We all know sports is big in Texas, especially football. But what if you’re not a sports fanatic and don’t want to sit on the couch all weekend? We’ve got you covered on fall things to do in Houston – free & cheap!
Enjoy Arts and Culture
Take advantage of Houston’s amazing museum district – with 10 museums free every day. Many are within walking distance of each other, which is perfect for the fall season. The free museums include a wide variety of subjects including The Menil Collection, Asia Society Texas, Contemporary Arts Museum Houston, Houston Center for Photography, Rothko Chapel, DiverseWorks and more. Find the 10 free museums here.
Bayou City Art Festival; photo credit: Art Colony Association
Enjoy more than 300 artists sharing their talent at Bayou City Art Festival – a two-day art festival held twice a year in Houston. The fall date is held in downtown Houston surrounding City Hall and Hermann Square. The outdoor event not only offers art for purchase but also features a Kids’ Zone, live music, food trucks and a middle school art competition. In the last 45 years, these events have raised $3.5 million for local nonprofits.
Via Colori Chalk Festival; photo credit: Vicki Powers
Then in November, the art takes to the downtown streets! Via Colori is a weekend chalk festival and fundraiser benefitting The Center for Hearing and Speech. Artists from all over the world participate and labor over their chalk art all day Saturday and into Sunday. Visitors can browse the work in progress or check out the finished products Sunday afternoon. This event is fun for the whole family with a Kid’s Chalk Zone, to boot! Art squares surround the streets of City Hall.
Head Outdoors
Fall is the perfect season for hiking and biking in Houston. The city is filled with plenty of parks, trails, and spots for kayaking. Memorial Park, Heights Hike & Bike Trail, Terry Hershey Park and Buffalo Bayou Park are several top spots around town. Snag a bike on the cheap, thanks to Houston BCycle, our local bike sharing program since 2012. With 350 bikes at 45 stations, folks have many options to get around downtown and surrounding areas.
Visit one of Houston’s local breweries and hang out on the outdoor patio. From 8th Wonder Brewery, Karbach Brewing Company, Buffalo Bayou Brewery and No Label Brewery Company, there are plenty of options from Katy to downtown to snag a beer and enjoy the cool(ish) weather.
Enjoy Sundays in the Park at downtown Discovery Green this fall. Each Sunday, 2 pm – 5 pm, friends and family gather to hang out, listen to live music, play fun games and pack a picnic. Discovery Green is located at 1500 McKinney.
Levy Park; photo credit: Morris Malakoff
Another fun option is to head to Houston’s newest green space, Levy Park at 3801 Eastside. This beautiful spot is filled with outdoor beauty and activities including a playground, climbing wall, interactive garden, dog park, activity lawn, promenade, performance amphitheater and community gardens.
Play With the Kids and Pups
KBR Kids Day; photo credit: Buffalo Bayou Partnership
KBR Kids’ Day is a free annual event in October sponsored by Buffalo Bayou Partnership. This year it’s held at Guadalupe Plaza Park due to hurricane damage. The family-friendly event features 20 nonprofit organization partners, local performers, rock climbing wall, Sports Zone, Dia de los Muertos face painters and a birds of prey show! Wear your favorite costume for the Halloween costume parade.
What could be better in the fall than a Pumpkin Patch Fall Festival! Each year, Nature Discovery Center hosts this free two-day event in Southwest Houston. Families can enjoy festival games, photo opps in the pumpkin patch, horse-drawn wagon rides, bounce house and more. This is located at 7112 Newcastle.
As you can see, you have nothing to fear this fall. There is no excuse for sitting on the couch in the fall in Houston with all these free and cheap options!
