There are so many San Antonio attractions and events on any given weekend, it can seem overwhelming to choose just one. In this series, all pressure is off! Ten fun things to do in San Antonio will be chosen each month to make researching for the next Friday celebration, date night, or family outing a little more simple.
1. Celebrate Oktoberfest
Oktoberfest stems from the German holiday, giving you the chance to celebrate festival-style: with music, food, dancing, and plenty of beer! Beethovel Maennerchor hosts this wonderful fall event for not just one, but two weekends. It’s the perfect family-friendly activity and is known as “a little bit of Germany in the heart of Texas”.
When: October 6-October 14
Where: 422 Pereida St.
2. Experience The Halloween Comic Con
The Alamo City Comic Con is taking its next event to a new level. Throw away the “traditional” comics and get ready for a terrifying edition with Halloween themed comics. With interactive events like fortune telling, Rocky Horror Picture Show, and Interview with a Vampire, you’ll have plenty to do and see! Obviously, you are free to dress up to make the experience even more memorable! You won’t want to miss this weekend of fun and spooky surprises!
When: October 27-29
Where: Alamodome (100 Montana St.)
3. Enjoy Dia De Los Muertos
Image Courtesy of Dia de Los Muertos 2017
Of course, it wouldn’t be a San Antonio Halloween without Dia De Los Muertos. The annual celebration will begin with culture, music, art, and plenty of entertainment. During the weekend, you’ll get to experience the city’s largest altar exhibit, dance, music, live poetry, and so much more! It truly is a San Antonio style Halloween experience and the perfect opportunity to showcase this city’s rich culture and history.
When: October 28-29, 10:00 AM-10:00 PM
Where: 418 Villita St.
4. See Mission Life
As a huge role in this city’s culture and development, the San Antonio missions have an important history behind them. Now, you can understand and see that history with Entre La Sombra: Life Along the Missions. This exhibition showcases the missions through art and understanding, providing you with a look into what life would’ve been like years ago at a mission. It’s a wonderful, educational experience that can be fun for the whole family.
When: All month @ 8:00 AM-5:00 PM
Where: Culture Commons Gallery (115 Plaza de Armas)
5. Support The Film Industry
The Manhattan Short Film Festival unites all film lovers and hopes to spark a fire for anyone who wants to support film. With hundreds of films and filmmakers involved, this festival will run for two weekends to showcase the newest generation of filmmakers. Artists from all over the world have entered, and you’ll have the opportunity to view, judge, and enjoy all of the unique features (and even the finalists) of the show.
When: September 29-October 7, 8:00 PM-10:30 PM
Where: 2500 S. Presa
6. Get A Dose Of Culture
Image Courtesy of Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center
San Antonio is all about culture, and the strongest influence that the city has is Mexican culture and history. Get a dose with Celebrando Tradiciones as you watch traditional Mexican dancers and listen to classic Mexican music. This amazing experience pulls influence from places like Oaxaca, Queretaro, and the Yucatan. Here, you’ll find yourself transported with every performance!
When: October 1, 3:00 PM
Where: Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center (1301 Guadalupe St.)
7. Howl At The Moon
Sea World’s Howl-O-Scream has been occurring for years, and it’s back again ready to scare you silly! With six different “scare zones”, five haunted houses, Halloween bars, and thrilling entertainment, you’ll find that this is not the Sea World that you may be used to! Ride your favorite roller coasters at night and don’t forget to find your way through the hay maze! This one-stop-spot is your ultimate destination for a good scare.
Where: SeaWorld San Antonio (10500 SeaWorld Drive)
8. See A Scarecrow
Leave it to the San Antonio Botanical Garden to come up with the perfect Fall family activity. All month long, you can visit the Scarecrow Trail Exhibit, scattered throughout the garden. Welcome the harvest season with this fun and creative exhibit, showcasing scarecrows of all different varieties. It’s kid-friendly and a perfect picture opportunity!
