Which plans on the Helotes calendar between now and mid-November can you count on? As of October 9, 2026, the most settled ones are the recurring and free ones. Floore's Sunday dances, the monthly market on Riggs Road and the Veterans Day concert at the fire station all have posted times, addresses and admission. Several one-time events still have no posted venue or show different details on different pages. The new restaurants people have been talking about along Bandera Road and Loop 1604 haven't opened.
I've laid the season out in that order. The regular events come first because the rest of the weekend can be planned around them. The one-time events come next, with the details that are still missing. The pending openings come last.
The fixed points
Sundays at Floore's
On Sunday afternoons, John T. Floore Country Store runs on a routine. The Reese Bros BBQ Lunch starts at 11 a.m. and runs until the barbecue sells out. After that, only a limited menu is available. Floore's lists that lunch on October 11, 18 and 25.
The free Dine and Dance follows in the afternoon. On Sunday, October 11, Cory Cross plays from 3 to 8 p.m. Doors open at 3 for free dance lessons, and the dance starts at 4. It's free, open to all ages and held indoors. According to Floore's, these dances usually fall on the first and third Sundays of the month, plus special holiday weekends. Seating is limited and first-come, first-served, and outside food and drink aren't allowed. The venue's schedule also shows a second free dance on October 18.
Because the barbecue sells out, the timing matters. Lunch starts at 11 and dance lessons start at 3, which leaves a long gap. If you want the barbecue, go early and come back for the dancing, or plan to make an afternoon of it.
The first Saturday market in Old Town
The Helotes MarketPlace has two dates left in 2026: Saturday, November 7 and Saturday, December 5. Both run 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The market sets up in Old Town Helotes at 14391 Riggs Road. Admission is free, and the organizers' FAQ says public parking is first-come, first-served. Vendors include cottage-food and farmers-market sellers, prepared-food stands, craft and retail booths and nonprofits. The December 5 date is the regular monthly market. It isn't billed as a separate holiday market.
The Veterans Day concert at the fire station
The City of Helotes has scheduled its 2026 Veterans Day Concert for Sunday, November 8, from 3 to 5 p.m. at the Helotes Fire Department, 12951 Bandera Road. The Helotes Area Community Band performs, and admission and parking are free. I spent more than 20 years in the Army, so this one is on my own calendar. It's a free, local way to mark Veterans Day without leaving town.
Weekend by weekend, with the open questions marked
These are the one-time events, set alongside the regular dates above. Some of the details below are confirmed and some are still missing, and I've said which is which.
October 9 to 11
- Randy Rogers Band at Floore's, Friday and Saturday, October 9 and 10. Josh Meloy and Cameron Allbright open Friday, and Sammy Arriaga and Hank Weaver open Saturday.
- Barbecue lunch and free Dine and Dance at Floore's, Sunday, October 11, as described above.
October 16 to 18
- Pecos & The Rooftops at Floore's, Friday, October 16, with KG And The Bad Habits.
- Old Town Helotes Listening Session, Saturday, October 17 at 9 a.m. The Helotes Economic Development Corporation is asking to hear from people who own a business or property, or work, in the Old Town Helotes Historic District. The session is for gathering input. It isn't the announcement of a project.
- Paws and Pumpkins, Saturday, October 17, noon to 4 p.m. The City's listing describes a family-friendly fall market with local vendors, leashed pets welcome and a pet costume contest. As of October 9, the location field on that page is blank. The page also doesn't name an organizer, a price or a registration process. Check the listing again before you put a costume on the dog.
- Second free Dine and Dance at Floore's, Sunday, October 18, along with the barbecue lunch.
October 23 to 25
- Gary Allan at Floore's, Friday, October 23, with Matt Castillo.
- The Droptines at Floore's, Saturday, October 24, with Mason Lively.
- Café & Cuddles, Sunday, October 25. Once in a Wild brings animal ambassadors to Refuge Coffee + Beer Garden for guided zookeeper interactions, animal facts, kids' activities, coffee and food. The venue is at 11011 Shaenfield Road, San Antonio, TX 78254. Tickets are required. The operator says tickets are good for the whole event, so you can come and go. Its page mentions rabbits, an owl, reptiles and guinea pigs.
