Key Takeaways
- The San Antonio Veterans Day Parade steps off at noon on Saturday, November 7, from Milam Park and travels down Houston Street.
- DiwaliSA lights up the River Walk with candles and fireworks the same day, November 7.
- Wurstfest runs November 6 to 15 in New Braunfels, with free admission November 9 to 12 and free entry for kids 12 and under every day.
- Luminaria, the free nighttime arts festival, takes over Houston Street on Saturday, November 14, from 6 p.m. to midnight.
- Pearl’s Wednesday Fall Night Markets continue through November 25.
The first half of November is when San Antonio finally exhales. The heat breaks, patios fill back up, and the calendar gets crowded before the holiday rush even starts. If you are looking for San Antonio events in November 2026, the first two weekends alone give you a parade, a river festival, a downtown art night and a ten-day sausage celebration just up I-35.
We pulled this list from official organizer pages and recent local reporting, and we left out anything we could not confirm for this year. Here is what is worth planning around between now and mid-month.
San Antonio Events in November 2026 at a Glance
| Event | Where | 2026 dates | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Día de los Muertos at Pearl | Pearl | Through November 3 | See Pearl for details |
| Wurstfest | Landa Park, New Braunfels | November 6 to 15 | $15 to $30; free some days |
| Veterans Day Parade | Milam Park to Houston Street | Saturday, November 7, noon | Free to watch |
| DiwaliSA | Downtown River Walk | Saturday, November 7 | See organizer |
| Luminaria | Houston Street, downtown | Saturday, November 14, 6 p.m. to midnight | Free |
| Fall Night Markets | Pearl | Wednesdays through November 25 | See Pearl for details |
Weekend One: Parade Day and the Festival of Lights
San Antonio Veterans Day Parade, November 7
San Antonio’s nickname, Military City USA, shows up in full on parade day. According to the United States Military Veterans Parade Association, this year’s parade kicks off at Milam Park at 12 noon on Saturday, November 7, and travels down historic Houston Street. It is free to watch from the sidewalk.
Milam Park sits on the west side of downtown, so plan to park or ride in and walk over. Get there early if you want a curb spot, and bring water and sun protection; November afternoons can still feel warm in the sun. Our overview of San Antonio weather by season explains why a light jacket and sunscreen often share the same bag here.
DiwaliSA, November 7
Later that same Saturday, the River Walk hosts DiwaliSA. The official River Walk calendar lists it for November 7 with food, dance, candle lighting along the river and a fireworks display. It is one of the citywide celebrations that draws people from every corner of the metro, and the river at dusk with candles on the water is a sight worth the drive. Check the organizer’s page for times and any ticketed areas before you go.
A Hill Country Day Trip: Wurstfest in New Braunfels
Up I-35 in New Braunfels, Wurstfest is back for its annual ten-day run. Community Impact’s 2026 Wurstfest guide lists November 6 to 15 at Landa Park, near the headwaters of the Comal River.
Ticket prices change by day, so timing your visit can save real money:
- Free admission: Monday through Thursday, November 9 to 12
- $15 online ($20 at the gate): November 6, 8, 13 and 15
- $25 online ($30 at the gate): the two Saturdays, November 7 and 14
- Kids 12 and under: free every day
- Last-day bonus: free entry after 3 p.m. on Sunday, November 15
Weeknight hours are shorter (5 to 10 p.m. on November 9 to 11, and 5 to 11 p.m. on November 12 and 13), while Saturdays run from 11 a.m. to midnight. Parking near the grounds fills quickly, and the same guide lists a $10 park-and-ride shuttle from the Comal County Fairgrounds for riders 13 and older.
If you like the drive, our Hill Country travel guide has more stops for a full day out.
Weekend Two: Luminaria Takes Over Houston Street
Luminaria is San Antonio’s free, after-dark contemporary arts festival, and it returns Saturday, November 14, from 6 p.m. to midnight. News 4 San Antonio reported this week that the 2026 lineup features more than 200 artists across Houston Street in the Downtown West and Zona Cultural areas.
Expect installations, performances and an art parade along a stretch of Houston Street, with venues that include the UTSA Institute of Texan Cultures and Centro’s Art Everywhere space on West Commerce Street. Entry is free, and VIP access is sold separately for a second-floor space hosted by Texas Public Radio. Wear comfortable shoes; this is a walking festival.
Midweek Plans: Pearl Night Markets
Pearl’s Wednesday Fall Night Markets run through November 25, according to Pearl’s fall and winter events calendar. They are an easy weeknight outing: browse local makers, grab dinner nearby and be home at a reasonable hour. The holiday version of the market starts in December, and the big downtown holiday kickoff, the Ford Holiday River Parade, follows on November 27.
For more ideas that work any month of the year, our guide to must-do San Antonio experiences covers the missions, museums and river spots we recommend to visitors.
Where Living Here Puts You for November Weekends
A month like this one is a good reminder that where you buy shapes how you spend your weekends. Downtown events are an easy hop from homes inside Loop 410, while the I-35 corridor puts New Braunfels and the Hill Country in reach for a quick evening.
Our New Braunfels neighborhood guide covers homes in and around the city that hosts Wurstfest, and the Homestead in Schertz community guide looks at newer construction along the I-35 corridor between the two cities. If you are new to the area, start with our moving guide for San Antonio for utilities, registration and first-week logistics.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the Veterans Day Parade in San Antonio in 2026?
The San Antonio Veterans Day Parade is Saturday, November 7, 2026. The United States Military Veterans Parade Association says it kicks off at Milam Park at 12 noon and travels down historic Houston Street downtown. Watching from the sidewalk is free. Arrive early for a curb spot and plan your parking or ride ahead, since downtown gets busy on parade day.
Is Luminaria 2026 free?
Yes. Luminaria is a free, outdoor nighttime arts festival on Saturday, November 14, 2026, from 6 p.m. to midnight along Houston Street downtown. More than 200 artists are part of this year’s lineup. VIP tickets are sold separately for a second-floor space hosted by Texas Public Radio, but general entry costs nothing, so you can wander between installations at your own pace.
What are the Wurstfest 2026 dates and ticket prices?
Wurstfest runs November 6 to 15, 2026, at Landa Park in New Braunfels. Admission is free Monday through Thursday, November 9 to 12. Other days run $15 online or $20 at the gate, and the two Saturdays are $25 online or $30 at the gate. Kids 12 and under get in free every day, and entry is free after 3 p.m. on the final Sunday.
What is there to do in San Antonio in early November?
Early November brings the Veterans Day Parade and DiwaliSA on November 7, Wurstfest in nearby New Braunfels from November 6 to 15, Luminaria downtown on November 14, and Pearl’s Wednesday night markets through November 25. Cooler evenings make it one of the best stretches of the year to be outside, before the holiday season kicks off after Thanksgiving.
Thinking About Your Own Next Move?
Fall is a smart time to take stock. If you already own a home here and are wondering what it would sell for before the new year, request a home value estimate from our team. We will pull recent sales near you and tell you plainly where things stand.
Prefer to talk it through? Call The Howell Group at (210) 492-9703. We are happy to help, whether you are buying, selling or just curious about the market.
