Lots of Pumpkin Patches, New Forts at the Wildflower Center and Viva La Vida Parade | October Newsletter links

How to make the most out of your Sekrit Theater Photo Shoot | Austin Senior Photographer

If you’d also like to have a photo session at Sekrit Theater, here are my tips below:

_______________________________________________________________________________________

Please check out some of my favorite images below and contact me if you’d like to book your own Senior photo session in Austin, Texas. Explore more photo sessions on my blog.

The Ultimate Austin Family Halloween & Fall Activities Guide for 2026 (sorted by Age + Distance)

Ready to celebrate Fall Festivals and Halloween this year?

October in Austin means one thing: the whole city goes pumpkin-obsessed, and the surrounding Hill Country doesn’t hold back either. Whether you’ve got a toddler who wants to pet goats, a grade-schooler who needs a corn maze, a tween ready for their first haunted experience, or a teenager who wants to be genuinely terrified — there’s something within driving distance for all of them.

I’ve organized everything by age group and sorted each category by distance from downtown Austin, so you can grab the one that works for your family and go. Now the temperature may still be warm in October, but all these local spots are all cool to visit. 

🎃 PUMPKIN PATCHES

Perfect for all ages · Outdoors · Best visited September through late October

Pumpkin patches in the Austin area range from simple church lots where you grab a gourd and go, to full-day farm experiences with zip lines, exotic animals, pig races, and fireworks. Here’s what’s actually worth driving to.

🟢 In Austin / Under 20 Minutes

Tarrytown United Methodist Church 📍 2601 Exposition Blvd. 🗓 October 5–31, 2026 💵 Free to browse; pumpkins sold by size

The pumpkin patch is in Central Austin. No hay rides or farm animals — this is a quick, charming, very Austin stop. Perfect for little ones who just want a pumpkin and a cute photo. Proceeds from the pumpkins go to Zoe Empowers and Habitat for Humanity.

There will also be a “blessing of the animals” on Saturday, Oct. 19th sponsored by P. Terry’s.

Best for: Babies and toddlers, quick stops, photography Pro tip: Go on a weeknight evening for smaller crowds.

King of Kings Lutheran Church Pumpkin Patch 📍 17000 Smyers Ln., Round Rock, TX (25 min north) 🗓 October 11–31, 2026 💵 Free admission · Pumpkins priced by size

One of the most beloved free patches in the Austin area, and genuinely free — no admission, no wristbands. Come for pumpkins of every shape and size, fall photo opportunities, and a festive atmosphere. On October 25, the church hosts a Trunk-or-Treat and movie night in the patch. A no-pressure way to let little kids wander, pick their perfect pumpkin, and not spend a fortune doing it.

Best for: Young children, budget-conscious families, a quick outing Pro tip: Stock up on extra small pumpkins here for cheap — they’re great for doorstep decorating.

🟡 20–45 Minutes Away

Indian Springs Ranch 📍 403 Elm View Way, Manchaca, TX 78652 (20 min south) 🗓 September 27–November 1, 2026 💵 $10 Thu–Fri · $17 weekends · Under 2 free

This is Austin’s hidden gem pumpkin patch — an exotic animal ranch that also happens to host one of the most unique fall festivals in Central Texas. Your admission gets you into the pumpkin patch (30+ varieties) AND access to feed the exotic animals, a playground, fall photo backdrops, and the jumping pillow on weekends. New for 2026: a 32×32-foot low ropes course with climbing walls, monkey bars, rope tunnels, and a woven bridge designed for younger kids. Local food and drinks on-site.

Best for: Kids ages 3–12, animal lovers, families who want a full afternoon Pro tip: Go on a Thursday or Friday for the lower ticket price and shorter lines. The exotic animals alone make this worth the drive.

Crowe’s Nest Farm 📍 10300 Taylor Lane, Manor, TX 78653 (25 min east) 🗓 Every Saturday and Sunday in October 2026 · 10 AM–2 PM Tue–Sat during the week 💵 Free entry; activities priced individually

A working farm and animal rescue sanctuary just east of Austin, Crowe’s Nest hosts Fall Family Fun Days every weekend in October. Hay rides, barrel train rides, farm animals, and a genuine farm-feels atmosphere that the commercial patches can’t replicate. The animal rescue angle makes it extra meaningful for kids who love animals — many of the animals here have been rehabilitated.

