What: State Fair of Texas
When: Friday, Oct. 21st – Sunday, Oct. 23rd @ 10:00AM – 9:00PM
Where: Fair Park
1300 Robert B. Cullum Blvd., Dallas, TX 75210
Why: The 24-day, four-weekend extravaganza that is the State Fair of Texas is back. You can try all the new concoctions, check out the midway, enjoy free concerts every day, or take a trip to the top of the Top ‘o Texas Tower. The beauty is that there’s never a shortage of things to do, so what are you waiting for? The theme for 2016 is “Celebrating Texas Agriculture,” daily activities include the Starlight Parade at 7 p.m. and the Illumination Sensation lights and fireworks show at 8 p.m.
What: Six Flags Over Texas presents Fright Fest
When: Friday, Oct. 21st– Sunday, Oct. 30th @ 6:00PM & 10:30AM
Where: Six Flags Over Texas
2201 Road to Six Flags, Arlington, TX 76011
Why: Fright Fest, presented by Snickers®, is a spooky time of year as zombies and ghouls take over the park. Enjoy thrills and activities for the whole family throughout the day and come back for a truly frightening evening of fun after the sun goes down. Your little witches and goblins will enjoy taking a ride on your favorite coaster to a visit The Looney Tunes Spooky Town. Fright Fest offers a wide array of places to get your scare on including several haunted houses and scarezones located throughout the park. The stuff of nightmares lurk around every corner of the park as the dark of night washes over the park. The ghouls are set free for their daily hunting rituals.
What: Insomniac presents Boo! Dallas
When: Friday, Oct. 21st & Saturday, Oct. 22nd @ 6:00PM
Where: South Side Ballroom
1135 S. Lamar St., Dallas, TX 75215
Why: Insomniac presents the return of its Halloween celebration, BOO! Last Halloween season, BOO! brought a massive music event to thousands of ghoulish headliners in San Francisco. This year, BOO! will be coming to Dallas for another weekend of devilishly fun dancing and music. Featured performers include Baauer, Big Gigantic, Bro Safari, G Jones, Meaux Green, Pantyraid, Party Favor, Snails, Unlike Pluto and Zeds Dead. Attendees must be 18 and above.
What: Klyde Warren Park presents Park & Palate
When: Friday, Oct. 21st – Sunday, Oct. 23rd @ 6:00PM & 2:00PM
Where: Klyde Warren Park
2012 Woodall Rodgers Pkwy., Dallas, TX 75201
Why: The 29th Annual Dallas VideoFest will host approximately 125 screenings of local, regional and internationally produced media art programs. The festival specializes in independent, alternative, and non-commercial media, presenting hard-to-find works rarely seen on television, in movie theaters, or elsewhere. You’ll see experimental video, documentaries, shorts, feature length films, and animation. VideoFest will also include panel discussions and displays of new technology, as well as provide professional development and collaborative opportunities for attendees and artists.
What: Dallas VideoFest
When: Friday, Oct. 21st – Sunday, Oct. 23rd @ 7:00PM & 12:00PM
Where: Angelika Film Center & Cafe
5321 E, Mockingbird Ln., Dallas, TX 75206
Why: The 29th Annual Dallas VideoFest will host approximately 125 screenings of local, regional and internationally produced media art programs. The festival specializes in independent, alternative, and non-commercial media, presenting hard-to-find works rarely seen on television, in movie theaters, or elsewhere. You’ll see experimental video, documentaries, shorts, feature length films, and animation. VideoFest will also include panel discussions and displays of new technology, as well as provide professional development and collaborative opportunities for attendees and artists.
What: Equest Ridefest 2016: Ride to the Future
When: Saturday, Oct. 22nd @ 10:00AM
Where: Texas Horse Park
811 Pemberton Hill Rd., Dallas, TX 75217
Why: Instead of a DeLorean time machine, the 2016 Equest RideFest, presented by Hopkins Commercial, celebrates its stellar therapeutic horses that have the magical ability to provide hope and healing now and into the future. Themed Ride to the Future, Equest RideFest, hosted by Chair Leslie Griffin, is a family-friendly day filled with carnival games and prizes, a petting zoo, crafts, seasonal food, bounce house, and activities for all ages.
