Day Trips & Beyond: October Events Roundup
Find fall foliage in Texas and stop and smell the roses
By Gerald E. McLeod, 4:10PM, Thu. Oct. 3, 2019
It’s time for pumpkin-spiced October events all over the state and beyond.
Who says Texas doesn’t have fall colors? You just have to know when and where to look. Texas state parks are one of the best places to see dynamic colors. Depending on the weather, the leaves should be changing in mid-October to late November. State parks in the northeast part of the state like Atlanta, Daingerfield, Lake Bob Sandlin, and Martin Creek Lake often produce spectacular shows. The cypress trees at Guadalupe River State Park put on a good show. The grand show of them all is the bigtooth maple trees at Lost Maples State Park. Check out the foliage report, which begins mid-month, on the park’s website. Weekends the park can often reach capacity, so visitors are advised to visit early in the morning or on weekdays.
Mid-October to late-November, Lost Maples State Park, 830/966-3413, www.tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/lost-maples/foliage-reports
Just in time for the 86th annual Tyler Rose Festival, the Tyler Municipal Rose Garden was officially recognized as a “national treasure” by the National Register of Historic Places. On the west side of town, the rose garden is an 14-acre depository of historic roses, walkways, fountains, and lawns designed and built by the Works Project Administration beginning in 1939. The rose industry in Tyler began in 1879, and by the 1940s more than half of the U.S. rose bush production was from the Tyler area. The garden displays more than 38,000 rose bushes of more than 600 varieties. The Rose Festival began in 1933 as a way to recognize one of the area’s most important industries. It continues as a three-day party with roses as the main focus.
Oct. 17-20, Tyler Rose Festival, Tyler, 903/597-3130, www.texasrosefestival.com
Immerse yourself in a new interactive art exhibit that combines modern design with timeless play mixed with sensory experiences of colors, feel, touch, and taste. Color Factory Houston takes adventurers on a journey through a series of rooms that engage all the senses surrounded by colors inspired by the city, including the pink frosting of Shipley’s donuts. Created by a collective of artists, the site-specific pop-up museum debuted in San Francisco in 2017, moved to New York City to rave reviews in 2018, and invades Houston from Oct. 26 to at least Nov. 26. Time-slot tickets have gone on sale for $35 per adult, $28 for children.
Oct. 26-Nov. 26
Color Factory Houston, Houston
347/378-4071
www.colorfactory.co/why-houston
Travel Notes:
The art of the song comes alive at the annual Dripping Springs Songwriters Festival on Oct. 18-20. More than 40 songwriters from four countries and five states will perform their compositions on six stages over three days. All of the showcases are free and a complimentary shuttle service will run between venues.
Few places in Texas have more of a connection to cowboys than the little city of Cuero on the coastal plains northwest of Victoria. Few places in Texas could be further from the world of Andy Warhol. And yet the three – cowboys, Cuero, and Warhol – collide at the Chisholm Trail Heritage Museum from Oct. 11 through Nov. 17. In a landmark exhibit, the museum features works from Warhol’s Cowboys and Indians series as well as works by artists Bob Wade, John Nieto, John Moyers, Billy Schenck, and Ira Yeager.
Amtrak has announced Share Fares that offer more savings the more traveling in your party, up to six passengers. The discounted fares are good on 20 different railroad lines around the country including the Heartland Flyer between Fort Worth and Oklahoma City. A party of six traveling from FW to OKC would pay an average of $16.29 per person one way instead of the regular price of $31 per ticket. You must purchase the tickets at least two days before traveling and other restrictions apply.
Now that you have seen Ken Burns’ excellent documentary Country Music on PBS, follow in the footsteps of legends by using Tennessee Music Pathways as your guide. The travel-planning website directs you to locations in all 95 Tennessee counties where the historic events occurred. From the spot where Patsy Cline’s plane crashed to a Johnny Cash museum called Storytellers Museum and Hideaway Farm, the online travel guide points out the famous and not-so-famous sites where Tennessee contributed to most American of music.
