Here’s my not-so-exhaustive list of events you should add to your road trip this fall. At the end of this article, I'll post any links and relevant information to help get the party started.

September

Whether you’re a hunter or not, there’s no escaping the fact that the dove opener is something akin to a national holiday in Texas. It’s a chance to circle the trucks around a sunflower field, pop the tailgate, and then pop a few cold ones. If the birds show up, even better. Yes, it marks the beginning of hunting season, but also the moment most beloved by all Texans—the impending cold fronts that come with it. It’ll still be blistering hot, but it’ll be blistering hot with a side of hope. So my recommendation is to find a field near you and keep your eyes to the sky—good things are coming.

October

It’s hard to pick just one event in October. It’s a great time of year, which is probably why the social calendar across the state starts to fill up quickly.

At the beginning of the month, it’s time to don your lederhosen for Oktoberfest. There are plenty of events to choose from, but the consensus is that Fredericksburg is the place to be for an authentic taste of Bavarian charm and copious steins of beer. Or, if you're looking for a small-town setting, be sure to hit up the Round Top Antiques Fair. It's one of my favorite spots in Texas, filled with character and surprisingly fine dining—plus, you never know what kind of treasure you may dig up.

For a soirée inspired by our neighbors to the south, celebrate the afterlife in style with San Antonio’s Dia de Los Muertos Festival—if you can’t make it to the real thing across the border. It may sound morbid, but it’s a beautiful Mexican tradition and anything but. Or, if you want to escape the crowds, head way out west to Guadalupe Mountains National Park to see fall foliage in its finest form. Its on my short list as well, and I've heard that McKittrick Canyon is a tough hike to beat.

November

Just when things are really starting to cool off in Texas, events start to heat up on opposite sides of the state. You could head south to the legendary Terlingua Chili Cook-Off—a place that has plenty of flavor, chili or not. Jerry Jeff Walker was onto something. Up north, by way of Amarillo, track down some top-tier rodeo action at the Working Ranch Cowboys Association (WRCA) World Championship Rodeo. If you looked up “real deal” in the dictionary, these guys and gals would be front and center.

And then, we have a much different kind of rodeo. If you’re like me, the colder temperatures make the hair stand up on the back of my neck for one reason only—the redfish run. Along the Texas Coast, “bull” redfish (i.e. the big boys) head into shallower water to spawn, and for a few weeks, anglers have their best shot at catching their personal best. Hook up the boat, hire a quality guide, or simply head for the jetties, and you’re in for one hell of a ride when that rod tip starts to bend. Hold on tight.

December

With the holiday season in full swing, it’s time to see Texas at its most festive. If you’re looking for a more classic approach, take a trip down to Galveston for the Dickens on the Strand celebration, where the city’s most iconic street decks the halls with all of the bells and whistles the city has to offer—music, food, drinks, live entertainment, and a step back in time.

Or, if you want to see how Mother Nature decks the halls, take a trip out past Fort Davis and attend a Star Party at the McDonald Observatory. Tucked in the Davis Mountains and surrounded by some of the darkest skies in the country—it's renowned for showing off celestial bodies via some of the most advanced telescopes on the planet.

If you’ve ticked off half of this list by the end of the year, you’ve done alright for yourself. Experiencing even one of these iconic Texas events will leave a lasting impression—just writing them down gets me excited to hit the road. Here’s a list of dates, locations, and resources to aid your adventure: