HTX-BMW: Impact 10/2/2025

Check out these eight pumpkin patches and festive events to get into the fall spirit. This list is not comprehensive and events are subject to change.

Houston Pumpkin Festival: Discovery Green is bringing back its annual pumpkin festival, featuring more than 50 pumpkins, the world’s largest inflatable pumpkin and a corn pit.  

• 1500 McKinney St., Houston
• $18 (weekdays), $26 (weekends)
• Sept. 20-Nov. 2, weekdays from 3 p.m.-10 p.m., weekends from 10 a.m.-10 p.m. 

Zoo Boo: The Houston Zoo is celebrating fall with carved pumpkins, a pumpkin tree and animal-themed peek-a-boo pumpkins, along with other themed activities.

• 6200 Hermann Park Drive, Houston
• Free (members), general admission ticket (non-members)
• Sept. 26-Oct. 31, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. 

Local pizzeria restaurant Gypsy Poet plans on opening its third location in Houston, according to a Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation filing.

The details: The $350,000 renovation project will be located on 2512 Times Blvd., the site that currently houses the now-closed Thai Village Restaurant. The project is expected to start construction on Nov. 3 and be completed on Dec. 31.

Gypsy Poet serves creative thin-crust pizzas such as:

• Margherita "The Queen": House tomato sauce, mozzarella, fior di latte cheese and basil
• Pepperoni Madness: House tomato sauce, mozzarella, big pepperoni and hot honey
• Fancy Backpacker: House tomato auce, mozzarella, fior di latte cheese, prosciutto di parma, truffle oil and arugula

According to a Sept. 26 press release, Target has launched a first-of-its-kind accessible self-checkout experience designed for guests with disabilities, including those who are blind or have low vision.

The self-checkouts will roll out nationwide beginning this holiday season and in early 2026 as part of Target's ongoing checkout improvements, according to the release.

What to expect: Per the release, the innovation is a guest-first design that primarily supports people who are visually impaired while supporting those with motor disabilities.

The technology works with Target’s existing self-checkout system and includes:

• Braille and high-contrast button icons
• A headphone jack with adjustable volume controls
• Physical navigation buttons and a dedicated information key

A San Antonio-based grocery chain with a stronghold across Texas is now facing a change in leadership.

In case you missed it: H-E-B President Craig Boyan announced his intention to step down from his role, effective in January 2026.

He’ll subsequently retire at the end of next year, according to a Sept. 30 news release from the company.

As a result, current H-E-B Chief Operating Officer Roxanne Orsak will take his place.

Zooming in: Orsak started her career at H-E-B in 1988 as a store manager, rising through the ranks to become the COO in 2022, according to the release.

“I am honored to continue to shape the future of this great company with integrity, heart and a relentless pursuit of excellence,” Orsak said.

The context: The leadership change comes in tandem with H-E-B’s continued expansion in Texas.

New storefronts in San Antonio, Georgetown, Prosper and more have opened within the last two months, as previously reported by Community Impact.