When September temperatures start to – consistently – hover in the 90s, and evenings dip into the 60s, Texans call that a COLD front.
Meaning: September is FESTIVAL TIME in Texas.
NORTH TEXAS AREA
State Fair of Texas will return this year. September 24th – October 17th.
Plan your day to include rides on the Midway, plenty of ‘snacking’ stops through the food booths, visit the showroom floors filled with vintage & new car releases, plan for musical entertainment along with the way, with big shows culminating nightly under open Texas skies. Details revealed & tickets purchased at Howdy Folks – State Fair 2021!
With a massive Ferris Wheel – 212ft & 6 inches looming over the 227 acres of Fair Park, state fair attendees are sure to find loads of musical stages to sing along with, rows and rows of tasty treats to sample, and a crafter’s paradise. Whether you’re on the hunt for the most unusual gift ever, want to restock jams/jellies in your pantry, or looking for a treat for your canine best friend – the State Fair of Texas is the place to find it all. Shopping Guide – scroll down on the page to find a list of 2021’s vendors for the fair.
But you don’t need to wait until the end of September to find festivals to attend . . .
GrapeFest 2021 runs September 16th – 19th. This year’s theme: Texas Wine. Come and Taste it! Who can refuse, or even wants to refuse, that invitation?
GrapeFest is about more than just the wines. All though, please, don’t get me wrong – that’s reason enough to head out to Grapevine, TX for the day. Grapevine, in the northern more part of the state, is located between Dallas and Fort Worth, easily accessible from major freeways, and just kisses the edge of the massive DFW airport. It’s a location easy to find.
Just an FYI – Thursday, September 16th, is a FREE entry day for GrapeFest. Other festival days do require an entrance fee.
GrapeFest offers musical entertainment, family activities, and apparently, this year an invasion of Italian cars. But block out a day earlier for this adventure. As a kick-off to GrapeFest, the Italian car event will take place on September 11th from 10am – 3pm. With over 90 Italian cars on display, the viewing public is in for a car-rific excursion. Yep, that’s right. The only cost is a bit of your time to stroll amongst these premier vehicles. Click on the link (with over 90 Italian cars . . . and get all the details for this fun ‘car’ day).
Let’s mix a bit of foreign culture with a tad of Texan . . . say an early Oktoberfest!
Where??? Addison, TX – This year’s theme: German Fare with a side of Texas Flair. Catchy, and should be tasty as well. The event kicks off September 16th @ 6pm and concludes September 19th @ 5pm.
Dust off your Polka shoes, ready your taste buds for spicy German sausages & brats, with a side of pretzels, and come prepared to two-hand your beer mug: Addison Oktoberfest. Kiddos will enjoy hands-on art activities, balloon sculptures, and flex their athleticism through a serious of time-honored games.
A number of musical events are slated for the festival – Musik & Games – click on the link to find your ideal time to attend.
Can you say “Chocolate”?
Then you’ve invited yourself to the “The Magic of Chocolate” Festival.
A festival designed to please the sweetest of taste, the 12th Annual Dallas Chocolate Festival will run Thursday, September 9th through Saturday, September 11th, 2021. Festival hours will conclude at 5pm. Bowls and bowls of chocolate treats will be available for sampling and purchases. For a list of Dallas Chocolatiers & Shops (those involved with the festival) – click Chocolate Resources. This is a FEE event, so be aware of the admittance charge, and pay attention to start times on the ticket. In addition to gorging on chocolate, a number of actual classes/demos will take place for the discerning chocolate-novice. FYI – in the past the event has partnered with food trucks to be around the location. No outside food IN, of course, but it’s a way to take a break from the sweet yummies.
CENTRAL TEXAS AREA
For those who like to work & drink with their hands – Austin has just the ticket: The Texas Woodworking Festival.
This fun event comes early in September, so make your plans now. Saturday, September 4th from 11am until 5pm, woodworking specialist will host demos. Check out the presentation schedule.
Exhibitors and vendors from across the state will be on hand to show-off their products and answer questions. These talented individuals come together to support the Austin School of Furniture & Design. Tickets are required, but they’re paid through donations. If woodworking is your thing, Austin’s festival can open doors . . . and perhaps, teach you out to build them as well.
