It’s almost fall! My favorite season! I can’t stop using exclamation points! Must be the season of the witch — Donovan reference. Does anyone else love that song? If you don’t know it, look it up. It’s so good.
Fall doesn’t officially start until the autumnal equinox on Sept. 23 but there are plenty of activities going on all month long so you can start celebrating the season early.
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You know what made headlines recently? The return of Pumpkin spice lattes. These beverages have a cult following, and I have to tell you — I am not on board. And before you PSL-lovers come for me, just know that means more PSL for you. I’m more of a cinnamon fan.
If you’re looking for more autumn-related things now that we’re moving away from that mid-summer heat you can check out my list of things to look forward to now that it’s almost fall.
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Here’s a list of some of the events going on in the San Antonio area in September:
Black History Film Series - The San Antonio African American Community Archive and Museum will feature a movie night under the stars at 8:30 p.m. on Sept. 3. The movie “The 24th,” based on the true story of the Houston riot of 1917, will be screened at Arneson River Theatre.
Fiesta del Mar - SeaWorld San Antonio is celebrating the diverse cultural heritage of South Texas with food and fun. The cultural celebration will take place at the park Sept. 3-6 and feature sounds of violins and vocals from authentic mariachi bands, colorful flamenco performances and Mexican-inspired food and drinks.
Labor Day Artisan Show- The Labor Day Artisan Show at the San Antonio River Walk will feature 40 vendor booths, including pottery, jewelry, woodwork, paintings, and more. The event is free to attend and will run from Sept. 3-5.
San Antonio Football Club - There are two home games for the San Antonio FC - one on Sept. 4 and the other on Sept. 25. Get ready to #Defend210 and support your local soccer team. See the game lineup here.
Leon Bridges - The Grammy award-winning singer from Fort Worth, will pass through San Antonio during a tour for his new album “Gold Diggers Sound.” He will be performing at Aztec Theatre on Sept. 10.
Fright Fest - Six Flags Fright Fest kicks off on Sept. 10. There are thrills by day for the kids and frights by night for the older crowd.
Howl-O-Scream - This SeaWorld San Antonio tradition kicks off Sept. 17 and runs through Halloween. The peaceful park will be overrun by creepy creatures and will feature scare zones and haunted houses.
13th Floor - the popular San Antonio haunted house 13th Floor is back for the 2021 season with two new attractions, including The Dollmaker and Bad Blood. 13th Floor will be open on select nights from Sept. 17 through Nov. 6.
San Antonio Paranormal Fest - Rich with history, and potentially paranormal sightings, Victoria’s Black Swan Inn will play host to San Antonio’s Paranormal Fest on Sept. 17. Festival attendees will be given tours of the historic home and psychics, mediums and palm readers will be on hand as well as local paranormal investigator teams and other paranormal professionals.
Rob Schneider - The comedian will be performing at the AT&T Center on Sept. 19. The actor, comedian, screenwriter and director will be at the Bud Light Courtyard.
In This Moment & Black Veil Brides - Both bands will be performing at Aztec Theatre on Sept. 22. Also joining the stage will be special guests Ded and Raven Black.
127th Comal County Fair - Taking place from Sept. 22-26, the Comal County Fair in New Braunfels will offer free admission on select days. There will be a battle of the bands, barbecue cook-off, washer pitchin’ tournament, mutton bustin’ and more.
Tostada-Flautas Fest SA - This foodie event will be a family-friendly affair and will feature vendors selling various food items. Festival organizer Robert Reyes previously told MySA he expects there to be live music and he “hopes to add more activities for the kids, like balloon artists and carnival games at the Flauta festival.” The event is scheduled for Sept. 25.
Texas Arts and Crafts Fair - This family-friendly event will feature art, food, live music, craft beer and a multitude of activities over the course of two days. The fair will take place Sept. 25 and 26 in Ingram and is $5 for admission. Students ages 18 and younger are free.
