1. Pick pumpkins and explore a corn maze at local farms.
Head on down to the farm for some old-fashioned harvest fun, like picking your own pumpkins and gourds from the pumpkin patch at Sweet Berry Farm in Marble Falls (starting in mid-September); or going for a hay ride and meeting the animals at the petting zoo at Georgetown's Sweet Eats Fruit Farm (starting in mid-September); visiting Hill Country Pumpkins for free hot cider, coffee, snacks and bounce house fun for the kids; and enjoying the exotic animals, sensory corn pit, craft vendors and pumpkin patch during a private tour at Indian Springs Ranch.

2. Take in fall’s splendor on horseback.
Enjoy fall foliage and the quiet charm of the Texas Hill Country with a private guided trail ride on horseback with Maverick Horseback Riding in Lockhart or Lone Star Ranch's Texas trail riding lessons, just outside Downtown Austin. Find more info about horseback riding near Austin here.

3. Watch a movie under the stars.
Drive over to Doc’s Drive In Theatre featuring nightly showings on two large screens, house-made food and drinks for the adults.

Credit Pierce Ingram.

4. Visit a state park.
There’s nothing like the crackle of a campfire and the smell of roasting marshmallows. Enjoy fall’s warm weather with an adventure at one of the many state parks just outside of Austin. Go explore McKinney Falls State Park, Inks Lake State Park or Pedernales Falls State Park.

5. Work up a sweat on a hiking trail.
From downtown Austin to the nearby Texas Hill Country, you’ll find no shortage of places to explore on foot. Take in scenic city views along the Ann and Roy Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail that winds along the shores of Lady Bird Lake. Or, head out of the city limits to visit the unique landscape at Westcave Outdoor Discovery Center (reservations required), follow the nature trails at Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife Refuge near Marble Falls or hike the granite batholith at Enchanted Rock State Natural Area near Fredericksburg.

Credit Ryan Kyte.

6. Get out on the water.
Make the most of Austin’s glorious fall weather with an excursion on the glittering waters of its lakes. It’s easy to get out on the water at Lady Bird Lake, where you can rent stand-up paddleboards, kayaks and canoes from the Rowing Dock, Greenbelt Outdoors, Texas Rowing Center and other outfitters. For an insider’s perspective, take a guided kayak or stand-up paddleboard tour of downtown Austin with Austin Kayak Tours.

7. Enjoy beer, brats and bands at Oktoberfest events.
Celebrate Central Texas’ German heritage with Oktoberfest beers and bites around the region. Toast the harvest with a stein of bier and a juicy bratwurst in hand at Banger's during their annual Oktoberfest in September. Or visit local Austin breweries like Live Oak Brewing and enjoy a cold Oaktoberfest in the biergarten. For an authentic Central Texas experience, take a day trip to Fredericksburg, where you'll find German bakeries, restaurants, breweries and tons of history and charm.

8. Sip a seasonal beer at a craft brewery.
Savor the suds of the season at one of Austin’s many craft breweries. Enjoy a hearty draft beer from Celis Brewery or Austin Beerworks’ seasonal Oktoberfest brews featuring German malts, hops and yeasts.

Courtesy of Meanwhile Brewing.

9. Eat outdoors on the nearest patio.
In Texas, autumn days equate to gorgeously sunny weather (which, if you ask us, means prime time for patio sitting). Try something from each food truck on the decked-out patio at Cosmic Coffee + Beer Garden; dine on German-inspired dishes on the expansive, dog-friendly patio at Scholz Garten; and enjoy brunch in the sprawling beer garden at Easy Tiger Bake Shop & Beer Garden. Find more patios here.

10. Dig into all things pumpkin.
Forget pumpkin spice lattes. In Austin, we take the seasonal splendor up a notch for pumpkin lovers. For breakfast, indulge in the famous pumpkin pancakes at Kerbey Lane Cafe (insider tip: they also offer vegan and gluten-free options or sample a smoothie at JuiceLand.) For dinner, try the homemade pumpkin ravioli at Andiamo Ristorante. And don’t forget dessert, like a flight of sweet treats — including cupcakes, breads and pumpkin pie — from Sugar Mama's Bakeshop.

11. Try a refreshing cider.
Sure, you could always go to a nearby U-pick farm to enjoy the bounty of apple harvest season. Or, you could enjoy the grown-up version with a glass of hard cider made from freshly pressed apples. Sample ciders at a number of brewpubs around town. To round out the mix, Texas Keeper Cider is a small-batch cidery owned and operated by born-and-raised Austinites in South Austin. Their Hill Country taproom serves crisp drinks and lovely views.

