The autumn equinox is upon us. The kids are back to school, the temperatures are (slowly) cooling, and it’s officially autumn in San Antonio once again.
Here are just a few ideas for ways to celebrate the season in the coziest of styles.
Outdoors
- Take a day trip to check out some autumnal foliage at Denman Estate Park, Enchanted Rock State Natural Area, or Garner State Park.
- Build a scarecrow or check out the gorgeous apple orchards at Love Creek Orchards.
- Bring some friends and visit the Fright Fest at Six Flags Fiesta Texas, or go trick or treating at the San Antonio Zoo’s Zoo Boo.
- Jaunt over to Gruene to visit one of its Market Days.
- Take a tranquil autumnal retreat to the Japanese Tea Garden for some desperately needed rest and relaxation.
- Visit Rockberry Ranch, one of the most scenic pumpkin patches in the area, to nab a great fall photo shoot — and score your jack o’lantern bounty.
- Pretend you’re Meg Ryan in “You’ve Got Mail” and visit The Twig Book Shop by The Pearl — a dead ringer for the movie’s Shop Around the Corner — or wait for Tom Hanks + his golden retriever at the San Antonio Botanical Garden.
- Make the most adorable bouquets of freshly sharpened pencils with pencils found at locally owned shops like Feliz Modern.
Indoors
- In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, visit Centro de Artes gallery, a two-story space that showcases Latino-themed art and Latino artists.
- Visit Early Bird Coffee, Coffee Crush, or La Panaderia for some perfect-for-fall pumpkin spice or pumpkin foam specials — or check out the autumnal offerings at San Antonio’s other acclaimed coffee shops.
- Stop by Cosmic Mayhem San Antonio for mini golf, axe throwing, billiards, a retro arcade, and a full bar.
- Don’t forget to line up a cozy fall sweater shopping trip at the Shops at La Cantera — or a relaxing spa day at La Cantera Resort + Spa.
- Nothing says Velcroing up your bowling shoes and spending a day bowling at Bowlero — with 48 lanes and an arcade.
- Go super retro and visit beloved roller rink the Rollercade — it’s been around for nearly 60 years and continues to make fall fun for the whole family.
Spooky
- Explore some of San Antonio’s most historic haunted spots like the Emily Morgan Hotel or the San Fernando Cathedral.
- Visit the 13th Floor Haunted House, named one of the USA Today’s “Top 5 Most Terrifying Haunted Houses in the USA.”
- Check out the Annual Fall Cavern Bat Fest at Natural Bridge Caverns every weekend in October.
- Take a San Antonio Ghost Tour and find out the real history of the city.
- Check out the Sisters Grimm Oddities Parlor within the Menger Hotel and stock up on tarot cards and spooky-themed gifts.
- Visit the Haunted Dollhouse Museum to be horrified by inanimate terrors out of your wildest dreams.
- If you’re feeling especially ambitious, take a road trip to Yorktown Memorial Hospital — one of the most haunted places in America — for ghost hunts, overnight investigations, and more.
Festivals
- Enjoy Oktoberfest at Historic La Villita from Friday, Sept. 19 to Sunday, Sept. 21 at Maverick Plaza — a free culinary and cultural event that’s fun for the whole family.
- Appreciate the city’s rich cultural tradition and celebrate Dia de los Muertos on Saturday, Oct. 25 and Sunday, Oct. 26 at Hemisfair.
- Participate in the magic of Luminaria Contemporary Arts Festival on Saturday, Oct. 18, from 6 p.m. to midnight in St. Paul’s Square.
- Celebrate DiwaliSA at Hemisfair and honor the triumph of light over darkness at this Indian Festival of Lights on Saturday, Nov. 1.
- You definitely won’t want to miss Wurstfest 2025 in New Braunfels from Friday, Nov. 7 to Sunday, Nov. 16, a celebration of German heritage where you’ll find music, food, dancing, beer, and special Alpine and Bavarian-style entertainment.
