Sober Fun: Your Ultimate Fall and Winter Bucket List
Last Updated on September 27, 2021
How to Stay Sober During the Winter Months
Staying sober during any season can be difficult, but wintertime poses several additional threats to people in recovery and the winter season can have a profound effect on mood, activity levels, and mental health.
The days are shorter and darker, outdoor activities are limited, and memories surrounding Thanksgiving and Christmas can sometimes be difficult to cope with. People in recovery are also particularly vulnerable to a certain type of seasonal depression called seasonal affective disorder or SAD. SAD is most common during the winter months, however, it can also affect people during the summer months as well.1
If you’re recovering from addiction, it’s very important that you have a plan to fight off those winter blues. Staying connected with your peers in recovery and finding fun, sober activities to stave off boredom can go a long way!
Fortunately, here in Texas, it’s easy to remain active year-round, even during the cooler winter months, and there are plenty of fun activities to enjoy that don’t have to involve alcohol. To help you fill your free time with winter sober activities that can be enjoyed on your own or with a group, we’ve compiled a complete bucket list for the Austin and Houston areas. Although not all of these events are completely alcohol-free, none of them are focused on the bar scene, drinking, or being intoxicated, so all you have to do is get out of the house and have a good time.
Fall and Winter Sober Activities in Austin, Texas (2018-2019)
- Fall Pecan Street Festival – September 22-23
- Austin Museum Day – September 23
- The Inflatable Run – September 23
- FIA World Rallycross – September 29-30
- Austin City Limits Music Festival – October 5-7, 12-14
- Formula 1 United States Grand Prix – October 19-21
- Austin Film Festival – October 25-November 1
- Austin Area Jazz Festival – October 27
- Viva la Vida Festival and Parade – October 27
- Texas Book Festival – October 27-28
- Texas Fireworks Dia de los Muertos Celebration – October 31
- U.S. Vintage National Championships – November 1-4
- Christmas at the Caswell House – November 1-7
- Austin Powwow – November 3
- Austin Celtic Festival – November 3-4
- Texas Monthly BBQ Festival – November 3-4
- East Austin Studio Tour – November 10-11, 17-18
- Wanderlust 108 Austin – November 10
- Austin Mac & Cheese Festival – November 11
- A Christmas Affair – November 14-18
- Turkey Trot – November 22
- Blue Genie Art Bazaar – November 23- December 24
- Chuy’s Christmas Parade – November 24
- A Christmas Carol (ZACH Theatre) – November 21-December 30
- Austin Trail of Lights Fun Run – December 1
- German-Texas Heritage Society Christmas Market – December 1
- Art from the Streets Show and Sale – December 1-2
- Austin Symphony Orchestra Presents Handel’s Messiah – December 4-5
- Austin Music Video Festival – December 4-8
- Ballet Austin’s The Nutcracker – December 7-23
- Cherrywood Art Fair – December 8-9
- 54th Annual Trail of Lights – December 10-31
- Austin’s New Year (alcohol-free!) – December 31
- William Shatner and Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan – January 12
- Martin Luther King Festival – January 15
- Silent Night at the Long Center for the Performing Arts – January 26-February 3
- 90th Annual Zilker Park Kite Festival – March 3 (estimated date)
- Austin Rodeo – March 16-30
Fall and Winter Sober Activities in Houston, Texas (2018-2019)
- TacoWorld Houston – September 29
- Texas Rennaisance Festival – September 29-November 25
- Original Greek Festival – October 4-7
- 2nd Annual Greater Houston Food Truck Festival – October 6
- Bayou City Art Festival Downtown – October 13-14
- Houston Italian Festival – October 11-14
- Annual Puerto Rican & Cuban Festival – October 27
- Wings Over Houston Airshow – October 20-21
- East End Street Fest 2018 – October 20
- Texian Market Days – October 20
- 2018 Houston AfriFEST – October 27
- Dia de los Muertos Block Party in Magnolia Park – November 3
- The Nutcracker Market – November 8-11
- Magical Winter Lights Lantern & Holiday Festival – November 10-January 2
- Texas Championship Native American Pow Wow – November 10-11
- 12th Annual Winter Holiday Art Market – November 16-18
- R & B and Blues Music Food Festival – November 17
- Via Colori – November 17
- Houston Turkish Festival – November 17-18
- Houston Zoo Lights – November 18-January 14
- Thanksgiving Day Parade – November 22
- Houston Turkey Trot – November 22
- Unplugged at Discovery Green – November 25
- Interfaith Thanksgiving Service – November 27
- Mayor’s Holiday Celebration – November 30
- The House Without a Christmas Tree – November 30-December 17
- Houston Heights Home Tour “I’ll Be Home for the Holidays” – December 4-5
- Mother and Child: Christmas at the Villa – December 8
- 10th Annual Gingerbread Build Off – December 8
- Texas Bowl – December 27
- Sober Eve – December 31
- Cirque du Soleil Luzia – January 10-February 3
- Houston Hot Air Balloon Festival and Polo Match – February 9
- Crawfish Fest – March 16
Looking for sober summer activities? Check out our guide for fun and interesting ways to have a great sober summer.
If you or someone you know needs help getting sober or staying sober after rehab, call Nova Recovery Center today. We operate detox centers, rehab facilities, and sober living homes in Texas and Colorado, with comprehensive addiction treatment programs that carry clients all the way through their recovery journey. Don’t waste another day struggling with addiction. Call Nova Recovery Center for more details.
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