Home Fall Events 2024

There was a time, not so long ago, when science was seen as entertainment. No, not Ancient Greece when philosophers would turn experiments into public spectacle, or the Victorian era when lectures on new theories would fill auditoriums. It was the 1990s, when everyone owned a copy of A Brief History of Time on their nightstand, quarks were cool, and Tom Stoppard could write a play about chaos theory and the heat death of the universe, and it would be universally regarded as one of the greatest works of 20th century drama. Eros and Thanatos push and pull in this poetic tale of love and research. – Richard Whittaker

For two glorious weeks, some of the best restaurants in town are offering prix fixe menus, drink specials, and more, all to benefit Central Texas Food Bank.

House of Torment isn’t for the faint of heart. It was once dubbed by the Travel Channel as “the scariest haunted house in America.” Guests will move through backdrops and macabre installations – and try not to piss themselves.

Ceci n’est pas une exposition d’art: 100 years since its inception, and Surrealism is still getting under our skin with its dream illogic and witty non sequiturs. Featured artists include Hans Bellmer, Leonora Carrington, Max Ernst, René Magritte, Wifredo Lam, Man Ray, and Dorothea Tanning.

Enough! I can no longer remain silent: The weird rabbit mascot for Pecan Street Fest creeps me out! He’s Poochie-coded, and I don’t like him. Thankfully, this annual Downtown fair offers much more than that harebrained specter. Families, friends, and the furry alike can enjoy entertainment within the bustling heart of our city like kiddie rides and local craft vendors. Live music sets the soundtrack while you browse vendors, featuring sets by the Fresh Kils Trio, Rococo Disco, Big Sky Collective, and many more. There’s even a petting zoo, although god willing the rabbit’s not there. Perhaps by then he’ll have returned to his home planet. – James Scott

Time to upgrade from your Ansel Adams wall calendar and instead appreciate the legendary landscape photographer’s black & white pictures of the American West where they belong – on a gallery wall.

IT’S TIME! The most wonderful time of the year, at least for fans of fringe films. Fantastic Fest is a haven for film lovers, featuring the freaky, the frightening, and the far-out. This is the single best place to be ahead of the curve with that strange little movie everyone will be buzzing about next year. It’s a delicious mix of whimsical weirdness, offbeat oldies, and the truly terrifying (literally, they’re showing Terrifier 3). Whether you’re a card-carrying cult member with access to the whole week, or just perusing for a screening of something memorable, there’s a part of the fest for you. It’s a true Austin treasure. – Cat McCarrey

Learn all about how to prepare for emergency situations from the Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, but you know. In a fun way! With games, your neighbors & friends, and free refreshments.

In what quickly has become an annual fall tradition, the historic farm honoring the 1800s hosts a celebration of the mighty gourd, with hundreds of pumpkins and holiday decorations on view as you stroll through to the Village with games and treats.

Only the most autumnal drag artist will win the over-$500 prize package, but everyone’s invited to live, laugh, love at this holiday-spiced competition. Bubu and Cupcake host, and interested competitors should send in apps ASAP.

For one day only, admission is free to a plethora of local art, culture, history, and science museums – from big names like the Blanton and the Contemporary to undersung organizations like the Austin Museum of Popular Culture and Save Austin’s Cemeteries.

The 19th annual citywide fundraiser for the Health Alliance for Austin Musicians, which connects local musicians and their families with affordable health care, organizes over 250 free live music performances across not just traditional venues, but parks, restaurants, shops, and more.

Since its inception, nonprofit Great Promise for American Indians has endeavored to preserve the heritage of Indigenous peoples in Texas. To commemorate American Indian Heritage Day, the organization partners with the Bullock Museum to honor and celebrate traditions and hold a public celebration.

When Eddie Stout released the Eastside Kings album in 1999, the idea (as well as the musicians who made it come to fruition) inspired this annual event. Focusing specifically on the Rosewood area, the festival explores and celebrates the cultural impact of Black art forms including R&B, jazz, gospel, and, of course, the blues.

