People may associate spring with love, but we think fall is a perfect time for romance. As we escape the scorching heat of the South Texas summer, yummy fall flavors and fun seasonal events abound, perfect for an outing with your boo — and you don’t have to break the bank to have a great time, either.

It doesn’t matter if it’s your first date or your hundredth — these date ideas are sure to be fun for couples at all stages of their relationships. And they’re all relatively affordable — or free!

Coordinate your Halloween costumes with your bestie/S.O. Halloween costumes aren’t just for kids expecting bucketfuls of candy, and coordinating your spooky digs with your partner, your platonic ride-or-die, or even a group of couples is a great way to get creative for the holiday. Whether you want your costume theme to lean a little spooky (Joker and Harley Quinn, Jason and Freddy, a horde of zombies!) or classic (peanut butter and jelly, Daphne and Velma, Dorothy and her Wizard of Oz posse), there is power in numbers, and you are sure to dominate any local costume contest if you get crafty with it. Photo by Jaime Monzon Credit: Jaime Monzon
Catch a free movie screening courtesy of Slab Cinema Multiple locations, slabcinema.com Put a spin on a classic movie date by taking your partner to an outdoor movie showing! While you can catch a free movie from various venues and organizations, the traveling outdoor screen from Slab Cinema has outdoor movie showings down to a science with their giant inflatable movie screen that they set up at various venues around town. Slab Cinema screens everything from recent blockbusters to arthouse classics, so no matter your tastes you’re bound to find a showing that’s up you and your date’s alley. Don’t forget your lawn chairs and picnic blankets, and make sure to pack some extra layers as the weather starts getting colder. Photo via Instagram / sama_art Credit: Photo via Instagram / slabcinema
Have a picnic at Brackenridge Park
3700 N St Mary’s St, (210) 207-7275, brackenridgepark.org
Brackenridge Park is the perfect spot for a picnic. Bring a bottle of wine, some charcuterie, and a portable speaker for some romantic tunes. Admission to the park is free, but the ambiance is priceless.
Credit: Courtesy Photo / Brackenridge Park Conservancy
Get boozy at the San Antonio Beer Festival $45-$55, noon-6:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 15, Crockett Park, 1300 N. Main Ave., sanantoniobeerfestival.com Back for a 16th year, the annual San Antonio Beer Festival invites you to Crockett Park to sample from more than 400 beers from more than 150 breweries. Take your pick from brews hailing from San Antonio to Boston and beyond, plus sip wine, cider and more. Visitors are encouraged to set up in Crockett Park with lawn chairs and picnic blankets to enjoy live music, food vendors and offerings from local vendors, making the fest ideal for both casual beer drinkers and craft snobs alike. The San Antonio Beer Fest is presented by H-E-B and benefits the San Antonio Food Bank. Photo by Jaime Monzon for San Antonio Beer Festival Credit: Jaime Monzon for San Antonio Beer Festival
See how tough you are at a haunted house It’s no secret that San Antonio loves haunted shit. There’s always the option to explore places around town that have actual claims of being haunted, but who knows if you’ll actually see anything going that route. If you prefer the predictable unpredictability of a dark hallway that contains at least two freaky clowns, one of San Antonio’s decked-out haunted houses will be just right for you and your boo. Whether you stop by Rolling Oaks Mall for the Haunted Oaks horror attraction (complete with a horror-themed selfie spot, of course) or check out one of 13th Floor Haunted House’s three new themed attractions, you are sure to make some memories with your date this spooky season. Photo courtesy of 13th Floor Haunted House
St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church 5310 Stahl Rd., (210) 657-3328, stmargs.org In addition to a selection of heirloom pumpkins and other gourds, this patch also has pumpkin bread for sale. The pumpkin patch is open 2:30-7:30 p.m. Monday-Friday, 10 a.m.-7:30 p.m. Saturday and noon-7:30 p.m. Sunday starting Oct. 2. Photo courtesy of St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church Credit: Courtesy Photo / St. Margaret's Episcopal Church
