The Houston weather is getting somewhat cooler and the color of leaves is going from bright yellow to fiery red – it’s officially Fall! Fall is undoubtedly one of the most picturesque seasons and can be the best time of the year since the weather has cooled off and there are lots of fun festivals and happenings coming up. Keep reading to find out the best places to see fall colors in Houston and fun activities everyone can’t wait to do in Houston this fall.
FREE Houston area events, festivals, and activities for you and your family this Fall.
1. Boo On The Boardwalk
Looking for fun activities for the whole family with children of any age? Head down to Kemah for Boo on the Boardwalk. This fun event is one of the best fall activities near Houston for kids. This ongoing event is packed with activities like costume contests and pumpkin decorating, live music, and trick-or-treating at Boardwalk stores.
Date/Time: Fri Oct 1, 2021 – Sun Oct 31, 202
Location: Kemah Boardwalk, 215 Kipp Ave., Kemah, TX 77565
Price: The entry is free, but you do have to purchase tickets for rides and haunted houses.
2. Halloween Grosstopia
Something icky comes to the Children’s Museum of Houston this fall! Take a dose of ‘gross’ – the ooey, gooey, and slimy spine-tingling experiments, spirit-lifting interactives, and slime-filled fun during Halloween Grosstopia!
Special Events:
HALLOWEEN HAPPY HOUSE – Houston’s ultimate Halloween party for kids. (Oct. 28 – FREE admission from 5 to 8 p.m.!)
SLIME OFF! – 4th Annual Slime Off where teams compete in a series of monstrous challenges (Oct. 30)
TRICK-OR-TREAT – not just costumes, but fun activities, games, and workshops for kids. (Oct. 26 – 30)
Date/Time: October 12, 2021 – October 30, 2021 / 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM
Location: Fort Bend Children’s Discovery Center, 198 Kempner Street Sugar Land, TX 77498
Price: The entry is free for members and children only.
3. Tomball Farmers Market
Pick up seasonal farm-fresh produce and locally made bread, jams, and more at the ever-popular Tomball Farmers Market. Open every Saturday year-round from 9 to 1 in the heart of Old Town Tomball featuring 65+ truly local farmers, producers & artisans within 150 miles of Tomball.
Date/Time: September 25, 2021 – December 31, 2022
Location: 205 W. Main St Tomball, TX 77375
Price: Free
4. Fall Farm Favorites
Visit one of the many local area farms in and around Houston this fall. Take advantage of outdoor fall activities in these Houston farm favorites like the old-fashioned pumpkin picking, hayrides, and more!
Blessington Farms Pumpkin Patch and Fall Festival
Date/Time: Sat Sep 18, 2021 – Sun Nov 21, 2021
Location: Blessington Farms
Price: Free for children under 24 mos
Froberg’s Fall Corn Maze, Pumpkin Patch & Fall Festival
Date/Time: Sat Sep 25, 2021 – Sun Nov 7, 2021
Location: Froberg’s Farm
Price: Free for kids 2 & under
5. Fall Day Trips for Houston
Now that the leaves are falling and it’s a little cooler outside, it’s the best time to visit these nearby spots in Houston.
Brazos Bend State Park – Explore the 37 miles of trails on foot, bike or horseback. You can stay overnight, go on a picnic or fishing.
Date/Time: Daily – 8 a.m. – 10 p.m.
Location: 21901 FM 762 Needville, TX 77461
Price: Free admission for 12 years and under and for all Texas state parks pass holders.
6. Halloween Safe Streets Parade 2021
Each year the Shenandoah Police Department holds a Halloween Safe Streets event for the city’s children for a safe night of trick-or-treating. In 2020 with COVIC issues, the event format was changed to a parade throughout the city streets. The parade format will be used again in 2021 on Sunday, October 31.
