Fort Worth Oktoberfest will bring beer, dirndls, lederhosen, live music, carnival rides and more to Trinity Park in Fort Worth on Sept. 24-26.
Fort Worth Oktoberfest
YouTube stars Dan Howell (left) and Phil Lester are bringing their “Hard Launch” show to the stage Sept. 24 at the Music Hall at Fair Park in Dallas.
Luke Shadrick
The Texas Mead and Music Festival will be Sept. 19 at the Scarborough Renaissance Festival grounds in Waxahachie. Also known as honey wine, mead is considered one of the oldest alcoholic drinks in human history.
Southwest Festivals
Rhythms at the River Walk and Duck Derby will feature around 30,000 rubber ducks racing down the Flower Mound River Walk on Sept. 19.
Cross Timbers Rotary Club
Autumn Fest, at Little Elm Park in Little Elm on Sept. 18-20, will feature a Hispanic Heritage Celebration on Sept. 20.
Lakefront at Little Elm
The Plano Balloon Festival will be Sept. 18-20 at Oak Point Park in Plano.
George Vasquez
Addison puts a Texas twist on the traditional German cultural celebration at this popular event, which draws around 50,000 visitors annually. The centerpiece of the action is the 30,000-square-foot Partyhalle tent, which mirrors the tents at the world-famous Oktoberfest in Munich with traditional German food, cold beer and live entertainment. Nearly 30 musicians and groups will perform, and a silent disco will feature beats spun by a live DJ. Carnival games and rides, including a Ferris wheel, will add to the festive atmosphere. Guests can scratch their competitive itch by taking part in stein-carrying contests, beer barrel-rolling, Biergarten Bingo and other games. On Sept. 20, the festival goes to the dogs, as guests are welcome to bring their pooches to Sunday Hund-Day. Dogs wearing their best Oktoberfest attire can strut their stuff in a pet parade, and 100 dogs will face off in the popular Dachshund Dash.
Sept. 17, 6 to 11 p.m., free admission. Sept. 18 from 5 to 11 p.m., Sept. 19 from noon to midnight and Sept. 20 from noon to 6 p.m. at Addison Circle Park in Addison. On Sept. 18-19, general admission is $15 for ages 13 and up, $5 for ages 6-12, and free for younger kids. On Sept. 20, it’s $10 for ages 13 and up and free for younger kids. addisonoktoberfest.com.
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More than 30 colorful hot-air balloons will fill the skies over Plano at this popular annual event, which also includes musical performances and other live entertainment. Tethered balloon rides will be available for purchase for ages 6 and up while the balloons are in the park at dawn and dusk ($30 for ages 13 and up and $20 for ages 6-12; cash only). On Sept. 18-19 at 6 p.m., the Re/Max of Texas parachute team will perform, landing in the festival’s launch field, followed at 7:30 p.m. by a balloon glow that will light up the evening sky, and then a fireworks show. A Kids Fun Zone will offer games, face painting, arts and crafts projects, rides and inflatables. Individual rides are $2.50-$5, or spend $20 for an all-day wristband.
Sept. 18 from 4 to 10 p.m., Sept. 19 from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sept. 20 from 6 to 11 a.m. at Oak Point Park in Plano. Admission is $10 for ages 13 and up, $5 for ages 3-12 and seniors 65 and older, and free for younger kids. Parking is $10-$15, depending on the location. planoballoonfest.org.
The largest wine festival in the Southwest is back for its 40th year, with wine tastings, live entertainment and more. Four stages will host live music performances throughout the festival, and local chefs and vendors will provide a variety of food offerings to pair with GrapeFest’s mix of wines from Texas and beyond. Attendees can test their grape-crushing skills at the festival’s GrapeStomp event or aim for a prize at the Champagne Cork Shoot-Off. And rides, games and children’s activities will ensure that the little ones are entertained as well.
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Sept. 18-19 from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. and Sept. 20 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on historic Main Street in Grapevine. $12 for ages 13 and up, $6 for ages 6-12 and seniors 62 and older, and free for younger kids. A weekend pass is $25. grapevinetexasusa.com/grapefest.
Fall is right around the corner. Celebrate the return of cooler weather and colorful foliage with live music, carnival rides and games, food trucks, vendors and more. Musical highlights include performances by Reputation: A Tribute to the Music of Taylor Swift on Sept. 18 from 7 to 9 p.m. and 1990s cover band Topanga on Sept. 19 from 7 to 9 p.m. Sept. 20 will bring a Hispanic Heritage Celebration, featuring performances by Anita N. Martinez Ballet Folklorico at 2 p.m. and the Tejano Queen Forever Band at 6 p.m. to honor the music of late Tejano superstar Selena. Guests 17 and under must be accompanied by a parent or guardian each day after 5 p.m.
