SEPTEMBER

  September 7 - Lakehills
34th ANNUAL MEDINA LAKE CAJUN FESTIVAL... “Home of the Great Gumbo Cook-off.” Saturday, 11am to 10pm. Louisiana Cajun bands, Great Gumbo Cook-off, authentic homemade Cajun foods, arts & crafts, games and more. Lakehills Civic Center in Bandera County, 25 miles from San Antonio. (830) 751-3130. www.cajunfestival-medinalake.com.

  September 26–27 - 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 and more! Held at KC Hall. (361) 798-2662. www.hallettsville.com.

OCTOBER

  October 3–5 - Gonzales
56th ANNUAL “COME & TAKE IT” CELE-BRATION... The 178th anniversary of Texas Independence (Oct 2, 1835) kicks off with a T-bone cookoff, flying chicken contest, chili/TX bean cook-offs, carnival, eating contest, car show, battle reenactment, run/walk, parade & historical programs. Live music includes Adan Davila, Los at Boyz, Midnight River Choir, Shiner Hobo Band & many more! www.gonzalestexas.com. (830) 672-6532.

  October 9–12 - Houston
36th ANNUAL FESTA ITALIANA... Houston’s Italian Cultural Center brings culture to life at its weekend celebration of Italy! Enjoy music, homemade Italian food and wine, pasta-eating contest, bocce ball and I Madonnari competitions, wine tasting, grape stomp, kid’s events, cooking demos, arts & crafts & more. University of St. Thomas at Montrose Blvd. www.HoustonItalianFestival.com.

  October 10–12 - Conroe
25th ANNIVERSARY CONROE CAJUN CATFISH FESTIVAL... 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, fried alligator boudain, crawfish etouffee & more.  www.conroecajuncatfishfestival.com. (936) 539-6009.

  October 11 - Wharton
MONTEREY SQUARE WINE AND ARTS FAIR... Sip, shop and stroll with us, 4pm-10pm in Historic Downtown. Live Music —Wine Tastings—Artworks Show—Great Food! 3pm-10pm. For more info: (979) 532-1862; helpdesk@whartonchamber.com; or www.whartontexas.com.

  October 12 - Castroville
HERITAGE DAY AT MOYE RETREAT CENTER... Sunday 11am-3pm. A day of celebration, bar-b-que chicken plates, children’s activities including games & pony rides, arts & crafts, silent auction and quilt raffle. FREE live entertainment! www.moyecenter.org. Follow us - Facebook.com/MoyeCenter. (830) 931-2233.

  October 10-18 - Angleton
BRAZORIA COUNTY FAIR... “The Largest County Fair in Texas” features live-stock exhibits, crafts, concerts, music, CPRA rodeo finals, contests, carnival , foods & much more! Live entertainment on Oct 11 includes Merle Haggard. Brazoria County Fairgrounds, Angleton TX 77515. www.bcfa.org. (979) 849-6416. E-mail: dwithers@bcfa.org.

  October 17-19 - San Antonio
GREEK FUNSTIVAL... Saint Sophia Greek Orthodox Church hosts its annual Greek festival with lively dancers, a colorful Greek marketplace, tasty Greek wines and a variety of sumptuous Greek dishes. For more information: (210) 735-5051.

  October 18 - La Marque
BAYOU FEST... Enjoy a BBQ cook-off, arts/crafts, food, car show, children’s fishing tournament, pumpkin patch, pumpkin carving & more. Don’t miss great live musical entertainment, including Johnny Lee & The Urban Cowboy Band, Shenandoah and Pee Wee Bowen Band. Held at Highland Bayou Park. FREE. 8am-10pm. (409) 935-1408. (877) 986-8719. www.texascitychamber.com.

  October 24–25 - Pleasanton
49th ANNUAL COWBOY HOME-COMING... Enjoy Friday’s arts/crafts, Queen coronation, dance & carnival. Saturday is full with horseshoe & washer tournaments, TTTPA Tractor Pull, downtown parade, goat & chicken roping, arts/crafts & BBQ cook-off. Sat. evening includes huge bull ride and Boot Scoot dancing. Held at Atascosa County Showbarn behind Chili’s. (830) 569-2163. www.PleasantonCofC.com.

  October 24–25 - Galveston
33rd ISLAND OKTOBERFEST... Galveston’s premier family fall event featuring continuous live entertainment, kid’s activities, authentic German food & libations, events by Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo volunteers, quality arts/crafts & more. German costumes encouraged. No pets. Held on the grounds & streets adjacent to First Lutheran Church, 24th & Winnie. Free admission. (409) 762-8477.  www.galvestonoktoberfest.com.

