26 September . 2019
It’s fall, ya’ll! Enjoy these Austin and Hill Country events near Sweetwater
Fall brings a harvest of fun events and festivals to enjoy in Austin and the Hill Country. Here are 10 of our fall favorites, with something for every member of the family.
Through November 10 – Harvest of Fall Fun at Sweet Berry Farm. The Hill Country is filled with fall pumpkin patches, and few are as inviting as Sweet Berry Farm in Marble Falls, a short drive from Sweetwater. Going on through Nov. 10, this family friendly festival offers 13 activities for kids, including their signature attraction, the Scarecrow Island Hay Ride. Other activities include corn mazes and, of course, a pick-your-own-pumpkin patch. Open daily, except closed on Wednesdays.
September 28 – Georgetown Wine & Music Festival. This year’s Georgetown Wine & Music Festival is the 12th annual, and it’s bigger and better than ever. There’ll be three live music bands to enjoy as you sip the finest wines from 12 of Texas’ best Hill Country wineries, amid the enchantment of The Most Beautiful Town Square in Texas. Beyond this event, there’s always something fun to do in Georgetown, from First Friday Art Walks to Second Saturday Market Days. See the upcoming event lineup.
October 1-31 – Texas Wine Month. The beautiful Texas Hill Country just beyond Sweetwater’s main entrance boasts more than 50 wineries, with many concentrated along U.S. Highway 290 West around Fredericksburg. All of October is Texas Wine Month in the Hill Country. With the purchase of a Texas Wine Passport, you can enjoy a full complementary tasting at each of 48 participating wineries (limit four wineries a day), and receive discounts on purchases.
October 4-5 and 11-13 – Austin City Limits Music Festival. One of Austin’s biggest and most iconic annual festivals, the Austin City Limits Music Festival takes place on two weekends in October in Zilker Park. The 2019 lineup includes more than 125 scheduled performances on eight stages, including Guns N’ Roses, The Cure, Childish Gambino, and Lizzo, just to name a few. The ACL Eats Food Court offers tacos, brews, vegan options and sweets from some of Austin’s hottest restaurants. The festivities also include an art market, a mini-fest for kids and much more.
October 4-26 – Boo at the Zoo. Every Friday and Saturday evening in October, bring the kids to the Austin Zoo for Boo at the Zoo. A fun-filled evening for ghosts and goblins of any age, Boo at the Zoo features spooky train rides, a Haunted House, live Children’s Shows, nocturnal animals, and eerie lights and decorations throughout the zoo grounds. Come dressed in your finest and scariest Halloween costumes, though the zoo requests no adult masks.
October 12 - Rancho Sienna Harvest Fest. Now in its sixth year, Harvest Fest at our sister community of Rancho Sienna in Georgetown is a free, fun event with something for everyone. Kids will enjoy pony rides, bounce houses, petting zoo, pumpkin bowling and pumpkin decorating. Grownups will want to check out the beer garden, Make Your Own Salt Scrub station and Market Days vendors. Everyone will love the live music, food trucks and other festivities. Harvest Fest happens on Sat., Oct. 12, from 12 noon to 3 p.m.
October 26 – Viva La Vida Festival & Parade. Viva La Vida, Austin’s largest and longest-running Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) festival, takes place in downtown Austin on Saturday, Oct. 26, with the parade from 12 noon to 1 p.m., and the festival from noon until 6 p.m. Presented by Mexic-Arte Museum, this family friendly event includes an education pavilion with hands-on activities and artist demos, a celebration with traditional foods, a marketplace with local artists and vendors, and a low-rider exhibition. Live music and performances will be featured throughout the day.
October 27-28 – Texas Book Festival. Held at the Texas State Capitol Building, the Texas Book Festival has evolved into one of the premier literary events in the country, hosting about 250 authors each year. More than 40,000 book lovers of all ages attend this Festival annually, enjoying readings, panel discussions, signings, cooking demonstrations, live music, local food, YA authors, children's activities and exhibiting vendors from across the state.
November 1-3 – FORMULA 1 United States Grand Prix. If you have the need for speed, check out one of Austin’s signature sports events, the FORMULA 1 U.S. Grand Prix. International drivers will converge in Austin to compete in the Formula 1 United States Grand Prix at the Circuit of The Americas track. This event promises three days of racing, camping, live music events and more. Visit their website to see other fall events leading up to the Grand Prix.
November 16-17 and 23-24 – East Austin Studio Tour. Discover one of Austin’s weirdest tours and perhaps grab some great new art for your home at the annual East Austin Studio Tour, held two weekends in November. More than 70 east-side studios located just east of I-35 will open their doors for your viewing pleasure, with a chance to meet local artists in their creative spaces.
Discover more fun things to do near Sweetwater and Austin with our Area Guide.