September, the wonderful time of year when the scorching summer heat begins to fade, making way for the crisp autumn temperatures. September also happens to be a great month for festivals and events around the Lone Star State. From pumpkin patches to cultural community celebrations, September in Texas has something to offer everyone!
Fall Festival and Pumpkin Patch at Blessington Farms
Held every Saturday and Sunday from September 22 to October 28, the Blessington Farms fall festival offers some of the most family-friendly fun around. Featuring fall-themed festival classics like hay rides and train rides, the 2018 celebration will debut some exciting treats for visitors! Now, guests will have the chance to navigate a rope maze, dig for fossils, and explore a walk-through aviary, in which they can feed their Quaker Parrots. Located just west of Houston, Blessington Farms is conveniently situated and features different activities and celebrations for every season.
Autumn in the Arboretum
Never failing to impress with the natural beauty of the season, the Dallas Arboretum celebrates autumn in a big way. According to its website, “Our fall festival is a spectacular show of color with 4,500 of fall’s favorite flower-Chrysanthemums, along with 150,000 more stunning, fall blooming plants, and our internationally acclaimed Pumpkin Village, featuring more than 90,000 pumpkins, squash, and gourds, plus the outstanding Children’s Adventure Garden.” In addition to the intricate Pumpkin Village, the Arboretum hosts the Tom Thumb Pumpkin Patch, a hay bale maze, and scavenger hunts from late September to late November.
The Plano Balloon Festival
Described as a “kaleidoscope of colors and shapes,” the Plano Balloon Festival offers exciting shows and live entertainment, fireworks, arts and crafts booths, a parachute team exhibition, and a Kids Fun Zone. Multiple races are also planned for the festival weekend, from a 1K/walk to a half-marathon. Scheduled for September 21 to 23, this festival offers visitors more than an exhilarating view of balloons in flight. According to its website, the Plano Balloon Festival serves as a platform for local non-profit organizations to “raise funds and awareness for their programs and services…thus enhancing quality of life for all of us.”
World Heritage Festival in San Antonio
With a mission of encouraging “the administration of each member city to take advantage of this day to stress the important responsibility of the city to protect as well as promote the world heritage and especially the privilege of having a part of that heritage in their city,” the World Heritage Festival serves as an inspirational cause that supports local areas and a great time for visitors looking for a day out! The celebration was founded in 2016 and stretches across multiple San Antonio missions and surrounding areas. A plethora of events are scheduled over September 5 to 9, including a sunset picnic at Mission San Juan, weaving and spinning demonstrations at Mission Espada, and art and music activities at the Mission Park Pavilion. Returning to Mission Concepcion and Mission San Jose is Restored by Light, which allows visitors to view the mission structure restored to its original state through the use of projection technology illumination!
Austin Museum Day
While not a traditional festival, Austin Museum Day provides a unique way for the entire family to enjoy art and culture without breaking the bank. The Austin Museum Partnership has coordinated Museum Day since 1998 as a “community event which offers free admission and includes special programs and activities at museums and cultural institutions across the area” on the second to last Sunday September of every year. Additionally, the Bullock Texas State History Museum in Austin offers free exhibit admission all day during “Free First Sundays” year-round.
Fall Fun for Everyone
Autumn is the perfect time enjoy the cooler weather and to set aside time from busy schedules to reconnect with friends and family. The fall activities around the Lone Star State are as varied and diverse as the residents that call Texas home, so there is always a new celebration to experience, a new community to explore, and new memories to be made! Do not let September, with autumn’s many magical celebrations and fun activities, pass you by!