Kerrville Triathlon Festival - It’s called the most scenic triathlon in Texas but this isn’t just a race weekend. There are seven other events during race weekend and this triathlon’s after-party includes a float down the Guadalupe and a finisher festival with food and beer. The triathlon will take place on Sept. 26.
Comal River “Beach” - The Float In, a popular spot along the Comal River, added a new lounge area with open seating, turfgrass, shaded areas, and a bar with a manmade beach type area - complete with river views. Reservations are required for the cabanas but guests can bring their own food and alcohol inside a 30qt, or smaller, cooler for a $20 corkage fee.
Hemp Farm Tours - Hemp farm tours in Bergheim, just a 40-minute drive from downtown San Antonio, have resumed for 2021 as the new crop grows. The cost for a tour is $10 per person but that fee can be applied to any in-store purchase. Special group rates are also available for large parties and tours are expected to continue until it’s time to harvest in November.
Santikos - The beloved San Antonio movie chain just opened a new location in New Braunfels. The renovated movie house includes new recliners, new digital projectors, and new food and drink options.
For the kids:
Movies Under the Stars - A movies-in-the-park series at the Tower of Americas will feature “Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker″ on Sept. 11. Admission is free and visitors are encouraged to bring blankets and chairs to sit on. Food and drinks will be available for purchase.
Splash Pads - It’s still hot outside and splash pads are a great way for kids to get introduced to recreational water play and most of the San Antonio splash pads are free. Here’s a list of 11 splash pads in the San Antonio area.
Kangaroo Cam - Check out this 24-hour Livestream of the Matschie’s tree kangaroo habitat at the San Antonio Zoo!
Science at Home - Are you looking for something fun to do at home that has a little bit of science behind it? Meteorologist Kaiti Blake and her trusty assistant David Sears show parents a cool experiment that teaches kids about the weather and discusses clouds, rain and storms.
Free:
Ford Parade of Lanterns - The River Walk is going to light up Sept. 3-5 for the Ford Parade of Lanterns. There will be 10 boats topped with giant illuminated lanterns floating along the downtown section of the River Walk from 8-10 p.m., weather permitting.
DoSeum Family Night - A limited-space event will take place from 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. on Sept. 7 at the San Antonio DoSeum. A link for ticket reservations will be posted at 8 a.m. the morning of Free Family Night. Registration is on a first-come, first-served basis and is required for everyone who wishes to attend - including members.
Second Saturday - This free event takes place every month at Main Plaza. There will be live music and food and drink options for local vendors. This month Second Saturday will take place on Sept. 11 from 6-10:30 p.m.
Diversity:
Sept. 15 is the official kick-off for National Hispanic Heritage Month which runs through Oct. 15.
Fiestas Patrias San Antonio is a celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month at the local level and the group has an entire list of events that celebrate the occasion.
The Diez y Seis de Septiembre Commission was established by former San Antonio Mayor and current Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff on June 16, 1994, and actively works to promote the understanding and historical significance of Mexico’s Independence Day and Hispanic Heritage Month.
Also in September is Rosh Hashanah, which begins at sundown on Sept. 6, and is the start of the Jewish New Year.
It’s a time of rejoicing and celebration but is also meant to be a time for introspections.
Rosh Hashanah commemorates the creation of the world and marks the beginning of the 10 Days of Awe which culminates in the Yom Kippur holiday, according to History.com.
Rosh Hashanah will end on the evening of Sept. 8 and Yom Kippur begins at sundown on the 15th.
Jews, according to myjewishlearning.com, will eat traditional challah bread during this time. Challah bread is dipped in honey, which symbolized hopes for a sweet new year. “This is the time of year during which we are to atone for both our individual — and on Yom Kippur, our communal — sins committed over the course of the previous year, before God literally closes the books on us and inscribes our fates for the coming year,” the website states.
Traditional greetings for Rosh Hashanah include phrases like “shana tova” or “l’shana tova,” meaning “good year” or “for a good year.”
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Do you know of some awesome upcoming events that people might want to know about? Send your ideas my way at mpatton@ksat.com.
-Mary Claire Patton, KSAT Digital Journalist