Grown-ups – How about a little film for your festival going?
Austin is often referred to as the epicenter of the film community in Texas. Thursday, September 23rd through Thursday, September 30th, Fantastic Fest 2021 – a time and place for movie-lovers will once again command the big screen. This festival takes place at the Alamo Drafthouse on South Lamar, Austin, TX. What will scroll across screen? 80 feature-length films, with 40 shorts, + classics; nightly themed parties, opening/closing gala events. Premiere times start as early as 10am, with last screenings normally around midnight. As to the parties . . . well, there will be plenty of updates during the week to find one or two to fit your schedule.
If you held a badge from 2020, there is a mention of possible ‘roll-overs’ available. You’ll want to check out their site for all the details. While the SuperFan badges are sold out, additional badges are available, depending on your festival budget. BADGES. One last FYI – you must be 21 or older to attend this event. Oh, and are you wondering just what films might have premiered through an earlier Fantastic Fest? Check out this link; prepare to be amazed.
Teaser Alert – Austin City Limits starts October 1st, 2021.
FYI, music fans: one of the highlight musical festivals in the country, Austin City Limits, kicks off October 1st – 3rd & for more it’s back October 8th – 10th, 2021. This event features 8 separate stages with over 100 performances scheduled. Want to know who’s playing and when: SCHEDULE
Currently, there are some serious health policies for this event so make certain to check back with the website frequently. As health conditions evolve, so too may these policies. So KNOW before you GO!
Also, remember this is a wristband entry and you’ll want to make certain that you’re wearing yours.
I’m not telling you to wait for October to festival across Texas . . . just saying – don’t put your traveling boots away at the end of September.
SOUTH TEXAS AREA
The San Antonio area is one of my favorites to visit in the state. I love the River Walk, and Market Place, and some of the out of the way restaurants in this city. But how about festivals? What does the San Antonio area offer?
For those into the creepy and mysterious – check out San Antonio Paranormal Fest 2021
Event runs Friday, September 17th, 8pm – midnight (VIP access) and Saturday, September 18th 6pm – 11pm. Held at Victoria’s Black Swan Inn – link for map.
The event includes tours of the haunted Victoria’s Black Swan Inn, VIP tours of battlefields and Salado Creek Battle Memorial, along with vendors for the paranormal enthusiast, psychics, mediums, herbs and candle workings.
Love some cars . . . trucks . . . bikes?? LowLow Car Show Concert and Culture Fest is another San Antonio event.
Saturday, September 18th from 11am – 9pm, a host of ‘car’ events/demos/displays will take place for the car lover in you.
Rosedale Park in San Antonio is the site for this event. Tickets are required and can be purchased in advance.
From low-ride to low country boil,
South Texas offers extraordinary opportunities for festivals.
40th Annual Cajun Festival on Medina Lake (Lakehills, TX 78063) This is west and a bit north of the San Antonio area, about an hour’s drive.
An event filled with (2) stages of toe-tapping, shoe-kicking-off music, taste-bud pleasing Louisiana-styled foods, the Great Gumbo Cook-off, arts and crafts, kids’ events and all set on the shores of Lake Medina.
Tickets required; youngsters under 10 are free; parking is free at the festival and satellite lots so be sure to check the website for those sponsored parking areas. Shuttle service is even provided from special areas. PARKING
Texans bake & broil all summer long with the anticipation of emerging from our summer shelters and into the great outdoors. September, with its – slightly – cooler weather forecasts is the perfect time to venture out.
No one is discounting the COVID factor in our daily lives, BUT, let’s focus on the glory of surviving another heat-filled summer, the temptation of Fall, and mosey on down the road to a festival or two.
The most current information regarding events and any limits are offered in this blog. However, ‘stuff’ changes, and mistakes do happen. Please make certain – always check the websites for any Festival details!
I love when you drop by for Texas news & trivia, writing updates, and a bit of Southern gossip. Feel free to sit on the porch and enjoy a glass of tea while you thumb through earlier blogs.
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