30 Top Things To Do in Houston This Fall

Fall Bucket List for Kids: Best Things To Do in Houston This Fall

1. Fall at the Farm

Visit one of the many local area farms to take advantage of outdoor fall activities near Houston. Farm favorites like Dewberry Farms, Blessington Farms, P-6 Farms, and Froberg’s Farm are known for their amazing seasonal fun.

 

Visit Armand Bayou Nature Center for hiking, kayaking, bat encounters, and more. Photo courtesy of the center

2. Armand Bayou Nature Center

Spend the day (or night!) exploring nature at Armand Bayou Nature Center. In addition to hiking trails, the Center offers kayak tours, Fall Ecoprograms for kids, special Halloween night cruises, firefly and bat hikes, birding events, and more. 

3. Boo on the Boardwalk

Head down to Kemah for Boo on the Boardwalk, one of the best fall activities near Houston for kids. This ongoing event includes costume contests, pumpkin decorating, and other activities through the end of October.

RELATED: Houston Day Trips and Getaways Guide

 

7-Acre Wood Pumpkin Patch near Houston is a local favorite. Photo courtesy of Robin Hersey

4. Pumpkin Patches 

Visit one of Houston’s many area patches to pick out the perfect pumpkin for carving.

5. The Woodlands Renaissance Faire 

Looking for a similar vibe to the Texas Renaissance Festival, but on a smaller, family-friendly scale? Step back in time at this free event taking place on September 23, 2023, 10 a.m. – 7 p.m. at Rob Fleming Park in The Woodlands, featuring the Woodlands Symphony Orchestra, as well as face painting, jugglers, live demonstrations of medieval combat, food trucks, arts and crafts vendors, and more. ​ 

5. Pumpkin Patches 

Visit one of Houston’s many area patches to pick out the perfect pumpkin for carving.

6. Family-Friendly Texas Wineries

For some grown-up time that kids can enjoy, too, why not visit a nearby winery? There are some great ones that are just a short drive from Houston. 

Waller County Fair and Rodeo is classic Texas fun. Photo credit Jerome Mo Yang

7. Waller County Fair and Rodeo 

Indulge in a day of rodeo fun with BBQ, carnival rides, and calf scrambles.

8. Wings Over Houston Air Show

Fly high at the annual airshow October 14 & 15, 2023 at Ellington Field.

 

What’s better than a day at the zoo? FREE day at the zoo. Photo courtesy of the Houston Zoo

9. Free Tuesday at the Houston Zoo

Enjoy the Houston Zoo for FREE one Tuesday each month. Cooler weather means you can enjoy an entire afternoon comfortably touring all the newest exhibits. 

10. Lake Houston Wilderness Park

Free for kids 12 and under, this beautiful wilderness park has archery and a nature center to amuse the kids, in addition to over 20 miles of hiking and biking trails.

RELATED: Guide to Playground and Play Spaces in the Houston Area

Hike through scenic wetlands at Challenger Seven Memorial Park. Photo by Brett Stone

11. Local parks

There are so many amazing destination parks around the Houston area, and fall is the perfect time to test out new parks and spend time playing on all the different playgrounds.

12. Spend the day in Tomball

Pick up seasonal farm-fresh produce and locally made bread, jams, and more at the ever popular Tomball Farmers Market, spend the day exploring the quaint city, then end the night with an outdoor movie during 2nd Saturday at the Depot. 

13. Old MacDonald’s Farm

Spend a day riding ponies, petting different farm animals, running down Sand Mountain, and riding the train at Old MacDonald’s Farm in Humble.

14. Try an extreme sport

Thrill your kids with some of these memorable, adrenaline-pumping activities, such as tree-top adventures, go-karting, and indoor skydiving.

15. Take your ghosts and goblins to Scream on the Green

Enter into the citywide costume contest, catch a themed movie, watch fun performances, and have lots of spooktacular fun at Discovery Green’s annual Scream on the Green event.

16. Pick Your Own Produce

Get fresh and seasonal fruits and vegetables at an area farm, then see what tasty creations you can whip up in the kitchen together. 

 

Enjoy live art experiences at Young Audiences of Houston. Photo courtesy of Levy Park

17. Young Audiences of Houston 

Join Young Audiences of Houston outdoors at Levy Park for live art experiences on select Saturdays each month. 

18. Take a family camping trip

Pitch a tent and roast s’mores over the fire during a family camping trip. There are so many great state parks near Houston, including Livingston State Park, Huntsville State Park, and if you don’t mind going further afield to the Hill Country, Pedernales Falls State Park. If you haven’t tackled RV camping yet, but want to, we have an entire article dedicated to RV camping for beginners!

19. Visit Bellaire’s Nature Discovery Center 

The Nature Discovery Center is a hidden gem of outdoor fun nestled in Bellaire, and exploring the grounds is always a fun adventure. There is no shortage of fun events, with some of our favorites being their Park After Dark Hikes and the annual Pumpkin Patch and Fall Festival in October. 

20. Hike around Houston 

Explore Houston’s natural beauty by foot on one of these family-friendly hikes. 

RELATED: Great Campgrounds for Families Near Houston  

 

Take a Tyke Hike this fall at the Houston Arboretum. Photo courtesy of the arboretum

21. Tyke Hike at the Houston Arboretum & Nature Center

22. Garden Railroad Days

Check out which trains have been picked to chug along the rails at Rosenberg Railroad Museum’s monthly Garden Railroad Day. 

23. Missouri City’s Oktoberfest

Experience a taste of German culture at this family-friendly Oktoberfest event. Feast on authentic German food, play games, listen to live German music, and more.

 

You know it’s fall when the Fort Bend County Fair comes to town. Photo courtesy of the fair

24. Fort Bend County Fair

The Fort Bend County Fair is a hallmark of the fall season in Houston, so grab your boots and get ready for a weekend of carnival rides, themed days, live music, tasty BBQ, and shopping local vendors.

25. Haunted Drive

Get in some spooky Halloween fun at Haunted Drive every weekend from September 30 through October 31. 

26. Zoo Boo at the Houston Zoo

Zoo Boo never disappoints! Wear your favorite friendly Halloween costume and enjoy a day of visiting with the animals and taking part in a slew of fun Halloween events around the Zoo throughout October. 

27. Weekend road trip

Hop in the car and take a weekend road trip with the family to some of Texas’ hotspot destinations. Visit the Panhandle, Hill Country, and more. On a budget? Don’t worry! Check our list of budget weekend getaways. Want to try somewhere with a beach instead of Galveston? Try our recommendations for things to do, places to eat, and places to stay in Freeport. Or check out our best beaches in Texas for families.

 

Take the kids to root, root, root for the Astros! Photo courtesy of mlb.com

28. Family Sundays with the Houston Astros

Cheering on our Houston Astros is always fun, but doing it on Family Sundays makes a day spent watching baseball even better! 

29. Free Train Rides at Zube Park

All aboard! Hop on one of the three club diesel engines at Zube Park for a free train ride on select Saturdays and Sundays each month.

30. Enjoy Outdoor Dining

Take advantage of the cooler Fall weather to enjoy dining outdoors in one of our selection of family-friendly outdoor dining spots around Houston.