September

St. Mary’s Fall Gift Market  9 a.m.-4 p.m. Attendees can browse more than 60 craft, clothing, toy and gift vendors at the indoor/outdoor market. The market also features a tea room and a silent auction. All proceeds go to benefit the church and its outreach needs. Free St. Mary’s Episcopal Church 15415 N. Eldridge Parkway Cypress • 281-370-8000 www.stmaryscypress.org

October

Autumn Festival Guide 2015 The Original Greek Festival[/caption] The Original Greek Festival 5-10 p.m. (Oct. 1), 11 a.m.-3 p.m., 5 p.m.-10 p.m. (Oct. 2), 11 a.m.-10 p.m. (Oct. 3), noon-6 p.m. (Oct. 4) This festival highlights Greek culture through traditional food, crafts, art and gifts. Each night features traditional Greek dancing reflecting the customs and culture of the country. Cathedral tours are also offered throughout the festival. $5 (admission at the gate). Free admission (Oct. 2 from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. and every day for children 12 and under). $22 (pre-sale ticket includes one-day admission and a dinner plate) Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral 3511 Yoakum Blvd. Houston • 713-526-5377 www.greekfestival.org Autumn Festival Guide 2015 Creekfest[/caption] CreekFest 8 a.m.-4 p.m. The Houston Northwest Chamber of Commerce hosts its fifth annual CreekFest and a Color the Creek 5K fun run in partnership with several other community organizations. The festival includes a food truck roundup, fine art walk, craft merchant vendors, live entertainment, a library scavenger hunt and dog costume contest. Children take part in art and activity tents, a book walk, bounce house and learn from professional chalk artists. Free Cypress Creek Cultural District 6823 Cypresswood Drive Spring • 281-440-4160 www.creekfesthouston.com Flying Saucer BeerFeast 2-6:30 p.m. Sugar Land’s Flying Saucer hosts its fourth annual event, featuring more than 50 breweries and 80 craft beers. Restaurants in Sugar Land Town Square have food available for attendees. Ticket purchase includes admission to the event, a tasting card that includes 12 beer samples and a tasting glass. Additional tasting cards are available for purchase. $35-65. Flying Saucer 15929 City Walk Sugar Land • 281-242-7468. www.beerknurd.com Festa Italiana 5-10 p.m. (Oct. 8), 11 a.m.-10 p.m. (Oct. 9, 10), 11 a.m.-6 p.m. (Oct. 11) Festivalgoers celebrate Italian culture through traditional food, music and art. The event also features a car show, grape stomp and pasta-eating contest highlighting Italian customs. $8 (general admission) free admission (children 12 and under) University of St. Thomas 3800 Montrose Blvd. Houston • 713-524-4222 www.houstonitalianfestival.com Conroe Cajun catfish festival Conroe Cajun catfish festival[/caption] Cajun Catfish Festival 6 p.m.-midnight (Friday), 11a.m.-midnight (Saturday), noon-6 p.m. (Sunday) The 26th annual event spans a three-day weekend in downtown Conroe. Food vendors offer traditional Cajun options and festival favorites, and live entertainment is featured on three different stages. Throughout the weekend there is a car show, catfish pageant, kid zone and other family-friendly attractions. $10 (OCT. 9, 11), $15 (OCT. 10) Downtown Conroe 101 S. Main St. Conroe • 713-524-4222 www.conroecajuncatfishfestival.com Girlfriend’s Gift Market 9 a.m.-4 p.m Good Shepherd United Methodist Church hosts its 21st annual market, featuring vendor booths with crafts and gifts, a bake sale, silent auction and a pumpkin patch for kids. All proceeds from the event go to the Boys and Girls Country, Redeemed Ministries and CareNet Pregnancy Center. Admission is a donation of at least $1 Good Shepherd United Methodist Church 20155 Cypresswood Drive Cypress • 281-373-2273 www.goodchurch.us Zomball in Tomball 5 p.m. Attendees can bring their best costumes as the city of Tomball puts on a Halloween extravaganza, featuring Halloween-themed games, vendors and contests. The event includes a “Trunk or Treat” for kids and a showing of the movie “E.T.” on a giant inflatable screen. Free. Historic Downtown Depot 201 S. Elm St. Tomball • 281-351-5484. www.ci.tomball.tx.us Autumn Festival Guide 2015 Texas Renaissance Festival[/caption] Texas Renaissance Festival 9 a.m.-8 p.m. Hundreds of thousands of people visit the Texas Renaissance Festival each year. For eight weekends in October and November the festival attendees dress up and explore the Renaissance-themed park. Each weekend features food and drink vendors, live entertainment and more than 400 shops. $26 (regular adult), $14 (regular child) 21778 Farm to Market Road 1774 Todd Mission • 281-356-2178 www.texrenfest.com Judy Dierker Holiday Market 9 a.m.-4 p.m. The Foundry Church hosts the annual market featuring more than 100 vendors offering clothing, jewelry, homemade items and seasonal and home decor. The event also includes a tea room and Coffee and Treat Shoppe with various foods available for purchase. Free The Foundry United Methodist Church 8350 Jones Road Houston • 713-937-9388 www.foundrychurch.org Petfest 9:45 a.m.-5 p.m. (Saturday); 10:45 a.m.-4 p.m. (Sunday) Old Town Spring hosts its annual pet-friendly, family-friendly Petfest. The event includes a parade, weiner dog race, “wannabe” weiner dog race, costume contest and a dog show. Veterinarians will also be available to answer questions. Pets are asked to come leashed, and pet registration for events is $5. Free Preservation Park 130 Spring School Road Spring • 281-353-9310 www.oldtownspring.com Howl-O-Ween Fest 10 a.m.-4 p.m. The seventh annual Fido-and-family spooktacular features several pet performers, including Todd Oliver and his talking dogs—semi-finalists on NBC’s “America’s Got Talent” TV show—Panfilov’s Performing Pets and the Houston Canine Frisbee Disc Club. The festival also includes food trucks, trick-or-treating for kids and pumpkin decorating. Free Oak Meadow Park 17730 House Hahl Road Cypress • 281-304-5588 www.bridgeland.com/howl-o-ween-fest Boo Bash 1-4 p.m. Attendees enjoy Halloween-themed games, food and crafts at the 16th annual event. Children age 12 and younger can participate in activities such as face painting and trick or treating at the outdoor market. The event features continual live music and activities. Free (admission), $4 (parking). Trader’s Village 7979 N. Eldridge Parkway Houston www.tradersvillage.com

