I don’t think it’s a secret that fall is a truly wonderful time of the year – personally, it’s my favorite time. The summer heat is finally dwindling down and the West Texas winter has yet to rear its ugly head, riding boots and scarves come out of hiding, the year’s best holidays are steadily approaching, and everything seems to smell like pumpkin spice. Thankfully, Lubbock has plenty to keep its residents busy and entertained during this festive season.
The Annual Corn Maze
Last year’s design.
This is something you sure won’t be able to find in Dallas or Houston. At’l Do Farms is hosting its 14th annual ‘Corn MAiZE’ until November 15, and it is full of twists and turns. Each year has a different theme, and the corn field is made into a huge design that only the birds can get a good look at. Wandering your way through the huge, intricate corn maize isn’t the only thing to do. For $10 ($8 with your student ID) admission, you can also enjoy hayrides you can take to their pumpkin patch, a corn cannon, a rock wall, plenty of barbecue, and campfires and horse rides for an extra price and reservations. Note: Image from atldofarms.com
The Range
The fall weather is ideal for spending an evening outdoors, and on Indiana Ave. and 116th Street sits Lubbock’s greatest facility for doing such. The Range is a vast outdoor area that is much more than a driving range. It includes batting cages, games like horseshoes and washers, live music and – wait for it – a bar. It’s a great place to enjoy a cold beer, and when the night is illuminated by the strings of white lights hung around tables and trees, it creates the perfect atmosphere to spend a night hanging out with friends and breathing in the crisp fall air. Note: Image from visitlubbock.com
Lubbock Pumpkin Trail
For 7 years now, Lubbock citizens have been carving pumpkins and donating their finished products to be featured in the Parks and Recreation department’s annual pumpkin trail. According to its online page, 1,773 jack-o-lanterns were donated to last year’s event, and they are trying to beat the record this year. From Oct. 16 – 19, and for free admission, you can catch a look at the array of pumpkin displays and fall foliage during the day, or wait until night falls to take a walk or ride through the trail of lit jack-o-lanterns. Note: Image from the city of Lubbock’s website.
Football/Basketball Games
The start of school and the changing colors of leaves not only signifies the beginning of the fall season, but also football season. Football season is something we all look forward to, whether it’s because you just have a fondness for game days and wearing red and black or you’re a die-hard Red Raider football fan (in which case, I’m sorry.) But let us not forget to support Tech’s other fall-time sport, basketball. Tubby Smith’s team plays in its first game of the season on Nov. 3 here. Whether we are winning or losing, there are enough hot dogs, funnel cakes, and over-priced drinks to satisfy any fan. Note: photos are from texastech.com.
Alamo Drafthouse Cinema
Opened to the public early this summer, Lubbock’s Alamo Drafthouse Cinema is still relatively new, but since day one it’s become a favorite spot to catch a new movie with its signature full bar and mouthwatering menu. As if there already isn’t enough to love about Alamo, this October, they’re showing a month long series of Halloween movies. The list of flicks include “The Shining,” “Hocus Pocus,” the original “Frankenstein” and “Dracula,” “Halloween,” and more. Note: Image from lubbockonline.com
Nightmare on 19th Street
West Texas’ only Halloween theme park, containing four different attractions, is not meant for any scaredy-cats. Open until Nov. 1, and only Thursday – Sunday nights, thrill seekers can experience their nightmares brought to life for an admission price of $20. The various attractions include: “Blood Moon Manor,” one of the West Texas’ top-rated haunted houses for the last three years, according to the event’s website; “Skulllick,” a old western town full of witches, werewolves, and vampires; “the City of the Lost,” which the site is said to have a few unexpected visitors this year: and “Twisted Tales,” Lubbock’s first 3-D attraction. Note: Image from the event’s website.
Wines and Vines Festival
For those of us of legal age, a great non-Halloween event this fall is McPherson Cellar’s 3rd annual Wines and Vines Festival. The two-day festivities take place Nov. 8 – 9 at McPherson’s location downtown, and brings several of the best wineries in the state together for some fun. Saturday includes a Hub City chef competition and a local brewers tasting competition, along with live music and local food truck vendors throughout the weekend that make the festival one-of-a-kind. Admission is $20 for one day or $30 for both, with proceeds going to Lubbock Meals on Wheels and the Texas Grape and Wine Foundation. Why not spend a weekend donating to charity while enjoying outstanding beer and wine? Note: Image from tripadvisor.com.
About Nicole Crites
