11 Things To Do In The Fall In San Antonio

By Sara Branstetter | August 30, 2023

Each year, as summer’s blazing temperatures start to ease, residents of the Alamo City start to come out of the woodwork. And I mean that literally as we’ve all been inside where the air conditioning is since mid-May. But each September starts to usher in the cooler temps (and by cooler temps, I mean low 90s) and locals are ready to step back outside and enjoy all the things there are to do in the fall in San Antonio.

From beautiful weather and pumpkin patches, to Halloween and Oktoberfest, SA residents have their pick of entertaining ways to make the most of the shortest season of the year in San Antonio.

11 Things To Do In The Fall In San Antonio

1. Friday Night Lights

Photo Credit: Yelp Kenny H.

It’s football season and nobody does football quite like the state of Texas. We don’t just do football, we practically LIVE it. Live game action in San Antonio includes Friday night high school games, and Saturday games with the city’s own Division 1, UTSA Roadrunners.

If pro is more your thing, check out a local sports bar where you are sure to find other Cowboy’s fans and Texan’s fans, as well as fans from teams all over the country, rooting on their home team (even if they can’t be at the home game). Popular SA sports bars include Slacker’s Sports Bar and Mitchell’s Sports Bar.

2. Visit a Pumpkin Patch

While it may not feel like fall in San Antonio, at a pumpkin patch, it can at least LOOK like fall. Every year, local pumpkin patches host families for some fall fun by offering games, food, music, and thousands of pumpkins for photo ops. After capturing that perfect autumn pic, guests can then purchase a pumpkin (and usually for pretty cheap) to take home to carve up for their Halloween jack-o-lantern.

San Antonio area pumpkin patches range in price from free to pricey and will vary in activities and schedules. To get a full rundown on patch options, check out our post on the best pumpkin patches in and around San Antonio.

3. Six Flags Fiesta Texas Fright Fest

Photo Credit: Facebook Six Flags Fiesta Texas

Each year beginning in early September, Six Flags Fiesta Texas will host their annual Fright Fest event to celebrate all things Halloween.

Once the sun goes down, Six Flags breaks out the creepy with haunted houses, shows, and rides with Halloween layovers. And if that isn’t enough, there will be random monsters and spooks just wandering around the park to interact with (read: creep out) park guests.

Fright Fest is held September 9 – October 31 and tickets can be purchased online.

4. Get Outside - Hiking in San Antonio

Fall in San Antonio means cooler temperatures, and cooler temps mean it is time to get outside and enjoy the many great hiking trails around the Alamo city that you have been missing during the hot summer months. In addition to many great trails in the city, there are a number of state parks with lots of trail options and cool rivers to dip in.

Some of the more popular SA city trails include Comanche Park, Government Canyon, and Friedrich Wilderness Park. If you’re headed a bit further afield, check out Guadalupe State Park, the Mission Trail, or Blanco State Park. For a complete list of our faves, see our post on the best hiking in San Antonio.

5. Zoo Boo

Photo Credit: Facebook San Antonio Zoo

Running from mid-September through the end of October, Zoo Boo is the San Antonio Zoo’s annual fall and Halloween celebration. This “non-scary” event occurs daily and includes live music, costume parties, trick-or-treating, and of course, lots of animals.

Entrance to Zoo Boo is included in the price of a standard admission ticket which can be purchased online by visiting the San Antonio Zoo’s website.

6. Eat Something Pumpkin Spice Flavored

Photo Credit: Facebook Comfort Cafe

Nothing says fall in San Antonio quite like having pumpkin infused into any and every possible dish and hot drink. You’re not going to beat ‘em, so why not just join ‘em and enjoy this tasty autumn treat.

Check out some of the best brunch restaurants in San Antonio as many will be breaking out the pumpkin spice pancakes, waffles, and lattes.

7. Celebrate Oktoberfest

Photo Credit: Biergarten Riverwalk

This annual celebration of all things German, especially the beer, occurs at venues all of the Alamo city. If you love your lederhosen, polka, and craft brew, Oktoberfest is right up your alley with local festivals that run the gamut from family friendly to 21 and up only.

See our post on where to celebrate Oktoberfest in San Antonio for a list of locations to get your chicken dance on.

8. Visit a Haunted House

Photo Credit: 13th Floor San Antonio

If you’re one to ring in fall by willfully submitting yourself to be terrorized in the name of fun, San Antonio offers a few seasonal haunted houses that are sure to scare the pants off of most people. Popular experiences include the 13th Floor San Antonio, Haunted Oaks, and the Haunted Magnolia Hotel.

9. Barbacoa and Big Red Festival

Photo Credit: Facebook Barbacoa and Big Red Festival

This may not exactly scream fall in San Antonio to you, but it most assuredly screams San Antonio. Through and through.

The Barbacoa and Big Red Festival is a two day event in October that celebrates some of San Antonio’s most iconic and beloved fare – barbacoa and Big Red. Don’t ask me why these two things go together, or how they even came to be so popular in the first place (although there is some speculation that this is the perfect hangover combination). Just try them for yourself and judge whether or not they are a match made in heaven.

This family friendly event will include games, live music, vendors, and of course, all the Barbacoa and Big Red you could possibly eat.

10. Muertos Fest

Photo Credit: Facebook Muertos Fest

Named one of the “7 Best Fall Festivals in the USA” by National Geographic, Muertos Fest takes el Día de los Muertos and fall in San Antonio to a crazy new level of celebration. This event honoring loved ones who have passed, is in its 11th year of celebration at San Antonio’s Hemisfair and is expected to draw more than 135,000 people this year.

Cultural events at Muertos Fest are set to include elaborate altars, processions, live music, and workshops. Food and art vendors will also be on site to keep people fed and entertained.

Muertos Fest is free and open to the public. Check out their website for more information including locations and times.

11. Howl-O-Scream at SeaWorld

Photo Credit: Facebook Howl-O-Scream

SeaWorld’s annual Howl-O-Scream event returns mid-September through the end of October and will showcase 6 haunted houses and 2 terror-tories that are included in your daily park admission. In addition to haunted houses, Howl-O-Scream will feature spooky, themed bars, nighttime coaster rides, and ghostly live entertainment in the Nautilus Amphitheater.

Howl-O-Scream will take place daily beginning at 7pm and is not recommended for children under the age of 13.