Discover the best fall festivals, Halloween events, and pumpkin patches in DFW to visit with your family in 2026.
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Note: This post is updated annually, but always check details with the venue before making a trip. Click the links for current dates, times, and prices.
Fall in Texas is sometimes not very fall-like. The weather feels an awful lot like summer, well into September and sometimes beyond. The best thing to do to start feeling the season is to visit one of the local fall festivals or stop by a pumpkin patch. (Although many local small farms have closed.)
Here are a few of the best fall and Halloween activities for families in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.
Fort Worth-Dallas fall events
1. ¡Celebramos! A Celebration of Hispanic Heritage
The Fort Worth Botanic Garden celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month over two weekends with music, food, local vendors, and kid-friendly fun. Most activities are included in general admission. Find details and more events on the Fort Worth Botanic Garden website.
Quick info:
- Dates: September 19-20 and October 18-19, 2026
- Times: The park is open 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.; see schedule for specific activities
- Admission: $8-$15; free on September 19
- Location: Fort Worth Botanic Garden, 3220 Botanic Garden Blvd., Fort Worth, TX 76107
- For more info: Fort Worth Botanic Garden
2. Tricks and Treats
Every year Six Flags Over Texas transforms into a scary after-dark event called Fright Fest for teen and adult horror fans. Families with younger kids may prefer the daytime Tricks and Treats. This event include Halloween-themed shows, food, trick-or-treating, and more.
Quick info:
- Dates: weekends September 12 – November 1, 2026
- Times: varies
- Admission: $40 and up + parking
- Location: Six Flags Over Texas, 2201 Road to Six Flags, Arlington, TX 76011
- For more info: Tricks and Treats
3. Plano Balloon Festival
Watch an amazing array of hot air balloons, a parachute show, live music, kids activities, and a nighttime firework show.
Quick info:
- Dates: September 17-20, 2026
- Times: varies daily, but roughly 5-10 p.m.
- Admission: $5-$10; fun zone wristbands $20
- Location: Oak Point Park, 2801 E. Spring Creek Parkway, Plano, Texas 75074
- For more info: Plano Balloon Fest
4. Pumpkin Nights
Head to Howell Farms in Arlington for Pumpkin Nights, a walk-through fantasy land crafted from over 5,000 pumpkins. Follow a half-mile walking trail with unique exhibits and photo ops. Tickets must be purchased in advance for timed entry on a fixed date (and often sell out!). There is also a vendor and concession area.
Quick info:
- Dates: September 17 – October 31, 2026
- Times: times entry 6-9:30 p.m.
- Admission: $16-$60 + $10 parking
- Location: Howell Farms, 4016 W Division Street, Arlington, Texas 76012
- For more info: Pumpkin Night Dallas
5. Mainstay Farms Fall Festival
Mainstay Farms in Cleburne hosts a large festival for fall. Enjoy games, rides, and theme park attractions. Pick your own flowers or pumpkins. Pet cute farm animals. Snap photos across the farm. Most activities are included with admission but some have an additional charge.
Quick info:
- Dates: September 20 – November 7, 2026
- Times: varies by date
- Admission: $40 (discounts online in advance)
- Location: Mainstay Farms, 1004 W. Bethesda Rd., Cleburne, TX 76031
- For more info: Mainstay Farms
6. Fall Festival at Yesterland Farm
Yesterland Farm in Canton is a short drive east of Dallas. Activities for all ages include rides, games, and carnival activities. Pick your own flowers, stroll 3 pumpkin patches, and explore the corn maze. Try festive food and drinks, and stay late for the fireworks show. During Spooktacular Nights, stay after dark for scary Halloween fun.
Quick info:
- Dates: September 19 – November 8, 2026
- Times: varies by date
- Admission: $89.95
- Location: Yesterland Farm, 15410 Interstate 20, Canton, TX 75103
- For more info: Yesterland Farm
7. Autumn at the Arboretum
The Dallas Arboretum builds a life-sized pumpkin village with over 100,000 pumpkins and gourds. This year’s theme is Harvest Hues and celebrates modern art. Families can walk through the village and pose for photos during regular hours. There will be a sensory-friendly evening on Tuesday, Oct 20, 2026 from 5:30 to 8 p.m.
