Photo credit: @bitesnsiteshtx
Fall is officially here! This year, Houston has a bunch of exciting events lined up for the season. From fall festivals, free alfresco movie screenings, new openings, and more: continue to our article below to find the best things to do this fall in Houston with kids.
Watch in wonder as a hundreds of soaring drones light up the skies over Houston in a breathtaking site. Furthermore, the performance will be choreographed to live classical music, creating an incredible symphony in the sky. DroneArt Show: A Music and Drone Show has already captured the masses, selling out shows across the world. Don’t miss this opportunity to see this dazzling spectacle!
October 9, 10, and 11
Lagoonfest Texas, 12600 Crystal View Blvd., Texas City, 77568
Image provided by Pumpkins After Dark Experience
Following its hit debut this past year, Pumpkins After Dark is returning to Big Rivers Amusement Park October with a larger, livelier, and revamped experience. Here, families can stroll through over 10,000 glowing, hand-carved pumpkins among enchanting paths populated with the likes of dragons, dinos, and pop-culture characters.
The family-friendly experience also featured live pumpkin-carving demonstrations, a Monster Maze, as well as a delightful selection of your favorite fall foods and treats!
Select nights October 9 – November 2
Big Rivers Waterpark & Adventures, 23101 Texas 242, New Caney, 77357
In 2024, Discovery Green introduced Houston Pumpkin Festival. An instant classic, the massive autumn festival is quickly becoming Houston’s favorite new fall tradition. With a plethora of pumpkins – from pumpkin houses to a giant bouncing pumpkin – sunflower walks, photo-ops galore on top of exciting activities like crystal kayaking and bumper boats, Discovery Green is an autumn wonderland in the heart of Downtown, Houston!
September 20 – November 2
Discovery Green, 1500 McKinney Street
4. Zoo Boo
The Houston Zoo’s delightfully Halloween-themed Zoo Boo event returns this fall! Running from September 26 to October 31, the zoo is featuring a variety of exciting seasonal attractions for the whole family to enjoy.
Returning favorites include its Pumpkin Lantern Tunnel and spooktacular Scary-Go-Round, as well as a seasonal selection of fall treats, Ghost Town experience at the John P. McGovern Children’s Zoo, and all-new immersive PhantomScape visually animated projections cast upon the Galapagos Islands exhibit.
September 26 – October 31
Houston Zoo
5. Screen on the Green
Houston Pumpkin Festival isn’t the only activation Discovery Green has planned for the fall season. This autumn, the organization is bringing back one of its other signature events: Screen on the Green with plans to screen a pair of family-friendly movies at the coolest park in town. Check out the screening schedule below:
- A Minecraft Movie: September 27
- The Nightmare Before Christmas: October 24
Billed as Houston’s No. 1 pumpkin patch, Dewberry Farms Fall Festival features over 115 acres of fantastic fall attractions. Here, the family can delight in over 40 rides and attractions ranging from coasters, train rides, and slides to a ferris wheel, corn maze, petting zoo, and more.
Additionally, the farm offers a scrumptious selection of fall foods to enjoy as well as barbecue, tacos, turkey legs. Stick around for the nightly fireworks at 9 pm. Following which, the farm will become spookier for BOOrific Nights (starting September 27): featuring the likes of glowing pumpkins, a creepy corn maze, and other Halloween experiences!
September 13 – November 2
7705 FM 362 Brookshire, TX 77423
Photo credit: @dewberryfarm
In addition to Houston Pumpkin Festival and Dewberry Farms, there are a number of other picturesque pumpkin patches in the city this season. Stroll through the autumn harvest, capture photos, and pick your perfect Jack O’ Lantern at these Houston pumpkin patches.
Various dates
Various locations
The surreal circus returns to Houston this October with its fan-favorite OVO production. Complete with vibrant costuming, awe-inspiring acrobatics, and a larger-than-life set design, the family-friendly show is a playful look into the everyday lives of insects, illustrating how the smallest creatures can have a great impact.
Following the story of a hapless fly that falls for a butterfly, OVO features the likes of radiant butterflies, juggling ants, and bendy spiders. The show runs in Houston for a short time, so don’t miss out!
October 2 – 5
Toyota Center
9. Spend an Afternoon at Pumpkin Park
While Houston is home to a wonderful array of parks to enjoy, ’tis the season to pay homage to the city’s one-and-only Pumpkin Park. Located in River Oaks, Pumpkin Park is a quaint, 5-acre green space that features a children’s play place, life-sized Cinderella’s pumpkin carriage, volleyball courts, and more.
Daily
3600 Locke Ln, Houston, TX 77027
Wrangle the kiddos in the mini-van and drive out to Quail Valley in Missouri City for a trip down Candy Cane Lane. While the neighborhood is foremost, as the name would suggest, famous for its Christmas decorations – it’s also making a name for itself during the month of October: “Nightmare on Candy Cane Lane“.
Here, the residents come out for the spooky season – adorning their homes and yards with fantastic, over-the-top Halloween-themed decorations like giant skeletons, spooky lighting, and sound effects. Of course, you can also bring the kids here for a little trick-or-treating on Halloween night, just know that the kiddos might face some competition over candy as word as gotten out on the excitement of Nightmare on Candy Cane Lane.
October
3100 Robinson Road