Ballet Austin brings a new approach to this classic story, with gorgeous costuming, music, and choreography adding interesting layers to a tale as old as time.

BDSM goes black-tie at this annual fall gala, where your ticket price includes performances of burlesque, drag, music, and more. That price also benefits local sexual health clinic ASHwell.

Over three dozen coffee roasters – including locals like Barrett’s, Medici, Sorrento’s, Sightseer, and Merit, plus Philly-launched La Colombe, now open in the North Lamar Whole Foods – descend on the Palmer Events Center for two days of food and drink samples, soundtracked by local live music. Get ready to dial in.

A fully immersive, 15 acre complex designed to thrill and chill, with stage performances, live music, seasonal treats, three haunted houses, and much more.

Austin’s premier music festival returns with Dua Lipa; Blink-182; Chris Stapleton; Tyler, the Creator; Chappell Roan; Khruangbin; and more.

Fridays and Saturdays in October, dress up for Halloween and ride the haunted train, visit the haunted house, and check out all the cool animals.

Recreate a sense of gemütlichkeit, aka a state of warmth, friendliness, and good cheer, at this German celebration featuring music, games, food, and drink.

If you know the whereabouts of one Usher Raymond at 7 o’clock on the dot, this concert experience is for you. The R&B legend makes his way to the Moody Center to melt hearts and undergarments.

Enter a world of gothic mystery as Mr. "The Raven" himself, Edgar Allan Poe, introduces stage-play versions of his most macabre tales. Perfect for midnights dreary when you mean to ponder, weak and weary.

For over three decades, Art from the Streets has provided Austinites experiencing homelessness an open studio space to create art – and deliver them 95% of the profits when their pieces go up for sale. Next, the nonprofit showcases its artists’ work at go-to gift center the Blue Genie Art Bazaar.

Once you get your fill of the races, legends Eminem and Sting take the Germania Insurance stage.

This twice-annual convergence brings together dealers, collectors, and music aficionados for a massive music and merch sale befitting of the live music capital.

Organized by Austin Zine Friends, this free, all-ages event welcomes zine creators, collectives, distributors, and retailers, plus libraries and small presses, for a two-day celebration of independent, DIY publishing.

Don't wing it: Enjoy the work of chicken wing pros while also playing chicken bingo, a poultry pageant, live music, and more.

Frightfully fun music for pre-K and elementary kids from the Austin Symphony Orchestra, plus a costume contest, crafts, games, and even an Instrument Petting Zoo.

Since 1994, this writer-forward film fest has shown stellar movies, but the even bigger attraction may be their many panel and workshop offerings, where you can learn from industry heavyweights like Shane Black and Kathleen Kennedy.

Prematurely written off by many after a disappointing 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, the United States women’s national soccer team rebounded this summer with a well-earned Olympic gold medal in Paris. Catch Emma Hayes’ squad in their first match after the Olympics when they face UEFA Women’s Euro 2025 qualifiers Iceland.

Yes: This fall’s best look is ethical chic. Slow Fashion Festival returns with local designers, vendors, speakers, and models – all to highlight sustainably made clothes that push the envelope.

Oscar-nominated for his The Big Sick screenplay and subtly ripped due to his Marvel cast bona fides, Kumail Nanjiani’s stand-up deffo lives up to his other successes. Catch the star in his new tour, “Doing This Again,” and try not to laugh your way over the Paramount balcony.

Please please please don’t feel pressured to spend $180 on a nosebleed ticket… but at the same time, ask yourself if you really want to let Sabrina Carpenter’s pop powerhouse moment slip by without seeing her live?

Every Halloween in Austin and every Día de los Muertos in San Antonio, Texas Fireworks gets to blowing things up. They say the San Antonio installment is one of the biggest fireworks shows in Texas, and it’s made complete with booths and face painting.

