SEPTEMBER
25 Visit Magnolia’s Fall Fest Market
The Magnolia Fall Fest Market is hosted by the Magnolia Parkway Chamber of Commerce and presented by Planet Ford. The event includes a pumpkin patch, crafts, face painting and more than 50 vendors. Noon-4 p.m. Free (with canned goods donation), $1 (per ticket). Magnolia Event Center, 11659 FM 1488, Magnolia. 281-356-1488. www.greatermagnoliaparkwaycc.org
25 Take in art demonstrations
Market Street’s Fall Fine Arts Show includes live music; artist demonstrations; and an art show demonstrating paintings, photography, metal works, sculptures and pottery. 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Free. Central Park at Market Street, 9595 Six Pines Drive, The Woodlands. 281-419-4774. www.shopatmarketstreet.com
OCTOBER
02 Sample a barbecue cook-off
The 14th annual Sterling Ridge Village Association barbecue challenge and children’s festival returns to Cranebrook Park this year. The event includes free barbecue food prepared by neighborhood teams as well as games for kids, bounce houses, face painting, pony rides, and meet and greets with local public safety officers. The Sterling Ridge Village Association solicits sponsors to raise money to fund annual grants to the three elementary schools that serve Sterling Ridge: Deretchin, Smith and Tough elementary schools. 11 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Free. Cranebrook Park, 11800 Cranebrook Drive, The Woodlands. www.sterling-ridge.org
09 Celebrate fall in Oak Ridge North
The city of Oak Ridge North will host its eighth annual Fall Festival including games, prizes, train rides and pumpkin decorating. 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Free. Marilyn Edgar Park, 26531 Hillside Drive, Oak Ridge North. 281-292-4648. www.oakridgenorth.com
23 Enjoy outdoor activities
The Shadowbend YMCA location will host an outdoor family night for all ages. Children can dress up for trick-or-treat stations, carnival games and concessions. 3-5 p.m. Free (with a nonperishable food donation). Shadowbend YMCA, 6145 Shadowbend Place, The Woodlands. 281-367-9622. www.ymcahouston.org
23 Travel the Trick or Treat Trail at Northshore Park
Children have the opportunity to trick-or-treat from booth to booth and fill their bags with goodies from local vendors. The event also includes strolling entertainment, carnival games, costume contests, photo areas, food trucks, a pumpkin patch and crafts. 2-6 p.m. Free. Northshore Park, 2505 Lake Woodlands Drive, The Woodlands. 281-210-3800. www.thewoodlandstownship-tx.gov
23 Help pets for Howl-O-Weeek
The Howl-O-Ween Festival, hosted in the East Shore Community, will benefit homeless pets. Funds raised during the event will be shared between Operation Pets Alive! and Friends of Faye. Adoptable homeless pets of Operation Pets Alive! and Friends of Faye will be in attendance. The festival will include live music, vendors, food trucks, a bake sale, face painting, a pumpkin maze, photo opportunities, games and a silent auction. 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Free. Ellipse Park, 2662 N. Bay Place, The Woodlands. www.operationpetsalive.org
23 Visit Creekside Park for a festival
The village festival for Creekside Park is set for Oct. 23. 3-5 p.m. Free. Rob Fleming Park, 6055 Creekside Forest Drive, The Woodlands. 281-210-3800. www.thewoodlandstownship-tx.gov
24 Stop by the Cochran's Crossing festival
Cochran’s Crossing holds its fall village festival Oct. 24. 1-4 p.m. Free. Shadowbend Park, 4995 Lake Woodlands Drive, The Woodlands. 281-210-3887. www.thewoodlandstownship-tx.gov
30 Visit College Park's annual event
The village of College Park holds a fall festival Oct. 30. 1-4 p.m. Free. Harper’s Landing Park, 2 North Blair Bridge Drive, The Woodlands. 281-210-3889. www.thewoodlandstownship-tx.gov
30 Attend the SpookTacular Halloween party
The Woodlands Children’s Museum is hosting a SpookTacular Halloween Monster Mash Party the Saturday before Halloween. The event will have games and activities, live music, art projects, science slime and face painting. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. $10. The Woodlands Children’s Museum, 4775 W. Panther Creek Drive, Ste. 280, The Woodlands. 281-465-0955. www.woodlandschildrensmuseum.org
30 Celebrate with The Woodlands Pride Festival
The Woodlands Pride Festival will return Oct. 30 at Town Green Park. The festival will have vendors and exhibits. Town Green Park, 2099 Lake Robbins Drive, The Woodlands. Noon. Free. www.thewoodlandstxpride.org
30 Dress up for a themed costume party
The Woodlands Charities is hosting Into the Woods, its fourth annual Halloween costume party. The party will have a costume contest, food and drinks, a live band, fortune tellers, a photo booth and games. 6 p.m.-midnight. $100-$150. The Woodlands Waterway Marriott Hotel and Convention Center, 1601 Lake Robbins Drive, The Woodlands. 713-303-5105. www.thewoodlandscharities.org
30 Trick or treat on a tandem kayak
Riva Row Boat House is hosting a trick-or-treat event where attendees in costume can travel on two-person tandem kayaks around the Waterway and Lake Woodlands to visit stops and collect Halloween treats from boathouse staff. Children under age 15 must be accompanied by an adult. Preregistration is required. 9-10 a.m. $40 per kayak. Riva Row Boat House, 2101 Riva Row, The Woodlands. 281-2190-3965. www.rivarowboathouse.com
31 Visit with the community at Halloween Safe Streets
The Shenandoah Police Department hosts this annual Halloween night event, providing a safe, fun environment for young trick-or-treaters. 6-8 p.m. Free. Locations throughout Shenandoah. 281-298-5522. www.shenandoahtx.us
31 Stop by the Monster Mash Trick or Treat Stop
The Monster Mash Trick or Treat Stop event includes trick-or-treating with dressed-up recreation staff, inflatables, games, crafts and costume contests. 5-8 p.m. Free. The Recreation Center at Rob Fleming Park, 6464 Creekside Forest Drive, The Woodlands. 281-516-7348. www.thewoodlandstownship-tx.gov
NOVEMBER
06 Plant bluebonnets at the Wildflower Festival
The 33rd annual Wildflower Festival will feature a bluebonnet planting ceremony, wildflower crafts, bounce houses, face painting, a DJ, food trucks, and a plant and craft sale from The Woodlands Garden Club. The Woodlands mascot Puffy Pine Cone is also expected to make a special appearance. 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Free. Rob Fleming Park, 6055 Creekside Forest Drive, The Woodlands. 281-210-3800. www.thewoodlandstownship-tx.gov
19 THROUGH 21
Get ready for the holidays
The Junior League of The Woodlands is holding its 17th annual Holiday Market. The shopping event features a variety of items and vendors from flower arrangements to personalized gifts to holiday ornaments. 9 a.m.-6 p.m. (Nov. 19-20), 10 a.m.-4 p.m. (Nov. 21). Ticket pricing TBA. The Woodlands Waterway Marriott Hotel and Convention Center, 1601 Lake Robbins Drive, The Woodlands. www.jlthewoodlands.org
20 View the annual Lighting of the Doves
The Lighting of the Doves Festival is the ceremonial illumination of the giant doves throughout The Woodlands. The festival is held at Town Green Park and will include live music, snow play areas, vendor booths, children’s activities, strolling entertainment and a special appearance by Santa Claus. The festival includes a fireworks display. 3-9 p.m. Free. Town Green Park, 2099 Lake Robbins Drive, The Woodlands. 281-210-3800. www.thewoodlandstownship-tx.gov