Best for: Kids who love farm animals, families who want a lower-key experience Pro tip: Check their social media before going for current activity hours — it’s a working farm and schedules can shift.

Uhland Fall Fest 📍 2400 Cotton Gin Rd., Uhland (Kyle area), TX · ~30 min south 🗓 September 26–November 1, 2026 · Saturdays & Sundays · 10 AM–7 PM 💵 $20 plus tax (general admission) · Under 3 free

Fifteen acres of fall fun just 25 miles south of Austin, and one of the most content-dense festivals on this list. Over 50 fall-inspired games, activities, and attractions plus a pumpkin patch and live performances throughout the season. Each weekend has a different theme, so you could technically go twice and have a different experience. Good variety for families with kids of different ages.

Best for: Mixed-age families, a full-day outing, repeat visits Pro tip: Check their themed weekend calendar before booking — some weekends have special performers or activities that make them worth prioritizing.

Texas Pumpkin Fest 📍 8760 FM 2243, Leander, TX (30 min northwest) 🗓 October 10–November 1, 2026 · Saturdays & Sundays (plus Oct 12 & Oct 30) 💵 Check texaspumpkinfest.com for current pricing

Billed as the Austin area’s largest pumpkin festival, and the name isn’t overselling it. This is where you come when you want the full carnival experience alongside your pumpkins — think carnival rides, professional wrestling, magic shows, photo ops, train rides, pony rides, and food trucks, all in one spot. The lineup of special attractions changes day by day, so different days of the week offer different things. Worth checking their calendar to find the day with the entertainment your kids will love most.

Best for: Kids ages 4–14, families who want a festival atmosphere, anyone who wants carnival rides with their pumpkins Pro tip: Print the weekly schedule in advance — wrestling, magic shows, and special performers are on specific days only.

🔴 45 Minutes or More — Worth the Drive

Sweet Eats Adventure Farm 📍 1520 FM 971, Georgetown, TX 78628 (35–40 min north) 🗓 September 20–November 8, 2026 · Daily 9 AM–6 PM 💵 Check sweeteats.com for 2026 pricing (advance tickets recommended)

If you can only do one pumpkin patch this fall, Sweet Eats is the one. This Georgetown farm is in a category of its own — a 4.5-acre themed corn maze, 40+ varieties of pumpkins, daily pig races, a petting zoo, pony rides, wagon rides, apple cannons, and 30+ farm activities all included in general admission. On Friday and Saturday nights in October, they add fireworks displays. Weekend entertainment includes Floki Fire performers, Sky Kings Falconry, and Zoofari animal shows. Pumpkins are sold by the pound at $0.85/lb, and you can paint them on-site for free.

Best for: All ages — genuinely the best value and variety in the Austin area Pro tip: Buy tickets online in advance, especially for weekends. Lines at the gate can be long, and the farm can reach capacity on peak fall weekends.

Sweet Berry Farm 📍 1801 FM 1980, Marble Falls, TX 78654 (55 min northwest) 🗓 Mid-September–Late November 2026 💵 Free admission and parking; pay per activity

The original — 26 years, 152 acres, and the best-laid-out fall farm in Central Texas. The Hill Country setting outside Marble Falls makes this feel like a real escape from the city. Activities include a Texas-shaped 4-acre corn maze, hayrides around the scenic property, flower picking, a Scarecrow Village, pumpkin painting, horse rides, a barrel train, face painting, and the Berry Bounce. Food available on-site at the Pumpkin Grill (open 10 AM–4 PM October weekends). Because you pay per activity rather than one lump admission, you can customize your visit and spend as much or as little as you want.

Best for: Families who want the quintessential Hill Country fall experience, great photos, and a genuine farm atmosphere Pro tip: Go early and tackle the Texas Maze first — it’s the highlight, and the line grows throughout the day. Pack a picnic if you want to save on food costs.

