By James Waterson

Tailgate at a drive-in concert, sample a seasonal craft brew, and take the family ice skating at a state-of-the-art ice rink. Enjoy all of these experiences, and so much more, this fall in Cedar Park, a fast-growing and popular visitor destination located just north of Austin. Read on to find out more.

A Night at the Drive-In

The H-E-B Center at Cedar Park is putting on drive-in style concerts and live shows, so load up your car or truck and bring your whole crew to enjoy some outdoor, socially-distanced entertainment.  There’s a variety of shows to appeal to all tastes. Enjoy a crisp fall night out with a rock concert or get ready for some belly laughs with a comedy show, whatever show you pick will make for a fun evening outdoors. Make sure and check out their website because there are even more drive-in style events being added for the Fall. Check out their website here.

Ride a Train to Find Your Perfect Pumpkin

Is there anything more “autumny” than the sight of a pumpkin patch and the taste of apple cider? Throw in a trip on a vintage train and you’ve got the ultimate fall experience. This is exactly what you’ll get with the Austin Steam Train Association’s Pumpkin Express, a fun-for-all ages sojourn through the Hill Country to the quaint town of Bertram. Take your pick from the pumpkin patch at the historic 1912 train depot while you sip some apple cider. Then settle in for a relaxing ride back, the perfect time to kick back and relax before your other adventures in Cedar Park.

Get my tickets for the Pumpkin Express.

The Pumpkin Express isn’t the only excursion the Austin Steam Train Association is offering this fall. See the other rides here.

Root for the Home Team

If you’re a sports fan, you’ll want to visit Cedar Park. Home to two first-rate professional sports teams, there’s plenty of high-octane action to enjoy. Find your seats rink side at the state-of-the-art H-E-B Center to see the Texas Stars take on the best of the American Hockey League. The Stars, the top affiliate of the NHL’s Dallas Stars.

Get my tickets for a Texas Stars game.

Speaking of future stars, the talented prospects of one of the NBA’s most storied teams hit the hardwood right here in Cedar Park. The Austin Spurs, the NBA G League team owned by the San Antonio Spurs, tip off in early November at, you guessed it, the H-E-B Center. Having fielded such notable players as current and former San Antonio Spurs Danny Green and Cory Joseph, any Austin Spurs game is a chance to see a potential star in the making.

Sample Seasonal Craft Brews & Wines

Savor a seasonal IPA or a smooth and flavorful merlot on a cool fall day. With craft breweries and wineries nearby, Cedar Park is something of a drinker’s delight. If you prefer beer, step inside the taproom at Whitestone Brewery, where you can try a full spectrum of beers ranging from IPA’s to stouts. Another craft brewery to try is Red Horn Coffee House & Brewing Co. Their tap wall carries an impressive list of beers brewed in-house as well as from local Austin breweries. You can also cozy up to nice warming cup of coffee or seasonal latte since they also brew coffee in-house as well.

For you wine lovers out there, stop by Bent Oak Winery, located in Cedar Park. Try impressive range of reds and whites, including a blanc du bois and a tempranillo made using Texas-grown grapes, in the winery’s cozy tasting room. The winery also has live music on the weekends, so you can listen to some jazz or an acoustic guitar set while you sample local wine and enjoy great company. 

No matter what your beverage of choice is, you’ll find it in Cedar Park.

Get Outdoors to Soak Up the Cooler Weather

With plenty of cool sunny days, autumn in Cedar Park is a great time of year to enjoy the outdoors. Whether you’re looking to bask in the sunshine with a picnic, fish from the tree-shaded shore of a scenic lake, or take a brisk walk through hike & bike trails, you can do it all in the town’s parks. Many of these parks are linked by the Brushy Creek Regional Trail, a 6.75-mile biking, hiking, and running path that winds through thickets of oak trees and verdant meadows. The largest of these parks, Brushy Creek Lake Park, has rocks to climb, fishing docks, space for kayaking and paddle boarding, and a disc golf course. Each park yields a range of adventures all its own, so you won’t go wrong wherever you end up. 

Find out more about the great outdoors in Cedar Park here.

Carve up the Ice

After the hot Texas summer, it will be nice to cool down on the ice. Take the family to Chaparral Ice located at the newly developed Crossover Sports Complex in Cedar Park. In order to keep things safe and socially distant, you can reserve a spot online for their public skating sessions. Looking for other things to do on the ice? With a wide variety of programs and events, Chaparral Ice provides something for everyone. In addition to classic ice skating, Chaparral Ice offers ice hockey, broomball, dodgeball, curling, birthday parties and more.

Click here to discover everything else Cedar Park has to offer, and book your stay at any one of the city’s many popular hotels.

About the Author: James Waterson is the head writer and content specialist for Tour Texas. When he isn’t writing about the many great places in the state of Texas, he’s planning his next epic adventure in the Lone Star State.