There are many ways to celebrate Oktoberfest this year in the San Antonio area. Credit: Katelyn Earhart
Have a slice of pumpkin pie at Bill Miller Bar-B-Q Multiple locations, billmillerbbq.com Some people wait all year just to score a slice of pumpkin pie from Bill Miller. Whether you fall into that category or not, treat yourself to a cheap date with your sweetie before this seasonal treat disappears off the menu again. Photo Courtesy of Bill Miller Bar-B-Q Credit: Courtesy Photo / Bill Miller Bar-B-Q
Cheer on the Spurs at a home game 1 AT&T Center Parkway, (210) 444-5000, attcenter.com While most San Antonians are Spurs fans every day of the year, it’s super fun to be a dedicated fan right at the start of the season. Show your loyalty to the Silver & Black and cheer on the team during early season games without breaking the bank. Photo by Jaime Monzon Credit: Photo by Jaime Monzon
Hit up some Halloween parties If you and your lover of those couples that waits all year for Halloween — putting up decor and starting your horror movie marathons promptly on October 1st — attending some Halloween shindigs is a perfect date night plan. Whether large scale events with competitive costume contests and live music or more lowkey house parties drinking amongst friends are more your scene, you are sure to find the perfect event to show off your cool costumes and enjoy the night. Photo by Katelyn Earhart
Get lost in a corn maze Whether you’re good at solving puzzles or not, corn mazes are the perfect place for you and your date to spark an autumnal romance. Whether you want to road trip it out to a giant challenge maze or find a maze close to home, this date option is a great way to engage your brain and get your steps in. Most of these mazes also have other activities on-site, so you can have a full day of fall-themed fun. Start here, and good luck! Photo courtesy of Traders Village
Explore some new local restaurants Tired of always going to the same neighborhood haunt every date night? Expand your culinary horizons, and prepare to be eating good and drinking just as well. Find inspiration here. Photo via Instagram / reesebrosbbq
Make an altar for Día de los Muertos With Mexican culture at the forefront in San Antonio, traditions like Día de los Muertos are super accessible for locals and transplants alike. Going to events in honor of the holiday are fun on their own, but you can dive deeper into your relationship by making a joint altar. Work together to create something beautiful to honor each other’s lost loved ones, and learn more about the people that shaped your partner into the person they are today. Photo by Jaime Monzon
Spend some time with local ghostly spirits With a city as old and historic as ours is, there are plenty of ghosts and urban legends in SA to go around. Many of the legends are rooted in the city’s rich and very real history, such as the haunted Lambermont castle, said to still be inhabited by the ghost of the influential Edwin Holland Terrell after his tragic death. From established tours and overnight sleep-ins to exploring your own “haunted” sites, you and your date will have lots to talk about if you go this route. Need to brush up on SA’s haunted history? We’ve got you, boo. Photo via Instagram / sunset.in.sa Credit: Photo via Instagram / sunset.in.sa
Go to a farmers market
Farmers markets have a wide range of freshly-harvested seasonal fruits and veggies to spruce up your next homemade meal. They’re also a great spot for a romantic stroll with that someone special. If you’re down to battle the crowds, Pearl’s weekend market is as popular as it is for good reason.
Credit: Photo via Instagram / pearlfarmersmarket
Get your fill of German heritage at Wurstfest in New Braunfels $18-$20, Nov. 4-13, 120 Landa St., New Braunfels, wurstfest.com Whether you’re there for the great food or the copious amounts of beer, Wurstfest is a local rite of passage. Plus, since it happens in November of every year, it’s a great way to keep the Oktoberfest fun going after its titular month is over. Photo by Jaime Monzon Credit: Jaime Monzon
Taste the new flavors at a local brewery Fall is the season of beer, so you’ll be smart to treat yourself and your special someone to a few date nights exploring what’s new on tap. Whether you seek new brews or new (to you) drinking spots, this is a solid way to spend quality time with your date without it getting too expensive. Photo by Kimberly Machado via Instagram / weatheredsoulsbrewing_satx
