugar Land
Details: $19 and up, free for ages 7 and under; fyphouston.com
ARToberFEST
Historic downtown Galveston comes alive in vivid color for the annual ARToberFEST is held in downtown Galveston’s Cultural Arts District. (Courtesy Robyn Bushong)
ARToberFEST fills Galveston’s historic downtown with the work of more than 100 artists from across the country. The two-day festival draws thousands of visitors for artist demonstrations, food and live entertainment in the island’s cultural arts district.
When: Oct. 18: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and Oct. 19: 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Where: Postoffice Street, between 21st and 23rd Streets, Galveston
Details: Tickets $5, free for kids 12 and under; artoberfest.com
Wings Over Houston Airshow
People watch the “Tora Tora Tora” reenactment of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor during World War II during the Wings Over Houston Airshow on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024, at Ellington Airport in Houston. (Jon Shapley/Staff photographer)
One of the largest air shows in the U.S., Wings Over Houston features vintage World War II aircraft alongside modern military planes in thrilling aerial performances. The annual event also supports a variety of local and national charities.
When: Oct. 18-19, gates open at 8 a.m.
Where: Ellington Field, Houston
Details: $60 and up, free for kids 14 and under; wingsoverhouston.com
IGBO Fest Houston
IgboFest Houston at Discovery Green. (IgboFest Houston)
The West African festival hosted by the Ndi Ichie Cultural Association showcases masquerades and cultural performances from across the U.S.
When: Oct. 18: 3-10 p.m.
Where: Discovery Green, 1500 McKinney
Details: Free; igbofesthouston.org
Mediterranean Festival
The annual Mediterranean Festival returns to St. George Orthodox Christian Church in Houston. (Mediterranean Festival)
The Mediterranean Festival returns to St. George Orthodox Christian Church with two days of food, music and family activities. Guests can enjoy dishes like kebabs, falafel, gyros, baklava and baklava sundaes, along with a marketplace, silent auction, petting zoo, face painting and more.
When: Oct. 24-25: 11 a.m.–10 p.m.
Where: St. George Orthodox Christian Church, 5311 Mercer
Details: $5 free for kids 4 and under; stgeorgehouston.com
Galveston Island Oktoberfest
Downtown Galveston will be filled with the sounds of German music for the annual Island Oktoberfest. (Island Oktoberfest)
The 43rd annual Island Oktoberfest in Galveston offers two days of German food, rides, games, live music and entertainment. New this year, the festival goes ticketless with upgraded point-of-sale systems for faster purchases at all booths. Admission is free, and proceeds benefit First Lutheran’s community outreach programs.
When: Oct. 24: 5-10 p.m. and Oct. 25: 11 a.m.-10 p.m.
Where: First Lutheran Church, 2415 Winnie St., Galveston
Details: Free; galvestonoktoberfest.com
Pumpkin Patch & Fall Festival
Nature Discovery Center’s Pumpkin Patch Fall Festival (Nature Discovery Center)
The Nature Discovery Center’s Pumpkin Patch Fall Festival features pumpkins, an online costume contest, games, crafts, food and photo opportunities. New this year are horse-drawn wagon rides and a dog costume parade and contest.
When: Oct. 25-26: 11 a.m.-4 p.m.
Where: 7112 Newcastle St., Bellaire
Details: Free; naturediscoverycenter.org
Scream on the Green
Scream On The Green returns to Discovery Green. (Katya Horner)
Families can celebrate Halloween at Discovery Green’s annual Scream on the Green with trick-or-treating, games, music and a costume contest (pre-registration required), plus a 7 p.m. screening of “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice.” The event also features living sculptures, palm readers and psychics.
When: Oct. 25: 6-9 p.m.
Where: Discovery Green, 1500 McKinney
Details: Free; discoverygreen.com
Día de Muertos Festival
An ofrenda on display at MECA’s annual Día de los Muertos on November 2, 2024. (By Michael Garcia)
The 25th annual Día de los Muertos Festival at MECA celebrates Mexican culture with altar exhibitions, artisan vendors, festival foods and performances across three stages.
When: Nov. 1-2: 11 a.m.-7 p.m.
Where: MECA, 1900 Kane
Details: Free; meca-houston.org
Día de los Muertos
Discovery Green celebrates Día de los Muertos. (Katya Horner)
Discovery Green invites families to honor loved ones with hands-on art activities, vendors and cultural performances. Highlights include a community altar by Houston artist Angel Quesada, live music from Nick Gaitán in his Tejas Roots style, a Catrina and Catrín contest, a Latin market and a sacred procession led by Danza Azteca.
When: Nov. 2: 3-7 p.m.
Where: Discovery Green, 1500 McKinney
Details: Free; discoverygreen.com
Little Woodfest: Children’s Festival
The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion hosts Little Woodfest Children’s Festival. (Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion)
The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion transforms into “Little Woodfest” for this year’s Children’s Festival, a family-friendly, kid-sized music fest filled with hands-on activities, performances and fun around every corner.
When: Nov. 8: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and Nov. 9: Noon-5 p.m.
Where: 2005 Lake Robbins Dr., The Woodlands
Details: $11 and up; woodlandscenter.org
This article originally published at Your guide to Houston fall festivals, from Texas Ren Fest to Bayou City Art.
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