Fall Activities in Austin 2020

We have made it to September! Usually, we would be celebrating the return of football season, pumpkin spiced lattes, planning our Halloween parties (already!), and getting excited for (or dreading) the return of the school bell and science projects.

This year, the COVID-19 pandemic changed all of that for us. Since March, we have been following social distancing guidelines and avoiding large groups of people. As of now, that still reigns true, making this fall a little… weird.

To help get you excited, though, here’s a list of fall-themed events and activities to look forward to this season!

LONGHORN FOOTBALL ON TV

Yep, the University of Texas Longhorns are still taking to the gridiron this year with an abundance of safety measures in place. Take a look at the schedule here and plan out all your snacks, beverages, and outfits for the next few months. Hook ’em!

DIY OKTOBERFEST

Out of an abundance of caution, most Oktoberfest activities in Austin and the surrounding area have been canceled. That doesn’t necessarily mean that you can’t enjoy it on your own! Pool together beers from various local breweries to create your own tastings. Here’s a very short list of places to get you started:

Cedar Park/Leander

Hedgehog Brewing | Order To-Go here | Pick Up: 3200 Woodall Dr. C-1 | Cedar Park, Texas 78613

Red Horn Coffee House and Brewing | Order To-Go here | Pick Up: 13010 W Parmer Ln #800, Cedar Park, TX 78613

Humble Pint Brewing | Order To-Go here | Pick Up: 11880 Hero Way W Suite 208, Leander, TX 78641

Round Rock/Pflugerville

The Brass Tap | Order To-Go here | Pick Up: 204 E Main St, Round Rock, TX 78664

Bluebonnet Beer Company | Order To-Go here | Pick Up: 1700 Bryant Dr #107, Round Rock, TX 78664

The Growler Bar | Order To-Go here | Pick Up: 1300 FM 685 #100
Pflugerville, TX 78660

Lake Travis /Dripping Springs

Infamous Brewing Company | Order To-Go here | Pick Up: 4602 Weletka Dr, Austin, TX 78734

Twisted X Brewing Company | You can find their beer in stores! | You can go to their location at: 23455 W. RR 150 Dripping Springs, TX 78620

Family Business Beer Company | Order To-Go here | Pick Up: 19510 Hamilton Pool Rd, Dripping Springs, TX, 78620

Austin

Draughthouse | Order To-Go here | Pick Up: 4112 Medical Pkwy Austin, TX 78756

Zilker Brewing Company and Taproom | Order To-Go here |Pick Up: 1701 E 6th St Austin, TX 78702

St. Elmo Brewing Company | Order To-Go here | Pick Up: 440 E St Elmo Rd G-2, Austin, TX 78745

GO CAMPING

Living in the Texas Hill Country is such a blessing because of just how beautiful it is! There are so many parks to choose from: McKinney Falls State Park, Pedernales Falls State Park, the numerous parks along Lake Travis… the list goes on and on. Check out the Texas Parks and Wildlife site, Travis County Parks site and Williamson County Parks site for a full list of places to go!

EAT SEASONALLY

There are so many local farmers markets still going on, from where you can buy seasonal and locally grown fruits and vegetables. Here are a couple of places to try:

Cedar Park Farmers Market | farmergeorge.market

Lone Star Farmers Market | Bee Cave + Dripping Springs | lonestarfarmersmarket.com

Round Rock Farmers Market | farmergeorge.market

Sustainable Food Center Markets | Multiple Austin Locations | sustainablefoodcenter.org

Texas Farmers Market | Lakeline & Mueller | texasfarmersmarket.org

Get creative with the ingredients you buy from these markets. Buy a cookbook or check out a local food blogger to recreate some classic and creative fall dishes!

GHOST TOURS

It doesn’t have to be Halloween to do a ghost tour. Head out on any night of the week to check out Austin’s haunted history. Take a tour with Austin Ghost Tours, Haunted ATX, or any of the other groups here in town! If you’d rather not participate (despite their COVID-19 safety practices), take a tour on your own by researching the most haunted places in Austin.

PUMPKIN PATCH

Get your fall decorations going with real pumpkins from a local pumpkin patch or farm! A great place to start is the Texas Pumpkin Fest near Crystal Falls! Use your time there to take family pictures and pick out all the best gourds for decorating, carving, and cooking!

We know how much so many of us love this time of year. We hope you can find joy in the little things and make the best of our situation!