You don't have to wait for the winter holidays to go on super-cute dates. Between the cooling temperatures, many autumn festivals and a plethora of spooky happenings, there's plenty of fall fun to enjoy with a significant other.
Whether you're trying to impress a new boo from Tinder, are in the honeymoon stage of your relationship or are happily hitched, these date ideas can help bring romance — and maybe even a little pumpkin spice — to the season.
Get lost in a corn maze
Whether you’re good at solving puzzles or not, you and your date will have a blast figuring your way out of the maze. And that’s only half of the fun! Most of these mazes have other activities on-site, so you can have a full day of fall fun. Start here, and good luck.
Enjoy the cooler temperatures at a local park
While it’ll still be a while until we get properly cool temperatures, the change in season will bring more pleasant weather as the weeks go on. By all means, you and your cutie pie should take advantage of this on more than one occasion, especially since SA has plenty of hidden gems, like Denman Estate Park's traditional South Korean pavilion. Jog in Hardberger Park, make a picnic at the Botanical Garden, take a stroll around Brackenridge Park or do some yoga at O. P. Schnabel Park. All great dates that will have you feeling one with nature.
Photo via Instagram / rebekahsantoyo
Get boozy at the San Antonio Beer Festival
$40-$50, Saturday, Oct. 16, 2 p.m., Crockett Park, 1300 N. Main Ave., sanantoniobeerfestival.com
Back for a 15th year, the annual San Antonio Beer Festival invites you to Crockett Park to sample from more than 400 beers from more than 100 breweries. Take your pick from brews hailing from San Antonio to Boston, Ireland to Iceland, and sip wine, cider, seltzer and more. Multiple DJ booths, local food vendors and games round out the fun, 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
Coordinate your Halloween costumes with your bestie/S.O.
Now this is one you can do with your lover or your platonic bestie. Whether you want to go timeless (salt and pepper, apples and oranges) or go with something trendy to this year (both doses of the COVID vaccine?), this idea is fun from start to finish.
Photo by Jaime Monzon
Take a hike or bike ride
Now that it’s not insanely hot outside, you’ll really be able to enjoy nature. Travel by foot or bike, and explore the green spaces SA has to offer. Between city parks, natural areas green belts and nearby state parks, there's plenty of gorgeous places to take in beautiful scenery either on foot or bicycle.
Photo via Instagram / ryanibarra24
Catch a free movie screening courtesy of Slab Cinema Multiple locations, slabcinema.com
While you can catch a free movie from various venues and organizations, the traveling outdoor screen from Slab Cinema is definitely the most reliable, often and super fun at that. Slab Cinema's various offerings around town cover everything form recent blockbusters to arthouse classics, so no matter your tastes you’re bound to have a blast. Don’t forget the blankets or lawn chairs for ultimate comfort.
Photo via Instagram / slabcinema
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 that have actual claims of being haunted, so all the more power to you if you go that route. If you’re not so brave (no judgements here), you’re more than welcome to snuggle your cuddling partner as you make your way through a commercial haunted house. If you can laugh about it afterward, it’ll make your visit even better. Get exploring at these spots.
Courtesy of 13th Floor San Antonio
Explore some new local restaurants
Tired of always going to the same neighborhood hole in the wall for date night? Expand your culinary horizons, and prepare to be eating good and drinking just as well. Find inspiration here.
Photo via Instagram / s.a.foodie
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. Ask a friend (*cough* third wheel *cough*) to tag along to be your photographer for the day, or just bug someone nearby for a few photos. Say cheese, babies.
Photo via Instagram / biancacelene
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 (or whole!) 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
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Spend some time with local ghostly spirits
With a city as old and historic as ours is, there’s lots of spots to get your fix of ghostly fun. 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 got you, boo.
Photo via Instagram / erikjongustafson
Taste the new flavors at a local brewery
Fall is the season of beer, so you’ll be smart to treat you and bae to a few date nights exploring what’s new on tap. Whether 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. Plus, it’s super fun!
Photo via Instagram / alamobeerco
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 smart 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 via Instagram / spurs
Make an altar for Dia de los Muertos
With Mexican culture at the forefront in San Antonio, traditions like Dia de los Muertos are super visible for locals and transplants alike. Going to events in honor of the holiday are plenty fun (and should definitely be an idea), but dive deeper into your relationship and make a joint altar. Not only will you honor y’all's respective loved ones, but you’ll bond while doing so.
Photo by Bryan Rindfuss
Celebrate Oktoberfest around San Antonio
San Antonio may have a lot of Latino 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.
Photo via Instagram / dorcolspirits
Pour one out at the ghost tracks
2902 Shane Road
This bell truly tolled for this long-debunked urban legend when a construction project leveled out the tracks a few years back. But even if throwing the car in neutral on the tracks with baby powder sprinkled on the trunk will no longer bring any satisfaction, it's still worth a trip out to honor (and mourn) the popular SA legend. Bring along your non-alcoholic beverage of choice (those supposed ghosts are kids, remember?!) and pour one out at Shane Road for ghostly good times gone by.
Photo via Google Maps
Go to a farmers market
SA may not be one of those regions where we do corny shit like pick our own vegetables at a farm, but we’re all about farmers markets. Whether you want to pick up fancy ingredients to make a meal at home later, or just gorge on fresh food and drinks being sold by vendors, there's plenty to enjoy at farmers markets all over town. If you're down to battle the crowds, Pearl's weekend market is as popular as it is for good reason.
Photo Courtesy of Pearl
Hit up some Halloween parties
If y’all are one of those couples that waits all year for Halloween, you better make all the Halloween happenings part of your date night plans. From drinking events to costume contests and something tailoring to pretty much every aspect of the eerie holiday, there’s something for everyone.
File photo
Explore a nearby small town
Doing hoodrat shit around San Antonio is all fun and games, don’t get us wrong, but sometimes you just need to get away and experience something new. No matter what your inspiration may be, taking a daytrip outside 1604 will do you and your boo some good. Head up to Fredericksburg to see some fall foliage for yourself and head on a winery tour, or maybe head south to Medina County for some of their market days on the weekend. Think of it as a couples’ retreat without breaking the bank.
Photo via Instagram / dallasmooreband
Get your fill of German heritage at Wurstfest in New Braunfels Nov. 5-14, 178 Landa Park Dr, 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 long over.
Photo via Instagram / wurstfest
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Visit a museum or gallery you’ve never been to before
Most San Antonians know the more-popular museums and galleries, there’s most likely a few you and your plus one are not as familiar with. Now is the perfect time to explore a museum off the beaten path, or maybe a gallery out of your comfort zone. Not sure where to start? Try Blue Star Contemporary — a house for innovative contemporary art, this nonprofit’s galleries are open to anyone for free, and if you’re lucky, you may get to see one of the venue’s regulars and a true connoisseur of the arts: Duncan, the dog.
Photo via Instagram / bluestarartdog
Volunteer at the Raul Jimenez Thanksgiving Dinner 900 E Market St, rauljimenezdinner.com
The decades-long tradition has touched many San Antonians, especially those who would not have a Thanksgiving meal otherwise. If you and bae are wanting to do some good, spend some time helping out at the annual community event. Not only will it make you feel warm and fuzzy inside, but you’ll be able to make a new tradition with your sweetheart.
Photo via Instagram / jimenezdinner
Get lost in a corn maze
Whether you’re good at solving puzzles or not, you and your date will have a blast figuring your way out of the maze. And that’s only half of the fun! Most of these mazes have other activities on-site, so you can have a full day of fall fun. Start here, and good luck.