Other October Events:
Jazztober
Oct. 1, 8, 15, 22, Amarillo, www.centercity.org/jazztober4
Planetarium Show
Oct. 1, 8, 15, 22, 25, 29, Clute, www.brazosportcenter.com
La Bahia Antiques Show
Oct. 1-5, Burton, www.labahiaantiques.com
Fall Antiques Show
Oct. 1-6, Round Top, www.exploreroundtop.com/antiques
State Fair of Texas
Oct. 1-20, Dallas, www.bigtex.com
Beachtoberfest
Oct. 1-26, Port Aransas, www.visitportaransas.com
Dripping with Taste Passport and Trail
Oct. 1-31, Dripping Springs, www.drippingwithtaste.com
Sand Castle Days
Oct. 3-6, South Padre Island, www.sopadre.com
Heart O’ Texas Fair and Rodeo
Oct. 3-13, Waco, www.hotfair.com
Fall on the Frio BBQ Cook-off
Oct. 4-5, Concan, www.friofest.com
Black Bridge Fest
Oct. 4-5, Dime Box, www.fb.com/events/dime-box-texas/dimebox-black-bridge-festival/1914828425230627
Seafair
Oct. 4-5, Rockport-Fulton, www.rockportseafair.com
Chalk Walk
Oct. 4-5, Round Rock, www.roundrocktexas.gov
Bootfest
Oct. 4-5, Victoria, www.bootfest.org
Quarter Horse Racing
Oct. 4-5, 11-12, 18-19, 25-26, Grand Prairie, www.lonestarpark.com
West Texas Book Festival
Oct. 4-6, Abilene, www.abilenetx.gov/city-hall/departments/community-services/library/friends-of-the-library/book-festival
Oktoberfest
Oct. 4-6, Fredericksburg, www.oktoberfestinfbg.com
Hardly Strictly Bluegrass
Oct. 4-6, San Francisco, Calif., www.hardlystrictlybluegrass.com/2019
Austin County Fair
Oct. 4-13, Bellville, www.austincountyfair.com
Big Bend Comic Con
Oct. 5, Alpine, www.fb.com/bigbendcomiccon
Boerne Book and Arts Fest
Oct. 5, Boerne, www.ci.boerne.tx.us/197/library
RipFest
Oct. 5, Eastland, www.eastlandchamber.com/ripfest
Prairie Days Festival
Oct. 5, El Campo, www.elcampoprairiedays.com
Gruene Music and Wine Fest
Oct. 5, Gruene, www.gruenemusicandwinefest.org
Fall Native Plant Sale and Festival
Oct. 5, Kerrville, www.riversidenaturecenter.org
Oktoberfest on the Square
Oct. 5, La Grange, www.visitlagrangetx.com/oktoberfest-on-the-square
Plano Food + Wine Festival
Oct. 5, Plano, www.planofoodandwinefestival.com
Fall Music Festival
Oct. 5, Rockdale, www.fb.com/events/downtown-rockdale-texas/rockdale-fall-music-festival/305414476876452
Come and Take It Celebration
Oct. 5-7, Gonzales, www.gonzalestexas.com
Wild West Bird Fest
Oct. 5-9, Alpine, www.fb.com/wildwestbirdfest
Daingerfield Days
Oct. 5-12, Daingerfield, www.daingerfieldtx.com
Wine and Sausage Trail
Oct. 5-13, Brenham, www.texasbluebonnetwinetrail.com
Archaeology Awareness Month
Oct. 5-27, San Felipe, www.visitsanfelipedeaustin.com
Burnet Art Festival
Oct. 9-12, Burnet, www.artburnet.com
Plano Art and Wine Walk: Dia de los Muertos
Oct. 10, Plano, www.planomagazine.com/wine
Fort Concho After Dark
Oct. 10, San Angelo, www.fortconcho.com
Gruene Music and Wine Fest
Oct. 10-13, Gruene, www.gruenemusicandwinefest.org
San Antonio Black International Film Festival
Oct. 10-13, San Antonio, www.sabiff.com
Friends of the Library Book Sale
Oct. 11-12, New Braunfels, www.friendsofthenewbraunfelspubliclibrary.com
Ghost Tours on the Square
Oct. 11-12, 25-26, Georgetown, www.williamsonmuseum.org/event/ghosts-of-the-georgetown-square
Cajun Catfish Festival
Oct. 11-13, Conroe, www.friendsofconroe.com
Turkeyfest
Oct. 11-13, Cuero, www.turkeyfest.org
Chalk the Block
Oct. 11-13, El Paso, www.chalktheblock.com
Open Weekend at Davis Mountains Preserve
Oct. 11-13, Fort Davis, www.nature.org/texas
Las Cruces Country Music Festival
