Fall Festival Guide

6 hottest fall music festivals around Texas

UPDATE: Sound on Sound Fest, scheduled for November 10-12 in McDade, Texas, has been canceled. The story has been updated.

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Feel that? It’s the waning of summer. Admittedly our fall isn’t as glorious as that of our friends to the north, but cooler temperatures sure do have us feeling a lot more like being outside. All the better if it includes live music. Here are our picks for fabulous fall music festivals around the state.

Utopia Fest
Utopia, September 22-24
Now in its ninth year, this festival has managed to retain the magic of its first year. With a cap on attendees, a BYO policy, a cool artisan market, late-night acoustic events at Tank Good Times, and a lineup that spans everything from Dr. John to Suzanna Choffel, it’s no wonder that Utopia Fest inspires cult-like devotion. This is the final year it will be at Four Sisters Ranch. Limited tickets are still available, and it’s kid-friendly.

Trans-Pecos Festival of Music + Love
Marfa, September 28-October 1
This weekend is an amalgamation of music, camping, star gazing, art, and magical mystery under the big stars of Marfa. The festival happens at El Cosmico and reflects the bohemian nature of the place — think Burning Man meets the Wild West. Workshops; free Topo Chico; and the opportunity to stay in a yurt while listening to the likes of Jenny Lewis, Roger Ellis, and Lee Ann Womack.

Gruene Music & Wine Festival
Gruene, October 5-8
Gruene is that small town with mass appeal. An hour's drive from Austin, it’s the kind of place you stroll around, glass in hand. The music is Americana and Texas country, featuring Ray Benson, Cory Morrow, Walt Wilkins, Jack Ingram, and a host of other similar artists. You can buy into the whole weekend or pick a day. Wine lovers will want to hit up Tastings and Tunes, while craft beer aficionados may prefer Sunday. Proceeds benefit the United Way and Hurricane Harvey victims.

Austin City Limits
Austin, October 6-8 and October 13-15
Two jam-packed weekends with multiple stages of music, vendors, booze, Austin food trailers, and a lot of out-of-town visitors. And who wouldn’t want to descend upon Zilker Park to laze about in the sun and listen to some sweet jams? Approximately 450,000 folks attend the festival each year, and the headliners just keep getting bigger. Jay-Z, Red Hot Chili Peppers, and The Killers close out both weekends.

Houston Open Air
Houston, October 14-15
Sister to Chicago Open Air, the recently debuted Houston Open Air is every metalhead's dream. This year, the high-profile lineup features Avenged Sevenfold, Mastodon, Five Finger Death Punch, Prophets of Rage, Marilyn Manson, and lots of headbanging heavy rockers at the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion.

Mala Luna Music Festival
San Antonio, October 28-29
San Antonio brings us a Halloween weekend rap and EDM fest at Nelson Wolff Stadium. Only in its second year, Mala Luna attracts big acts like Future, Lil Wayne, Wiz Khalifa; multiple food vendors; and art installations. As you might expect, attendees get creative with costumes, especially those inspired by Dia de Los Muertos. A portion of the proceeds benefits the Network for Young Artists (NYA.)

ACL Fest returns October 6-8 and 13-15.

Austin City Limits Festival ACL 2014 Weekend One Day Three Shirin Ravandi Carly Stripling Ranjani Panda Neli Sabour Noura Moayyad

Photo by Shelley Neuman

ACL Fest returns October 6-8 and 13-15.

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Best of the South

Southern Living lauds Hill Country hotspot among best towns in the South

Photo by Steve Rawls

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The famous German Hill Country town of Fredericksburg is getting the spotlight as a must-visit destination in Southern Living's 2026 South's Best Awards.

Fredericksburg claimed the coveted No. 3 spot in the publication's ranking of the Best Small Towns in the South.

The annual awards are determined through third-party online surveys of Southern Living consumers from July 9 to September 9, 2025. Over 17,000 respondents rated their favorite places across the South, the report said.

The top two best small Southern towns were St. Augustine, Florida (No. 1), and St. Simons Island/Golden Isles, Georgia (No. 2).

Specifically, Southern Living gave a nod to Fredericksburg's growth and the recent addition of The Albert Hotel, which opened in 2025. The Albert Hotel was ranked the 10th best new hotel in 2026.

"The city’s premier full-service luxury hotel revives a cluster of 19th-century landmarks, from a historic saloon to a former pharmacy that is now a cafe, deli, and artisan market," the report said. "Alongside the 105 minimalist guest rooms, a holistic spa and a limestone pool provide moments of quiet relaxation."

We all need a relaxing day poolside at the Albert Hotel pool oasis.Photo by Chase Daniels

As the Fredericksburg area grows, Southern Living said, it still maintains its cozy, small-town feel.

"Fredericksburg still wears its German heritage on its sleeve, evident throughout Main Street architecture and a lively cluster of biergartens and long-running seasonal festivals," Southern Living wrote. "Wine lovers will feel particularly at home thanks to more than 100 wineries and tasting rooms scattered throughout town and the surrounding countryside."

It's no wonder Southern Living decided to locate its 2026 Idea House there.

Popular events like the Fredericksburg Food & Wine Festival and locally focused programs like the Texas Hill Country Wineries wine passports draw in crowds from all parts of Texas. The town is about a five-hour drive from downtown Dallas, which makes it a great weekend or spring break escape. North Texas travelers might even spot small patches of bluebonnets during their road trip through the Hill Country.

No matter which route you take, travelers should make a pit stop through another small Texas town called Marble Falls, which is home to one of Southern Living's most legendary Southern restaurants: Blue Bonnet Cafe. According to the report, its longstanding staff members embody the idea of "southern hospitality" every day.

"There’s one real reason the Blue Bonnet Cafe is so widely respected: The folks who run the place have been holding this small-town diner to high standards for years," the report said.

Blue Bonnet Cafe opened in 1929 and was later bought by the Kemper family in 1981, who still own and operate it today. Southern Living recommends ordering one of the blue plate specials, and a slice of pie is a mandatory treat.

"With 15 options — from luxuriously creamy to bright and fruity — you’re guaranteed to find one you’ll love," the report said.

Blue Bonnet Cafe in Marble Falls, Texas Ordering a slice of pie is a requirement, not a suggestion.Blue Bonnet Cafe - Marble Falls, TX/Facebook

The only other Texas destination to earn recognition in Southern Living's annual awards was the iconic Franklin Barbecue in Austin, which was crowned the best barbecue joint in Texas by the publication's readers.

"Fans from around the world queue up for hours to experience the craftsmanship that has made Franklin a barbecue celebrity," the report said. "Flawless prime-grade brisket with a sweet, tangy glaze is still the showstopper here, and it’s accompanied by the quintessential Central Texas lineup of pork ribs, turkey, and jalapeño-Cheddar sausage."

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