As the cooler, hipper alternative to ACL, the Black Angels’ psych rock festival Levitation has always brought the heat, but this year’s more genre-inclusive lineup is especially impressive. Post-punk, noise rock, and shoegaze pioneers like Gang of Four, the Jesus Lizard, Swirlies, and Slowdive populate Austin Halloweekend alongside modern heavyweights Nilüfer Yanya, Dry Cleaning, Soccer Mommy, and more.

Tasting tents, cooking demos, Top Chef sightings, and sweater weather – this is foodie heaven, y’all. Confirmed presenters include The Bear culinary producer Courtney Storer and Amanda Turner of Olamaie and Top Chef: Wisconsin fame.

Waterloo Greenway and Siete Family Foods put on a free fest for Day of the Dead, with live music, community altars, an artisan market, fam-friendly activities, calavera face painting, and lots more.

The Other Ones Foundation has been easing the experience of our houseless neighbors, so help them raise funds to keep that good work going at this party.

Go online to find a volunteer project at your favorite park or neighborhood green space and help keep it green. What better way to start paying the debt we owe nature?

Pease Park Conservancy’s annual fundraising event, Luminarium, is a night of food, drinks, live music, and appreciation for Pease Park Conservancy’s work.

VIP tickets sold out a while back, but if you want to sample (i.e, eat a ton of) some of the best and up-and-coming barbecue around Texas and beyond, general admission tickets are still available.

Multihyphenate artist P!nk brings her powerful vocals and extravagant stage show to the Moody Center with special guests GROUPLOVE and KidCutUp.

Vote for our potential first female president, or our potential last-ever elected president, depending on your vibe. You can vote anywhere with the “Vote Here/Aqui” sign displayed; for wait times check the county elections site.

Since 2014, Waterloo Greenway and AIA Austin have commissioned site-specific work by local architects, landscape architects, artists, and designers for a light and art show highlighting the natural beauty of Waller Creek.

All free human beings with an independent will are invited to enjoy Austin Shakespeare’s rendition of Charlotte Brontë’s gothic romance. Hopefully there’s no secret wives in the Rollins’ attic…

Organized by arts nonprofit Big Medium, this self-guided tour splits its focus between two weekends: Nov. 9-10, art studios west of I-35 open their doors to the public, while Eastside galleries shine Nov. 16-17.

Austin Opera opens their 2024-25 season with an operatic adaptation of this Richard Condon political thriller. Mark Diamond stars, with AO debuts from Mary Dunlevy and Rachel Blaustein among other talents.

Okay, so when you peruse the zillion local craftspeople’s booths at the Blue Genie, we wouldn’t exactly call it “shopping small.” You’re really shopping big: big unique finds, big holiday fun, and a big middle finger to the corporate overlords we can’t quite get rid of.

Vroom-vroom: Have some high gear family fun with all sorts of automotive activities.

Nothing blows the stink off the: Capitol grounds like this annual gathering of ardent bibliophiles. This year’s featured authors include Malcolm Gladwell (Revenge of the Tipping Point), Attica Locke (Guide Me Home), and Rachel Khong (Real Americans).

Dubbed the “Queens of Christmas” by Entertainment Weekly, you’ll have a merry time with drag stars Jinkx Monsoon and BenDeLaCreme.

Junior League of Austin helps you get holiday shopping started early at its market featuring hundreds of vendors and benefiting its community-serving mission.

Charles Dickens really freaked it when he wrote this holiday classic, as Carol’s lessons on empathy and goodwill unto your fellow humans stay relevant year after year. Catch ZACH’s annual musical celebration this season, or be visited by three ghosts!

Let the live music inspire you as you choose a custom bowl to take home and a soup to fill it. Don’t stress, though: Whatever your choice, the proceeds go to local charities fighting hunger.

Not only is this long-running (get it?) Thanksgiving Day race – which you can tackle at either a 5-mile or 1-mile walk/run length – a pretty spectacular way to experience Downtown’s usually car-congested streets: You’ll also be feeling mighty good about yourself, as you get in a run in before Turkey Day’s epic gobble-gobble and do good by contributing to the cause of Caritas of Austin, whose mission is to end homelessness.