Pearland and Friendswood—along with the rest of the Greater Houston area—have a number of events during the upcoming fall months to celebrate the cooler weather and changing of the season. This guide includes options for all ages.
Oct. 1 Flying Saucer BeerFeast Sugar Land’s Flying Saucer hosts its fifth 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. $15-$68. 2-6:30 p.m. Sugar Land Town Square, 15958 City Walk, Sugar Land 281-242-7468 www.saucerbeerfeast.com
Oct. 1-2 Pearland Art & Crafts on the Pavilion The Pearland Convention & Visitors Bureau hosts its seventh annual event. Attendees enjoy browsing a variety of crafts for sale. Artists may submit applications to sell their handcrafted items. The deadline to apply is Sept. 15, officials said. The event also includes live entertainment, children’s crafts, food trucks, and a wine bistro. Free. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. (Oct. 1 and 2) Pearland Town Center Pavilion, 11200 W. Broadway St., Pearland 713-436-5595 www.visitpearland.com
Oct. 6-9 The Original Greek Festival 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. 6 from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. and every day for children age 12 and under). $22 (presale ticket includes one-day admission and a dinner plate). 5 p.m.-10 p.m. (Oct. 6), 11 a.m.-3 p.m., 5 p.m.-10 p.m. (Oct. 7), 11 a.m.-10 p.m. (Oct. 8), noon-6 p.m. (Oct. 9) Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral, 3511 Yoakum Blvd., Houston 713-526-5377 www.greekfestival.org
Oct. 7-8 Craft fair St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church in Pearland hosts its 28th annual craft fair, which runs in conjunction with the church’s pumpkin patch. Hundreds of local vendors offer a variety of handcrafted items for sale. Booth applications are accepted until Oct. 7. Free. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. (Oct. 7), 9 a.m.- 4 p.m. (Oct. 8) St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, 2535 E. Broadway St., Pearland 281-485-3843 www.pumpkinchurch.com
Oct. 8-27 Texas Renaissance Festival Hundreds of thousands of people visit the festival each year. For eight weekends in October and November, 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 (adult), $14 (child). 9 a.m.-8 p.m. (daily) 21778 FM 1774, Todd Mission 800-458-3435 www.texrenfest.com
Oct. 13-16 Festa Italiana 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. $5-$25, free admission (children age 12 and under). 5 p.m.-10 p.m. (Oct. 13), 11 a.m.-10 p.m. (Oct. 14), 11 a.m.-10 p.m. (Oct. 15), 11 a.m.-6 p.m. (Oct. 16) University of St. Thomas, 3800 Montrose Blvd., Houston 713-524-4222 www.houstonitalianfestival.com
Oct. 14-16 Cajun Catfish Festival The 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 catfish pageant, kids zone and other family-friendly attractions. $10-$20. 6 p.m.-midnight (Oct. 14), 11 a.m.-midnight (Oct. 15), noon-6 p.m. (Oct. 16) Downtown Conroe, 101 S. Main St., Conroe 936-539-6009 www.conroecajuncatfishfestival.com
Oct. 15. Creepy Crawl The Pearland Town Center hosts the Halloween-themed event, which benefits the nonprofit SoléAna Stables. The organization is raising money for its therapeutic horseback riding center. The event includes a 5K race, trick-or-treating, face painting, food and a silent auction. Attendees are encouraged to wear costumes, and a contest is held for individual and team costumes. Free (5K ages 9 and under), $20 (5K ages 10-17 before Sept. 1), $30 (5K ages 18 and up before Sept. 1). $35 (5K ages 10-17 after Sept. 1), $40 (5K ages 18 and up after Sept. 1) 7:30-9:30 a.m. Pearland Town Center, 11200 W. Broadway St., Pearland 713-436-5595 www.visitpearland.com
Oct. 15-16 Art in the Park Festival Nonprofit organization Friendswood Fine Arts hosts its seventh annual festival. The event features the work of local artists across a variety of platforms, including fine art, fashion, music and performance. Attendees also enjoy live music and art demonstrations. Free. Stevenson Park, 1100 S. Friendswood Drive, Friendswood 281-996-7700 www.aitpfestival.com
Oct. 22 Fall Festival First United Methodist Church in Pearland hosts its annual festival. The event features a variety of games, inflatables, food and on-site trick-or-treating. The festival takes place rain or shine. Free. 4:30-7 p.m. First United Methodist Church Pearland, 2314 N. Grand St., Pearland 281-485-1466 www.fumcpearland.org
Oct. 22. Harvest Fest Good Shepherd Episcopal Church in Friendswood invites the public to its annual event, which was rebranded this year. The new festival includes a number of attractions, such as a pumpkin patch, petting zoo and dunking booth. Attendees also enjoy pony rides, a bounce house, face painting and live music. Free. 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Good Shepherd Episcopal Church, 1207 Winding Way, Friendswood 281-482-7630 www.gshepherd.net
Nov. 5 Houston Margarita Festival 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 contest as well as live music and vendor booths with different types of cuisine. $25 (presale), $35 (day-of). Ticket includes a complimentary margarita. Noon-10 p.m. Sam Houston Park, 1000 Bagby Street, Houston www.houstonmargaritafest.com
Nov. 19 Lighting of the Doves and iWow This year marks the 10th annual International Winter on the Waterway and 34th 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). 3-9 p.m. Town Green Park and The Woodlands Waterway, 2099 Lake Robbins Drive, The Woodlands www.thewoodlandstownship-tx.gov