Country Grace Farms — The Pink Pumpkin Patch 📍 7905 FM 1101, Seguin, TX 78155 (~75 min southeast) 🗓 September 26–November 1, 2026 · Weekends + Columbus Day 💵 Discounted tickets available at countrygracefarms.com (buy online to save)

💗 There is nowhere else like this in Central Texas. Country Grace Farms bills itself as the “pinkest pumpkin patch in Texas,” and the description is completely accurate — the entire farm is an over-the-top, deliberately Instagram-worthy explosion of pink pumpkins, pink barns, pink displays, and pink everything. It is spectacularly, unapologetically extra, and that is the whole point.

Beyond the signature pink pumpkin patch displays, the farm has a traditional pumpkin patch too, a carousel, train rides, a playground, a boutique full of farm merch and seasonal gifts, food trucks, local wine and craft beer (21+), and some of the best photo murals and backdrops of any fall event in the region. The pink barn boutique alone is worth a stop. The farm draws visitors from San Antonio, New Braunfels, Austin, and San Marcos — and it has developed a devoted following that returns every year for the sheer joy of the aesthetic.

At 75 minutes from Austin, this is the furthest destination on the pumpkin patch list — but for a certain audience, it’s the only destination. If you have a daughter who’s been sending you Pinterest boards, a best friend who lives for a themed photo op, or you just want a fall outing that doesn’t look like every other pumpkin patch, Country Grace Farms delivers something genuinely different.

Best for: Families with kids who love pink, photo-obsessed friends groups, anyone who wants a visually stunning and one-of-a-kind fall experience, date days Pro tip: Buy tickets online in advance — flash sales early in the season offer the lowest prices of the year. Sign up for their newsletter at countrygracefarms.com/newsletter to be notified when sales go live. Wear something that pops against pink for the best photos.

🌟 PUMPKIN NIGHTS

All ages · Indoor/outdoor · No scares — pure wonder

Pumpkin Nights at Pioneer Farms 📍 10621 Pioneer Farms Dr., Austin, TX 78754 (In Austin — northeast) 🗓 September 17–October 31, 2026 · Nightly 6–11 PM (last entry 9 PM) 💵 Tickets at pumpkinnights.com (advance purchase required)

This is the one event in Austin that genuinely has no peer. Pumpkin Nights is a half-mile walking path through nine immersive “pumpkin lands” built from over 10,000 hand-carved and custom-designed pumpkins — think elaborate sculptures, massive installations, and fully realized fantasy worlds all lit from within. The lands have names like the Forbidden City, Neon Reef, and Pirate’s Cove. There are also fire dancers, live entertainment, food vendors, and incredible photo opportunities throughout.

Here’s what makes Pumpkin Nights stand out from everything else on this list: there are zero scares. This is Halloween as art and wonder, not fear. Little kids can walk the whole thing without being startled. Teens will actually think it’s cool. And adults will find themselves genuinely impressed by the craft. It’s one of the few October events where everyone in the family — from a 3-year-old to a grandparent — has an equally good time.

Best for: All ages, date nights, families with young children who want the Halloween atmosphere without the fright, anyone who appreciates large-scale art Drive time: In Austin — under 20 minutes from most of the city Pro tip: The sweet spot is right after opening (6–7 PM) when the sky is still transitioning to dark and the pumpkins glow against a purple sky. The last hour before close is also less crowded. Weeknight visits are significantly less crowded than weekends.

👻 FAMILY-FRIENDLY FRIGHTS

Best for ages 6–12 · Spooky but not traumatizing

These are events designed to be Halloween-fun without crossing into genuinely scary territory. Think spooky train rides, Halloween-decorated animal habitats, and haunted houses calibrated for curious kids rather than thrill-seeking teens.

Boo at the Zoo — Austin Zoo 📍 10808 Rawhide Trail, Austin, TX 78736 (Southwest Austin — about 20 min) 🗓 Friday and Saturday nights in October · October 2–24, 2026 · 5:45–9 PM 💵 $24 per person · Under 2 free (must ride the train in an adult’s lap)

Austin Zoo transforms into a Halloween experience every Friday and Saturday in October. The whole zoo is lit up in purple, orange, and green, and the animal habitats take on a different, wilder quality in the dark. Your ticket includes a haunted train ride through the decorated grounds and unlimited visits to the haunted house (which is spooky-fun rather than genuinely scary). Families are encouraged to come in full costume, which adds to the magic.

