Autumn in Austin may be brief, but this transitional season is still packed with fun festivals, irresistible foods, and unbeatable views. Check out some ideas below on ways to take full advantage of fall this year.
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Autumn in Austin: Events
Mark your calendars! Here are a few events happening in Austin this fall.
Austin Studio Tour
Now – November 20
A free, self-guided art event that combines the West Austin Studio Tour and East Austin Studio Tour where Austin artists can connect and the public can experience art safely both in person and virtually.
A Christmas Affair
Now – November 20
A Christmas Affair is a five-day holiday market benefiting The Junior League of Austin. The annual event hosts 200+ retail merchants and attracts 25,000+ patrons. You can also shop the event online at A Christmas Affair Virtual Marketplace.
Mozart’s Light Show
Now – January 6
At Mozart’s Coffee Roasters, sip on a steaming cup of hot chocolate while watching the shop’s dazzling lights display choreographed to lively music nightly from November through January.
Miracle on 5th Street
November 17 – December 27
Miracle is a Christmas-themed pop-up cocktail bar that serves holiday cocktails in the most festive and nostalgic setting in the city. Featuring wall-to-wall Christmas decor, multiple bars, cheery social experiences and a whole lot of Christmas spirits.
ThunderCloud Subs Turkey Trot
November 24
ThunderCloud Subs’ annual 5-mile run/1-mile walk is a great way to work up a Thanksgiving-sized appetite. This year, compete with the best of Austin or join virtually and head outside with the kids for a more relaxed holiday jog.
Blue Genie Art Bazaar
November 26 – November 27
A fixture of the Austin holiday season! With in-person and virtual shopping alternatives, shoppers can browse thousands of original works ranging from serious art to fun and kitschy items. A great way to buy hassle-free holiday gifts and support local artists.
Autumn in Austin: Activities
From enjoying a Texas Hill Country wine tour to exploring the great outdoors, celebrate fall in Austin with some seasonal activities.
Enjoy A Texas Hill Country Wine Tour
Spend a day exploring sprawling vineyards and sipping your way through a lineup of award-winning wines throughout the greater Fredericksburg area with either Creekstreet Wine Tours or Texas Wine Tours.
Experience Austin’s Outdoor Art
Enjoy the fall foliage while also experiencing Austin’s outdoor art. Both The Contemporary Austin’s Betty and Edward Marcus Sculpture Park at Laguna Gloria and the Umlauf Sculpture Garden showcase outdoor sculptures framed by nature. Or take a self-guided tour of Austin’s amazing street art.
Enjoy Dining Alfresco
In Austin, autumn days can provide gorgeous weather perfect for outdoor dining. Enjoy brunch at the new north location of Easy Tiger Bake Shop & Beer Garden, dine on coastal Mexican in east Austin at Este or try a new cocktail on Bar Peached’s shaded patio.
Get Out On The Water
Make the most of Austin’s fall weather with an excursion on Lady Bird Lake, where you can rent stand-up paddleboards, kayaks, and canoes from the Rowing Dock, Greenbelt Outdoors, and Texas Rowing Center. For an insider’s perspective, take a guided kayak or stand-up paddleboard tour of downtown Austin with Austin City Kayak Tours.
Sign Up For A Workshop
From a fall floral arrangement workshop with Margot Blair Floral to seasonal pasta-making classes with Pasta Social Club or welcoming the autumn season with a tea and chocolate tasting with Delysia Chocolatier, enjoy one of Austin’s fabulous local workshops this fall.
Take A Hike
From downtown Austin to the nearby Texas Hill Country, you’ll find no shortage of places to explore. Take in the scenic city views along the Ann and Roy Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail, or follow the nature trails of Enchanted Rock State Natural Area or discover a new trail with the outdoor recreational app AllTrails.
Autumn in Austin: Prepared Foods
Below are a few of our favorite local restaurants where you can grab some of those Thanksgiving essentials from.
Do not forget the beverages and Aviary Wine fills in the gaps with wine-to-go packs that come in two sizes, three and six-packs.
2110 S Lamar Blvd | 512.916.4445
For a completely vegan holiday meal down to the sides and dessert.
2337 E Cesar Chavez St | 512.524.1540
Get everything in one stop! A roasted turkey with gravy, chorizo stuffing, spicy citrus-serrano cranberry sauce, and choice of sides.
1703 S 1st St | 512.992.2946
Order a Thanksgiving gift box that can be picked up in-store or delivered. Boxes range from the prime filet box to a twice-baked potato one, with an option to build-your-own box.
