SEPTEMBER

  September 24 - Lakehills
36th ANNUAL MEDINA LAKE CAJUN FESTIVAL... “Home of the Great Gumbo Cook-off.” Saturday, 11am to 10pm. Cajun and Zydeco bands on 2 stages, Great Gumbo Cook-off, authentic homemade Cajun foods, arts & crafts, games & more. Lakehills Civic Center in Bandera County, only 25 miles from San Antonio.  www.cajunfestival-medinalake.com. (830) 751-3130.

  September 24 - Hallettsville
HALLETTSVILLE KOLACHE FEST... Enjoy a downtown parade, kolache presentation & eating contest, “42” domino tournament, classic cars, bike show, arts & crafts, Czech & German foods, live entertainment, biergarten, children’s activities & more! Held at KC Hall. (361) 798-2662. www.hallettsville.com.

OCTOBER

  October 9 - Castroville
HERITAGE DAY AT MOYE RETREAT CENTER... Sunday 11am-3pm. A day of celebration, barbeque chicken plates, children’s activities, including games & pony rides, arts & crafts, silent auction & quilt raffle. FREE live entertainment! www.moyecenter.org. Follow us – www.Facebook.com/MoyeCenter. (830) 931-2233.

  October 13–16 - Houston
38th ANNUAL FESTA ITALIANA ...The Italian Cultural & Community Center of Houston brings culture to life at its weekend celebration of Italy! Enjoy music, food & wine, pasta-eating contest, bocce ball & I Madonnari competitions, wine tasting, grape stomp, children’s events, arts & crafts and more. University of St. Thomas at Montrose Blvd. For more details: www.HoustonItalianFestival.com.

  October 14–16 - Conroe
27th CONROE CAJUN CATFISH FESTIVAL... Enjoy three days of fun, music & food! Music on four stages includes Texas Music, Cajun, Zydeco, Blues & Country. Also enjoy a carnival, children’s village with pony rides, petting zoo, games & children’s stage. Come to the Downtown Square for great festival foods—catfish, boudain, crawfish etouffee, fried alligator & more. www.conroecajuncatfishfestival.com. (936) 539-6009.

  October 14–22 - Angleton 
BRAZORIA COUNTY FAIR... “The Largest County Fair in Texas” features livestock exhibits, crafts, concerts, entertainment, CPRA rodeo finals, contests, carnival and foods, and much more! Brazoria County Fairgrounds, Angleton TX 77515. www.bcfa.org. (979) 849-6416.

  October 15 - La Marque
BAYOU FEST... Festivities include a BBQ cook-off, arts & crafts, children’s fishing tournament, food, pumpkin patch & carving and more. Enjoy great live musical entertainment, including The Bellamy Brothers, Johnny Lee, and Pee Wee Bowen Band. Held at Highland Bayou Park. FREE. 8:30am-10pm. For more info: www.texascitychamber.com or (409) 935-1408.

  October 22–23 - Houston
WINGS OVER HOUSTON AIRSHOW... The 32nd Annual CAF Wings Over Houston Airshow features the U.S. Navy Blue Angels Flight Demonstration Team, a special tribute to 75th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor, WWII war-bird demos, stunt planes, skydiving, Kids Zone, reenactments & more. A great family event! Ellington Airport. Tickets at www.wingsoverhouston.com. (713) 266-4492.

  October 29 - Corpus Christi
DIA DE LOS MUERTOS FESTIVAL... Now in its 9th year, these outdoor festivities have become one of Corpus Christi’s most popular events with 3 stages of live entertainment, a Kids’ Activity Corner, fine art exhibition, Pinata Contest, Altar Display and a juried Hecho-a-Mano/Made-by-Hand Art Expo. 3pm to midnight. Also seeking vendors. For more info, visit http://diadelosmuertoscc.com.

NOVEMBER

  November 5 - Angleton
AUSTIN TOWN HISTORICAL REENACTMENT... Celebrating the lives of those pioneers who settled Colonial Texas. The fictitious “Austin Town” features interpreters, period craft demonstrators, sutlers, militia drill units, historical reenactments, and period games. Presented by Brazoria County Historical Museum. In its 20th year! www.bchm.org. (979) 864-1208.

  November 5 - George West
28th ANNUAL GEORGE WEST STORYFEST... “The Storytelling Capital of Texas” presents tall tales, cowboy poetry, Texas State Liars’ Contest, classic car show, folklore & ghost stories, live music, living history, arts/crafts & children’s activities at the Courthouse Square. www.georgeweststoryfest.org. (361) 449-2481.

  November 6 - Port Isabel
23rd ANNUAL WORLD’S CHAMPIONSHIP SHRIMP COOK-OFF... Sunday. Awards in both professional and amateur divisions with contestants from both sides of the border. Also in conjunction, a Folk Art Festival & Mini Carnival with all types of arts & crafts for sale & fun for all. For more details, call (800) 527-6102. 

FEBRUARY

  February 18, 2017 - Edinburg
PIONEER AND RANCHING CRAFTS DAY... Featuring South Texas & Northeastern Mexican arts/crafts. Artisans demonstrate crafts used by early settlers of the area. Highlights include woodworking, horse-hair braiding, weaving, chuck wagon cooking & activities for children throughout the day. Traditional foods & live music, in an outdoor setting, make this event the largest of the year. 10am-4pm. (956) 383-6911.  v