Date/Time: Sun Oct 31, 2021 / 6:00pm to 8:00pm CT
Location: Throughout the city… Shenandoah, TX 77381
Price: Free
7. Trick-or-Treat Locations
Pearland Trick-or-Treat Trail
The City of Pearland’s Annual Trick-or-Treat Trail welcomes little ghouls and goblins to a night of candy gathering, games and events, music, and opportunities to buy tasty drinks and food from local food vendors. The first 500 participants will get a free trick-or-treat bag for their treats to collect treats from local vendors and businesses who are lining the candy trail.
Date/Time: Sun Oct 31, 2021 / 6:00pm to 8:00pm CT
Location: Independence Park
Price: Free admission for everyone!
Trick-or-Treat at the 1838 Menard House
Trick-or-treat at Galveston’s oldest residence on Halloween night for an eerily enjoyable experience. Trick-or-treaters will be given individual bags of candy with free admission to the property.
Date/Time: Sun Oct 31, 2021 / 5:00pm to 6:00pm CT
Location: 1838 Michel B. Menard House
Price: Free admission for everyone!
Alvin’s 17th Annual Trick-or-Treat Trail
Spend Halloween trick-or-treating safely by hitting up the annual Trick-or-Treat Trail in Alvin. Stations are set up along the trail offering lots of treats and fun activities.
Date/Time: Sun Oct 31, 2021 / 6:30pm CT
Location: Alvin Community College
Price: Free admission for everyone!
8. Texas Renaissance Festival
The Texas Renaissance Festival (a.k.a. RenFest) is a must-visit event this fall. The RenFest is an awesome way to take a daylong break from studying, giving you and your friends the opportunity to dress up in period costumes, walk around eating turkey legs and interacting with all the characters as if you’re living in medieval times. Set on a 55-acre village, this nine-weekend event lines over 50 world-renowned entertainers, 350 on-site shops, and several more, for an assured feel of a 16th Century European village. Visit www.texrenfest.com for the complete schedule and list of themes every weekend.
Date/Time: Weekends – October 9 – November 28 & Thanksgiving Friday / 9am – 8pm
Location: 21778 Farm to Market 1774 Todd Mission, TX 77363
Price: Children ages 12 and under are half-price on Saturday and FREE on Sundays.
9. Best places to enjoy beautiful fall colors in Houston 
Lost Maples State Park
Date/Time: Weekends – October 9 – November 28 & Thanksgiving Friday / 9am – 8pm
Location: Lost Maples State Park – 37221 Fm 187, Vanderpool, TX 78885-8510
Price: Free
Buffalo Bayou Park
Date/Time: 6 am to 11 pm daily
Location: Buffalo Bayou Park
Price: Free
Houston Arboretum
Date/Time: Grounds & Trails 7 am – dusk, daily
Location: 4501 Woodway Drive Houston, TX 77024-7708
Price: Free
Lake Mineral Wells
Date/Time: 6 am to 10 pm
Location: 100 Park Road 71 Mineral Wells, TX 76067
Price: Free for children under 12
Memorial Park
Date/Time: 6am to 11 pm
Location: 6501 Memorial Dr. Houston, TX 77007
Price: Free
10. Christmas Family Photoshoot 2021 By Luminous Homes
The Christmas season is just right around the corner and so we would like to do something special for you and your family. Our team is going to host a FREE Christmas Photoshoot because Christmas photos have become a bit of a tradition and every year it’s a different set of decor or theme for most of us, right?
Date/Time: Nov 20th, 2021 (Saturday) 2 P.M.- 5 P.M. 
Location: 1504 W 34th 1/2 St, Houston, TX 77018
Price: Free
It’s a free event sponsored by Luminous Homes, so come dressed in your fave Christmas Holiday look and join us & RSVP here!
*To ensure the safety of everybody during COVID-19, we require that you wear a mask on the facility – but you can take off the mask during the photo shoot.
There is always something going on to keep you and your family entertained this Fall in Houston. As always, please check individual event websites for any Covid- or weather-related restrictions or updates.
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