Experience the Magic of Small-Town Fall Rituals

By theadmin

The chill of fall often comes late and sporadically. But there’s something irresistible about stepping outside into the crisp, clear air; the smattering of colored foliage; and the rituals that lead us toward the holiday season.

Across the state, Texas’ smaller communities will come together to celebrate autumn with fall festivals, seasonal attractions, and admiration of the beautiful countryside. Small towns are cornerstones of Texas culture, and traditions tend to last longer here than in other places. Join us as we celebrate these classic autumnal rituals. Because it’s no bad thing to celebrate the simple life.

Courtesy of Flickr User Scrubhiker (USCDyer)

Hit the Road

The best way to experience fall in Texas is to get out and get into it. Try these five envy-inducing itineraries. From the Piney Woods of East Texas to the wide-open desert of Big Bend country, there are almost too many envy-inducing itineraries for experiencing Texas’ natural beauty. Here are five:

Into the Woods: The wooded eastern portion of the state offers plenty of tiny roads to get lost on in the changing foliage. The Pineywoods Autumn Trail, a winding 145-mile route through the back roads and byways between Athens and Palestine, explores some of the best fall colors the state has to offer. Worthy detours include a stop at the East Texas Arboretum and Botanical Society in Athens and Davey Dogwood Park in Palestine, which flush crimson, orange, and gold each year.

The Devil’s Backbone: The arid, rocky, rolling hills of the Hill Country transform into a subtle and stunning panorama of color every year, as cypress, oak, mesquite, and persimmon trees bloom in vibrant shades. To see the region in all its glory, follow the famed Devil’s Backbone, a scenic route starting out from San Marcos. Follow RR12 west to RR32 and continue onto US-281, which you can take through Blanco and on to Fredericksburg and Luckenbach. But be careful out there: The Devil’s Backbone is said to be one of the most haunted drives in Texas, with tales of apparitions of Spanish monks, Native Americans, and Confederate soldiers.

Lost Maples: There is no better place to be during a Texas fall than lost in the thick foliage of Lost Maples State Natural Area. The spot is tremendously popular, so expect to battle some crowds. Texas Parks & Wildlife even keeps a page on their website reporting leaf colors. Begin your journey in Kerrville and wind along Texas Highway 39 through the Hill Country, soaking up the fall scenery and ending at the park.

Desert Roses: Nowhere can you rejoice over the cooler air like the Big Bend region. In the desert of far West Texas, rather than foliage, visitors are rewarded with a second flowering season. Start your journey by entering Big Bend National Park from the north, which you can find traveling south from Marathon, for the best wildflower views. Follow park roads as they wind around the Chisos Mountains leading to Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive, which swoops south across the desert toward the Rio Grande. Don’t forget to make a pit stop at the majestic Santa Elena Canyon.

Festivals

Festival season is crowned by the behemoth State Fair of Texas, but smaller pumpkin and harvest festivals abound across the state. Nearly every weekend offers family-friendly adventure.

Westfest, West: Labor Day kicks off festival season in the tiny town of West, where the community’s Czech history and roots are on full display. Head to Westfest for live music and entertainment, colorful folk dress, plenty of delicious food, and more polka than you ever dreamed of. Sept. 1-Sept. 3

Oktoberfest, Fredericksburg:
Thanks to our rich German heritage, you can find plenty of Oktoberfest celebrations scattered throughout Texas, including arguably the largest Oktoberfest in the United States, which takes place in Addison Sept. 19–22. But it’s hard to beat Fredericksburg, the unofficial capital of Texas’ German culture. In addition to German food, music, and dancing, the annual celebration also features performances by a tuba ensemble, a street-long chicken dance, a dominoes tournament, and more. Oct. 6-8

Turkeyfest, Cuero:
The small town of Cuero, which lies about halfway between San Antonio and Houston, bills itself as the “Turkey Capital of the World.” It’s an honor owed to the agricultural community’s decision in the early 1900s to rally around turkey farming. To celebrate their favorite bird, the town began hosting Turkey Trots in 1912. Today, that event has evolved into Turkeyfest, which features a barbecue cook-off, entertainment, a parade, and “The Great Gobbler Gallop” — a team turkey race. Oct. 13-15

Plano Balloon Festival, Plano:
Every September, 45 to 50 hot air balloons take flight into the North Texas sky at the largest balloon festival in Texas. The weekendlong festivities include concerts, fireworks, food, live music, and a parachute exhibition. Sept. 21–24

Rio Grande Valley Birding Festival, Harlingen: The Rio Grande Valley features one of the most vibrant and richly diverse avian ecologies in North America. Each fall, birders, bird enthusiasts, and outdoorsy types flock to Harlingen for guided tours, bird seminars, workshops, and other events and social gatherings. Nov. 8-12

Corn Mazes

Getting lost and finding your way out of a vast Texas corn maze is an unforgettable experience that will be the highlight of your pumpkin-picking season. Here are some of the best spots in the state.

