1. Hayrides, Harvest Market and a Long Weekend: Your First Half of October in Drip
What's Happening in Dripping Springs: October 1–14, 2026
Fall finally showed up on the calendar, even if the thermometer is still catching up. The first two weeks of October in Dripping Springs are packed: a hayride across Ranch Park, a two-day harvest market, a free church fall fest, a pumpkin patch in Driftwood, and a four-day weekend for DSISD families. Here's your neighbor-to-neighbor guide to the Dripping Springs events for October 2026, plus the local news worth knowing.
Week one recap: Homecoming and a hayride
The Tigers kicked off October with Homecoming. DSHS hosted Buda Johnson at Tiger Stadium on Friday, Oct 2, with the 2026 King and Queen crowned at halftime, and the Homecoming Dance followed on Saturday night.
On Saturday afternoon, Dripping Springs Ranch Park hosted its 2026 Family Fall Fest. The highlight was a hop-on, hop-off hayride that carried families to activity stations around the 130-acre park. If you missed it, the Harvest Market brings you back to the same grounds a week later.
This weekend: the Hill Country Harvest Market (Oct 10–11)
If you shop for the house or start holiday gifts early, this is your weekend. The Hill Country Harvest Market , now in its 14th year, fills Dripping Springs Ranch Park, 1042 Event Center Drive, with clothing, home and holiday decor, jewelry, gourmet food, art and candles.
Saturday, Oct 10: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Sunday, Oct 11: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Admission: $6, or $5 when you bring a nonperishable food item for Helping Hands Food Pantry
Kids 12 and under get in free, and one ticket covers both days
That food-drive discount is the best deal in town. Grab a can on your way out the door.
Free family fun: FBC Family Fall Fest (Sun, Oct 11)
Want an evening out that costs nothing? First Baptist Church Dripping Springs hosts its fifth annual Family Fall Fest on Sunday, Oct 11, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Expect free food, games and activities in the backyard of the campus at 203 Highway 290 West. Friends and neighbors are welcome, which makes it an easy way to meet people if you're new to Drip.
Pumpkins all month: Driftwood Fall Festival
Just down FM 150, the Driftwood Fall Festival at Vista Brewing runs on select days through Nov 1. Think pumpkins, photo spots, a corn pit, hay mountain and mini golf.
Wednesday and Thursday: 4–7 p.m. ($8)
Friday: 2–7 p.m. ($15, or $5 from 2–4 p.m.)
Saturday and Sunday: 11 a.m.–7 p.m. ($15)
Ages 3 and under are free; there's also an extra opening on Monday, Oct 12
Prices above are for ages 4–64. Food, drinks and pumpkins are extra, so check the festival's ticket calendar before you go.
Long weekend alert for DSISD families
Mark your calendars, parents. The first grading term ends Thursday, Oct 8, Friday, Oct 9 is a staff in-service day, and Monday, Oct 12 is a district holiday. That's four days off for students, with term two starting Tuesday, Oct 13. City offices are also closed Monday, Oct 12.
Put that together and you have a perfect Harvest Market, Fall Fest and pumpkin patch weekend.
Every week in Drip
The Dripping Springs Farmers Market runs Wednesdays, 3 to 6 p.m., at Dripping Springs Ranch Park. It's the easiest way to stock up on local produce, eggs, bread and baked goods, and to meet the people who grow them.
Local news to know
Watering restrictions. The West Travis County Public Utility Agency found a possible leak on one of the two raw water lines that carry water from Lake Austin to its treatment plant. Temporary Stage 4 watering restrictions began Wednesday, Oct 7. Crews started targeted digs on Oct 7 to confirm the leak; if it's confirmed, the line comes out of service for roughly 15 hours of draining before round-the-clock repairs. If you're a WTCPUA customer, turn off automatic irrigation (drip included) and hose-end sprinklers, keep water use to essentials, and check wtcpua.org for updates. Questions go to customer service at (512) 263-0125.
City budget approved. The Dripping Springs City Council approved the city's Fiscal Year 2026–2027 operating budget on Sept 23, and council met again on Tuesday, Oct 6.
Tiger pride. Three DSHS seniors, Trinabh Gupta, Colton Inglish and Cody Ritchey, were named National Merit Semifinalists. The school also set a record this year, with more than 250 students earning 286 industry certifications through Career & Technical Education.
Coming up next: Songwriters Festival (Oct 16–18)
Save the date for the Dripping Springs Songwriters Festival, back in historic downtown on Mercer Street and Old Fitzhugh Road. Expect 40+ songwriters and 70+ in-the-round shows on stages across downtown, and every downtown show is free. We'll have the full guide in our next roundup.
Shop and eat local while you're out
Every event on this list sends you past a local restaurant, brewery or boutique. Before you head out, find them in the DS Tiger Guide directory, with 370+ verified local businesses across Dripping Springs, Driftwood, Fitzhugh and Belterra.
Own a local business with an event coming up? Claim your free listing on dstigerguide.com, and upgrade your plan to post your own events, news and blogs straight to the guide.
Event details can change. Please confirm times and prices with each organizer before you go.