Oct. 11-13, Las Cruces, N.M., www.lascrucescountrymusic.com
Cuero Celebrates Warhol
Oct. 11-Nov. 17, Cuero, www.chisholmtrailmuseum.org
Alba Fall Festival
Oct. 12, Alba, www.lakeforktexas.com
Oktoberfest
Oct. 12, Beaumont, www.discoverbeaumont.com
Antique Tractor Pull and KurbisFest
Oct. 12, Boerne, www.theagricultural.org/events/kurbisfest-antique-tractor-pull
Steaktoberfest
Oct. 12, Cameron, www.steaksteinwinefestival.com
Cedar Bark Festival
Oct. 12, Cedar Park, www.cedarparktexas.gov
Eisenhower Birthday Celebration
Oct. 12, Denison, www.denisonlive.com
University Drafthouse BeerFest
Oct. 12, Edinburg, www.universitydrafthousebeerfest.com
Oktober Market
Oct. 12, Fredericksburg, www.messinahof.com/hillcountry
Faces and Places of Limestone County
Oct. 12, Groesbeck, www.masseyfoundationtx.com
Market Days
Oct. 12, Kerrville, www.kerrmarketdays.org
Artoberfest
Oct. 12, Lampasas, www.lampasaschamber.org
Crazy Water Festival
Oct. 12, Mineral Wells, www.crazywaterfestival.org
Bonnie and Clyde Days
Oct. 12, Pilot Point, www.bonnieandclydedays.org
Plano International Festival
Oct. 12, Plano, www.planointernationalfestival.org
Shorty’s 36th Annual Pig Roast
Oct. 12, Port Aransas, business.portaransas.org/events/details/shorty-s-36th-annual-pig-party-16958
Market Days
Oct. 12-13, Boerne, www.boernemarketdays.com
Scarecrow Festival
Oct. 12-13, Chappell Hill, www.chappellhillhistoricalsociety.com/scarecrow-festival-2019
Hill Country Harvest Market
Oct. 12-13, Dripping Springs, www.texasmarketguide.com
Edom Art Festival
Oct. 12-13, Edom, www.visitedom.com
Chalk Festival
Oct. 12-13, Kerrville, www.kerrvillechalk.org
World Food Championships
Oct. 16-20, Dallas, www.worldfoodchampionships.com
Susanna’s Kitchen Coffee House Series
Oct. 17, Wimberley, www.wimberleyumc.org/susannas-kitchen
Texas Rose Festival
Oct. 17-19, Tyler, www.texasrosefestival.com
Silobration
Oct. 17-19, Waco, www.magnolia.com/events/silobration-2019
Texas Sounds International Country Music Awards
Oct. 17-20, Jefferson, www.texassounds.org
Lost River Film Festival
Oct. 17-20, San Marcos, www.lostriverfilmfest.org
Texas Bigfoot Conference
Oct. 18-19, Jefferson, www.fb.com/events/1089369057905059
Red River Barbecue Battle
Oct. 18-19, Vernon, www.vernontexas.info
Texas Arts and Music Festival
Oct. 18-20, Brenham, www.texasartsandmusicfestival.com
Songwriters’ Festival
Oct. 18-20, Dripping Springs, www.drippingspringssongwritersfestival.com
Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival
Oct. 18-26, Hot Springs, Ark., www.hsdfi.org
Concert in the Cave: The Haunted Show
Oct. 19, Boerne, www.cavewithoutaname.com
Arts and Crafts Festival
Oct. 19, Cedar Park, www.cedarparktexas.gov
FallFest
Oct. 19, Clifton, www.visitclifton.org
Fall Festival on the Frio
Oct. 19, Concan, www.visituvaldecounty.com/events/2017/fall-festival-on-the-frio
Fischer Haus Concerts: Marcia Ball
Oct. 19, Fischer, www.thefischerhaus.com/concert-series.html
Butterfly Flutterby
Oct. 19, Grapevine, www.grapevinetexasusa.com/event/22nd-annual-butterfly-flutterby/21247
Fall Butterfly Festival
Oct. 19, Jasper, jasper.agrilife.org/butterfly-festival-in-jasper
Kyle Founders Parade
Oct. 19, Kyle, www.cityofkyle.com/recreation
Ladonia Fossil Day
Oct. 19, Ladonia, www.cocladonia.org/ladonia-fossil-park.html
Best Little Brewfest in Texas
Oct. 19, Lewisville, www.bestlittlebrewfestintexas.com
Texas Mushroom Festival
