things to do near you

Things to do in Texas this fall and Christmas

Texas in the fall is the State Fair and pumpkin villages and German festivals out in the Hill Country, and at Christmas it's the River Walk lights and a whole town covered in lights you can see from space. The hard part is finding it all, because the big stuff is on one site and the town stuff is buried on a city calendar and the good tickets sell out. So I'm putting it all in one place, area by area, and you can tap what you want and put it straight on your bucket list.

All five Texas areas are up now, and I keep adding to them all season. Last updated September 29, 2026.

pick your area

Texas, by area

people ask me

Texas fall and Christmas questions

When is the State Fair of Texas in 2026?

September 25 to October 18, 2026 at Fair Park in Dallas.

What are the best Christmas lights in Texas?

The Johnson City Lights Spectacular, the San Antonio River Walk, the Austin Trail of Lights, Houston Zoo Lights and everything in Grapevine.

When is Wurstfest in 2026?

November 6 to 15, 2026 at Landa Park in New Braunfels.

put it on the wall

Turn your picks into a real bucket list

Tap the events you want on any area page and they land in the slots of whichever fall design you pick. Add your own stuff, then it prints big and hangs on the wall all season.

See the fall designs