Texas Renaissance Festival

Todd Mission
Sept. 30–Nov. 26, 2017

Villainy may be afoot—though so should plenty of champions—as the Texas Renaissance Festival celebrates heroes and villains of history and literature in this year’s newest themed weekend. Beginning with Oktoberfest and ending with Celtic Christmas, the 43rd annual festival includes nine themed weekends at the 16th-century European village’s 60 acres in Todd Mission. See new acts like the Dublin Harpers and Cirque Mythos, or enjoy favorites like Pride O’ Bedlam and Iris and Rose. Other changes include a medieval torture museum, an expanded Polish Pub and Greek Agora, and a new coffee bar and hookah lounge. With plenty of food to try, performers to watch, and more than 500 shops to explore, time may be the greatest villain.

Photo: Kevin Stillman

Sandcastle Days

South Padre Island
Oct. 4–8, 2017

The ephemeral art of sand sculpting will rise from the sandy beaches of South Padre Island when an expected 30,000 visitors head to the city’s sun-soaked shores for Sandcastle Days. Thirty years ago, island residents Walter McDonald and Lucinda Wierenga (aka “Amazin’ Walter” and “Sandy Feet,” respectively) founded this annual beach dweller favorite as a way to demonstrate the magical sculpting qualities of South Padre Island sand in addition to educating attendees about the destructive impact trash can have on Texas’ beaches, coastline, and ocean wildlife—including an informal fashion show where models wear clothing made from trash found on the beach.

Photo: courtesy Sandcastle Days

Silobration

Waco
Oct. 12–14, 2017

No couple in recent memory has made more of an impact on Waco than Chip and Joanna Gaines. In 2014, the HGTV darlings took on their biggest Fixer Upper to date, opening Magnolia Market in an abandoned cotton oil mill and silos downtown. The venue became a fast favorite for residents and I-35 travelers between Dallas and Austin looking for some retail therapy, and this fall it celebrates its third annual Silobration with a vendor fair of more than 90 artisans and food trucks from around the country. After hours, Johnnyswim and Jon Foreman will perform live on the Silos stage with a special appearance by Chip and Jo.

Photo: courtesy Magnolia Market

• Gruene: Music and Wine Fest (Oct. 5–8)
• Victoria: Bootfest (Oct. 6–7)
• Tyler: Texas Rose Festival (Oct. 19–22)
• Austin: Formula 1 United States Grand Prix (Oct. 20–22)
• Marathon: M2M: Marathon 2 Marathon (Oct. 21)
• Cranfills Gap: Bacon Bash Texas (Oct. 21)

All of these events and more can be found at the online Texas Highways Events Calendar page 24 hours a day, seven days a week.