Oct. 19, Madisonville, www.texasmushroomfestival.com
Crazy Fossil Dig
Oct. 19, Mineral Wells, www.mineralwellsfossilpark.com
San Antonio Beer Festival
Oct. 19, San Antonio, www.sanantoniobeerfestival.com
Shiner Music Festival
Oct. 19, Shiner, www.shinermusicfest.com
Hueco Tanks Interpretative Fair
Oct. 19-20, El Paso, www.tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/hueco-tanks
Bell Fort Worth Alliance Air Show
Oct. 19-20, Fort Worth, www.allianceairshow.com
ARToberFEST
Oct. 19-20, Galveston, www.thegrand.com
Sacred Springs Powwow
Oct. 19-20, San Marcos, www.sspowwow.com
Murder at Fort Concho
Oct. 19, 26, San Angelo, www.fortconcho.com
Origins: Fossils from the Cradle of Humankind
Oct. 19-March 22, 2020, Dallas, www.perotmuseum.org
Haunted Taylor: History, Mystery, and Murder Tour
Oct. 20, 27, Taylor, www.hauntedtaylor.com
Monet to Picasso: A Very Special Collection
Oct. 20-Jan. 12, 2020, Houston, www.mfah.com
25th Anniversary of the Sam Houston Statue
Oct. 22, Huntsville, www.huntsvilletexas.com
Plano Steinfest
Oct. 25-26, Plano, www.visitdowntownplano.com/steinfest
Cemetery Tour
Oct. 25-26, Victoria, www.historicvictoriatexas.com/events
Czhilispiel
Oct. 25-27, Flatonia, www.flatoniachamber.com
Red Steagall Cowboy Gathering and Western Swing Festival
Oct. 25-27, Fort Worth, www.redsteagallcowboygathering.com
Lone Star Blues and Heritage Festival
Oct. 25-27, Grapeland, www.lonestarbluesfest.com
Kerr County Fair and Carnival
Oct. 25-27, Kerrville, www.kerrcountyfair.com
All British Car Day
Oct. 26, Boerne, www.motoraustin.com/event/343
Goat and Rib Cook-off
Oct. 26, Castell, www.castellgeneralstore.com
Fable Fest
Oct. 26, Cedar Park, www.cedarparkbooks.org
Hogeye Festival
Oct. 26, Elgin, www.hogeyefestival.com
River Pumpkin Float
Oct. 26, Llano, www.fb.com/llanoriverpumpkinfloat
Farm Fest
Oct. 26, Lufkin, www.visitlufkin.com/calendar/view/1886
Model Train Festival
Oct. 26, Texas City, www.fb.com/events/605968066502072
Texas Country Reporter Festival
Oct. 26, Waxahachie, www.texascountryreporter.com/festival
Texas Clay Festival
Oct. 26-27, Gruene, www.texasclayfestival.com
Historic Modelers Society Train Show
Oct. 26-27, New Braunfels, www.newbraunfelsrailroadmuseum.org
Mala Luna Music Festival
Oct. 26-27, San Antonio, www.malalunamusicfestival.com
Color Factory Houston
Oct. 26-Nov. 26, Houston, www.colorfactory.co
Boo Bash
Oct. 27, Georgetown, www.thegeorgetownsquare.com/Boo-Bash-.html
Main Street Fright Fest
Oct. 31, Temple, www.discoverdowntowntemple.com
Gerald McLeod has been traveling around Texas and beyond for his "Day Trips" column for more than 25 years. Keep up to date with his journeys on his archive page.
A note to readers: Bold and uncensored, The Austin Chronicle has been Austin’s independent news source for over 40 years, expressing the community’s political and environmental concerns and supporting its active cultural scene. Now more than ever, we need your support to continue supplying Austin with independent, free press. If real news is important to you, please consider making a donation of $5, $10 or whatever you can afford, to help keep our journalism on stands.
Gerald E. McLeod, March 2, 2024
Gerald E. McLeod, Feb. 2, 2024
March 15, 2024
Day Trips, Tyler Rose Festival, Color Factory, Daingerfield State Park, Dripping Springs Songwriters Festival, Chisolm Trail Museum, Amtrak Share Fares, Ken Burns, Country Music, Storytellers Museum and Hideaway Farm