Find your favorite Houston fall family festival

Not sure what Fall festival happens when? Don’t worry. We’ve got your back.

Autumn has arrived. Coffee shops have made it official with the return of the pumpkin spiced latte. It may not feel like it yet, but the cooler weather is right around the corner and with it comes the fun and fervor of the Fall family festivals.

Here is our list of “Free for Fall” (or close to free) and check out our list of Halloween-specific family activities.

September

• El Grito de Delores–Festival de la Independencia | September 15, 2013 – Celebrate Mexican Independence Day with events all over town and enjoy some great music at El Grito–Festival de la Independencia at Miller Outdoor Theater with mariachis and folk dancers. All ages. Free.
• Third Coast Dance Film Festival | September 16 to 17, 2013 – Enjoy the Third Coast Dance Film Festival with your budding film star at Rice University Cinema. Perfect for those kiddos with an interest in film or contemporary dance. Ages 12 and up. Free.
• Pearland International Festival | September 21, 2013 – Pearland goes Deutsch with the city’s first ever international fest. Local favorite King’s Biergarten provides a big assist turing Independence Park’s pavilion into a German beer garden.
• Houston Home & Garden Market | September 21 to 22, 2013 – Browse the latest in green living and home decor at the Houston Home & Garden Market at Reliant Center. It’s all things home and garden. Ages 10 and up. Adults $10, seniors $9, ages 14 and under are free.
• Houston Hot Sauce Festival 2013 | September 21 to 22, 2013 – Fire up for the Houston Hot Sauce Festival at Stafford Center in Stafford. Hot sauce vendors offer samples to the public. All ages. $8 for ages 13 and up, free for 12 and under.
• Puerto Rican Cuban Festival Houston & Carnaval Américas | September 21 to 22, 2013 – Celebrate the cultures of Puerto Rico, Cuba and the rest of the Spanish Caribbean with live music, dancing, arts, food and drink at Downtown’s Tranquility Park.
• 4th Annual Galveston Island Shrimp Festival | September 28, 2013 – Stroll through Galveston’s Historic Strand District sampling gumbo, play in the dedicated kids area, explore merchants and vendors and listen to live music. All ages. Free to attend. $10 for Gumbo Stroll sampling cup.
• 50th Annual Houston Slavic Heritage Festival and Vintage Car Show | September 29, 2013 – Food, music and dance from Europe’s Slavic countries accompany a vintage car show at this traditional festival in Independence Heights. $5. Free for kids 5 and under.

• Dewberry Farm | September 24 to December 16, 2013 – Pick your perfect pumpkin. Dewberry is open for pumpkin picking and more. Visit in the fall for Autumn festivities and then head back in December for a fresh cut Christmas tree. All ages. Admission is $12.75 with military and senior discounts.

October

• Houston Halloween Activities for Kids and Families | All Month Long – Click through for our list of family-friendly Halloween events around Houston.
• Matt Family Orchard | October 2, 2013 – Celebrate the Fall Harvest at Matt Family Orchard. Pick your own fruit by the pound and revel in the festivities of fall including scarecrows, hayrides, campfires and more. Hours vary when fruit is in season; call the fruit hotline at 281-351-7676 for details. All ages. Free with option to purchase $9 tour tickets.
• The Original Greek Festival | October 3 to 6, 2013 – Go Greek at the 47th annual Greek Fest at the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral Complex. Feast on Greek food, watch and participate in dances and absorb about all things Greek. All ages. $5 admission, kids under 12 are free.
• Festa Italiana | October 10 to 13, 2013 – Channel Lucille Ball at the grape stomp at Festa Italiana. Or save your pedicure and stuff your face at the pasta eating contest. Whichever you choose, this festive Italian party is sure to be lively and fun. All ages. Admission $8, Ages 11 and under are free.
• Conroe Cajun Catfish Fest | October 11 to 13, 2013 –  Laissez les bon temps rouler at the Conroe Cajun Catfish Fest. Nosh on catfish and Cajun food as you dance or relax to live music and peruse the crafts booths. All ages. $12 admission, children 11 and under are free.
• Bayou City Art Fest Downtown | October 12 to 13, 2013 – Scope out the art at the Bayou City Art Fest Downtown. A variety of art and performances to entertain the family. All ages. $12 for adults, $3 for kids ages 3 to 12, free 2 and under.
• 23rd Annual Houston TurkishFest | October 12 to 13, 2013 – Celebrate all things Turkish, including authentic Turkish food, coffee, music, traditional dancing and belly dancing. All ages. $5 for ages 17 and up. $3 for ages 8 to 16. Free 7 and under.
• 2013 K-Fest / Houston Korean Festival | October 19, 2013 – Experience Korea’s culture through the culinary, artistic, and theatrical exhibitions presented at the Korean Festival at Discovery Green. All ages. Free.
• 10th Annual Gulf Coast International Dragon Boat Regatta | October 19 to 20, 2013 – Thrill to the drama of the last dragon boat race of the year at Brooks Lake in Sugar Land. All ages. Free.
• 4th Annual Fulshear Scarecrow Festival | October 19, 2013 – Get scared at the 4th Annual Fulshear Scarecrow Festival and enjoy games, music, and a grape stomp. There’s also a scarecrow contest with a $1,000 prize. All ages. Free.
• ZiegenBock Music Festival | October 19, 2013  – Find your partner for the two-step at the ZiegenBock Music Festival. Country music from 18 bands including the Cadillac Three and Roger Creager. Ages 8 and up. $20 in advance.
• Texas Boatoberfest on Clear Lake | October 24 to 27, 2013 – Featuring a craft beer garden by the good folks at St. Arnold’s Brewery, this four-day family boat festival celebrates all things nautical while tipping a German alpine hat with a wink in the direction of Oktoberfest. All ages. $10 for ages 15 and up. $4 for ages 6 to 14. Free for kids 5 and under.
• Island Oktoberfest | October 25 to 26, 2013 – Strap on those lederhosen and grab your stein, it’s time for Island Oktoberfest in Galveston. Feast on brats and wurst and savor some great German brews. There’s also activities for the kids, so bring them along. It’s free and even more fun if you dress in traditional German attire. All ages. Free.