What makes Boo at the Zoo special beyond the decorations: Austin Zoo is a rescue and rehabilitation zoo, so the animals here have real stories. Seeing them at night with your kids in costumes creates an atmosphere that’s equal parts spooky and heartwarming.

Bring flashlights for the habitat walk. You can bring a picnic to enjoy at the Picnic Grove, or grab food and beverages at the gift shop.

Best for: Kids 4–11 in costume · Families who want a spooky atmosphere without intense scares Pro tip: No October 30 or 31 dates this year — plan accordingly. Advance reservations required for train rides.

Halloween Children’s Concert — Austin Symphony Orchestra 📍 Long Center for the Performing Arts, 701 W. Riverside Dr., Austin 🗓 October 18, 2026 💵 Check longlcenter.org for ticket pricing

A genuinely special Austin tradition — the Austin Symphony performs a live Halloween-themed orchestral concert designed specifically for children. Kids come in costume, the orchestra plays spooky classics, and the whole Long Center becomes a Halloween event. A wonderful introduction to live orchestral music that doesn’t feel like a lecture. Best for families with kids who respond to music and performance rather than purely physical activities.

Best for: Kids 4–10 who love music, performance, and dressing up Pro tip: Get tickets early — this sells out. Sit toward the front of the floor for the best experience with young children.

💀 HORROR & FRIGHT ATTRACTIONS

Best for ages 13 and up · Genuinely scary · Some 16+ or 18+ restrictions

This is where Austin’s October entertainment gets serious. The Austin area has a remarkable concentration of world-class haunted houses — from a slick multi-house complex in northeast Austin to a 20-acre forest horror experience an hour south. Here’s how they break down.

🟢 In Austin / Under 20 Minutes

House of Torment 📍 2632 Ridgepoint Dr., Austin, TX 78754 (Northeast Austin) 🗓 September 12–November 8, 2026 · Wednesday through Monday 💵 Starting at $19.99 (prices vary by date and package) · Online purchase only ⚠️ Not recommended for children under 12

House of Torment has been called “The Scariest Haunted House in America” by the Travel Channel, and the reputation is earned. Three full immersive horror experiences under one roof, each with a distinct narrative: Blackthorn Falls (a monster-infested town), Site 505 (a horrific alien research facility), and a supernatural manor working through the Seven Deadly Sins. The production quality is Hollywood-level — elaborate sets, Hollywood-caliber costumes, and actors who commit completely to their roles.

Beyond the three main houses, there are mini escape games, axe throwing, and the Neon Coffin Secret Bar and Torment Tavern for those who need a drink between screams. A Respawn Pass lets you go through all three attractions a second time — for those who want to catch what they missed while sprinting.

Best for: Teens 13+, adults, hardcore horror fans Pro tip: Buy tickets online in advance — they do sell out on peak fall weekends. Wednesday and Thursday nights are significantly less crowded than weekends.

Sign Bar Fear Fair📍 9909 FM 969 Bldg 3, Austin, TX 78724 (Northeast Austin) 🗓 September 16–November 1, 2026 ·  💵 Starting at $6.50 (Daytime) and $14.50 (Live actor maze)  ⚠️ Not recommended for children under 12

Explore their haunted maze, new sets and new scares. Halloween cocktails, creepy photo ops and more.

Best for: Teens 13+, adults, hardcore horror fans Pro tip: Not looking to get chased through a maze by a bunch of clowns? Come earlier for their actor-free matinee walkthrough and explore the sets and have spooky photo-ops without anyone waiting around the corner.

🟡 20–45 Minutes Away

Bat City Scaregrounds 📍 14101 South Turnersville Rd., Buda, TX (30 min south) 🗓 September 26–October 31, 2026 · Select dates (Fridays, Saturdays, some Thursdays and Sundays) 💵 $25–$40 · One ticket covers three haunted houses + entertainment ⚠️ No alcohol permitted on premises

If House of Torment is the slick urban haunted house experience, Bat City Scaregrounds is the immersive theme park. Spread across 15 acres just south of Austin in Buda, this is a full night out — three meticulously designed haunted houses, Vegas-level live performances, stage shows, live music, and seasonal food and drinks, all included with one ticket. The production values are extraordinary, and the 15-acre footprint means the scares aren’t just inside the houses — the whole grounds are designed to unsettle you.