Sept. 18 from 5 to 11 p.m., Sept. 19 from 2 to 11 p.m. and Sept. 20 from 1 to 10 p.m. at Little Elm Park in Little Elm. General admission for ages 13 and up is $5 on Sept. 18 and Sept. 20 and $10 on Sept. 19. Admission is free for children 12 and under. An unlimited-ride wristband (valid on Sept. 20) is $30 at the gate. littleelm.gov.
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This family-friendly outdoor festival transforms Howell Family Farms in Arlington into an illuminated pumpkin and fall-art experience, with themed trails, art installations, mazes, and thousands of carved and lit pumpkins offering Instagram-ready photo ops. Visitors will follow a half-mile path through nine immersive pumpkin lands, including the fiery Forbidden City and the underwater world of Neon Reef. Seasonal food and drinks, games, vendors and fire-twirling shows add to the fun. Organizers say the walk typically takes about an hour.
Sept. 18-Oct. 1 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. weekdays and 7 to 9 p.m. weekends, and Oct. 2-Oct. 31 from 6 to 9 p.m. weekdays and 6 to 9:30 p.m. weekends at Howell Family Farms in Arlington. $20-$38 for ages 13 and up, $13-$28 for ages 4-12 and free for younger kids. VIP tickets are also available. Parking is $10 per car. pumpkinnights.com/dallas.
Travel back in time to the days of cowboys and cattle drives at this Frisco festival featuring pioneer games, pony rides, armadillo races, a petting zoo and more. Guests can attend immersive living-history demonstrations, including blacksmithing, folk music and Dutch oven cooking. And since Frisco is celebrating its 125th birthday, educational booths will detail Frisco’s transformation from a tiny trail stop to a thriving modern city. Matt Kirk and the Güeyfarers will close out the event with a free concert under the stars from 6 to 8 p.m., playing a mix of Americana, blues, folk, rock and country.
Sept. 19 from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the Frisco Heritage Center in Frisco. Free. friscoheritage.org.
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FREE Back for its 10th year, this celebration of all things creative will turn Arlington’s West Main Street into a street party with live music, artwork, food trucks and more. More than 70 artist booths will offer paintings, sculptures, jewelry, ceramics, photography and other media, and interactive projects will get the kids involved. Live mural projects, painting demonstrations and workshops will offer insight into the creative process. Three stages will host live music performances from multiple genres, including jazz, rock, acoustic and mariachi.
Sept. 19 from noon to 6 p.m. on West Main Street in downtown Arlington. Free. arlingtontx.gov.
Celebrate the arrival of fall with more than 100,000 pumpkins, gourds and squash at the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden’s popular annual festival. In addition to 66 acres of fall plantings, the event will feature six pumpkin houses inspired by the art of Jean-Michel Basquiat, Mark Rothko, Louise Bourgeois, Piet Mondrian, M.C. Escher and Jackson Pollock. Special events throughout the season include “Pumpkins and Pints,” where visitors can enjoy after-hours craft beer, wine and food trucks on Oct. 2, 9, 16, 23 and 30; the “Goth Garden Workshop” on Oct. 3 from 10 a.m. to noon, a chance for guests to explore the beauty of the darker side of gardening; and a Pumpkin and Squash Show and Sale on Oct. 16-18 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Through Sept. 30, guests can also check out “Hunt Slonem: Bunnies, Birds and Butterflies,” featuring more than 100 works of art by acclaimed neo-expressionist artist Hunt Slonem, with monumental sculptures of bunnies, birds and butterflies placed throughout the landscape.
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Sept. 19-Nov. 1 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily at the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden in Dallas. $21.95-$25.95 for ages 13 and up, $17.95-$21.95 for ages 3-12 and free for younger kids. Parking is $15 (free for members). dallasarboretum.org.
BEST SOUTHWEST HISPANIC HERITAGE FEST
FREE The Best Southwest cities of Cedar Hill, DeSoto, Duncanville and Lancaster are teaming up to host this celebration of the rich traditions, vibrant cultures and valuable contributions of the area’s Latino community. Stop by for live music, cultural performances, food and artisan vendors, family-friendly activities and more. Musical highlights include a performance by Havana NRG, a high-energy Latin orchestra and party band.
Sept. 19 from 5 to 10 p.m. at Valley Ridge Park in Cedar Hill. Free. cedarhilltx.com.
