With temperatures still in the upper 80s in October and leaves that may not fall until it’s time to put up Christmas lights, it’s tough to get in to the fall spirit. But luckily, there is an easy way to enjoy harvest season—just visit one of the many fall festivals in Dallas-Fort Worth this month! We’ve rounded up some of our favorite weekend festivals that take place in the next three weeks.
The State Fair of Texas
Where: Fair Park; 1300 Robert B Cullum Blvd., Dallas; bigtex.com
When: Now through Oct. 22
Why you should go: Arguably the highlight of the North Texas festival season for kids—and many adults—the annual fair offers free shows, lots of rides and very interesting fried foods.
Cost: Adults, $18; kids under 48 inches tall, $14
Armeniafest
Where: St. Sarkis Armenian Church; 1805 Random Road, Carrollton, 972/245-6995; armeniafest.com
When: Oct. 13, 5-10pm; Oct. 14, noon-10pm; Oct. 15, noon-5pm
Why you should go: Learn shourchbar (a circle dance), watch dance performances, let the kids do Armenian arts and crafts, feast on kebabs and baklava and more at this three-day culture and food fest.
Cost: Free
Crazy Water Festival
Where: Historic Famous Water Pavilion, 209 N.W. 6th St., Mineral Wells; crazywaterfestival.org
When: Oct. 13, 5:30pm; Oct. 14, 8am
Why you should go: In its 38th year, this festival celebrates the mineral water of Mineral Wells with street art, music, a children’s area, a car-and-truck show, a 5K run, a washer pitching tournament and more.
Cost: $3
Mid-Cities Greek Food Fest
Where: St. John Baptist Greek Orthodox Church; 303 Cullum Dr., Euless, 817/283-2291; midcitiesgreekfest.info
When: Oct. 13-14, 11am-10pm; Oct. 15, 11am-4pm
Why you should go: Bring your appetite and dancing shoes for music, dancing, gyro sandwiches, spinach pie and more. Plus, there’s a Children’s Center with games, face painting, crafts and a photo booth.
Cost: Free
Bonnie & Clyde Days
Where: Pilot Point town square, 300 S. Washington St., Pilot Point; bonnieandclydedays.org
When: Oct. 14, 10am-5pm
Why you should go: This family-friendly festival commemorates and reenacts the bank robbing scene from the 1967 Bonnie and Clyde movie. In addition, there’s a 5K walk or run, a Soap Box challenge, a classic car show, a kids’ zone and more.
Cost: Free
Butterfly Flutterby
Where: Grapevine Botanical Gardens, 411 Ball St., Grapevine, 817/410-3350; grapevinetxonline.com/botanical-gardens
When: Oct. 14, 10am-2pm
Why you should go: This festival celebrates the migration of the monarch butterfly from Canada to Mexico by way of Grapevine. Come for the butterfly costume parade (pets can participate too) and stay for crafts, exhibits, games, a scavenger hunt, face painting and more.
Cost: Free
Celina ParkFest
Where: Old Celina Park, 12670 FM 428, Celina, 972/382-3300; celinaparkfest.com
When: Oct. 14, 11am-11pm
Why you should go: Find a host of entertainment options: hot air balloons, giant inflatables, games, a petting zoo, tethered balloon rides, food and more.
Cost: $10, kids ages 3 and younger, free
Fall Round-Up
Where: Nash Farm; 626 Ball St., Grapevine, 817/410-3558; grapevinetexasusa.com/events/fall-round-up
When: Oct. 14; 10am-2pm
Why you should go: Experience farm life firsthand on Nash Farm. Kids garden, pick cotton, visit the petting zoo and watch live blacksmith and wood carving demos. There will also be music and food.
Cost: Free (some activities might require a fee)
Kimbell Fest
Where: Kimbell Art Museum, 3333 Camp Bowie Blvd., Fort Worth, 817/332-8451; kimbellart.org/kimbell-fest-casanova
When: Oct. 14; 5-10pm
Why you should go: This year’s celebration is Casanova: A Celebration of Love, where families can see performances, get their faces painted and bike in the Casanova’s MasqueRIDE, a theatrical excursion through the Cultural District (bring your own bike).
Cost: Free
National Fossil Day Celebration
Where: Heard Natural Science Museum and Wildlife Sanctuary, 1 Nature Place, McKinney, 972/562-5566; heardmuseum.org/default.aspx?p=117914&evtid=605241:10/14/2017
When: Oct. 14; 1:30-4pm
Why you should go: Celebrate National Fossil Day at this one-day festival in McKinney, where kids learn about ancient teeth, see casts of animals and become mini paleontologists in training.