• Wings Over Houston Airshow | October 26 to 27, 2013 – Be a maverick at this airshow at Ellington Airport. Watch the breathtaking maneuvers of these pilots and tour military aircraft. All ages. $25 for adults, $5 for children 6 and up, ages 5 and under are free.
• Houston Halloween Celebrations for Kids and Families | All Month Long – Click through for our list of family-friendly Halloween events around Houston.

November

• International Quilt Festival | November 1 to 3, 2013 – Cozy up at the International Quilt Festival. Sign up for classes or just stop in and browse the quilts on display. Ages 10 and up. Admission $12.
• Day of the Dead / Dia de los Muertos Celebration at the National Museum of Funeral History | November 1 to Saturday, November 2 – Dig deep into the customs surrounding the Latin Day of the Dead, exploring authentic altars made by local artists, building a community altar with mementos of your own loved ones. On Friday, the museum stays open late until 8pm with a late night story time for kids, featuring costumed characters, from 6:30pm to 7:30pm. On Saturday, special activities will include ceramic skull painting, dulces and other treats.
• 26th Annual Día de los Muertos: Family Day Fiesta | November 2 – Lawndale celebrates the biggest day in its 19-day Día de los Muertos art exhibit with an afternoon family fiesta. Highlights include performances by Houston Grand Opera, Mixteco Ballet Folklorico and Paedarchy Puppets. Noon to 4pm. Free.
• MECA Dia de los Muertos Celebration: Honoring our Past, Celebrating Our Future | November 1 to November 2 – Recognizing the differences in Latin celebrations of Dia de los Muertos, the event focuses on the common theme of honoring family and friends. Expect music, dance, theater, food and visual arts from different Latin American countries at MECA’s nationally recognized historic Dow School in the Sixth Ward.
• Fall Family Fun Fest | November 3, 2013 – Head to Discovery Green to enjoy free face painting, a toddler zone, football toss, inflatable obstacles, a photo booth, arts and crafts, a bounce house, live music and performances. Noon to 4pm. Free
• Junta Hispana Festival | November 10, 2013 – Join in this celebration of the foods and cultures of 20 different Spanish speaking countries. Expect live music, dance, arts and crafts and exhibits at this rain or shine festival in Reliant Park. 11am to 6pm. Free.
• 24th Annual Texas Championship Native American Pow Wow | November 10 to 11, 2013 – See several hundred Native Americans, from dozens of tribes from across the U.S., as they come together to celebrate their culture and heritage. Drums will beat for  dancers in full regalia of feathers, buckskin, bells and beadwork competing for prize money and awards in eighteen different dance categories. 12:30pm to 5pm on both days. Free with a $3 parking charge per vehicle.
• Seaside Treasure Fest | November 22 to 23, 2013 – Get a head start on the holiday shopping at the Seaside Treasure Fest. Lots of arts and craft vendors and a silent auction. 10 and up. Free.

Have we missed your favorite festival? Tell us about it!