TEXAS MEAD AND MUSIC FESTIVAL
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The Scarborough Renaissance Festival won’t be back until next April, and its fall twin, Scarborough’s Hollow, won’t arrive till late September. But if you need a fix of anachronistic fun, this festival could be just the ticket as it arrives in North Texas for the first time. Attendees can sample handcrafted meads from 13 Texas meaderies, enjoy live music on five stages, browse dozens of artisan vendors, and savor seasonal food and drinks while getting a special preview of the Scarborough’s Hollow fall fantasy festival, which will run Sept. 26-Nov. 1. The country-centric musical lineup includes Matt Hillyer, Rowdy Decker, the Calamity Janes, Kin Faux, Jade Edwards, Adara Kay and more.
Sept. 19 from 1 to 7 p.m. at the Scarborough Renaissance Festival grounds in Waxahachie. General admission is $38.50 for ages 21 and up, $11 for ages 5-20 and free for younger kids. VIP admission and a handful of optional add-on experiences are also available. TXMeadFest.com.
RHYTHMS AT THE RIVER WALK AND DUCK DERBY
FREE Tens of thousands of rubber ducks will race for glory — and prizes including a $2,500 Visa gift card — at the Flower Mound River Walk. Attendees will also find food trucks, vendors, live music and children’s activities. Presented by the Cross Timbers Rotary Club, the event is free to attend, and anyone can adopt a duck for $5 for the race, which begins at 1 p.m. All proceeds will benefit charitable organizations in the community.
Sept. 19 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Flower Mound River Walk in Flower Mound. Free. rhythmsattheriverwalk.com.
‘DAN AND PHIL: HARD LAUNCH WORLD TOUR’
YouTube stars Dan Howell and Phil Lester are bringing their latest live show, “Hard Launch,” to the stage at the Music Hall at Fair Park, continuing a partnership that has made them two of the internet’s most recognizable creators. The British duo rose to fame through their irreverent, often self-deprecating videos and built an international audience before expanding into books, podcasts and live theater. Their new show follows the pair’s Terrible Influence tour and embraces a new chapter in their long-running creative partnership. Fans can expect the duo’s trademark mix of comedy, personal stories and audience interaction, as well as the kind of unfiltered oversharing that has become a Dan and Phil specialty.
Sept. 24 at 7:30 p.m. at the Music Hall at Fair Park in Dallas. Tickets start at $68.50. ticketmaster.com.
Modeled after the world-famous Oktoberfest in Munich, this German cultural celebration will feature multiple tents and biergartens, traditional German food and beer, and more. The festival’s largest beer-hall tent, the Paulaner Festzelt, seats more than 900 people, with a large dance floor and live music all day. It will host the festival’s first keg tapping, as well as a dachshund costume contest and nightly beer stein-holding contests. Other tents and beer gardens will also offer live music, along with games including beer barrel-rolling, cornhole and Big Jenga. The Food Haus will serve favorites such as bratwurst, schnitzel, potato pancakes, turkey legs, pork chops, pretzels, skillet potatoes, fudge and roasted nuts. A midway area will offer carnival rides and games, as well as traditional carnival foods like corn dogs, cotton candy, fried treats, nachos and popcorn. And a marketplace will sell traditional German collectibles and clothing. Those who order tickets online by Sept. 23 at 11:59 p.m. will get a free commemorative stein, and a limited number of steins will be available for those who buy tickets at the gate.
Sept. 24-25 from 5 to 11 p.m. and Sept. 26 from 11 a.m. to midnight at Trinity Park in Fort Worth. Tickets are $10 on Sept. 24 and $15 on Sept. 25-26. Children 11 and younger get in free with a paying adult. fortworthoktoberfest.com.
Just in time for the Halloween season, the BooMont Hotel is back at Galleria Dallas. Billed as a spooky but not scary attraction, the BooMont has been upgraded with two brand-new rooms, more square footage and bigger thrills. New attractions include a ghost pool, a haunted mirror maze and a master key scavenger hunt with 13 stops. The lore behind the BooMont says that it reopened last year after being shut down for a century following a mysterious lightning storm in 1925 that led to the disappearance of several guests, including proprietor Rupert B. BooMont. The hotel is filled with mysterious rooms, interactive spaces and photo ops — along with RFID technology that can send photos straight to guests’ smartphones. There are no jump scares, blood or gore at this attraction — just a spooky good time.
Through Sept. 27 from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and noon to 6 p.m. Sundays, then open daily from Oct. 2-Nov. 1, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays and noon to 6 p.m. Sundays, with some extended hours the week of Halloween, on Level 3 of Galleria Dallas in Dallas. Tickets are $24.95-$49.95. theboomont.com.