There will be a celebratory feel to many events across Fort Worth this weekend, with lots of different reasons to let loose. Choices include two festivals, the return of a favorite Halloween season display, four concerts, a big e-sports competition, an anime showcase, three theater productions, and a send-off for an iconic city venue.<\/p>\n
Below are the best ways to spend your free time this weekend. If you want more options, check out the calendar for an even longer list<\/a> of the city’s best events.<\/p>\n Thursday, September 17<\/p>\n 40th Annual GrapeFest<\/a> Howell Farms presents Pumpkin Nights<\/a> Kruse Brothers in concert<\/a> Friday, September 18<\/p>\n Rocket League World Championship<\/a> Fort Worth Botanic Garden presents Blooms & Beats Fall Music Series<\/a> Anime Fest at the Modern<\/a> Theatre Arlington presents Seussical Jr.<\/a> Hip Pocket Theatre presents Soul Notes From the Velvet Elk (A Place Of Wild Surrender)<\/a> Hudson Westbrook in concert<\/a> Saturday, September 19<\/p>\n Fort Worth Botanic Garden presents Celebramos Performing Arts Fort Worth presents Bluey’s Big Play<\/a> Photo courtesy of City of Fort Worth<\/p>\n Sunday, September 20<\/p>\n Fort Worth Convention Center presents It’s Goin Down<\/a>
GrapeFest is the largest wine festival in the Southwest, showcasing wine encounters and other festivities. Visitors can enjoy The People\u2019s Choice Wine Tasting Classic, the International Wine Experience, the famous GrapeStomp, and the Champagne Cork Shoot-Off. The event, taking place through Sunday in Historic Downtown Grapevine, will also feature live music, local chefs and vendors, kid-friendly rides, games, and more.<\/p>\n
Another September weekend brings more Halloween season events. At Pumpkin Nights, guests can venture along a half-mile walking path, where they\u2019ll discover areas like the The Great Hall, The Enchanted Forest, Maravilla Lane, and more built using over 5,000 hand-carved real and artificial pumpkins. The celebration continues with entertainment and games in festival area The Village. Pumpkin Nights will be open through October 31 at Howell Farms in Arlington.<\/p>\n
The Phoenix-based country duo Kruse Brothers are a relatively new act who spent 2025 on the road touring alongside artists like Dylan Gossett. They first garnered national attention earlier this year with their viral hit \u201cWhite on the Ground” off of their debut album, Heartbreak and Honky-Tonk. They’ll make their debut at Billy Bob’s Texas.<\/p>\n
The video game Rocket League, in which players use customizable vehicles to compete in a version of soccer, has become one of the most popular online games in the past 10 years. Twenty of the world\u2019s best Rocket League teams will compete for a share of a $1.2 million prize pool at the Rocket League World Championship, which will take place through Sunday at Dickies Arena.<\/p>\n
At the Fort Worth Botanic Garden’s Blooms & Beats Fall Music Series, visitors can enjoy fall in the Horseshoe Garden while listening to live music performances by talented local artists. They can also satisfy taste buds with offerings from Flora House Cafe, play fun yard games, and relax with a selection of adult beverages under the stars. The series opens on Friday with a performance by The Plum Boys.<\/p>\n
Anime Fest at the Modern celebrates the Japanese anime genre with films that are visually stunning, richly imaginative, and poetic in their storytelling. There will be six screenings over the course of three days featuring films from the past 25 years or so. All films were chosen with the guidance of anime and manga expert Dr. Marc Hairston, who will introduce the films and be available for Q&A. The screenings will take place at the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth through Sunday.<\/p>\n
Theatre Arlington\u2019s annual all-youth musical, Seussical Jr., features Horton the Elephant, the Cat in the Hat, and other favorite Dr. Seuss characters springing to life onstage in a fantastical musical extravaganza. The production runs through September 27 at Theatre Arlington.<\/p>\n
Soul Notes From the Velvet Elk (A Place Of Wild Surrender) takes a trip into the electric landscape of the unpredictable and soulfully steps through the doors of The Velvet Elk. See the sky again, rest in the vastness of the beat, and seek what\u2019s most original and true. The production runs through September 27 at Hip Pocket Theatre.<\/p>\n
Hudson Westbrook is a rising country music star who made his debut with \u201cTake It Slow\u201d in 2024 while still enrolled at Texas Tech. Hailing from the small town of Stephenville and raised on everything from George Strait to gangsta rap, the former athlete has released his debut album, Texas Forever, in 2025. He’ll play at Billy Bob’s Texas on both Friday and Saturday in advance of the release of his sophomore album, Made You Look, scheduled for November.<\/p>\n
The start of the annual Celebramos, which honors Hispanic heritage, culture, and community, at Fort Worth Botanic Garden will be celebrated at two separate events on Saturday. Celebramos Kick-Off<\/a> offers free admission to the garden, a flag parade, a performance by Abuelos Folkl\u00f3rico performance, food trucks, and a DJ dance party. The evening will bring the Celebramos Garden Fiesta<\/a>, featuring food, drinks, and dancing in the Horseshoe Garden, food and drinks from Magdalenas, and live music from DJ Alexander Bangs and local band Mixtape Vibez.<\/p>\n
Bluey\u2019s Big Play is a theatrical adaptation of the Emmy Award-winning children\u2019s television series, with an original story by Bluey creator Joe Brumm, and new music by Bluey composer, Joff Bush. When Dad feels like a little bit of time out, Bluey and Bingo have other plans. They will pull out all of the games and cleverness at their disposal to get Dad off that bean bag. The production will have four performances through Sunday at Bass Performance Hall.<\/p>\n
Ahead of its planned demolition in 2027, visitors can be a part of history at the final community event in the downtown arena at the Fort Worth Convention Center. It’s Goin’ Down<\/a> will feature live music and entertainment, community partners, family-friendly activities, interactive experiences, commemorative event merchandise, giveaways, and an arena history exhibit celebrating 58 years of memories.<\/p>\n