The following blog was written by, Caylor Travers. Caylor is a Katy mom and photographer. Check out her photography business here.
It always starts off in October with excitement, and good intentions on our part.
The temperature cools to an exciting 90 degrees and moms around Katy, with excited pens, begin filling in calendars with every neighborhood festival, trunk-or-treat and fair that we think our kids will just love. And they do. But before the calendar fills up on the weekends and we spend the weekdays decorating our homes and baking all things that are leaf-shaped and pumpkin flavored, just pause.
The task as a mom to create memorable experiences that turn into to incredible holiday traditions for your family can feel like a lot of pressure. This year take the advice from a few Katy moms and make intentional choices for enjoying fall with your family this year, and you just might be left reenergized for Christmas rather than exhausted.
Kayla Abell, a mom of a two-year-old boy, is doing just that this year. She has lived in Katy since her son was born and enjoys the quality family time at events that are only offered in the fall, like Blessington Farms.
Blessington Farms, located in Wallis, offers rides, animal experiences and dozens of other attractions for all ages.
Abell said they went recently as a family and enjoyed a family hayride, petting farm animals, picking pumpkins and just exposing their son to new experiences he wouldn’t normally see otherwise.
“Honestly, the best part about our Blessington Farms experience is simply seeing our son enjoy his time there, and more specifically in the Farm Funland (at Blessington),” Abell said. “As a mom, you know how wonderful it is to live life through your child’s eyes, and Blessington Farms has so many fun adventures for the kiddos, everyone seems to leave feeling fulfilled.”
Abell said they also started to make participating in the YMCA Turkey Dash a family tradition.
“It’s a great family event that is well organized,and it’s an excuse to have an extra slice of pie after your walk/run,” Abell said. “We also enjoy taking advantage of all the fall festivals in the Katy area.”
Another farm festival families can visit is located in Brookshire, called Dewberry Farms.
Mary Emerson, co-owner with her husband of Dewberry Farms, explained that she wants her visitors to focus on quality family time when they visit their farm. Dewberry Farms offers over 50 attractions, 8-acres of corn mazes, and hundreds of pumpkins available for children to pick just the right pumpkin.
“Our goal is for families to have a fun place to come out together for family fun,” Emerson said.
Since 2002, Dewberry Farms has been serving families in the Houston area with animals attractions for all ages. This the farm has three new attractions, Paint Ball Gallery, Human Foosball and a ride called Hogs Gone Wild. For toddlers and younger children Emerson said their mile-long train ride, Slide Mountain and Jumping Pillows, are some of the most popular attractions. Older children really enjoy the Corn mMaze, Apple Cannon and the Black Vortex. The day after Thanksgiving, families can enjoy the farm’s Christmas trail of lights and trees.
“Probably one of our most unique features (currently) is Pumpkin Hallow,” Emerson said of the area in the farm where artist intricately carved 100s of pumpkins into displayed art for all to enjoy.
Emerson said that tickets have changed in recent years to include an all-inclusive fee. She said one of the goals behind that was to not only give families a value for being able to enjoy just about all of the attractions at one price, but also to encourage parents to get out and participate in all of the events with their children. She also encouraged people with young children to come early on weekends and check the calendar for three nights the farm will stay open later for fireworks.
Judi Miser, mom of three ages 11 to 5-years-old, said she has lived in Katy for about 10 years.
Miser said one of their favorite fall events is the tradition of supporting the church her children went to preschool through the FUMC pumpkin patch.
“My kids love searching for the perfect pumpkin to take home and carve,” Miser said.
There are a lot of options for fall events. Bottom line, don’t get overwhelmed and be intentional.
“Find the activities that appeal to your family and enjoy!” Miser said. “Don’t try to plan too much.”
These festivals and events are meant to serve as fun places and spaces for your family to grow together, if you priotize your time with your family. Select the perfect family events with your family from the list of events included here:
Katy’s Fall Festivals and Events
Blessington Farms Pumpkin Patch & Fall Festival
Oct 1 – Nov 10: Hay rides, giant slides, barrel train rides, pedal cars, live animals, and much more.
FCC Katy Pumpkin Patch (First Christian Church)
Oct 1 – 31: Daily dawn til dusk – bring your lunch, camera, costumes and grab a pumpkin
Oct 19: Movie Night @ the Patch
Oct 27: Trunk or Treat
First United Methodist Church Pumpkin Patch
Oct 1 – 31: Pick from pumpkins of all sizes and enjoy great family photo opportunities. Patch hours: Sun-Fri 12-6 PM; Saturday 10 AM-6PM.