November

Houston Margarita Festival Noon-10 p.m. Attendees have their choice of more than 19 margarita flavors to sample at the festival. The event also features a margarita competition and a salsa dance competition, as well as live music and vendor booths with different types of cuisine. $15 pre-sale, $35 day-of, ticket includes a complimentary margarita. Sam Houston Park 1000 Bagby St. Houston www.houstonmargaritafest.com Ravensway Bazaar Nov. 13-14 9 a.m.-5 p.m. The Ravensway Activities hosts its 21st annual holiday bazaar, offering free admission, great food, and 45 vendor booths. Free 12730 Jarvis Road, Cypress Home for the Holidays Noon-5 p.m. Old Town Spring hosts its 35th annual Home for the Holidays event every weekend between Nov. 21 and Dec. 20. The month-long event features live music, Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus, a Christmas tree lighting and a children’s train. Free Old Town Spring 403 Main St. Spring • 281-353-9310 www.oldtownspring.com Langham Creek FFA Craft Show 9 a.m.-5 p.m. (Nov. 14), 10 a.m.-4 p.m. (Nov. 15) The annual craft show features vendor booths, indoor games and a silent auction. All proceeds from the event go to scholarship funds. 11206 Telge Road Cypress • 281-548-7538 https://langhamcreek.cfisd.net Lighting of the Doves and iWow 3-9 p.m. This year marks the ninth annual International Winter on the Waterway and 33rd annual Lighting of the Doves. The event features live music, international food and entertainment, vendor booths, snow play areas, appearances by Santa and a fireworks display, weather permitting. Free (admission), $4 (parking). Town Green Park along The Woodlands Waterway 2099 Lake Robbins Drive The Woodlands www.thewoodlandscvb.com

December

Tomball German Christmas Market 6-10 p.m. (Dec. 11), 10 a.m.-10 p.m. (Dec. 12), 10 a.m.-6 p.m. (Dec. 13) The event brings traditional German food, products and activities to the city of Tomball. Multiple stages present continuous live music and dancing, and there is an open-air market with more than 175 merchants and vendors selling German Christmas items, arts and crafts, food and much more. Old Town Tomball 201 S. Elm St. Tomball • 281-379-6844 www.tomballgermanfest.com This is not a comprehensive list of area events. For more listings or to request a listing please contact [email protected]