Hill Country Events: Late September Through the Holidays 2026
I went back through the event calendars this week for the next stretch of the year, and the Hill Country does not slow down between now and the holidays. This update covers late September through December, with the events I would go to myself and the ones I think matter most to anyone already living here or scouting the area.
A note on the earlier event guides on this blog: they stay up as an archive of the season so far. This is the one to bookmark. Everything here was rechecked this week, with dates, locations, and official links, so it reflects the calendar as it stands right now.
Between the county fair, the lake community gatherings, the river parades, and the holiday lights in Wimberley and San Marcos, there is a reason to be outside almost every weekend. That is the rhythm people move here for, and it is the rhythm I help clients find every day.
Comal County Fair and Rodeo
The Comal County Fair and Rodeo is a long-running New Braunfels tradition, and the town pulls out all the stops for it. Carnival rides, livestock shows, vendor booths, and family entertainment fill the fairgrounds, with rodeo performances Thursday through Sunday. Opening day admission is free. It lands at the end of September, which here means the first truly cool stretch of the year, and it is a genuine slice of Central Texas life. If you are scouting New Braunfels as a place to settle, this week shows the community at its warmest.
More DetailsStoney LaRue at Gruene Hall
Texas country favorite Stoney LaRue plays two nights at the oldest dance hall in Texas this weekend. Gruene Hall has been hosting live music in the historic Gruene district since 1878, and a fall evening on the Guadalupe with good music is about as Hill Country as it gets. The rest of the hall's fall lineup runs strong: Sunny Sweeney with Brit Taylor on September 19, Creed Fisher on September 26, Tyler Halverson on October 24, and Triston Marez on November 7. Dance hall shows sell out on weekends, so I would grab tickets early.
More DetailsRocktoberfest on Canyon Lake
The Canyon Lake Junior Women's Club hosts this annual Rocktoberfest with live music, brews, food vendors, and prize drawings set right on the lake at Holiday Harbor. Admission has been free in recent years, and the event doubles as a fundraiser for local community causes. It is exactly the kind of gathering that makes lake living what it is, an easy afternoon where neighbors meet neighbors and visitors get a true feel for the community. If you are thinking about a lake home or a second home here, this is the friendliest way to start.
More DetailsDay of the Dead River Parade
San Antonio's Day of the Dead River Parade sends decorated barges, costumed riders, and live music down the River Walk in a celebration of family and heritage. Food and altars line La Villita nearby, and the evening is free to watch from the riverbank. It is one of the most striking events of the San Antonio year, and it all happens within an easy drive of Canyon Lake, Wimberley, and New Braunfels. For anyone considering the San Antonio side of the Hill Country, it is a beautiful introduction to the city.
More DetailsEmilyAnn Trail of Lights
The EmilyAnn Trail of Lights in Wimberley turns acres of the theatre gardens into a nighttime holiday walk with lights, live music, visits with Santa, and refreshments. It typically opens the Saturday after Thanksgiving and runs most nights through late December. Admission is free, with donations supporting the theatre that operates it. For retired buyers and families alike, it is the quiet, unhurried small town Christmas that reminds you why a Wimberley move is worth considering.
More DetailsAustin Celtic Festival and Highland Games
The Austin Celtic Festival gathers at Pioneer Farms each fall with live music, dancers, food vendors, and athletic events. The 2026 edition shares the weekend with the Scottish Highland Games World Championships, drawing athletes and crowds from around the world. It is an easy drive from the lake or Wimberley, and November weather in Austin is usually perfect for a day outdoors. Kilts, music, and farmhouse food, this is one of the fall's most unusual and fun events.
More DetailsThe 65th Annual Wurstfest
Wurstfest celebrates its 65th year in 2026, ten days of German culture on the banks of the Comal River, with live music, polka, carnival rides, and the kind of hearty food that makes a salad optional. Opening ceremonies run Friday evening in the Wursthalle. General admission has been free in recent years, with food, drinks, and some attractions carrying separate fees. For New Braunfels buyers and sellers alike, this is the signature event of the year, the one that tells you exactly what this town is made of.
More DetailsSights and Sounds of Christmas
San Marcos' Christmas on the river returns for two consecutive weekends in December. Live music, food, and a holiday marketplace gather along the spring-fed San Marcos River, and the evening light show is a favorite for couples and families. Parking can go fast, so plan a little extra. For anyone weighing San Marcos as a place to live, this festival shows its community at its best.
More DetailsNew Braunfels Farmers Market
The New Braunfels Farmers Market runs every Saturday of the year downtown, with more than 70 vendors selling produce, meat, eggs, flowers, baked goods, and coffee. Fall is the best season, the cooler weather brings out the best of the Hill Country harvest, and downtown is full of walkers. It is a great weekly ritual for getting to know this town, and it pairs well with a lazy breakfast. No ticket needed, just come hungry.
More DetailsPlanning the Next Few Months Across the Hill Country
A few notes from my years around here that might help you plan the season:
- This month belongs to the county fair. The Comal County Fair and Rodeo opens in New Braunfels, with free entry on opening day and rodeo at night through the weekend. It is the friendliest possible introduction to that community.
- Canyon Lake does October in two beats. The Chamber's BBQ Cook-Off and Rocktoberfest both land the weekend of October 10 out at the lake. For buyers scouting homes, those two days show you who lives here and why they stay.
- The dance halls matter this fall. Gruene Hall has Stoney LaRue the weekend of September 11, Sunny Sweeney with Brit Taylor on September 19, and a steady run through Triston Marez on November 7. Tickets sell out, so grab them early.
- San Antonio's fall calendar is deep. The Day of the Dead River Parade on October 23 floats illuminated barges down the River Walk with music and altars in La Villita. It is a striking evening and an easy drive from every community I serve.
- Make room for the 10 days. Wurstfest runs November 6 through 15 in New Braunfels, and with that on the calendar, there is no excuse for a bored November in the Hill Country.
- The Christmas season starts early here. The Sights and Sounds of Christmas in San Marcos opens the first two full weekends of December, and the EmilyAnn Trail of Lights in Wimberley starts right after Thanksgiving, so you could see both and still be home for Sunday dinner.
“The stretch between the county fair and the Christmas lights is my favorite time of year to show someone a new community. The weather finally behaves, the towns are all alive, and you see people at their best. That is the Hill Country lifestyle, available every weekend from now until the New Year.”
Steve Giannone
If you are thinking about a move to any of these communities, pick two of these events and go. You will learn more about a town in an afternoon than any listing page can teach you. And whenever you want, I am happy to answer questions about the neighborhoods around any of them.
Thinking about a move to the Hill Country? Let us talk.