HAPPY TEXAS FALL, Y’ALL!
While it’s not, by the calendar, technically FALL for a few more days, it’s close enough for you and me, isn’t it?
We start getting ready for a pumpkin spice latte just about now, right? And football – and leaves changing from green to burnt orange – and being wrapped in a blanket on a cool morning – and – well, you know – just all things FALL!
Back in the panhandle where I’m from, the leaves are changing and blowing right off the trees about now, but the hearts are full and the homes are cozy, and people are ready to open wide their doors to visits from neighbors and friends.
Here in the hill country, the leaves are changing colors and staying on their branches a little longer. Hearts are definitely full, homes are warm and people are just the same.
It’s the season to put on a pot of soup, toast a loaf of French bread, make a cobbler from the Texas peaches that are stored in your freezer, and welcome the cooler days!
Fall is also the perfect time for a home tour!
I’ve been so excited to bring you this list of fall home tours – all just “day trip” distance from Austin.
While, I’ve tried to find ALL of them for you, there could be others – but, this list should keep you busy ’till Christmas.
After that, spring is just around the corner, and there will be a whole new list of springtime home tours around the Texas hill country!
Two things:
One – updates will be announced on our Facebook page.
Two – some tickets can be purchased online at the links below. Others cannot – so, take cash.
Ready, set, go – get some coffee, set your GPS, turn on the road tunes, and head out. It’s FALL, Y’ALL!
- October 7, 2017 – 2nd Annual Weird Homes Tour in Houston, Texas
Where: 8 Homes (self-paced / self-driving)
Date: Saturday, October 7, 2017
Time: 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Benefits: 10% of all proceeds goes to Houston non-profits and their fight for affordable housing (More info: Here)
Cost: $30
Purchase tickets: Here
- October 14, 2017 – 20th Annual AIA Homes Tour in San Antonio, Texas
Where: Six Selected Homes (start at any one of the six)
Date: Saturday, October 14, 2017
Time: 12:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Benefits: American Institute of Architects
Cost: $30 in advance / $35 at the featured homes on tour day
Purchase tickets: At any San Antonio HEB, Central Market, or The Twig Bookstore
- October 28, 2017 – 31st Annual AIA Homes Tour in Austin, Texas
Where: 13 Homes (with purchase of wristband)
Date: October 28-29 2017
Time: 10:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. (both days)
Benefits: American Institute of Architects
Cost: $35.50 in advance / $40.50 at the featured homes on tour day (plus online EventBrite fee)
Where to purchase wristband: Center for Architecture, 801 W. 12th, Austin, Texas
Homes Tour Map and More Information: Here
- November 4-5, 2017 – 3rd Annual Christmas at the Mansion in Brenham, Texas
Where: Giddings Stone Mansion, 2203 Century Circle, Brenham, Texas (Decorated for Christmas by Hermann Furniture)
Date: November 4-5, 2017
Time: 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 (Saturday, November 4) and 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 (Sunday, November 5)
Benefits: All tour proceeds and 10% of store sales benefit Heritage Society of Washington County, Texas
Cost: $5 (mansion tour) / $15 (all three Heritage Society homes) / $13 advance purchase price
Purchase tickets: Hermann Furniture, 213 W. Alamo Street, Brenham, Texas or at any of the homes on either day of the tour
More info: Here
- November 10-11, 2017 – 30th Annual Hill Country Home Tour in Wimberley, Texas
This hill country home was designed by Cunningham Architects.
Where: Wimberley, Texas
Date: November 10-11, 2017
More info to come for this home tour, so put it on your calendar. You can check back here or check the Wimberley Community Civic Club’s info page here.
- November 11, 2017 – Garden Club Home Tour in Smithville, Texas
From Smithville’s Garden Club Home Tour 2016.
Where: Annual Airing of the Quilts and Home Tour, Main Street, Smithville, Texas
Date: Saturday, November 11, 2017
Time: Airing of the Quilts 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. / Home Tour 12:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Benefits: Smithville Garden Club
Cost: $10
Purchase tickets: Tickets and tour maps will be available at any of the Main Street businesses on tour day.
- December 2, 2017 – Christmas Home Tour, Sip ‘N Stroll & Lighted Christmas Parade in Llano, Texas
Millions of lights will be shining brightly in Llano, Texas, ready for the Christmas Parade.
Where: Nine Historic Buildings and Homes in Llano, Texas
Date: Saturday, December 2, 2017
Time: Tour starts 12:00 p.m. – Lighted Parade at 6:00 p.m. – Sip ‘N Stroll all day at local businesses
Benefits: Llano Woman’s Culture Club
Cost: $14 per person or 2 for $25
Purchase tickets: Stop by The Woman’s Culture Club, buy your tickets, and enjoy some cookies and punch while you look around the Club’s historic 1917 home. Address: 210 W. Sandstone St., Llano, Texas. More info: Here
- December 2, 2017 – 60th Annual Christmas Home Tour & Market in Fredericksburg, Texas
Where: Fredericksburg – 325 Main Street (Tour map available at Pioneer Museum after 10/15)
Date: December 2, 2017
Time: 11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. (market hours – 9:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.)
Benefits: Gillespie County Pioneer Museum
Cost: $5 (market entry only) or $30 per person / $35 after November 26 (home tour AND market entry) TICKETS ARE LIMITED!
More info and online ticket purchase: Here
- Historic Homes Driving Tour in Georgetown, Texas
Where: Georgetown, Texas (List of Homes: Here) (Map of Homes: Here)
Date: No specific dates – this is a driving tour
Time: No specific times
Benefits: None
Cost: No charge
Purchase tickets: No ticket necessary
“Autumn…the year’s last, loveliest smile.” – William Cullen Bryant
That’s all for now, friends.
I’ve gotta go get Hubby’s calendar synced with mine! We’ve got some homes to see. 
Encouraging everyday intentional adventure,
A Lovely Fall Day Trip to Brenham, Just a Short Drive From Austin
at[…] but we push as hard as we can to celebrate the changing of the seasons. That means a full slate of fall home tours, including a few that set the early standard for holiday decor, because, after all, Christmas is […]