The price for Café & Cuddles depends on which page you read. The City lists 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at $15 online and $18 at the door. Once in a Wild's own event page lists standard admission at $18 online and $20 at the door. It offers lower prices for military, first responders and seniors, and free admission for teachers and Zoo Club members. The City's figures match the operator's discounted military, first-responder and senior rate, so the operator's page is the one to rely on when you buy.
October 28 to November 1
- FBC Helotes Trunk or Treat, Wednesday, October 28, 6 to 7:30 p.m. The City's listing promises free fun, food, games and treats for the whole family. The location field on the detail page is blank, so confirm the address before you load the kids into the car.
- Silverada at Floore's, Friday, October 30, with Pug Johson.
- Pedrotti's Ranch 6th Annual Fall Fest, Friday, October 30. The ranch is at 13715 FM 1560 N. More on this one below.
November 7 and 8
- Helotes MarketPlace, Saturday, November 7, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., on Riggs Road.
- Josh Abbott Band at Floore's, Saturday, November 7, with David Lewis.
- Veterans Day Concert, Sunday, November 8, 3 to 5 p.m., at the fire station on Bandera Road.
November 14
- Household hazardous-waste collection at Helotes City Hall, 12951 Bandera Road. It's open only to Helotes residents.
Fall Fest night at Pedrotti's
Fall Fest is the biggest single evening on this calendar, and it has the most moving parts. The ranch's ticket page splits the evening into three blocks:
- 5 to 7:30 p.m.: kids' entertainment, including an indoor inflatable park, goat cuddles, a petting zoo, face painting and a pumpkin patch.
- 7:30 to 8:30 p.m.: the rodeo.
- 8:30 to 10 p.m.: Nick Lawrence performs.
General admission for ages 13 and up is $20. Tickets for ages 4 to 12 are $10, and children 3 and under get in free. A $100 VIP option for ages 21 and up includes two adult drink tickets, a meal voucher, reserved seating for the rodeo and music, and meet-and-greets with the rodeo competitors and Nick Lawrence. The ranch asks guests to buy online and bring a mobile ticket or confirmation.
The ranch's own schedule ends at 10 p.m., but the City's listing shows 5 to 10:30 p.m. If you're arranging a pickup or a babysitter, plan around the later time. The ticket page doesn't mention a pet policy for guests.
The openings that are still on paper
A lot of fall talk in Helotes is about what's coming. As of October 9, none of the announced restaurants has a confirmed opening date.
Dave's Hot Chicken is planned for 9257 N. Loop 1604 W., in a 2,882-square-foot space. In May 2026, the San Antonio Express-News reported that construction should be done by November, with no opening date announced. WhatNow gave a more specific projected construction finish of November 5, 2026. That date is for finishing construction. The restaurant could open later.
7Brew is proposed for an existing drive-through at 12405 Bandera Road. A City notice set public hearings for May 5 and May 14. Wild Wing Station is proposed for the former KFC drive-through at 12474 Bandera Road, and the City also scheduled hearings on its specific-use request. I couldn't find the results of either set of hearings, and I couldn't confirm an opening date for either restaurant.
One park project is also on paper so far. In August 2026, the City requested bids to rebuild and widen the driveway and add parking at Helotes Fitness Park, 10483 Parrigin Road. Bids were due September 3. I haven't seen a contract award or a construction schedule.
Next month, if Dave's Hot Chicken has opened on Loop 1604, the November 7 market is back on Riggs Road and the community band plays at the fire station the following afternoon, that will be a good November weekend in Helotes.
If you're hosting family or friends for Fall Fest or the Veterans Day concert, I'm happy to suggest how to fit those plans around a Floore's Sunday. If one of those visitors is a service member thinking about a move to the San Antonio area, I'd be glad to talk timelines with them too. Reach out to Marcus T. Wood with All City Real Estate. Let's Connect.
