{"id":434317,"date":"2026-09-13T00:20:22","date_gmt":"2026-09-13T00:20:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/434317\/"},"modified":"2026-09-13T00:20:22","modified_gmt":"2026-09-13T00:20:22","slug":"9-fall-festivals-worth-the-drive-from-dallas-fort-worth","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/434317\/","title":{"rendered":"9 Fall Festivals Worth the Drive From Dallas-Fort Worth"},"content":{"rendered":"

We know that piling the kids into the car for a long drive can be an adventure all its own, so the destination better be worth it. These fall festivals beyond Dallas-Fort Worth deliver, with everything from fossil hunting and Renaissance fantasy to live music, carnival rides and celebrations of German and Native American heritage. Pack the snacks, cue up the kids\u2019 favorite playlist and hit the road for a fun family outing that\u2019ll keep the keep talking about it all season.<\/p>\n

Fall Festival at Yesterland Farm<\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Photo courtesy Yesterland Farm<\/p>\n

Where: Yesterland Farm in Canton, Texas
When: Weekends September 19\u2013November 8, 2026
Indoor or outdoor? Outdoor
Why go? Out east of DFW, here you\u2019ll discover a rural fantasyland with a Texas-sized pumpkin patch, towering sunflowers for the picking, a corn maze designed to get lost in, and more than 30 rides and attractions, including four roller coasters. Kids can meet and feed barnyard animals, paint pumpkins and pose for fall photos, while weekend evenings bring spectacular fireworks. For extra scares, stay late for Spooktacular Nights, featuring a haunted hayride, Zombie Paintball, a creepy corn maze and Chuckles the Clown\u2019s Funhouse, with Halloween thrills designed to be more giggles than gore.
What\u2019s nearby? If you\u2019re staying the weekend and have the spare time, check out Canton Grand Safari Adventure<\/a> about 10 minutes east, for up-close encounters with exotic animals like energetic lemurs and gentle sloths.
Cost: For Yesterland general admission, limited time pricing starts at $20.95, with more promotions available. Free for parking and for all kids 2 years and younger.
Learn more<\/a><\/p>\n

Scarborough\u2019s Hollow Fall Fantasy Festival<\/a><\/p>\n

\"A<\/a>Photo courtesy Scott Fischer and Southwest Festivals, LLC<\/p>\n

Where: Scarborough Fairgrounds in Waxahachie, Texas
When: Saturdays September 26\u2013October 31, plus Sunday, November 1, 2026; 1\u20139pm each day
Indoor or outdoor? Outdoor
Why go? Scarborough\u2019s transforms its Renaissance village into a fall fantasy setting with live entertainment, artisan shopping, seasonal food and interactive experiences. Families can follow a story inspired by the Three Sisters and explore attractions throughout the village, with family-friendly fantasy and fall costumes welcome. Optional experiences include Blackthorn Haunted Castle, Trickster\u2019s 3D Fun House and the Secrets of Rottingwood Cemetery scavenger adventure.
What\u2019s nearby? No doubt a visit here will take up the whole day, but for a refreshing drink for the drive back, stop by Prickly Boba<\/a> in downtown, for boba, mochi or a dessert like confetti cookie cheesecake.
Cost: Festival general admission from $29.70 adults; from $16.50 children ages 5\u201312; children 4 and under free.
Learn more<\/a><\/p>\n

Austin Kiddie Limits at ACL<\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Photo courtesy Dusana Risovic<\/p>\n

Where: Zilker Park in Austin, Texas
When: Weekends October 2\u20134 and 9\u201311, 2026; noon\u20136pm each day
Indoor or outdoor? Outdoor
Why go? For music-loving parents making it a whole family outing to the Austin City Limits festival, Austin Kiddie Limits is a space that gives the youngest festivalgoers their own chance to let loose, get out of the sun and get creative. Kids can make music in the Drum Zone and Hip Hop Workshop, create crafts and festival crowns, get airbrush tattoos and glittery hairdos, and pose for a rock star photo. Families can also recharge in a shaded lounge, and a family services tent offers diaper changing supplies, private space for nursing and pumping, and a supervised toddler play area. Plus, for peace of mind during the festival, families can register for the Tag-Your-Kid wristband program in case they become separated in the crowds.
What\u2019s nearby? Carve out some time to visit the Austin\u2019s children\u2019s museum, the Thinkery<\/a>.
Cost: Kids age 8 and younger enter ACL Festival free with a ticket-holding adult.
Learn more<\/a><\/p>\n

Eisenhower Birthday Celebration<\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Photo courtesy Eisenhower Birthplace State Historic Site<\/p>\n

Where: Eisenhower Birthplace State Historic Site in Denison, Texas
When: Saturday, October 10, 2026; 10am\u20133pm
Indoor or outdoor? Both
Why go? First, a quick history lesson: Our 34th president and war hero Dwight D. \u201cIke\u201d Eisenhower may have lived most of his life in Kansas, but he was born in Texas. In celebration of his birthday (October 14, 1890), the Texas Historical Commission, which operates the two-story home as the museum and visitors center, hosts a posthumous birthday party that both kids and history lovers can get into: a kids bike parade, a bounce house, youth group performances and educational activities all day.
What\u2019s nearby? Since you\u2019ll be in the area, take advantage of the cooler morning weather and go for a hike through another attraction dedicated to the past president: Eisenhower State Park<\/a>. The Armadillo Trail is the most kid-friendly at 0.8 miles.
Cost: Free festival admission
Learn more<\/a><\/p>\n