No alcohol is served or permitted on the premises, which makes it an unusual combination of genuinely frightening and genuinely family-accessible for older teens. Hours run 7:30–11 PM on Fridays and Saturdays.

Best for: Teens and adults who want more than just a haunted house — a full night out Pro tip: Check their website for “Thrill Nights” vs. standard nights — some evenings have additional entertainment that makes them worth choosing over others.

Scare for a Cure 📍 Manor, TX (25 min east of Austin) 🗓 October dates — check scareforacure.org 💵 Varies; donations of canned goods encouraged ⚠️ Extreme, full-contact experience — adults only

This is in a different category from the others on this list, and it deserves its own paragraph to set expectations. Scare for a Cure is not a walk-through haunted house — it’s a full-contact, intensely immersive, story-driven theatrical horror experience where actors can touch you, get very close to you, and pursue you through the environments. The production is built by veterans of Austin’s theater community and is genuinely one of the most sophisticated haunted experiences in the state.

This is not appropriate for children or for people who aren’t fully prepared for a no-holds-barred experience. For adults who want something truly unlike a standard haunted house, it’s exceptional. Proceeds benefit local food banks.

Best for: Adults 18+ who want an extreme, theatrical horror experience Pro tip: Read the full FAQ on their website before going. This experience has specific rules and expectations that matter.

🔴 45 Minutes+ — Worth Every Mile

Scream Hollow Wicked Halloween Park 📍 149 Split Rail Lane, Smithville, TX 78957 (Bastrop County — ~55 min southeast) 🗓 September 18–November 1, 2026 💵 Varies based on which haunts you choose (mix-and-match pricing) ⚠️ Multiple attractions rated for different ages; some are genuinely intense

Scream Hollow is the most complete Halloween destination within driving distance of Austin, and it’s not particularly close. Twenty acres of dense, isolated forest in Bastrop County, spread across 22 buildings, hosting five distinct haunted attractions: Mansion of Terror Coven, Lost Pines Asylum, Sinister Circus, Hell on Wheels Haunted Hayride, and Wicked Darkness: The Maze. Each is separately themed, separately staffed, and offers a different type of experience — the hayride alone is a standout.

The setting is what elevates Scream Hollow above everything else on this list. This isn’t a parking lot in the suburbs with temporary walls — this is a real forest on a real rural property, and the darkness, isolation, and physical scale of the experience are things no urban haunted house can replicate. There’s also a live band, a beer garden, bonfires, a gift shop, and a Halloween museum.

The pricing is modular — you choose which of the five haunts you want to brave and pay accordingly, which means you can calibrate the intensity for your group.

Best for: Teens and adults who want the most complete, immersive, and genuinely frightening Halloween experience in the Austin area Drive time: ~55 minutes southeast of Austin via TX-71 Pro tip: This is a whole evening — budget at least 3–4 hours on site. Groups are limited to keep the experience intense, so book in advance. If you want to go all five haunts, arrive early.

📅 QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE

🗺️ MY PICKS BY FAMILY TYPE

You have a toddler or preschooler: King of Kings (free), Indian Springs Ranch (exotic animals!), or Pumpkin Nights (pure wonder, zero scares)

You have a grade-schooler who loves farm activities: Sweet Eats Adventure Farm in Georgetown — the best all-in-one farm experience in the area

You want the big Hill Country day trip: Sweet Berry Farm in Marble Falls — pack a picnic, get lost in the Texas Maze, pick wildflowers, and enjoy the drive

You have a tween who wants spooky but not terrifying: Boo at the Zoo, or let them lead the family through Pumpkin Nights at night — it scratches the Halloween itch without nightmares

You have a teen who wants to be actually scared: House of Torment for the slick urban experience, Bat City Scaregrounds for the immersive entertainment, or Scream Hollow if you’re willing to drive an hour for the real thing

You want a date night: Scream Hollow (you will grab each other), Pumpkin Nights (beautiful and romantic), or Bat City Scaregrounds (surprisingly great live entertainment)

You want the most Instagram-worthy fall outing in Central Texas: Country Grace Farms in Seguin — the pink pumpkin patch is 75 minutes away but completely one-of-a-kind. Worth the drive for the photos alone.

