Secret Season. This week has somehow still managed to feel like summer, with the heat index flirting with triple digits. Then a cold front arrives this Friday to flip the script: highs drop into the 70s, mornings turn genuinely cool, and by the weekend we may be waking up to temperatures in the low 50s.
Add in a quieter lake that's still nearly full, patios finally worth sitting on, and monarchs making their annual trip through Central Texas, and this is the stretch locals wait for.
Summer on Lake Travis gets all the publicity. October might be the better deal.
Here’s what’s happening around the lake.
CELEBRATION OF LIFE FOR KASH VALLEE | October 15, 5–9pm | Lucky Rabbit | FREE | Info
An evening to gather, remember, and celebrate Kash Vallee.
FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY BOOK SALE & SILENT AUCTION | October 16, 9am–6pm; October 17, 9am–1pm | Lago Vista Library | $10/bag | Info
Ten dollars fills a bag with books. Your nightstand can figure out the rest.
12TH ANNUAL SONGWRITERS FESTIVAL | October 16–18 | Downtown Dripping Springs | FREE | Info
Forty-plus songwriters trade songs and the stories behind them.
LIGHTSOME WINE TASTING & MEET THE WINEMAKER | October 16, 2–4pm | Peaches Coffee | FREE | Info
Free pours and charcuterie with the person who actually made the wine.
PUMPKINS, POPCORN & PRACTICAL MAGIC | October 16, 6:30pm | My Poterie | $40 | Info
Paint a pottery pumpkin while Practical Magic handles the October atmosphere.
SALSA & LATIN NIGHTS | October 16, 8–9pm | SAF Wine Bar | FREE | Info
One hour of salsa instruction, then Latin music all night to test what you learned.
MOXIE HEALTH POP-UP | October 17, 8am–12pm | YogaSix Bee Cave | FREE | Info
A Saturday morning B12 shot for anyone whose coffee could use backup.
MOM’S NIGHT OUT | October 17, 7–9:30pm | Farmer Dave’s | $50 | Info
Pick a pumpkin, paint or carve it, and add wine and pie. The kids are somewhere else.
3RD ANNUAL PUMPKIN PATCH FESTIVAL | October 17, 11am–6pm | Angel's Icehouse | FREE
An icehouse patch where the kids pick pumpkins and the grown-ups pick drinks.
OKTOBERFEST | October 17, 3–7pm | Hill Country Galleria | FREE | Info
A long way from Munich but a short drive from home.
WITCHES RIDE | October 17, 5:30–9pm | Lakeway Drive & City Hall | FREE | Info
One mile of witches on wheels, followed by a free carnival.
Image from lakeway-tx.gov
3RD ANNUAL LIFELONG FRIENDS HALLOWEEN FUNDRAISER | October 17, 7–10pm | Lago Vista Brewing Co. | $25 | Info
BBQ, costumes, and a raffle night where the local rescue pets ultimately win.
ANDY RODDICK FOUNDATION POKER PICKLEBALL CLASSIC | October 18, 11am–1pm | 5 Soul Wine Co | $400/team | Info
Pickleball meets poker, with tacos and mimosas handling everything in between.
Photo from Givebutter website
WATERCOLOR CLASS FOR BEGINNERS | October 19, 1–2pm | Lake Travis Library Spicewood | FREE | Info
An hour to learn what watercolor is supposed to do before it develops a mind of its own.
QUEEN OF HEARTS | October 20, 5–7pm | Highway 71 Brewing | $5 | Info
Five bucks buys a ticket and a shot at the $1,420 jackpot.
FLOATING PUMPKIN PATCH | October 17, 9–10am | Lakeway Swim Center | FREE | Info
Pumpkins in a pool — the only patch where picking one means getting wet.
TRUNK OR TREAT | October 17, 5:30–9pm | RAD Sports Spicewood | FREE | Info
Candy by the trunkload, no doorbells required.
HOT LUCK FEST | October 16–17 | Austin | $349 | Info
Aaron Franklin puts chefs over live fire Friday, then keeps the party moving through Saturday.
TEXAS WINE JAM | October 17 | Johnson City | $69 | Info
Johnson City pours enough Texas wine to make the drive home someone else’s job.
AUSTIN COFFEE FESTIVAL | October 17–18 | Palmer Events Center, Austin | $25+ | Info
Enough specialty coffee to make a third cup seem perfectly reasonable.
