October is one of the best months to visit the Lone Star State. Not only is the weather cool and comfortable, but a variety of events and festivals are staged across Texas most every weekend in October.
One of the largest and most popular music festivals in the country, the Austin City Limits Music Festival features in excess of 100 performing acts offering a mix of music from various genres.
Running for 24 days through late-September and early-October, the State Fair of Texas is the largest fair and stock show in the state. During the nearly month long event, everything from live music to carnival rides and good eats to art shows are offered. Of course, the highlight of the Fair is the annual Texas-Oklahoma football game.
For more than a quarter century, the Houston Italian Festival has celebrated Italian heritage, culture and romance. The festival features live entertainment, bocce ball, a grape stomp, pasta eating contest, food and more.
Staged between Galveston and Port Aransas, the Harvest Moon Regatta is one of the largest port-to-port sailboat races in North America.
Started in 1933, the Texas Rose Festival has become part of the fabric of life in Tyler. The Rose Parade is just part of the fun, that includes the Coronation Ball and the East Texas Symphony Orchestra’s “Concert in the Park.” Don’t forget to visit the Rose Museum while visiting the “Rose Capital of the Nation.”
Offering great music, food and exhibits, the Conroe Cajun Catfish Festival draws over 40,000 spectators on an annual basis.
Featuring over 100 films, the Austin Film Festival includes a four-day screenwriters' conference featuring internationally known writers, directors, actors and producers. The Festival is held at the Driskell Hotel and other locations througout Austin.
The annual Fredericksburg Food & Wine Fest has been held in downtown Fredericksburg since 1990. The festival includes food and wine sampling, an auction, games and live entertainment - all set in this quaint Hill Country community.
Held in Madisonville, the Texas Mushroom Festival features a cooking contest, mushroom growing demonstrations, wine tasting, children's activities, photography contest, live music and more.
A six-week trip back to the 16th century, the Texas Renaissance Festival features over 200 daily performances, 300 arts and crafts shops, 60 food and beverage shops, nightly fireworks and more than 3,000 costumed characters strolling the grounds. Although it is not technically an "Oktoberfest," the opening weekend of the Renaissance festival is themed as Oktoberfest and the event covers the entire month.
Based in the Czech settlement of Flatonia, Czhilispiel has been held annually for over 30 years, drawing some of the best chili and bbq cook-off teams from across the state.
