Tag Monarch Butterflies, Meet an author at Book Festival Weekend, and Watch the Highland Games | November Newsletter links
Happy November!
Ready for sweater weather? (maybe? finally??) Pour a mug of something warm, grab a slice of pumpkin pie (my favorite type of pie) and pull on your coziest flannel. Now the mood has been set.
See below for some fun places to visit, events to attend and classes to sign up for this month.
November spotlight
It’s Election Day on Tuesday, Nov. 3rd. Austin voters will also see the city’s 2026 bond election on the ballot, so check your sample ballot before you go. Your vote = Your voice!
One bonus spotlight: the Texas Book Festival takes over the Capitol and downtown on Nov. 14th-15th. It’s free, with 250+ authors, book signings, cooking demos and a whole lineup of kids’ activities.
November EVENTS
Calling all foodies (21+)! The Austin Food & Wine Festival celebrates its 15th year at Auditorium Shores on Nov. 6th-8th. Bring your appetite and enjoy those skyline views.
Listen to live Celtic music and watch the Scottish Highland Games World Championships at the Austin Celtic Festival at Pioneer Farms on Nov. 7th-8th.
Lace up for Run for the Water on Nov. 8th. Choose the 5K, 10-Miler or Kids K, and help bring clean water to Burundi.
Stroll through glowing art at Creek Show along Waterloo Greenway, Nov. 13th-21st from 6-10pm. This year it moves to the brand-new Confluence stretch between 4th Street and Lady Bird Lake, and tickets are $10. This is one of my favorite events in November.
It’s the doggiest day in Austin! Bring your pup to the Mighty Texas Dog Walk at Camp Mabry on Nov. 14th. They’re going for a world record for Most Dogs Wearing Sports Gear. Does your dog have a jersey?
Grab your boots for Honky Tonk Fest at Star Hill Ranch in Bee Cave on Nov. 14th. There are 10 artists on two stages, plus dance lessons and local makers.
Start your holiday shopping at the Blue Genie Art Bazaar, open Nov. 13th through Dec. 24th. It’s free to shop the work of 200+ regional artists.
Watch hundreds of dancers at the Austin Powwow Native Arts and Heritage Festival at the Travis County Expo Center on Nov. 21st. Don’t skip the frybread!
Run off that pie before you eat it at the ThunderCloud Subs Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving morning, Nov. 26th. It benefits Caritas of Austin.
Welcome the holiday season at the Zilker Holiday Tree Lighting on Nov. 29th. It’s an Austin tradition to spin under the tree and watch the lights swirl overhead.
November Craft CLASSES
Getting ready to host? Make a Fall Centerpiece Candle with ATX Art Nights on Nov. 6th. Decorate it with dried flowers, crystals and charms for your Thanksgiving table.
Get your hands dirty at a Sip & Sculpt Pottery Workshop at Blue Owl Brewing on Nov. 7th. Can’t make it? There’s another one at Stargazer Cocktails & Coffee on Nov. 15th.
Ever heard of kinusaiga? Try this Japanese fabric art (think quilting without the needle) and make a Pet Portrait at Lau Lau on Nov. 12th. What a sweet gift idea!
Grab a brush for Getting Started with Watercolor: Mushroom Studies at Crafternoon ATX on Nov. 20th. It’s a beginner-friendly way to unwind before the holiday rush.
Oh my gourd, round two! Shape your own Pumpkin Pot at Sweetwaters Coffee & Tea on Nov. 21st.
Make it a crafty Small Business weekend at the Holiday Reuse Art Market at Austin Creative Reuse on Nov. 28th-29th. Try the free, family-friendly reuse craft projects, then shop handmade gifts from 100+ local makers.
November VOLUNTEERING
Grab your gardening gloves for It’s My Park Day with the Austin Parks Foundation on Nov. 7th. Pick from dozens of projects like mulching, trail work and habitat restoration in a park near you.
It’s Butterfly Season! Help Waterloo Greenway tag monarch butterflies during their migration (multiple dates in November).
Sort, pack and box holiday groceries at the Central Texas Food Bank. Thanksgiving week is one of their busiest times, so sign up early for a warehouse shift.
Pick out a handmade bowl, eat some soup and help fight hunger at the Austin Empty Bowl Project on Nov. 22nd at the Central Texas Food Bank. You can also volunteer at the event, serving soup or helping the artists.
Spend Thanksgiving morning cooking, packing or delivering meals with Operation Turkey on Nov. 26th.
Get a jump on the season of giving by sorting and wrapping toys in the warehouse for Operation Blue Santa. Shifts fill up fast, so keep checking back.
November OUT OF TOWN
Road trip! Head to Lockhart for Texas Monthly BBQ Fest on Nov. 7th-8th. The BBQ World’s Fair downtown on Saturday is free, and the Top 50 Picnic on Sunday is ticketed.
Wunderbar! Wurstfest is back in New Braunfels Nov. 6th-15th with German food, polka, carnival rides and games. Kids 12 and under get in free.
Take a Hill Country day trip to the marigold fields at Arnosky Family Farms in Blanco, about an hour west of Austin. Marigold season runs from mid-October into early November, so go early in the month to catch rows of orange and gold blooms (and maybe some monarch butterflies!). Stop by the Big Blue Barn to pick up a bouquet. It runs on the honor system, so bring cash, a check or Venmo.
Jump up! Jump up! And jump around at Big Bounce America at the Manor Fairgrounds on Nov. 21st-Nov. 22nd.
November PHOTO SESSIONS
Want to get photos before the year is up? November is a prime time for Senior and Family Photo Sessions, and just in time for your holiday cards. Reach out and let me know. I only have a tiny handful of dates left in my 2026 calendar.
Have a happy Thanksgiving and stay cozy!
Sign up to get my newsletter delivered to your inbox.
During all that, she’s been photographing Families and Seniors for the last 10 years. You can count on her to be communicative and organized before your session. She’ll help you feel relaxed and confident during your session. And you’ll have a smile on your face after your session once you see your new photos.
Interested in Booking a Photo Session?
More From This Category
Pease Park Senior Photos Austin | What to Expect at Your Session
Senior Photos at Pease Park in Austin — A Complete Location Guide String lights, live oaks, a treehouse pod, and a creek running through it all. Here’s what to expect at one of Central Austin’s most photogenic parks. When this Anderson High School senior requested...