Cost: Adults, $11; kids ages 3-12, $8; children 2 and younger, free
Oak Cliff Lively Fest
Where: Kiest Park; 3080 South Hampton Road, Dallas; facebook.com/events/1278106305603915
When: Oct. 15, 11am-8pm
Why you should go: This Roots-Reggae festival features DJs, food, live art demos, drum circles and a kids’ zone with bounce houses, a petting zoo and face painters.
Cost: Free
Plano International Festival
Where: Haggard Park; 901 E. 15th St., Plano; planointernationalfestival.org
When: Oct. 14, 11am-5pm
Why you should go: Travel around the world without leaving Plano. Kids and adults collect stamps in a Passport to the World by visiting country booths and learning about other cultures. In addition to food, dancing, art and music, there’s a special Children’s Global Village with STEAM activities.
Cost: Free
Pottery in the Park Arts Festival
Where: Corporate Employees Recreation Association; 3300 Bryant Irvin Road, Fort Worth; facebook.com/events/271268870040722
When: Oct. 14-15, 10am-5pm
Why you should go: Watch pottery demos, let the kids craft at a clay table and shop pottery, jewelry and other handmade crafts.
Cost: Free
Rio Festival
Where: River District; 4800 Scott Road, Fort Worth; riofestfw.com
When: Oct. 14, 5pm
Why you should go: This brand new festival brings food trucks, hay rides, pumpkin patch photos and arts and crafts to the area at the west fork of the Trinity River.
Cost: $15; kids ages 12 and younger, free
Safety Fest
Where: Garland Fire Department; 1500 Highway 66, Garland, 972/781-7100; garlandfire.com
When: Oct. 14, 10am-2pm
Why you should go: There will be live demos of a car fire and helicopter landing, a bounce house, face painting, a balloon artist, free fire gear, plus fire engines, police cars and ambulances to explore.
Cost: Free
Autumn at the Arboretum Family Fun Weekend
Where: Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden; 8525 Garland Road, Dallas; 214/515-6615; dallasarboretum.org
When: Oct. 21-22, 10am-4pm
Why you should go: During Family Fun Weekend, go trick-or-treating throughout the Wonderful World of Oz-themed garden. Let the kids get their faces painted, meet animals in the petting zoo and watch a magician. Don’t forget to walk through the hay bale maze, Tom Thumb Pumpkin Patch and Pumpkin Village before you leave.
Cost: Adults, $15; kids ages 3-12, $10; kids 2 and younger, free
Bloomin’ Bluegrass Festival and Chili Cook-off
Where: Farmers Branch Historical Park, 2540 Farmers Branch Lane, Farmers Branch, 972/406-0184; farmersbranchtx.gov/161/Historical-Park
When: Oct. 20, 4:30-10pm; Oct. 21, 11:30am-10pm
Why you should go: The two-day event combines music, chili and kids’ activities that include bounce houses, a rock climbing wall, crafts, an obstacles course, a petting zoo and 27 acres of space to run.
Cost: Free
Ennis Autumn Daze
Where: Downtown Ennis, 119 N. Dallas St., Ennis, 972/878-4748; visitennis.org/fallfestival.htm
When: Oct. 21, 9am-3pm
Why you should go: This annual festival hosts a hay maze, pumpkin painting and trike corral. Plus, you can visit the Ennis Railroad and Cultural Heritage Museum too.
Cost: Free
Friscovania
Where: Toyota Stadium, 9200 World Cup Way, Frisco, 214/705-6700; friscovania.com
When: Oct. 21, 4-9pm
Why you should go: Designated as the Mayor’s Safe Trick-Or-Treat Zone, the Friscovania festival features a haunted carnival for kids, music, entertainment and a runway show. Proceeds benefit City House.
Cost: $10; children 1 and younger, free
PumpkinFest
Where: City lake Park, 403 S. Galloway Ave., Mesquite; cityofmesquite.com/315/PumpkinFest
When: Oct. 21, 10am-6pm
Why you should go: The city of Mesquite hosts its annual festival with a costume contest, carnival games, bounce houses, pony rides, a petting zoo, a pumpkin patch, performances, food and more.