Oct 13 & 20: Storytime in the Pumpkin Patch – 10AM, 2PM, & 4PM
Oct 27: Family Night in the Pumpkin Patch
St. Peter’s United Methodist Church Pumpkin Patch
Oct 8 – 31: Mon – Sat 9 AM – 7 PM, Sun Noon – 7 PM – Find a huge assortment of different types and sizes of pumpkins
Oct 13: ECDC Fall Family Festival – Pony rides, petting zoo, face painting and much more.
Oct 20: Pick-A-Dilly Craft Fair
Oct 24: Trunk or Treat
Dewberry Farms Fall Festival
Oct 6 – Nov 11: Open on Weekends – Fall family entertainment, corn maze, pumpkin patch, and more. 50+ attractions. 10 yummy eateries.
October 13, 20, & 27: The farm will be open until 9 PM for Fireworks in October
October 13 -14: Pumpkin Fest
Oct 20-21: Harvest Moon Weekend
Oct 27-28: Day of the Dead Weekend
Halter Inc. Annual Pumpkin Patch
Oct 6 – 28: Open every Saturday 9 AM – 5 PM and Sunday Noon – 5 PM – Enjoy pony rides, track-less train rides, haunted woods and more.
38th Annual Katy Rice Harvest Festival
Oct 12 – 14: Fri 6 PM – 11 PM, Sat 10 AM – 10PM, and Sun Noon- 6 PM. Saturday the parade begins at 9 AM.
Mark A. Chapman YMCA at Katy Main Street
Oct 13: Kids Night Out Monster Mash Bash – 6 PM – 10 PM. 3 -12 yrs old can enjoy games, arts & crafts, snacks, a pizza and movie
Oct 26: Fall Festival and Trunk or Treating
St. John Vianney Annual Bazaar
Oct 14: 11 AM -6 PM Games & rides for all ages, BBQ, food booths, live music, raffle and much more.
Children’s Light House (Cinco Ranch) Spooktacular Fall Festival
Oct 19: 6:30 – 8:30 PM Open to the Public, Costume Contest, Food Trucks, Trunk or Treat Haunted House, Childrens Activities Pumpkin Decorating and more.
George Ranch Historical Park
Oct 20: 35th Annual Texian Market Days Festival 9 AM – 5 PM Historic demonstrations, battle re-enactments, hands-on activities, period entertainment, food & craft vendors.
Oct 27: A Victorian All Hallows Day – Come explore Halloween pasts at the Park’s two Victorian-era homes
Oct. 31: Ghosts & Grub – After-hours Halloween event like no other: Adults and children 12+ are invited to enjoy a spooking-ly delightful meal, followed by a lantern walking tour of the Park, filled with unique Texas ghost stories.
Cross Creek Ranch 10th Annual Scarecrow Fest
Oct 20: 1 PM – 6 PM Scarecrow contest, live music, carnival, food trucks, pumpkin patch and much more.
KVPAC’s Wicked Weekend
Oct 26 – 27: 8 PM – Midnight A night in the Haunted House.
City of Katy Howl-o-Ween
Oct 27: 9 AM – 11AM Costume Contest, games, door prizes, photo booth and vendors at the Katy Dog Park
Bridgeland’s 10th AnnualHowl-o-Ween Fest
Oct 27: 10 AM – 4 PM Live entertainment, Stunt Dog Show, pumpkin decorating, trick or treating, and much more.
CAP Howl-o-Ween Adoption Event
Oct 27: 11 AM – 6 PM Pet photos, tasty treats, face painting and consider adopting your very own furry “monster.” At Central Green Park in LaCenterra at Cinco Ranch.
Fort Bend Museum’s Miss Ivy’s Spooktacular Halloween Party
Oct 27: 2 PM – 5 PM Games, tricks and treats will be part of this fun family event.
Grand Lakes Presbyterian Church Trunk or Treat
Oct 27: 5 – 7 PM
Trinity Baptist Church Trunk or Treat
Oct 28: 4:30 PM Trunks with activities, games, candy & treats, sno-cones, DJ, and inflatables.
Living Word Lutheran Church Katy Trunk or Treat
Oct 28: 6 PM
Chick-fil-A Katy Green Cow-o-Ween Carnival
Oct 29: 5 – 7 PM Carnival games, pumpkin art and a special cow inflatable bounce house. Kids dressed in costume will receive a free Chick-fil-A Nuggets Kids Meal (4 ct.)
CityCentre Houston Halloween Trick or Treat
Oct 31: 5 – 7 PM Prowl the district for tasty treasures followed by a Monster Mash with a DJ until 8 PM.