Fall events to enjoy near Sweetwater in Lakeway, Bee Cave, Spicewood and other Austin area cities

Fall events in Austin and the Texas Hill Country are plentiful as pumpkins, especially in the area surrounding Sweetwater, where towns like Bee Cave, Lakeway, Spicewood and others roll out some of their most celebrated annual traditions as the weather gets cooler.

Here are our top 12 picks for fall fun near Sweetwater. Most are free, while some require tickets; please check the links provided for details. As a bonus, a number of events benefit youth scholarship programs and other worthy causes.

Saturday Night Concerts at Hill Country Galleria

Hosted by Austin City Limits Radio, the Saturday Night Concert Series at the Hill Country Galleria presents seven evenings of live music with local favorites including Bob Schneider, Vallejo and Floyd Domino’s Western Swing Revue. Bring a blanket to lounge on the lawn. Dogs are welcome! See the lineup in September and October.

Harvest of Fall Fun at Sweetberry Farm

Starting in mid-September and continuing through the first weekend of November, the Fall Harvest of Fun at Sweetberry Farm in Marble Falls has hayrides, pumpkins, mazes, scarecrow stuffing and much more for everyone in the family to enjoy. The mazes are especially fun to explore, with themes including a Barnyard Maze, Candy Corn Maze, and a Texas Maze with 14 uniquely named Texas towns including Knickerbocker, Falfurrias and Fluvanna. There’s also a School Group Maze reserved for school field trips. The Scarecrow Island Hayride will have about 400 friendly scarecrows in a fun variety of settings. More than 40,000 brilliant zinnias will add a riot of color to the farm.

Johnson City Market Days

Johnson City Market Days take place on the fourth weekend of every month from March through November, and there’s no better time to visit than fall, when the weather cools down and leaves start to change. While you’re in Johnson City, which is just up Highway 71

from Sweetwater, be sure to visit one of the charming local restaurants, coffee shops and purveyors of wine, beer and spirits. You can also visit historical attractions such as LBJ National Historical Park.

Texas Wine Month

Many award-winning wineries are nestled in the scenic Texas Hill Country surrounding Sweetwater, and Texas Wine Month in October is the best time of year to explore them. Available for purchase, the Texas Wine Month Passport offers complimentary tastings and exclusive discounts at more than 45 participating wineries every day in October. You can create your own self-guided tour of wineries and enjoy up to four tastings each day. A part of each ticket purchase is donated to the Texas Hill Country Wine Industry Scholarship Fund.

Oktoberfest in Fredericksburg

Who could do Oktoberfest in Texas better than Fredericksburg, which celebrates its German heritage all year ‘round? From September 30 ‘til October 2, make the easy drive to Fredericksburg to enjoy four stages of continuous oompah music along with arts, crafts, shopping and children’s activities. The taps flow with 50 varieties of Texas, American and imported beers, along with plenty of pretzels, brats and other German food. Contests include the Kraut Run, Beer Stein Hoist and Polka Contest, Yodel Contest and much more. This is the 42^nd year for Fredericksburg’s Oktoberfest, and it’s their biggest event of the year, so plan ahead.

Live Music in Lakeway

Lakeway offers live music events throughout the year, and fall is one of the most active seasons. The Lakeway Masterpiece Concert on Oct. 2 will feature classic music by Mendelssohn and Schumann. On every second Saturday, the Big Band Bash has live music from the 17-piece Republic of Texas Big Band, with vocals by David Cummings and Lisa Clark. This event is free and open to all ages, with donations accepted for the band.

Dripping Springs Songwriters Festival

Get up close and personal with up-and-coming musicians at the annual Dripping Springs Songwriters Festival on October 14-16. This songwriting showcases give attendees the opportunity to experience tomorrow’s headliners in small-stage performances at unique venues in historic downtown Dripping Springs. On eight stages, 49 songwriters will perform in 30 shows a day, in an intimate “in the round” Nashville-style song-swap format.

Rolling Sculpture Car Show

If you love classic cars – and books – don’t miss the Rolling Sculpture Car Show at the Hill Country Galleria on October 16. Since 2008, this annual show has become a Bee Cave tradition, with more than 200 classic cars, muscle cars, art cars and even bikes lining Hill Country Boulevard and side streets to the delight of spectators. Live music adds to the festivities. This tailfin and chrome extravaganza benefits the Bee Cave Public Library, raising money for college scholarships for the library’s teen volunteers and also for library programs for all ages.

Witches Ride Roll & Stroll

Come “fly” with family and friends at Lakeway’s spookiest event of the year, the Witches Ride Roll & Stroll on Saturday, October 22. Bring your bike, wagon, golf cart or any other wheels, and Lakeway’s Park & Rec Dept. will provide streamers, glowsticks and other materials to help you transform your ride into a nighttime attraction, ready to join the one-mile parade down Lakeway Drive. Live music, carnival games and inflatables will add to the fun. It’s all free, with food and drink available for purchase from a variety of food trucks.

Lucktoberfest at Luck Ranch

Benefitting the Central Texas Food Bank, the 10-day Lucktoberfest in nearby Spicewood features daily concerts, a carnival midway with rides and games, and uniquely curated cultural experiences beginning October 28 and continuing through November 6. The Texas-sized Kickoff Celebration features Paul Cauthen’s Big Velvet Revue and a magnificent marching parade. More highlights include the Luck-O-Lantern Halloween Family Night on October 31, and the Dia De Los Muertos Experience on November 1.

Storytime at Bee Cave Public Library

Kids and parents will love the many Storytime events at the Bee Cave Public Library, featuring stories, songs and movement. Regular Storytimes and Dinosaur Storytimes are on Tuesdays and Fridays, with Baby Bumblebees Storytime on Thursdays. Space is limited so advance registration is required. See the calendar.

Hill Country Train Rides

Enjoy a leisurely excursion though the Texas Hill Country on a vintage train with the Austin Steam Train Association. Dating from the golden age of rail travel in the 1930s, the trains run all year, but fall is one of the best times to enjoy this experience, with special themed events such as the Wedding Oak Winery Wine Train and the Fall Railroad Photography Fest. There’s also the evening Sunset Express and the much-anticipated Speakeasy Train with a 1920s Prohibition Party and Murder Mystery. See the train schedule.

Learn more about events and natural attractions near Sweetwater with our Hill Country Area Guide.

Main photo credit: Robbyn Dodd (courtesy of Fredericksburg Convention & Visitor Bureau)