In a pinch for planning some St. Patrick’s Day fun for your kids? We’ve picked our favorite family-friendly events and festivals throughout the month, several with kids’ play areas and performances featuring talented Irish step dancers worthy of the limelight. These picks stretch around Dallas-Fort Worth, so for more events closer to your side of the rainbow or for the 21-and-up crowd, search our full calendar here.
North Texas Irish Festival
Where: Fair Park, Dallas
When: Friday–Sunday, March 6–8, 2026
Why go? Of all the entertainment—Irish step-dancing, loads of live music, live animal demonstrations—it’s really the storytelling that best captures kids’ imaginations. Bring your little kids to the Urchin Story Glen inside the Automobile Building to hear—among other stories—the epic, true story of Ireland’s real-life Pirate Queen Grace O’Malley.
Cost: Single-day admission is $10 child ages 6–11 and free for kids 5 and younger. Adult admission is $20 on Friday and $30 on Saturday.
Learn more here.
St. Paddy’s Texas Style
Where: Wayne Ferguson Plaza in Old Town Lewisville
When: Saturday, March 14, 2026; 1–9:30pm
Why go? First, we love that it’s free admission and nearly all the activities are free—so it’s very budget friendly, right out of the gate. And this annual festival is also a fun one because it’s not only a blend of cultures Texas and Irish cultures. The city throws in a few curveball entertainers like Luche Libre wrestlers and, reliable kiddie activities like inflatables.
Cost: Admission and most activities are free.
See the full schedule
Cowtown Goes Green
Where: Fort Worth Stockyards National Historic District
When: Saturday, March 14, 2026; 10am–8pm
Why go? On the Saturday before St. Patrick’s Day, the Stockyards tips its hat to Irish culture by hosting some extra fun entertainment. You can expect live clogging groups, armadillo races, pony rides and, in Stockyards tradition, an overtly green twist on the 4pm longhorn cattle drive.
Cost: Free admission
Learn more here
Cowboys & Clovers
Where: Grandscape, The Colony
When: Tuesday, March 17, 2026; 6–9pm
Why go? Want to jam out to some Irish tunes on St. Patrick’s Day itself? Head to the stage and lawn at this outdoor entertainment center for live acts. You can get a face painting, sip on green drinks from The Colony Wine Bar nearby, and enjoy more of what Grandscape has in-store. Last year they had a mechanical bull, which we’re hoping they bring back.
Cost: Free admission.
Learn more here
Lucky Little Charms & Irish Step Dancing
Where: Galleria Dallas
When: Tuesday, March 17, 2026; 11am–2pm
Why go? When St. Patrick’s Day celebrations coincide with your spring break week, easy activities outside the house are just the ticket. And at the Galleria, kids are welcome to design their own wearable charms—bracelets and backpack charms—with Camp Crafty from 11am–1pm. You’ll get this craft activity free with one condition: show your receipt from any Galleria Dallas retailer. And stick around for an entirely free, live performance from The McLane School of Irish Dance.
Learn more
World’s Only St. Paddy’s Pickle Parade & Palooza
Where: Downtown Mansfield
When: Saturday, March 21, 2026; 8am–7:30pm
Why go? The Pickle Capital of Texas—and where Best Maid pickle company first started—pulls out the stops for its annual festival and parade (kicking off at 10am) on St. Patrick’s Day weekend featuring—most darling of all—the Baby Parade for “Baby Dills” between 6 and 48 months old. Don’t miss out on the spectacle of the Pickle Queens on the Main Stage and of the pickle eating and pickle juice drinking contests.
Cost: Free admission and free children’s activities. $20 to enter Baby Parade.
See the full schedule.
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