Hear us out: Fall is the perfect season for romantic dates.

San Antonio comes to life as the cooler weather sets in, offering a veritable cornucopia of annual festivals and events, from the Burton Ball to Luminaria. Whether you’re kindling a new relationship or keeping the flames of love burning for the long haul, these autumn date ideas are fun for couples of all kinds.

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
Watch the annular solar eclipse On Oct. 14, SA will be in the path of totality for an annular solar eclipse, or “ring of fire” eclipse. Grab a couple pairs of protective eclipse glasses and check out a watch party, go to a local park, or just enjoy the celestial phenomenon from your back yard. The eclipse will be at its maximum at 11:54 a.m. in San Antonio. Credit: Shutterstock / aeonWAVE
Hit up the Burton Ball ​​​​Free, 11 a.m.-9p.m. Oct. 28-29, Wonderland of the Americas, 4522 Fredericksburg Road, (210) 995-7229, socialrevoltstore.com San Antonio’s long-running celebration of all things Tim Burton is back for its 12th year, with a blowout bash at Wonderland of the Americas. Whether you want to crush the competition in the costume contest with a bespoke Jack Skellington and Sally couples’ cosplay or just enjoy the vendor market, Halloween Town exhibit and film screenings, there’s plenty of fun to be had for Burton stans and general lovers of spooky things alike. While general admission is free, certain activities come with an additional charge. For a more grown-up date night, check out this year’s 18+ kickoff party at Deco Ballroom on Oct. 27. Credit: Katelyn Earhart
Circle N Maze 558 CR 345, La Vernia, (210) 316-6023, circlencornmaze.com Circle N Maze has run amok amok amok with its 2023 corn maze, which is themed on the classic Disney Halloween film Hocus Pocus. The fall season runs on weekends from Oct. 6-29, and admission includes access to the maze as well as a pumpkin patch, corn pit, tire climb and more. Credit: Photo via Facebook / Circle N Maze
Flex your creative muscles at Chalk It Up Free, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 14, Legacy Park and Houston St.,103 W. Houston St., artpace.org/chalk-it-up Artpace’s annual Chalk It Up festival transforms downtown streets into works of art. You can enjoy ephemeral murals created by a slate of local artists, or roll up your sleeves with your S.O. and make some art of your own. Credit: Jaime Monzon
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
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
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
13th Floor Haunted House Now through November 9, 1203 E. Commerce, (210) 910-6450, 13thfloorsanantonio.com Named one of the top 5 most terrifying haunted houses in the nation by USA Today, San Antonio’s 13th Floor Haunted House is a must-visit for fans of the most frightening end of the espooky spectrum. Open select nights through November 9. Enter at your own risk! Credit: Courtesy Photo / Thirteenth Floor Entertainment Group
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. Credit: Courtesy Photo / Arenas Marisqueria and Lounge
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. Credit: Photo via Instagram / garnerstateparktx
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
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
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. Credit: Courtesy Photo / Slab Cinema
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. Credit: Jaime Monzon
San Antonio’s Freetail will continue to operate two restaurant brewpubs but is ending retail distribution of its suds. Credit: Courtesy Photo / Freetail Brewing Co.
Have a photoshoot in a pumpkin patch You may cringe at the constant pumpkin photos in your Instagram feed, but you won’t roll your eyes at the opportunity to have a cute, fun photoshoot with your favorite piece of eye candy. Make it a double-date so that you can take turns playing photographer for each other, or just bug someone nearby for a few photos. Say cheese! Photo courtesy of St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church Credit: Courtesy Photo / St. Margaret's Episcopal Church
Celebrate Oktoberfest around San Antonio San Antonio may have a lot of Latinx influences, but there’s no denying that we know how to party like the Germans. Celebrating brats and beer, you can catch plenty of Oktoberfest happenings throughout October — from brewery events to full-fledged festivals. If you and your boo both like to get boozy and can eat your weight in sausage, it might just be a match made in heaven. Cheers! Photo by Katelyn Earhart Credit: Katelyn Earhart
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
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
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
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
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
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

Additional Slideshows