When: All month
Where: San Antonio Botanical Garden (555 Funston Place)
9. Sing Those Country Songs
Calling all country music fans! Tim McGraw and Faith Hill join together for their Soul 2 Soul World Tour! This dynamic duo has been dominating country music since the 90’s, and they haven’t slowed down! Their latest album has been the year’s top-grossing US tour. They’ll be singing all of your favorite songs that you know and love. Don’t miss out on the chance to see them together here in San Antonio!
When: October 5, 7:30 PM
Where: AT&T Center (1AT&T Parkway)
10. Don’t Scare The Kids
Image Courtesy of San Antonio Magazine
With all of the Halloween-themed activities, it can be alarming for those who have little ones or kids who don’t want the scary stuff. The San Antonio Zoo offers you a perfect solution: head over for their non-scary, daytime event with a hay maze, trick-or-treating, family friendly contests, pumpkin painting, games and more! With a fall festival vibe, your family will love this spirited event that helps to welcome fall and Halloween. Plus, you’ll have access to all of the fun games, as well as a free zoo admissions ticket!
When: All month
Where: The San Antonio Zoo (3903 North St. Mary’s St.)
11. Say Boo!
Bootanica is the hands-on, family event at the Botanical Gardens. Throughout the morning, kids will partake in fun activities like planting a seed to take home, exploring the garden, creating a craft, and learning more about proper nutrition. It’s a great, educational opportunity for kids to be entertained in the morning and of course, you can take time to walk the garden as a family after all of the activities!
When: October 7, 10:00 AM
Where: San Antonio Botanical Garden (555 Funston Place)
12. Get Ready To Dance
Get ready for Som os Flamenco, a local Flamenco dance program that partnered with SA Parks and Recreation to showcase the beauty of Flamenco dance. Featuring local professionals, this event will show you traditional Flamenco put to music. They even have a special guest all the way from Spain! If you’re into this style of dance, you won’t want to miss this performance!
When: October 7, 8:00 PM
Where: Jo Long Theatre, 226 N. Hackberry
13. Let Your Fandom Shine
Are you a Furry Fan? The Furry community is best known as those who adore the giant “furry” costumes like mascots or Chuck E. Cheese. Now, there’s a Furry Invasion in the Alamo City with their annual convention! The goal of the get-together is to unite all fans, encourage community, partake in activities, and establish a positive experience. Of course, there will be games, competitions, and so much more during this memorable convention. It is definitely a family-friendly place for everyone! Grab a ticket now if this sounds like something you’d like!
When: October 6-8, 3:00 PM
Where: El Tropicano on the Riverwalk (110 Lexington Ave)
14. Hear The Music
If you’re a fan of classical music, this event is for you. “To Music” is a new series at Trinity University, where they’ll be highlighting a particular composer each month. This month, it’s Johann Sebastian Bach. With a phenomenal performance on the harpsichord, the evening is dedicated to the composer’s classic works that have remained intact over centuries. Get a ticket and be sure to look out for next month’s composer as well!When: October 7, 7:30 PM
Where: Ruth Taylor Recital Hall (One Trinity Place)
15. Get Ready For The Weekend
Image Courtesy of the Daily Hive
The Weekend is coming to San Antonio! The Canadian star got his start in 2010 when he anonymously uploaded several songs. Once discovered, he released his studio album in 2013 and his fame and success have followed him consistently with songs like “Can’t Feel My Face” and “The Hills”. You won’t want to miss this amazing performance! Get a ticket early to ensure he doesn’t sell out.
When: October 19, 7:00 PM
Where: AT&T Center (One AT&T Parkway)
16. Get Excited About Science
Jump into the world of science fiction at the DoSeum’s latest exhibit! Kids will have the opportunity to look at robots, become invisible, build a cyborg, and strengthen the brain with puzzles and activities! There are so many different things included with this one featured exhibit, you won’t want to miss it! The DoSeum is known for their interactive events and this is no different.
When: October 7-January 6, 9:00 AM-5:00 PM
Where: 2800 Broadway St.