Bonnie & Clyde Days<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Soap<\/a>Photo courtesy City of Pilot Point<\/p>\n

Where:\u00a0Pilot Point Town Square, Texas
When:\u00a0Saturday, October 10, 2026; 2\u20139pm
Indoor or outdoor? Outdoor
Why go? Pilot Point revisits its Hollywood and outlaw history during this annual festival, marking the filming of the 1967 movie Bonnie and Clyde on the Historic Pilot Point Square. Watch a reenactment of the movie\u2019s bank robbery scene, see a fleet of Model A cars and catch live music, including tribute bands performing songs by Taylor Swift and \u201970s artists. Kids can tackle a Ninja Project obstacle course, play inside the Rollcade Game Truck and get their faces painted, all for free in the Kids Zone.
What\u2019s nearby? The splash pad at Old City Park<\/a> will still be on for the season, weather permitting. To cool off and get the water flowing, just push the yellow button on the post to get it cooling.
Cost:\u00a0Free festival admission
Learn more<\/a><\/p>\n

Crazy Fossil Dig<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Kids<\/a>Photo courtesy Mineral Wells Convention & Visitors Bureau<\/p>\n

Where: Mineral Wells Fossil Park, about an hour west of Fort Worth, Texas
When: Saturday, October 17, 2026; 8am\u2013dusk
Indoor or outdoor? Outdoor
Why go? Mineral Wells isn\u2019t only well known for its natural mineral water (the only such that\u2019s bottled in Texas) but also for its enormous cache of 300-million-year-old fossils, including ancient, shelled creatures (think oysters), sea urchins, and most of all something called crinoids (sea lilies). And they\u2019re there for the taking year-round when you visit this city-owned park, but on this day in October, the trip out west is especially worth the drive because the city digs up some extra curiosities your way: more fossil displays and activities for kids, experts with the Dallas Paleontological Society, and a screening of Finding Nemo.
What\u2019s nearby? For your kids on the hunt for even more treasures, stop into Toytopia<\/a> in the middle of town next to Crazy Water Hotel.
Cost: Free dig festival admission and free to take home the fossils you find.
Learn more<\/a><\/p>\n

Ennis Autumn Daze<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Ennis<\/a>Photo courtesy Visit Ennis<\/p>\n

Where: Historic Downtown Ennis, Texas
When: Saturday, October 24, 2026; noon\u20139pm; Sunday, October 25, 2026; 10am\u20138pm
Indoor or outdoor? Outdoor
Why go? The home of the bluebonnets goes all out for pumpkins each fall. The city sets up a pumpkin patch and hay maze in downtown, open each Thursday\u2013Sundays in October. But the month culminates in a big party on two weekends prior to Halloween. Make a fall day of it when Autumn Daze adds carnival rides and pumpkin painting to the mix.
What\u2019s nearby? Catch a screening at Galaxy Drive-in<\/a>, an old-fashioned movie theater just north of downtown.
Cost: Free admission. Carnival rides, games and food vary.
Learn more<\/a><\/p>\n

Choctaw Heritage Festival<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Children<\/a>Photo courtesy Choctaw Cultural Center<\/p>\n

Where: Choctaw Cultural Center, Cadera, Oklahoma
When: November 6\u20138, 2026; 10am\u20135pm daily
Indoor or outdoor? Both
Why go? Kick off Native American Heritage Month in the best way, in-person at the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma\u2019s cultural headquarters. Their exact schedule is TBA but you can expect a full weekend of traditional games and\u00a0demonstrations, dancing and hymn singing that are so intrinsic to Chahta culture.
What\u2019s nearby? Don\u2019t miss the powwow<\/a> happening the same weekend, just 5 minutes down the road at the Choctaw Event Center. Free admission.
Cost: Heritage festival admission is included with admission to the Choctaw Cultural Center: $12 for adults; $6 for children 4\u201312; free for 3 and younger.
Learn more<\/a><\/p>\n

Wurstfest<\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Photo courtesy Wurstfest<\/p>\n

Where: Comal County Fairgrounds, New Braunfels, Texas
When: November 6\u201315, 2026
Indoor or outdoor? Mostly outdoor
Why go? The 65th annual Wurstfest is a 10-day celebration of New Braunfels\u2019 German heritage starring unmistakably German food and live polka music from multiple stages every hour. For the kids, they\u2019ll have their own entertainment stage in the Kinderhalle (check back for when that lineup has been announced) and all the carnival rides and games to give them the daytime thrills they\u2019re looking forward to. There\u2019s so much more to this festival. To see how the sausage is made, literally, don\u2019t miss the demonstrations in the Weingarten on Saturdays and Sundays from 11am to 2pm.
What\u2019s nearby? Get some giggles in at the nearby Circle Arts Theatre, which is staging a popcorn-throwing melodrama and Robin Hood spoof, The Wurst Adventures of Bratenhood<\/a> each day during Wurstfest.
Cost: Kids under 12 get in free.Adults get free admission Monday\u2013Thursday, but for the weekends, their general admission starts at $15.
Learn more<\/a><\/p>\n

To find more family festivals closer to home, search our calendar here. <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"We know that piling the kids into the car for a long drive can be an adventure all…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":434318,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[889,49,116,118,117,988,69,6208],"class_list":["post-434317","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-fort-worth","tag-arts-and-culture","tag-food","tag-fort-worth","tag-fort-worth-headlines","tag-fort-worth-news","tag-kids","tag-things-to-do","tag-travel"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/434317","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=434317"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/434317\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/434318"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=434317"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=434317"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=434317"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}