CAPTURE THE MOVEMENT OF WATER | October 23–24 | Bee Cave Arts Foundation | $270 | Info
A two-day workshop on painting water, for people who live next to a lake.
FALL FEST AT HCI | October 24, 5–7:30pm | HCI Sports & Fitness | FREE | Info
A costume dress rehearsal with enough games to burn off the candy in advance.
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Oct 15th – Oct 18th
ANGEL’S ICEHOUSE (Spicewood)
Fri: Blevins | 6pm
HWY 71 BREWING COMPANY (Spicewood)
Fri: Brian Lee | 7-10pm
IRON WOLF RANCH (Spicewood)
Sat: Chris Beall | 2-5pm
JULES DESIGN BAR (Bee Cave)
Fri: Trevor Helt | 8-10pm
LAKE TRAVIS LIBRARY (Lakeway)
Fri: Matt Tedder | 3-4pm
LT CORNER PUB (Lakeway)
Fri: Karaoke w/KJ Kevin Young | 9pm-2am
LUCKY RABBIT (Jonestown)
Fri: Dog Beach Rebels | 7-10pm
Sat: Sydney Roger Band 2-5pm | The Stone Rollers ATX 7-10pm
Sun: Funk Brunch w/ Brother Magnum | 12-3pm
PLATE BY DZINTRA (Bee Cave)
Thu: Presley Grace | 6-8:30pm
POODIE’S ROADHOUSE (Spicewood)
Thu: Nate Rowe & Harry Bodine 6pm | Dukes of the Hill Country 8pm
Fri: Rhinestone Renegades 8pm | Dean Seltzer & The Redneck Mothers 10:30pm
Sat: Ricke Bros 6pm | Barnyard Stompers 8pm | Paige & The Overtones 10:30pm
Sun: Carl Hutchens 4pm | Tasmin & Tim 7:30pm
SAF WINE BAR (Lakeway)
Thu: Frank Cavitt | 7:30-10:30pm
Fri: Latin & Salsa Night | 8-12am
Sat: Phil Luna | 8:30-11:30pm
Sun: Presley Grace | 6:30-9:30pm
STEINER RANCH STEAKHOUSE (Steiner Ranch)
Fri: Howlin’ Waters | 6:30-9pm
Sat: Anders Drerup | 6-9pm
Sun: Mike Gonzales | 6:30-9pm
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Last Week’s Poll Results. We asked how you got to the lake. The ones who came to visit and stayed had the best stories: “In the mid nineties started with weekend trips from Houston, bought a lake house in ‘97 and moved here full time in 2016!”
“Went to UT here in the ‘80s. Took me 30 years to get back but I’m so glad I’m here!” And one out-of-stater is still counting: “28 years ago October 12th!”
Now, a seasonal question. This week, we want to know:
What’s the fate of your pumpkin this year?
For Rivalry Week: Lake Travis vs. Westlake is coming, and this one gets its own shirt. Preorders are open for the rivalry tee — grab one now and have it ready before the Cavs and Chaps meet under the Friday night lights.
For the Pumpkin Run: If you want the pumpkin-patch photo without turning it into an all-day field trip, Hill Country Pumpkins is hiding right off 290. Admission is free, with pumpkins, painting, crafts and plenty of fall photo setups — basically all the pumpkin patch you need without driving halfway across Central Texas.
Two Bowls Are Better Than One. Chipotle and CAVA are both officially moving forward on East Ladera Boulevard in Bee Cave, with construction getting underway this month. The neighboring restaurants are expected to open in May or June 2027 — one with a Chipotlane and the other with a mobile-order pickup window.
A Change is Brewing. Winston’s ATX is officially changing hands, with new ownership taking over the Bee Creek Road location. The Winston’s team will continue operating its Hill Country Galleria location, while what comes next for the original spot remains to be seen.
Four of a Kind. 4 Sisters Bar & Pavilion is now open in Spicewood, bringing cocktails, Texas wine, local beer, food, live music, and even a pool to Gregg Drive. The family-owned indoor-outdoor spot feels built for lingering — especially once the Hill Country sunset shows up.
Adopt Me. Meet Mackey, a nine-month-old Lab mix who survived being hit by a car and has recovered with his enthusiasm very much intact. He loves car rides, other dogs, his foster family’s cat, and being included in just about anything. Now he just needs a permanent adventure buddy.
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