17. Support UTSA Football
UTSA has risen in the ranks of football! Support the team and show some Roadrunner spirit and their next home game versus the Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles. The games are fun, involved, and make for a great family activity if you love football! Wear your Roadrunner colors and get ready to cheer them on in another victory.
When: October 7, 6:00 PM
Where: Alamodome (100 Montana St.)
18. Learn A New Recipe
The Witte Museum has been integrating culinary skills into their calendar with events like Super Chefs. This month’s recipe? Veggie Herb Dips! This is a perfect way for your child to get used to the kitchen, learn some new skills, and create a healthy recipe that can be enjoyed by the entire family.
When: October 7, 2:00 PM
Where: The Witte (3801 Broadway)
19. Rock On With The Beach Boys
The iconic Beach Boys have been around since the 1960’s, giving you classic songs like “Good Vibrations” and “Smile”. Their California vibe and sound have heavily influenced American music, and they’ve made the Top 40 Hit List over thirty times. Now, The Beach Boys are coming to San Antonio for an epic concert. Get your ticket soon before they sell out at the Majestic Theatre! You’re in for a California treat!
When: October 11, 7:30 PM
Where: 224 E. Houston St.
20. Enjoy A Ballet
Another fabulous ballet is coming to San Antonio with the production of Giselle. Known as one of the greatest romantic ballets of the 19h century, Giselle tells the story of unrequited love and is filled with compelling movement and storytelling skills through dance. Giselle is an innocent and noble maiden with a great love story to tell. If you’re a lover of the arts, ballet specifically, you won’t want to miss this stellar performance in dance.
When: October 13-15
Where: The Tobin Center (100 Auditorium Circle)
21. Poke Fun At Broadway
This unique performance is a musical roast of Broadway, critiquing and poking fun at the business of shows and performance. With hilarious jokes, costumes, rewrites of songs that you know, and dead-on impressions, you’ll be laughing out loud for the entirety of the show. Forbidden Broadway has won a Tony and numerous awards, making it the most popular “roast musical” in our time today! Get ready for a hilarious cast and an even better show!
When: October 12-14
Where: The Tobin Center (100 Auditorium Circle)
22. Capture Some Halloween Spirit
Image Courtesy of Sisters Grimm Ghost Tour
With Halloween just around the corner, you may find that you’re searching for a few more scary activities for your weekends. City Cemetery #1 is opening its doors for you to walk amongst the beautiful tombstones while storytellers invite you to take a trip through time. Narrated by San Antonio residents, this tour brings the past to life with re-enactments and a healthy dose of history and Halloween spirit. The nighttime views of the cemetery are sure to spook you! Please remember to wear comfortable walking shoes if this is something that interests you.
When: October 13-14
Where: 517 Paso Hondo
23. Play With Chalk
Who doesn’t love playing with sidewalk chalk?! Bring your family and kids to Chalk It Up, a celebration of art in the downtown area. The event will include murals, artists from around the world, a play zone for families, music, food trucks, games and so many fun things!
When: October 14
Where: Downtown Houston St.
24. Taste New Flavors
Get ready for the largest whiskey and liquor tasting in the entire world…and it’s coming to San Antonio! Distillers from around the world and local restaurants come together for an amazing “foodie” event with beverage and food tastings for a fun evening. Discover new flavors by tasting all of the different spirits and follow them with amazing flavors from local restaurants. Obviously, you need to be 21 years or older to enter. This is not an event suited for children!
When: October 14, 7:00 PM
Where: Freeman Coliseum & Expo Hall B
25. Prepare For A Fright
It’s that time of year again: get ready for San Antonio to transform into a scary city full of spooks and ghouls! This year, experience all the fun (and screams) of Halloween at Fright Fest as Fiesta Texas promises their scariest and biggest celebration in 25 years. With “scare zones,” a haunted house, and your favorite roller coasters (in the dark), this is sure to be a frightful event for you and your friends. If you’re not a fan of monsters, don’t worry! Fiesta Texas will be its usual self during the daytime and all things scary will emerge at sundown.
When: All month
Where: Six Flags Fiesta Texas (17000 IH-10 West)