Prices and dates reflect 2026 information as of publication. Always confirm current hours, pricing, and availability directly with each attraction before visiting — October schedules can change, and peak dates often sell out weeks in advance.

Altovector Technologies | Austin Business Branding Photographer

For their branding session, we talked first to discuss what they had in mind.

The Branding Request

• Individual professional portraits/headshots of both founders
• A few individual environmental/branding portraits
• Leadership photos of the two of them together
• Natural working/collaboration shots — for example, reviewing something on a laptop or discussing technology/strategy

Pre-Production Work

Production Day

_______________________________________________________________________________________

Austin Senior Portrait Session at Waterloo Park | Austin Senior & Family Photographer

Tips for a photo session at Waterloo Park:

_______________________________________________________________________________________

Please check out some of my favorite images below and contact me if you’d like to book your own Senior + Family combo photo session in Austin, Texas. Explore more photo sessions on my blog.

Cathedral of Junk, Free Day of Yoga and BubblePalooza | September Newsletter links

High School Senior Year To Do List | Austin, Texas

Ready to make the most of your last year of High School?

High School Seniors (and your Parents):

See below for a month by month checklist of To Dos and Fun to Go Tos for 2026-2027 School Year.

August

• 8/1/26 – Common App for College applications opens
• 8/18/26 – First Day of School at AISD! Take a photo to remember it by
• Go swim in Barton Springs to cool off with friends
• Plan a Senior Sunrise meet-up with Friends

September

• Book your Senior Photos for Fall
• Work on your Early Decision College Applications and Essays
• Watch the Bats come out from the S. Congress St. Bridge
• Go paddleboard around Lady Bird Lake
• Get dressed up with friends and go to your Homecoming

October

• 10/1/26 – FAFSA Student Aid opens for 2027-2028
• 10/2-10/4 & 10/9-10/11 – Go to the ACL Music Festival
• Cheer on your school at a game
• Go to the Texas Renaissance Festival
• Continue to work on your College Applications and Essays

November

• 11/14-11/15/26 – Go to the Texas Book Festival
• Submit College Applications (some Early Decisions are due Nov. 1st)
• Hike the Greenbelt
• Volunteer at a food bank or toy drive

December

• Walk the Trail of Lights
• Submit College Applications (some Regular Admissions are due around Dec. 1st)
• Tour Colleges on Winter Break

January

• Book Senior Photos for the Spring
• Go on a BBQ road trip
• Listen to music at an all-ages venue in Austin
• Research available scholarships

February

• Buy some spray paint and leave your mark on HOPE Outdoor Gallery
• See how many iconic Austin murals you can visit in one day (start on S. Congress)
• Go camping with friends

March

• 3/15-3/21 – Go to (or volunteer at) SXSW for music, movies and interactive events
• Visit Rodeo Austin for music, prorodeo events and a huge carnival
• Go see the bluebonnets and get your photo taken in them
• Tour Colleges on Spring Break

April

• Celebrate Eeyore’s Birthday Party at Pease Park
• Dress up and go to Prom
• See the Spring wildflower at the Wildflower Center
• Write a Thank you note to your favorite teacher

May

• Study for your AP Classes and Final Exams
• Schedule a Senior Sunset meet-up with Friends
• Do an Elementary School Senior Walk
• Write a Letter to your Future Self
• Sign as many yearbooks as possible
• Plan a Graduation Party
• Happy Last Day of High School!

___________________________________________________________________________________

Please contact me if you’d like to book a Senior portrait session in Austin, Texas this school year.

Cosplay Train Ride, GlowRow the Lake and Read to Rescue Cats | August Newsletter links

Tips for Photo Sessions at Vic Mathias Shores | Austin Senior Photographer

• Where are good parking options?
• How far would we need to walk between locations?
• Could we get a mix of urban and nature backgrounds?

Austin Skyline from the S. 1st St. Bridge

Having her “guns up” for Texas Tech

If you’d also like to have a photo session around Auditorium Shores, here are my tips below:

_______________________________________________________________________________________

Please check out some of my favorite images below and contact me if you’d like to book your own Senior photo session in Austin, Texas. Explore more photo sessions on my blog.

Neighborhood 4th of July Parades, World Cup watching and ways to cool off this summer in Austin | July Newsletter links