  October 25 - Seguin
PECAN FEST HERITAGE DAYS... Go nuts! It’s one big party including the Pecan Bake-off, a Hat Parade, turkey luncheon, Haunted House, ag & trade booths, music, pumpkin patch, museum tours, quilt & pottery shows, theatrical performances, bike ride, golf tournament & more. 800-580-7322 or (830) 401-0810. www.VisitSeguin.com.

  October 25 - Richmond
31st ANNUAL TEXIAN MARKET DAYS… Historical fun for the whole family! Enjoy a Texas rich festival with hands-on history. Come twirl a lasso with cowboys, learn Victorian etiquette, visit a Civil War camp and battle reenactment, experience period entertainment, and shop at food and craft vendors. 9am-5pm. For more info: www.TexianMarketDays.com or (281) 343-0218.

NOVEMBER

  November 1 – Boerne
CHAMBER WILD GAME DINNER… Discover exotic dishes including jalapeno-bacon-wrapped quail, grilled bison sliders, fried alligator, whole roasted hog, elk fajitas, crawfish pasta and more. Fabulous auction includes African safaris, Argentina dove hunt, original artwork, guns. Kendall County Fairgrounds in Boerne.  5:30 to 10 p.m.  Tickets $20 (all-you-can-eat). www.boerne.org. (830) 249-8000.

  November 1 - Devine
54th ANNUAL FALL FESTIVAL & AVOCADO SHOWCASE... Wonderful hometown festivities include a 10am Fall Fest Parade, Avocado Cooking Contest, Avocado Seed Spitting contest, arts/crafts/food booths, Kid’s coloring contest, Scarecrow contest, and free evening street dance. Great entertainment all day, 11:30-midnight, including Billy & the Bailouts, Chris Salinas, and Jeremy Richards. For more details: (830) 663-2739. www.devinechamber.com.

  November 1 - George West
26th 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, 5K race & 1-mile fun walk at the Courthouse Square. www.georgeweststoryfest.org. (361) 449-2481.

  November 1 - San Felipe
HERITAGE CELEBRATION... The San Felipe de Austin State Historic Site presents a birthday celebration for Stephen F. Austin, “The Father of Texas”. Enjoy heritage programs, reenactments, entertainment and food. 9am-5pm. Call for more information: (979) 885-2181, (877) 558-7245, and www.visitsanfelipedeaustin.com.

  November 1-2 - Houston
WINGS OVER HOUSTON AIRSHOW ...The 30th Annual CAF Airshow features US Navy Blue Angels, MV-22 Osprey, US Navy “Fat Albert” C-130, Vietnam demos, Tora! Tora! Tora!, F-86, Shockwave Jet Truck, skydiving, CAF & current military demos/displays and much more! Ellington Airport. See display ad for code to scan and see performers in action. (713) 266-4492. www.wingsoverhouston.com.

  November 2 - Port Isabel
21st ANNUAL WORLD’S CHAMPION-SHIP 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. (800) 527-6102.

  November 8 - Angleton
AUSTIN TOWN HISTORICAL RE-ENACTMENT... Celebrating the lives of those pioneers who settled Colonial Texas. The fictitious “Austin Town” features inter-preters, period craft demonstrators, sutlers, militia drill units, historical reenactments, and period games. Presented by Brazoria County Historical Museum. In its 18th year! (979) 864-1208. www.bchm.org.

  November 30 - Hallettsville
FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS & PARADE ... Saturday. An “elegantly awesome” lighting extravaganza illuminates Lavaca County’s Courthouse and features a Lighted Christmas Parade highlighting the luminescent evening. Visit with Santa & Mrs. Claus, and browse Market Days booths with arts/crafts & food. Also enjoy Saturday & Sunday’s “live” Christmas Pageant. For more info: www.hallettsville.com or (361) 798-2662.

DECEMBER

  December 6–7 - Cypress
19th ANNUAL CY-FAIR FFA COUNTRY CHRISTMAS CRAFT SHOW… Held at Cy-Fair Exhibit Center, 11206 Telge Road, off Hwy 290. Sat 9am-5pm & Sun 10am-4pm. 160 indoor exhibitor spaces (10x10) at $120 and 20 outdoor spaces at $110. Contact Liz Gilbreath at 281-513-6781 or Dione Pevehouse at 832-220-6011. Email vendor.info@cyfaircountrychristmas.org, or visit www.cyfaircountrychristmas.org.  v