October is one of the best months to visit Texas. For starters, the notoriously hot Texas weather will be quite a bit more tolerable in the weeks leading up to Halloween. This change (reduction) in temperature is a catalyst for outdoor activities. From rock climbing to fishing to kayaking to winged shooting, there are many outdoor activities available to visitors to the Lone Star State during the month of October. In recent years, the popularity of bird watching has led to a surge in ecotourism in Texas.
And, early fall is one of the best times for bird watching in Texas. Fall is also a great time to visit Lost Maples State Park and watch the leaves change.
Festivals and cultural events
Another great reason to visit Texas in October is to enjoy the wide variety of festivals and events that take place throughout the state. Music and food festivals take center stage in October. Popular annual events like the Austin City Limits Music Festival and Czhilispiel are cornerstones on the October Texas event calendar. Other food festivals such as the Texas Rice Festival, the Texas Reds Festival, the Texas Mushroom Festival, the Houston Italian Festival, the Conroe Catfish Festival, and the Fredericksburg Food & Wine Festival are also notable events held in October.
Although not technically a food festival, the State Fair of Texas has given birth to many of the state’s most iconic food products, particularly corn dog and funnel cakes. Although it begins in September of each year, the State Fair of Texas also covers a significant portion of October. And, while the carnival, the half and other attractions definitely draw people to the doors, fried foods are what made the Fair famous.
Texas is also home to a variety of cultural arts festivals in October, such as the Texas Book Festival and the Austin Film Festival. And, Texas’ rich Germanic heritage has resulted in a host of “Oktoberfests” throughout the state. WurstFest and the Fredericksburg Oktoberfest are among the best known, but there are a variety of others, ranging from one-day events to week-long festivals.
Although not technically an “Oktoberfest,” the Texas Renaissance Festival is a European-inspired festival that takes visitors back to the 16th century. The Texas Renaissance Festival, one of the nation’s largest Renaissance festivals, runs over a six-week period from early October to late November. Held just north of Houston, the Texas Renaissance Festival is a must-see for any visitor to Texas during the month of October.
Soccer, Texas’s Favorite Sport
Of course, Texas is a soccer state. And, another aspect of the Texas State Fair that makes it such a popular stop is the annual Red River shooting. This game is a sight to behold, whether you are a soccer fan or not. The annual contest between the University of Texas Longhorns and its archrivals, the University of Oklahoma Sooners, shows that the Cotton Bowl stadium has been divided evenly: it has burned orange and red half crimson. The entire nation watches the game every year on television, but seeing it in person is an experience on a whole different level.
This game alone is worth the trip to Texas in October. But, soccer fans have plenty of other reasons to cheer this month. High schools and colleges across the state will be in action. Additionally, Texas’ two professional soccer teams, the Dallas Cowboys and Houston Texans, play home games in October, ensuring soccer fans in the Lone Star State get pigskin action every night. weeks, Thursday through Sunday (and sometimes Monday).
Don’t forget halloween
If you are in Texas during the last days of October, be sure to visit one of the many Halloween events organized throughout the state. From “scary trails” to safe trick-or-treating events at local zoos, there are plenty of activities and events to celebrate the last day of October.