Barton Hill Farms, Bastrop: Said to have the most scenic pumpkin patch in Texas, the farm puts on quite a show. Get lost in the corn maze; find yourself entering a duck race or tapping your feet to live music.
South Texas Maize, Hondo: More than 7 acres of maze feature routes spelling out a holiday or regional theme. Enjoy hayrides, pig races, a goat walk, and a cow train.
YesterLand Farm, Canton: Get lost in this corn maze and you’ll still be nestled amid a wide array of attractions, including a vintage roller coaster and a haunted-house-style “fright farm.”
Fiddlesticks Farms, Midland: You could get lost for hours in this 15-acre labyrinth — one of the largest in Texas — which won’t leave much time for the country store, the pumpkin patch, the campfire sites, and other fall attractions on the farm.
Sweet Berry Farm, Marble Falls: The annual A-Mazing Texas Maze cuts the shape of Texas into a large cornfield. Along with a few smaller mazes designed around rotating themes, it has a reputation for being the most challenging out there, so plan accordingly.

Courtesy of LMF Photography and Blase Family Farm

Pumpkin Patches

Let’s be honest. Many of the traditions associated with autumnal holidays were born out of an American culture decidedly colder, more northern, and more easterly than Texas. But Texas offers some incredible places to find that quintessential autumnal squash: the pumpkin. Pick your next jack-o’-lantern here.

Maxwell’s Pumpkin Farm, Amarillo: These 5 acres open to the public each year for pumpkin picking, hayrides, and a cow train. Take a ride on a zip line, fire apples from a cannon, and chow down on turkey legs, corn dogs, and Frito pie.

Hall’s Pumpkin Farm & Corn Maze, Grapevine: A few miles from Grapevine’s historic downtown, the hayrides, petting zoo, and generous collection of pumpkins are well worth the crowds.

Blase Family Farm, Rockwell: Sitting atop a rolling meadow and underneath towering pine trees, this is a particularly scenic setting for picking out your Halloween pumpkin. Plus, there are hayrides, a hay maze, and pumpkin-pie popsicles.

Pipe Creek Pumpkin Patch, Pipe Creek: Smack in the center of the Hill Country lies a classic pumpkin patch with all the trimmings: duck races, face painting, hayrides, and scarecrow dressing.

Harvest Time

Go back to the land at these pick-your-own farms.

The Orchard, Idalou: This 6,000-tree orchard is open year-round. Enjoy hot apple turnovers and hot cider along with your freshly picked apples.
Berryland Farms, Winnie: Partake in autumnal activities. Pick your own blackberries, blueberries, tomatoes, and vegetables.
Froberg’s Farm, Alvin: In addition to your classic fall fare, harvest Texas citrus fruits, including satsumas, navel oranges, tangelos, grapefruits, and sweet kumquats.
Atkinson Farms, Spring: Best known for its spring strawberries, this farm allows year-round seasonal picking. Check their website for updates on what to pick this fall.
Jollisant Farm, Plantersville: Pick from this bountiful pumpkin patch just in time for Halloween.
Rehoboth Ranch, Greenville: If you want an extra connection to your Thanksgiving dinner centerpiece, head here to pick out a turkey.
Henrietta Creek Orchard, Roanoke: Pick dozens of varieties of apples and peaches. For your sweet tooth, don’t leave without a jar of fresh honey harvested from beehives on the farm.

Picturesque Towns

Take advantage of cooler temperatures to explore some of our state’s picturesque small towns and majestic courthouses.

Gruene: Settled by German immigrants in the 1840s, Gruene is most famous for its historic dance hall, which first opened in 1878. Still serving as a venue for live music, it also plays host to arts festivals, including the annual Texas Clay Festival.

Mason: The granite Classical Revival courthouse at the center of Mason’s town square is considered one of the state’s finest. It’s surrounded by rows of shops with cast-iron facades and the historic Odeon Theater. Each October, the town hosts a Fall Arts Fest featuring local artists and local music.

Dripping Springs: The Hill Country town, perhaps most famous for its mystical waterfall swimming hole, Hamilton Pool, hosts an annual songwriter’s festival and Pioneer Day, which celebrates the town’s historic roots.

Hallettsville: Set in the heart of Czech country, Hallettsville is out of the way, on an infrequently traveled route between San Antonio and Houston. Its turn-of-the-century courthouse and surrounding shops are well worth seeking out. The courthouse tower is one of the tallest in Texas, and the square’s architecture is incredibly preserved. Stop by the annual Kolache Fest for a true taste of Texas Czech heritage.

Waxahachie: The small town south of Dallas boasts one of the largest and most celebrated courthouses in the state. Designed by James Riely Gordon, the Romanesque revival structure is the centerpiece of a historic town center that’s bouncing back. Stop into the old (and allegedly haunted) Rogers Hotel and grab something sweet at the newly opened The Dessert Spot, just off the lobby. And if that isn’t enough to scare you, stop by Screams, Waxahachie’s Halloween theme park with five haunted houses.

For more fall fun, explore Texas’s best Halloween towns.