Say hello to fall family fun with our guide to the best kid-friendly things to do in and around Houston for September 2021.
This month, welcome fall with the opening of pumpkin patches, get up-close and personal with alligators, have a blast at fall festivals, pound some pavement at a family-friendly 5k, and more.
Do you know an event that could make the list? Drop us a line at events@365houston.com with a link to the official event details.
Top 12 Things To Do for Kids & Families in Houston This Month: September 2021
- Bayou Bucket 5K, 10K & Kids K at Rice University | Saturday, September 4 – Pick a side—blue for Rice, red for University of Houston—and take to the Rice University running trail to help your team win this annual 5K and 10K event. Now in its third year, the series stands tied at 1–1. Participation also includes a ticket to the Bayou Bucket Classic on Saturday, September 11. Registration is $45 for the 5K; $55 for the 10K; $20 for the Kids K (in-person and virtual registration available for all events). 7:30am.
- 5th Annual Old-Fashioned Ice Cream Social at Frank J Brown Heritage Museum | Labor Day, Monday, September 6 | FREE – Step back in time for an old-fashioned ice cream social and enjoy treats like Blue Bell ice cream, cookies, and lemonade in Friendswood. Live tunes provided by Wild River Trio. 3pm to 5pm.
- Heart to Market at Sugar Land Town Square | Friday, September 10 to Sunday, September 12 | No Cover – Shop at a kid-friendly pop-up that features a curated mix of local makers, small shops, and women-led businesses dedicated to mothers and their children at Sugar Land Town Square. Friday features a 5pm to 8pm shopping window for VIP ticketholders; tickets are $40. Saturday and Sunday are open to the public from 10am to 5pm.
- Texas Gatorfest at Fort Anahuac Park | Friday, September 10 to Sunday, September 12 – Celebrate the American Alligator at a family-friendly festival that features live alligator displays provided by Texas Parks and Wildlife, alongside specialty vendors, live music, food trucks, and an opportunity to get an up-close look at this reptile. Tickets range from $10 to $15; $5 for ages 6 to 12. Times vary.
- Pumpkin Patch Opening at Old MacDonald’s Farm in Humble | Opens Saturday, September 11 – Through Monday, November 1, the pumpkin patch at Humble’s Old MacDonald’s Farm invites visitors to enjoy train and pony rides, a petting zoo, and the holiday pumpkin patch decked out with decorations, photo ops, and plenty of small and medium-sized pumpkins to pluck. Tickets start at $15; free for ages under 18 months. 10am to 6pm daily.
- Pumpkin Patch and Fall Festival at Blessington Farms | Opens Saturday, September 18 – Bring on all-things-pumpkin and kick off the fall season at Blessington Farms, west of Fulshear. Take to the grounds for fun activities like hayrides, giant slides, barrel train rides, pedal cars, hands-on animal encounters, gem mining, flower picking, and much more. Tickets are $20, and some activities require an additional cost. Saturdays and Sundays in September and October 9am to 4pm.
- The Woodlands Family Fun Fest at Town Green Park | Saturday, September 18 | FREE – Hang out with the fam at this family-friendly event in the Woodlands that features live entertainment, exotic reptiles, food trucks, shopping, and more. 10am to 4pm.
- 85th Annual Fort Bend County Fair & Rodeo at Fort Bend County Fairgrounds | Opens Friday, September 24 – Through Sunday, October 3, this 10-day fair and rodeo features carnival rides, BBQ competitions, concerts, a farmer’s market, a crawfish boil, a fishing tournament, and much more. Season passes are available for $40; single day admission is $15 at the gate; $5 for ages 6 to 11; free for ages 5 and under. Times vary.
- Haunted Drive at Chain-O-Lakes Resort in Cleveland | Opens Friday, September 24 – About an hour and a half northeast of Houston, near Lake Livingston, lies a spooky lakeside haunt that features more than a mile of drive-thru haunted house fun, plus a kids’ haunted house, trick-or-treating, a haunted maze, and a haunted house for the adults. Tickets are $35 per vehicle, $45 for trucks with riders in the bed; additional activities range from $5 to $15. Fridays and Saturdays 7:30pm to 12:30am; Sundays 7pm to 10pm.
- Badges & Bases 5K, 10K & Kids Run at Minute Maid Park | Saturday, September 25 – Benefiting the Astros Foundation and the Houston Police Foundation, this run event sends participants north of the stadium and loops them back to finish inside the ballpark, with a photo op at home plate. Registration is $30 for the 5K; $40 for the 10K; $15 for the kids run. 7:15am.
- Houston Latin Fest 2021 at Midtown Park | Sunday, September 26 – Para todos los Latinos, this event brings together culture, music, art, cuisine and more from the North, Central, and South America regions—plus the Caribbean—for a rich Latin experience. Enjoy live concerts, local vendors, tasty bites, and more with family and friends. Advance tickets start at $10 and include a complimentary Old Parr drink; free for ages 12 and under. 1pm to 10pm.
- Danza Azteca Splendor! at Miller Outdoor Theatre | Wednesday, September 29 | FREE – The Calmecac Indigenous Organization takes to the stage to perform traditional Aztec dancing based on pre-Columbian traditions of the Nahuatl-speaking Teotihuacanos/Mexica and other indigenous nations of central Mexico, including the Otomo/Chichimeca nations of Queretaro. Through this exploration of Aztec history, philosophy, language, culture and foods, audience members can gain a new way of looking at the world through Indigenous eyes. 11am.
Find More Things to Do in Houston All Year Long
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