There is also a Hispanic Heritage Month celebration on September 12, 2026.
Quick info:
- Dates: September 19 – November 1, 2026
- Times: regular daily hours, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
- Admission: $22-$26 + parking
- Location: Dallas Arboretum, 8525 Garland Road, Dallas, Texas 75218
- For more info: Autumn at the Arboretum
8. Fort Worth Oktoberfest
Fort Worth Oktoberfest is a celebration of German culture each September that includes food, drinks, music, dancing, and competitions. There’s also a dachshund race, a 5K run (for humans), carnival rides, and a vendor market.
Quick info:
- Dates: September 24-26, 2026
- Times: Thursday and Friday, 5-11 p.m.; Saturday 11 a.m. – midnight
- Admission: $15-$26 + parking
- Location: Trinity Park; parking at Farrington Field, 1501 University Drive, Fort Worth, Texas 76107
- For more info: Fort Worth Oktoberfest
9. Heritage Urban Farm Pumpkin Patch
Visit a working farm in Weatherford to enjoy games, hayrides, a petting zoo, and tons of pumpkins for photo ops. Pumpkins, food, and drink are available for purchase. In addition to public weekends, the farm offers homeschool and field trip dates.
Quick info:
- Dates: weekends September 26 – October 25, 2026
- Times: Saturdays 10 a.m. – 6 p.m., Sundays noon – 6 p.m.
- Admission: $5-$7
- Location: Heritage Urban Farm, 1439 Old Airport Road, Weatherford, TX 76087
- For more info: Heritage Urban Farm
10. Brick or Treat
Brick or Treat is a Halloween-themed event at Legoland Discovery Center. Each area is transformed into a spooky fun LEGO zone with seasonal builds, photo-ops, trick-or-treating, and more.
Quick info:
- Dates: Dates for 2026 haven’t been announced at time of update, but check back later!
- Times: regular attraction hours, 10 a.m.- 5:30 p.m.
- Admission: $20 when purchased online, $23 at the door
- Location: Grapevine Mills Mall, 3000 Grapevine Mills Parkway
Grapevine, Texas 76051 - For more info: Legoland Discover Center
11. State Fair of Texas
The State Fair is perhaps one of the largest annual festivals in the area. Festivities include games, rides, exhibits, live music, food and drinks, and so much more.
Quick info:
- Dates: September 25 – October 18, 2026
- Times: varies daily
- Admission: $27-$52 (some packages include parking but not all)
- Location: Fair Park, 3809 Grand AvenueDallas, TX 75210
- For more info: State Fair of Texas
12. 31 Days of Halloween in Denton
Denton has been named the Halloween capital of Texas! Local businesses and the city are hosting hundreds of events across the city all month long. There are too many to list individually. My personal favorites (so far ~ I haven’t done nearly everything) are the Scary Chairy Orchard and the art installations all over the square.
Quick info:
- Dates: October 1-31, 2026
- Times: varies
- Admission: varies, some are free
- Location: Denton, Texas
- For more info: Denton Halloween
13. Hall’s Pumpkin Farm & Corn Maze
Visit a real working farm and pick your own pumpkins. Hall’s Pumpkin Farms opens its doors to the public every year with a corn maze, hayrides ($3-$5), and tons of pumpkins for photo ops and purchase. Note that this is a cash-only venue.
Quick info:
- Dates: October 2 – November 1, 2026
- Times: varies daily
- Admission: $10-$15
- Location: Hall’s Pumpkin Farm, 3420 Hall Johnson Road, Grapevine, Texas 76051
- For more info: Hall’s Pumpkin Farm
14. Mid-Autumn Festival at Asia Times Square
Asia Times Square in Grand Prairie is one of the largest markets of its kind in the area. They host a few cultural events year-round, including an autumn festival also called the Mooncake Festival. Shop artisan vendors and eat Asian street food. Watch live performances and a lantern parade.