Tiny Pies. Credit Annie Ray Photography.

12. Spoon into a slice of pie.
Enjoy end-of-summer fruits and the spices of fall with a slice of homemade pie. Try the made-from-scratch pumpkin pie at Quack’s 43rd Street Bakery. Or treat yourself to an adorable mini apple or pumpkin chai pie from Tiny Pies.

13. Take off on a Texas Hill Country wine trail.
Spend a day wandering around sprawling vineyards and sipping your way through a lineup of award-winning wines. Map out a route following the wine trails of Marble Falls, Dripping Springs or Fredericksburg.

14. Take a haunted tour.
Ride in style with the Haunted ATX Hearse Limo and cruise local landmarks rumored to be inhabited by ghosts. Join a guided walk with Austin Ghost Tours and see some of Austin’s most haunted places. Or, attend the free, annual Murder, Mayhem & Misadventure Walking Tour, at Oakwood Cemetery and learn about the unfortunate demise of some locally famous residents, portrayed by actors at actual grave sites.

Courtesy of Texas Book Festival.

15. Attend the Texas Book Festival.
The annual Texas Book Festival, held November 8 and 9, is going to be one for the books (get it?). One of the top (and free!) annual events is the Lit Crawl, featuring programming in Austin’s Six Square Black Cultural District and across East Austin.

16. Bring the kids to Boo at the Zoo.
Unleash your little ones at the Austin Zoo, where they can experience Boo at the Zoo on select dates from October 3-25. Enjoy a spooky train ride, an entertaining puppet show and a haunted mansion, in addition to meeting the animal residents. Tickets are limited, so reserve your spot in advance!

17. Get spooked at a haunted house.
From brain-hungry zombies to bloodthirsty monsters, come face-to-face with the scariest creatures from your worst nightmares at the House of Torment haunted house. Or, travel an hour outside of Austin to Scream Hollow Wicked Halloween Park, where you can brave four haunted houses and the only vampire bar in Texas.

18. Dare to explore the spooky trails at Pioneer Farms.
Venture onto the haunted trails with a Ghost Tour at historic Pioneer Farms and find funny and super-scary surprises along the way. Come early and bring the family to enjoy fun historic workshops and the general store.

19. Immerse yourself in the colorful celebration of Día de los Muertos.
From late October through early November, observe Día de los Muertos in Austin, the Mexican holiday that remembers loved ones who have passed. Several virtual and in-person cultural events throughout the month will feature music performances, art exhibits and more. Be sure to attend the 42nd annual Viva la Vida festival and parade on October 25 at the Mexic-Arte Museum.

Viva La Vida. Courtesy of Mexic-Arte Museum. 

20. Spend a week watching and discussing films.
Watch an array of screenings — from locally made flicks to world premieres — and see celebrities, too, during the Austin Film Festival held from Oct. 23–30. Learn about the craft of screenwriting and storytelling by attending Writers Conference panels, discussions and workshops featuring filmmakers, producers and executives.

21. See the spooky Halloween Children’s Concert by the Austin Symphony.
On Oct. 26, take the kids to a frightfully fun symphonic performance with the annual afternoon Halloween Children’s Concert. Bonus points if your kiddos watch in costume! Pre-concert activities include musical crafts, games and the instrument petting zoo.

22. Get in the spirit at a UT football game and tailgating party.
It’s hard not to get in the team spirit when you’re in the middle of Texas Longhorn country. Don your burnt orange and white, and cheer on the University of Texas at Austin football team from your favorite sports bar. Favorites include Jack & Ginger's Irish pub in the Domain NORTHSIDE, where you can relax and catch hours of football every weekend. Or, put your horns up from the pickleball courts and picnic tables at Bouldin Acres, and chow down on Texas-style brunch dishes as TVs blast football games in the background.

23. Cheer on the Men's U.S. National Soccer Teams.
Watch the U.S. Men's National Team play a professional soccer match at Q2 Stadium this fall. On Oct. 10 at 7:30 p.m., the USMNT will take on Ecuador in an international game

24. Watch a Formula 1 race at Circuit of The Americas.
Witness the best Formula 1 race car drivers in the U.S. Grand Prix from Oct. 17-19 at Circuit of The Americas. This is the only place in the United States that hosts Grand Prix races. As part of Formula 1’s 75th anniversary festivities, the Turnpike Troubadours will perform a concert on Grand Prix Sunday. Get your tickets now, as they sell out quickly.