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ACL returns to Zilker Park for two weekends in October with an extravagant lineup.
If you have vacation time to cash in before the end of the year and your Instagram could use photos from somewhere other than the beach, you’re in luck because it’s prime time for festivals in Texas. Whether participating in wurst behavior in New Braunfels or purchasing your newest “Fall Y’all” sign in Waco, it’s time for a mini getaway before the holidays. So, pack up, grab a pumpkin spice latte , and head out to these fall road trip-worthy festivals around Texas (and maybe make a stop at one of these pumpkin patches along the way).
If you’re looking to pair your music festival vibes with craft cocktails, a 100-foot wine tent, and food, then Blended Festival is for you. The traveling music and beverage fest makes stops in some of the trendier cities of the U.S. including Nashville, San Diego, Tampa, and of course, Austin. This year, the event happens September 24-25 at Circuit of The Americas and includes headliners G-Eazy, The Chainsmokers, and Galantis.
ACL returns to Zilker Park for two weekends in October with a lineup headlined by The Chicks, P!nk, and Red Hot Chili Peppers. The festival is fun for the whole family with the inclusion of a mini fest for kids, and plenty of things to do between sets. 3-day tickets are currently sold out, but 1-day passes are still available and start at $145.
Celebrate German heritage with three days of yodel contests, keg tapping, a stein hoist, and loads of family fun at Oktoberfest in Fredericksburg. All this in addition, of course, to a wide variety of domestic, Texas and German beer, brats, wurst and kraut.
The Texas Renaissance Festival is the nation’s largest renaissance event. Recognized for its themed weekends, performances, and food, the festival is a much-anticipated way to escape into a world of imagination. Just one hour north of Houston, the festival runs from Oct. 8 to Nov. 27 (including Thanksgiving), from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Before the great housing boom of 2020, you could snag a decent fixer upper home for up to $250k in Waco. This is when Chip and Joanna Gaines became Texas interior design royalty with their remodeling and design business Magnolia homes, which eventually became a widely popular TV series. The Gaines expanded their Texas reign with the home goods mecca that is the Silos. From October 27-29, the Silos will host its seventh-annual homecoming celebration with music, artisanal goods, and a roller rink.
The first-ever Lucktoberfest will kick off October 28 at Luck Ranch (Willie Nelson’s Ranch) in Spicewood. The festival is said to be a “community celebration of every kind of Texas under the sun.” Festival goers can expect uniquely themed experiences like a cowboy-themed masquerade ball, a night of German-influenced entertainment, a Day of the Dead celebration, and of course, music and food. The event is family-friendly and benefits the Central Texas Food Bank with every ticket sold.
A legendary 10-day “salute to sausage,” Wurstfest is one of New Braunfels top annual events. So big, there’s a dedicated festival grounds near the beautiful Comal River. In case you didn’t know, New Braunfels has a rich German history and celebrates each year with Alpine and Bavarian Style entertainment including sausages, pretzels, beer, and live music.