1601 W 38th St #12 | 512.467.6700
This South Austin barbecue joint will take care of your Thanksgiving needs with smoked turkeys, sausage filled with turkey, pork, cranberry, and herbs; and Akashi brisket.
121 Pickle Rd | 512.945.9882
The famed biscuits are available by the dozen, need we say more?
14735 Bratton Ln #310
Visit the meat counter for an array of different meat options for your Thanksgiving table.
1912 E 7th St | 512.524.1383
This Westlake favorite is the perfect spot to grab your holiday feast of honey-glazed ham, roasted turkey breast, and an array of side dishes.
3736 Bee Caves Rd #6 | 512.330.9888
Grab an assortment of these individually-sized pies, baked fresh daily from scratch with the highest quality, natural ingredients sourced from local farms.
Various Locations
Autumn in Austin: Giving Back
As we enter the holiday season, our thoughts turn to giving. Below are just a few of the hundreds of wonderful organizations working hard to improve the lives of our neighbors. The holiday season is a great opportunity to take a minute and find a way to give back that is personally meaningful.
The mission of Art From the Streets is to provide a safe and encouraging environment for those experiencing homelessness through their own artistic expression by providing them with art supplies, art classes, and a chance to generate income by selling their art to the public.
The Austin Humane Society is the longest-standing no-kill shelter in Austin. AHS transforms the lives of animals and the people who love them through life-saving programs that find animals homes, serve animals and people in times of crisis, and community involvement.
Founded in 1992, the Austin Parks Foundation partners with our community to enhance people’s lives by making Austin’s public parks, trails, and green spaces better through volunteerism, innovative programming, advocacy, and financial support.
Community First! Village is a 27-acre master-planned community just outside Austin, Texas, where more than 200 people who were once chronically homeless live in tiny homes and RVs. Everyone who lives at Community First! pays rent, ranging from $225 to $430 per month and many residents are employed on-site. Their goal is to provide housing within a community.
Friends of the Children – Austin
Friends of the Children connect children to a paid, professional mentor called a Friend. They hire and train Friends whose full-time jobs are to support our youth to succeed, despite the extremely challenging situations most experience, from as early as age 4 through high school graduation. The Friend is there for them 12+ years, no matter what.
Monsignor Richard McCabe founded Caritas of Austin in 1964 with the belief that all people deserve to have their basic needs met. Their mission today is to end and prevent homelessness. They do so by making sure that people have a safe home, access to healthy groceries, jobs that provide a reliable living wage, and educational opportunities to learn life skills.
Helping Hand Home provides a nurturing and therapeutic home for severely abused children and works to restore each child to a healthy family setting. You can support the Helping Hand Home by becoming a volunteer, a foster parent, donating a gift of money, or contributing to their wish list for the children.
HeartGift provides life-saving congenital heart defect surgery to children from around the world where specialized medical treatment is scarce or nonexistent. Established in 2000, HeartGift began its work in Austin, Texas, and now has chapters in multiple cities. Since its founding, HeartGift has cared for more than 500 children from over 35 countries.
Meals on Wheels is a holistic nutrition program that provides home-delivered prepared meals for seniors and other homebound clients throughout the Greater Austin area. Learn about the opportunities to volunteer in the kitchen or become a driver.
Autumn in Austin: Agents Giving Back
We asked a few of our agents how they give back to the community. Check it out and get some more ideas for your next philanthropic endeavor!
“My husband and I are members of Dell Childrens Trust. We love how it supports our community as well as others in Central Texas in need of pediatric services. It does so much good and as a parent I can’t believe in it more.”
“There are so many great ways to be involved and giveback locally in the community. Most recently I was co-chair for Hospice Austin’s – Beauty of Life November event. It was a huge success and so special to see all of the support and donations from the community.”
“I am part of a group of 4 women in my neighborhood and we ask neighbors to donate holiday gifts to foster children through Partnerships for Children. Last year 144 kids received gifts from their wish lists and we’re hoping to serve more children this year!”
“I was honored to be asked to sit on the committee and organize the 2022 Beauty of Life fundraising luncheon benefiting Hospice Austin. Hospice Austin is an incredible nonprofit hospice group that provides end-of-life care to any person who is in need, regardless of age, diagnosis, or ability to pay. Hospice Austin is dear to my heart and I look forward to continuing to be a part of such an incredible organization.”
“I’m proud to sponsor The Source for Women’s Health in Austin, which offers education and support for women in our most vulnerable communities. I also enjoy supporting KOZ (Kids Outdoor Zone), a local outdoor adventure ministry focused on young men gaining more experience in nature (and less time on electronics!).”
“There are so many great local charities. I support Foster Angels of Central Texas and Community First! Village by donating a portion of my commissions to their causes.”