10 Reasons to Visit Austin This Fall

When the Texas summer heat finally breaks, Austin comes alive with events, festivals and happenings throughout the fall season.

Whether you are interested in catching a University of Texas Longhorns football game, seeing your favorite band at the Austin City Limits Festival, or simply enjoying a crisp IPA from East Austin’s best craft breweries, fall is the best time of year to visit Austin for beautiful weather and the best activities!

Here at the Heywood Hotel, we’re pleased to share our top 10 reasons to visit Austin this fall.

1. Hill Country Wineries

The Texas Hill Country is one of the top wine regions in the country, and Austin is lucky enough to be close to some of the best wineries in the state. Whether venturing to Fredericksburg, Johnson City, or nearby Driftwood, the season’s temperate weather makes it one of the nicest times to be outside. Visit any of the Hill Country wineries to learn more about Texas wine, sip on a glass of your favorite varietal, and take in the refreshing scenery of the Texas Hill Country.

When you book through the Heywood Hotel, our concierge staff can direct you to a number of options for hitting the best wineries in the Texas Hill Country. Options include public and private tours, renting a car, or hiring a private driver and designing your own adventure. 

2. Longhorns Football

Fall is college football season! The University of Texas Longhorns have a strong team and a solid lineup of home games in 2019, starting with the home opener against Louisiana Tech on August 31 and followed by LSU on September 7, Oklahoma State on September 21, Kansas on October 19, Kansas State on November 9 and Texas Tech on November 29. The Heywood proudly features the Longhorn Network in all rooms, and there are several nearby bars and eateries that screen the games. Hook ’em!

3. Austin City Limits Music Festival

Featuring more than 100 bands across 8 stages over two glorious October weekends, Austin City Limits Music Festival is one of the nation’s most highly anticipated and largest music festivals. It’s also the perfect excuse to visit Austin in the fall. The festival takes place at Zilker Park on October 4 – 6 and October 11 – 13, with the Austin city skyline as the backdrop. This year’s ACL Fest lineup will appeal to musical palates of all kinds, with headliners Guns N’ Roses, Mumford & Sons, Childish Gambino, The Cure, Cardi B, Billie Eilish, and Tame Impala. The Heywood Hotel is a great place to stay, just a few miles from the action, and all reservations include a free welcome gift.

4. Austin Film Festival

The Austin Film Festival celebrates its 26th anniversary in 2019 with 180 movies shown over 8 days at venues across the city, October 24 – October 31, 2019. Expect everything from highly anticipated Hollywood blockbusters to breakthrough indie films, plus Q&As, independent breakouts, narrative and documentary competition features, classic retrospectives and a stellar shorts program. The Austin Film Festival pass lets you get a taste of all the excitement, with opportunities to see this year’s awards-season contenders alongside avant-garde indie gems.

5. Texas Book Festival

Fall is the perfect season for snuggling up with a good book! The Texas Book Festival brings together top authors and avid readers every year for one special weekend, with this year’s event taking place on October 26-27. Founded in 1995 by Laura Bush, the free fall festival celebrates Texans who love to read, and features more than 250 nationally and critically recognized authors and around 50,000 attendees.

The festival takes place in and around the Capitol building, and includes panel discussions, signings, exhibitor booths, food vendors, live music, as well as unique opportunities to meet the authors and discuss their work. It’s a great way to discover new books and authors! This year’s lineup includes literary legends John Hodgman, Susan Choi, Jericho Brown, and many more. 

6. Formula 1 US Grand Prix

One of the most thrilling race experiences of the year, the Formula 1 Pirelli 2019 United States Grand Prix roars into town on November 1st through November 3rd. Bringing the highest class of single-seater auto racing to the Circuit of the Americas track, this year’s Formula 1 weekend also welcomes musical headliners Imagine Dragons and P!nk. For Formula 1 enthusiasts, the Heywood is one of the closest hotels to the excitement. We offer free parking and convenient access for guests commuting to the Circuit of the Americas, plus a free welcome gift to help make the most of the weekend.

7. Texas Monthly BBQ Fest

Visiting from out of state? Trying Texas barbecue should be at the top of your list. Texas Monthly makes it easy to sample a variety of bbq restaurants from across the state, all in one place. Each year, the publication hosts the annual Texas Monthly BBQ Fest featuring the Top 50 BBQ Joints in Texas. This year’s festivities are taking place just a few miles from the Heywood Hotel at The Long Center on November 2-3 and include live music, drinks, and of course, the best barbecue you could get your hands on.

Even if you don’t attend the festival, there are still plenty of opportunities to experience all that Austin’s barbecue scene has to offer. Within walking distance of the Heywood is la Barbecue, and just a short drive or bike ride away are Micklethwait Craft Meats and Franklin Barbecue.

8. East Austin Studio Tour

The annual East Austin Studio Tour (EAST) is a free, self-guided art event spanning two weekends, November 16-17 and 23-24, 2019. Presented by the nonprofit organization, Big Medium, EAST showcases a broad range of local art across various mediums including painting, printmaking, photography, sculpture, video, ceramics, woodworking, metalwork, jewelry, textiles, installations and more, and offers opportunities to meet and purchase work directly from the artists.

Located in the heart of the action, there’s no better place than the Heywood to serve as your home base for the East Austin Studio Tour. Within an easy walk or bike ride from the Heywood are more than 500 participating artist studios, galleries and happenings. Just hop on one of the free bikes we offer to guests and explore EAST like a local.

9. Bike and Brew Tour

Our East Austin neighborhood is known for its outstanding craft breweries, and fall is the perfect season for touring them all. We’ve partnered with Bike and Brew ATX to offer Heywood guests a bike tour of the best local breweries plus other major downtown and Eastside attractions. This 3.5-hour, moderate-riding-level ride includes visits to the State Capitol building, Texas State Cemetery and three breweries, including three flights of excellent craft beer and a souvenir. Book your tour through the Heywood and receive a free Heywood souvenir. Please request more info when you reserve your room online!

10. Grabbing Drinks on a Nearby Patio

Did we mention that the weather is nice this time of year? Fall in Austin is patio season. We suggest kicking back on a nearby patio or our front porch with a craft brew from Zilker Brewing Company, or a margarita featuring locally made Tequila 512. There are more than 50 bars and restaurants within an easy walk or bike ride from the Heywood Hotel, many featuring fantastic outdoor spaces for relaxing with a refreshing beverage. Our concierges will provide a free map and the best recommendations!

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However you’d like to spend your autumn in Austin, the Heywood Hotel would love to be a part of it! Our expert concierge team has plenty of ideas for how to make fall the perfect season to visit Austin.

Book your stay and we’ll personalize suggestions just for you!