Cost: Free (some activities may have a fee)
Pumpkins on the Plaza and Glow Party
Where: Dallas City Hall, 1500 Marilla Dr., Dallas, 214/670-8847; dallasparks.org/calendar.aspx?EID=1110
When: Oct. 21, 4-8pm
Why you should go: This one-day festival brings a costume contest for kids and pets, hayrides, pumpkin decorating, inflatables, games, arts and crafts, face painting and more to downtown Dallas.
Cost: Free
Steinfest
Where: Haggard Park; 901 E. 15th St., Plano; steinfest.org
When: Oct. 20, 5-11pm; Oct. 21, 10am-10pm
Why you should go: In true German-inspired fashion (literally), there will be costumed wiener dogs, polka music and artists’ village, plus face painting, games and more.
Cost: Free
Texas Veggie Fair
Where: Reverchon Park, 3505 Maple Ave., Dallas, 214/670-7720; texasveggiefair.com
When: Oct. 21, 11am-6pm
Why you should go: This festival celebrates plant-based options with food, music, games, yoga and kids’ activities too.
Cost: Free
Boo at the Zoo
Where: Fort Worth Zoo; 1989 Colonial Parkway, Fort Worth; 817/759-7501; fortworthzoo.org/boo-at-the-zoo
When: Oct. 27-29; 10am-5pm
Why you should go: Party like (and with) animals at Boo at the Zoo! Learn interesting facts about your favorite wild animals—including a white tiger, Komodo dragon, Asian elephant, black bear and an African lion—go trick-or-treating, catch the Boorific Bubbles show, let loose at DJ Wolfie Jack’s Dance Party, stroll through the pumpkin patch decorated by local residents and zoo staff, make a Halloween-themed craft and more. For an extra fee, listen to spooky music on the Bone Rattler Express and ride on the backwards animals on the Kooky Carousel.
Cost: Adults, $14; kids ages 3-12, $10
Day of the Dead Festival
Where: Downtown Denton, East Hickory and Industrial streets, Denton; dentondayofthedeadfestival.com
When: Oct. 28, 11am-9pm
The Basics: Watch coffin races and make your own light-up prop for the twilight lantern and costume parade. Set kids loose in the pumpkin patch with games and prizes, a haunted house, costume contests and face painting. Don’t miss the music and dance performances, food and art vendors and the special Cirque du Horror family Halloween musical (for an extra fee).
Cost: Free
Dia de los Muertos Festival
Where: Latino Cultural Center, 2600 Live Oak St., Dallas, 214/671-0045; lcc.dallasculture.org
When: Oct. 28, 11am-4pm
Why you should go: This Dia de los Muertos Festival features music, sugar skulls, face painting and art activities. Plus, browse the galleries and altars.
Cost: Free
Fall Festival
Where: Cottonwood Creek Baptist Church, 1015 Sam Rayburn Tollway, Allen; cottonwoodcreek.org/ekk_eventpage.php?slug=645495-2017-10-28-fall-festival
When: Oct. 28, 4-7pm
Why you should go: Dress the kids in costume and let them enjoy bounce houses, preschool games, food trucks, candy and more.
Cost: Free
Fall Festival
Where: Castle Hills Village Shops Plaza, King Arthur Boulevard, Lewisville, 972/410-5700; castlehillsvillageshops.com/events
When: Oct. 28, 5-8pm
Why you should go: Take a horse-drawn hayride, visit the pumpkin patch and exotic petting zoo, get your photo taken with a camel, play in bounce houses and try carnival games. There will also be a balloon artist, a train, a costume trunk and photo booth, face painting, pumpkin decorating and other arts and crafts.
Cost: Free
Japanese Garden Festival
Where: Fort Worth Botanic Garden, 3220 Botanic Garden Blvd., Fort Worth, 817/392-5510; fwbg.org/events/2016/11/5/japanese-garden-fall-festival
When: Oct. 28-29, 10am-5pm
Why you should go: Enjoy traditional Japanese dance, music, martial arts, sword demonstrations, raku, tea ceremonies and more.
Cost: Adults, $8; kids ages 4-12, $4; children 3 and younger, free
Tucker Hill Fall Family Fun Festival
Where: Tucker Hill, 2100 State Blvd., McKinney, 214/544-7550; tuckerhilltx.com/thtx-news/pumpkinville-takes-hiatus-fall-festival-planned
When: Oct. 28-29, 10am-5pm
Why you should go: This inaugural festival’s activities include a tractor-pulled hay ride, costume contests, music, a petting zoo, face painting, pumpkin painting and more.
Cost: Free