Quick info:
- Dates: September 18-20, 2026
- Times: all day
- Admission: free
- Location: Asia Times Square Outdoor Plaza, 2625 W Pioneer Parkway, Grand Prairie, TX 75051
- For more info: Asia Times Square
15. Murphy Maize Days
Celebrate all things corn at the Murphy Park northeast of Dallas. Enjoy carnival games, rides, and play areas for kids of all ages. Hop into the inflatable zone. Enjoy live music, a car show, and fireworks after dark. Parking and general admission are free, but some activities have a fee.
Quick info:
- Dates: October 3, 2026
- Times: noon – 9:30 p.m.
- Admission: free
- Location: Murphy Central Park, 550 N. Murphy Road, Murphy, TX 75094
- For more info: Murphy Maize Days
16. Scarborough’s Hollow
Scarborough Renaissance Festival has been a local spring staple for decades and for 2025, they’re launching a new fall event. Enjoy live entertainment, shops, a petting zoo, haunted house and funhouse, and plenty of seasonal food and drink themed around a fantasy fairy land. Note that many activities have an additional cost after admission.
Quick info:
- Dates: September 26 – November 1, 2026
- Times: Saturdays + Sunday Nov 1, 1-9 p.m.
- Admission: kids, $17; adults, $30 (bundles with add-ons available)
- Location: Scarborough Fair, 2511 FM 66, Waxahachie, TX 75167
- For more info: Scarborough Renaissance Festival
17. Nash Farm Fall Roundup
Nash Farm in Grapevine hosts a fall agriculture festival every October. Old fashion fun includes campfire cooking demos, making apple pie, rope making, pony rides, old-fashioned games, and farm activities. General admission is free, but some activities have a fee.
Quick info:
- Dates: October 24, 2026
- Times: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
- Admission: free
- Location: Nash Farm, 626 Ball Street, Grapevine, Texas
- For more info: Grapevine Convention and Visitors Bureau
18. River Legacy Center Fall Festival
River Legacy Park is a natural area in Arlington that hosts a fall festival to raise funds for environmental activities. Activities include kids games, bounce houses, live music, and a pumpkin patch.
Quick info:
- Dates: October 10, 2026
- Times: 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.
- Admission: $8
- Location: River Legacy Nature Center, 701 NW Green Oaks Boulevard, Arlington, TX 76006
- For more info: River Legacy Nature Center
19. Oktoberfest Southlake
The City of Southlake hosts a free, family-friendly celebration of all things German. Festivities include food, live entertainment, wiener dog races, and a family fun zone. Admission is free, but some activities have a fee.
Quick info:
- Dates: October 16-18, 2026
- Times: Friday 4-11 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. – 11 p.m., and Sunday noon – 7 p.m.
- Admission: free
- Location: Southlake Town Square, 1256 Main Street, Southlake, TX 76092
- For more info: Southlake Chamber of Commerce
20. Boo at the Zoo
The Fort Worth Zoo hosts a family-friendly trick-or-treat event with live shows, keeper chats, and candy stations across the park. Kids are encouraged to wear costumes. Find a schedule of daily events on the zoos website.
Quick info:
- Dates: October 23-25, 2026
- Times: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
- Admission: $16-20 + $5 parking
- Location: Fort Worth Zoo, 1989 Colonial Parkway, Fort Worth, Texas 76110
- For more info: Fort Worth Zoo
What’s next? Try these other fun and creative ideas on One Mama’s Daily Drama:
Love seeing all those pumpkins from Floydada and Floyd County showing up in DFW. Please support the patches and events, and if you need a road trip come to Punkin Day, October 8th in Floydada. I think the Arboretum gets 90,000 pumpkins, gourds and corn stalks from local growers, Pyle Pumpkins. Look for their label in HEB and United stores too. Spreading the love from the Pumpkin Capital of the World, Floydada, Texas. Thanks.