Check out the art at Contemporary at Blue Star
116 Blue Star, (210) 227-6960.
Enjoy the revolving talent at the Contemporary at Blue Star. A house for innovative contemporary art, this nonprofit’s galleries are open to anyone for free, and on top of their range of rotating exhibitions, they also offer a variety of family-friendly art events. Credit: Francisco Cortés, courtesy of Contemporary at Blue Star
Go to Luminaria together Free, 6 p.m.-midnight Saturday, Nov. 19, downtown San Antonio, luminariasa.org As fall fades into winter and in the evening brings a little bite to the air, bundle up and take your special someone for a night downtown at Luminaria. The annual event features a wide array of contemporary art exhibits all lit up for night time crowds as well as live music, poetry and theater performances. This year the event’s footprint runs from the Tobin Center to Travis Park, where there will be plenty of installations, vendors and attractions to make the date one to remember. Photo by Jaime Monzon Credit: Jaime Monzon
Explore a nearby small town Ready your best road-tripping playlists and take a short trek outside San Antonio to explore one of the many quirky small towns that dot the highways between here and other Texas cities. Whether you want to connect to your or your partner’s German roots in Fredericksberg, tour a brewery in Shiner, or just drive through a historic Hill Country neighborhood and point at all the different houses, saying “we should live there,” you can’t go wrong with a day trip outside the city. Safe travels! Photo via Instagram / marc_hungrylawyer Credit: Photo via Instagram / marc_hungrylawyer
Take a hike or bike ride Now that it’s not insanely hot outside, it’s time to dust off those hiking boots and/or air up your tires and take to the trails. SA has an abundance of trails and green spaces to offer between city parks, natural areas, green belts and nearby state parks. There’s plenty of gorgeous places for both the discerning naturalist and the infrequent outdoorsman alike to take in some beautiful scenery, either on foot or bicycle, and enjoy the cooler temperatures. Find a perfect trail near you. Photo via Instagram / this.ole.bike Credit: Photo via Instagram / this.ole.bike
Grab a PSL and go thrift the perfect fall sweater Indulge in a fall-themed beverage and hit the thrift with your significant other this fall. Whether you are stocking up on warm outerwear before it gets too cold or looking for the perfect coordinating sweaters for a fall photoshoot, shopping secondhand is a great way to reduce your carbon footprint and ensure the cozy sweater you pick up is made to last. Photo via Instagram / luckypupvintage
Take a road trip to see the changing leaves Sure, Texas doesn’t hold a candle to the deciduous hues of New England, but our fall foliage still puts on a show. Whether you take a leisurely drive through the Hill Country or go on a weekend camping trip at a nearby state park, Texas has plenty of autumn scenery to show off if you know where to look. Photo via Instagram / lady_daphne_usvc
Volunteer at the Raul Jimenez Thanksgiving Dinner Henry B. González Convention Center, 900 E. Market St., rauljimenezdinner.com The decades-long tradition where San Antonians come together to serve senior citizens and the less fortunate a Thanksgiving dinner has touched many lives. If you are looking for a date idea that allows you to give back and be thankful this holiday season, consider spending some time helping out at the annual community event. Who knows — maybe it will become an annual tradition with you and your partner! Photo via Instagram / jimenezdinner Credit: Photo via Instagram / jimenezdinner
The Ghost Tracks
You can’t talk about urban legends in San Antonio without covering the Ghost Tracks. This long-dispelled myth is still a local favorite, and has repeatedly been voted Best Urban Legend in the Current’s Best of San Antonio poll. As the story goes, you can park your car at this spot on the train tracks and get “pushed” forward by some spectral helpers. As a bonus, if you put flour on the back of your trunk, you might even see their little handprints. The push purportedly comes from ghosts of children who met an untimely end in the early 1900s when a train rammed into a bus at the location. However, in 2003, archivist Matt DeWaelsche traced the story’s origin to a 1938 bus accident in Salt Lake City, Utah. Even worse, the tracks were “exorcised,” if you will, by a construction project. When Union Pacific added a second track to the intersection, they leveled out the elevation, removing the downward slant that vehicles would gently roll down when they were supposedly being “pushed” by the ghosts. Turns out it was just a trick of physics the whole time. Credit: Photo via Google Maps

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