One of these is certainly The Texas Renaissance Festival, an event with a typically Renaissance flavor that animates the weekends of the months of October and November every year ( and it has been so for almost fifty years now), giving life to unique reenactments that are different every weekend.
As soon as you set foot in The Texas Renaissance Festival modernity gives way to the setting of a 16th century European village: old style buildings and shops vintage, framed by a lush flora, are the backdrop for ladies and knights, artisans and jesters who, in fine clothes, enliven the life of the village.
On each of the opening days, the grounds offer their visitors several costume performances, each of which inspired by the theme that dominates the weekend. This year, the place hosted elves and wizards and fairies.
In addition to visiting the place as a mere spectator, at the Texas Renaissance Festival you can take part in contests and competitions (in line with the theme of the weekend) as different from each other as they are exciting to look at: to give you an idea, you can take part in the costume contest (like to win the prize of the worst barbaric disguise) or in a food competition (eat as much food as you can without using your hands, on the bacchanalian weekend) or yet in a dance competition.
Between one event and another, there is no shortage of theatrical performances of thwarted love affairs or exciting duels between knights or you can indulge in a pleasant stroll among the hundreds of themed shops, hunting for truly original souvenirs.
With a bit of luck you may happen to witness a wedding celebrated in costume between a king and a queen,a knight and a lady, and, finally, end the day in style with the fireworks show.
Special attention is paid to the little ones: the Texas Renaissance Festival offers competitions and games, shows and activities dedicated to children, capable of truly leaving them speechless.
If, therefore, the idea of savoring a truly unusual Texas suits you, the place is just about an hour's drive from Houston and it lasts until the end of November.
You basically can take a trip back to the 16th century at the Texas Renaissance Festival at Todd Mission. It is considered the largest Renaissance festival in the country. While not technically an Oktoberfest, the opening weekend of the Renaissance festival has an Oktoberfest theme, plus the festival lasts all of October and almost all of November.
The event began in 1974 and now attracts more than half a million visitors a year.
It is also worth mentioning that you can't call yourself a true Texan if you haven't been to the State Fair of Texas. Running for over a century annually from late September to late October, the State Fair of Texas is the largest fair and exhibition in the state. During the nearly month-long event, live music and carnival performances and art exhibits are offered. Of course, the highlight of the fair is the annual Texas-Oklahoma football game and the fair is held in Dallas.
As visitors enter the fairgrounds, they are greeted by the fair's mascot, Big Tex, also known as the world's tallest cowboy, standing at 55 feet tall.
It's actually the only fair in the United States that includes a full show. Additionally, agriculture still plays a key role in the fair, from a petting zoo to tours of livestock events.