What: 3rd Annual Edgar Allan Poe Victorian Halloween with a Steampunk Twist
When: Saturday, Oct. 22nd @ 10:00AM
Where: J. Erik Jonsson Central Library
1515 Young St., Dallas, TX 75201
Why: Maryrose Wood, author of the popular Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place book series for young readers, is the featured guest at the 3rd annual Edgar Allan Poe Victorian Halloween. Wood’s appearance highlights a Steampunk-themed party celebrating the fabled American writer whose mysterious and macabre tales are a cherished part of Halloween. Steampunk is a subgenre of science fiction and fantasy that incorporates 19th century steam-powered technology. Other events during the day include “Poeformances” by an actor impersonating Edgar Allan Poe, fortune-telling by Mysterious Madam Maria, creepy crafts and ghastly games, visits to Frankenstein’s Lab and Poe Dungeon, and a costume contest.
What: Texas Veggie Fair
When: Saturday, Oct. 22nd @ 11:00AM
Where: Reverchon Park
3505 Maple Ave., Dallas, TX 75219
Why: Texas’ largest celebration of all things veggie returns to Dallas. The seventh annual event, centered on plant-based cuisine, healthy green living, and animal welfare features vegan food and product vendors, chef demos, a beer garden, live music, yoga and kids’ activities, and speakers. Entertainment will be provided by rhythmic, soul-folk California artist Emily Elbert as well as a DJ set by Kneel Cohn from Warshow Angels. Texas Veggie Fair’s mission is to bring together, educate and expand the plant-based community regionally, nationally and worldwide with a positive, entertaining and educational experience in a fun, welcoming environment.
What: American Girl Fashion Show
When: Saturday, Oct. 22nd & Sunday, Oct. 23rd @ 11:30AM & 3:00PM
Where: Westin Stonebriar Hotel
1549 Legacy Dr., Frisco, TX 75034
Why: American Girl Fashion Show® is an afternoon for girls and their families, friends and favorite dolls to celebrate the experience of being a girl whether yesterday or today, through a colorful presentation of historic and contemporary fashions inspired by the American Girl® collection. The more than 1,000 attendees bring their American Girl® dolls and enjoy the show along with elegant refreshments, door prizes and learn how clothing has changed over the years to reflect history, culture and girls individual style. Each of the five shows is comprised of local girls ages 6-12 who model the American Girl fashions with the respective doll and the show is personalized with narrators from local high schools.
What: Site 131 presents Syzygy
When: Saturday, Oct. 22nd @ 3:00PM
Where: Site131
131 Payne St., Dallas, TX 75207
Why: Site131 welcomes Syzygy, the inventive new music group from SMU. Syzygy will play its first concert beyond the SMU campus. Syzygy, formed at SMU five years ago, is now under direction of Lane Harder. Dr. Harder guides the talented and spirited group to perform the music of living composers, creating high-quality encounters with new music.
What: Friscovania
When: Saturday, Oct. 22nd @ 3:00PM
Where: Toyota Stadium
9200 World Cup Way., Frisco, TX 75034
Why: Join some of Texas’ top models, fashion designers Nha Khanh, Susie Straubmueller, Double D Ranch, Esé Azénabor and Studio 22, as well as Frisco Mayor Maher Maso, for the inaugural Friscovania benefiting City House of Collin County, which provides emergency shelter and transitional residential services to abused, neglected or homeless children and young adults. The Count and Countess of Friscovania, also known as Mayor Maso and his wife Cindy, have designated Toyota Stadium a safe trick-or-treat zone for the day with trick-or-treating, along with face painting and a kid-friendly haunted carnival. After the sun goes down, the party kicks up from 7 to 10 pm with live rock music and a haunted fashion show with models, monsters and music in The Boneyard (Budweiser Beer Garden). Feeling a little more country? The Witches’ Brew (WinStar River Club) will feature live music straight from Nashville. Halloween costumes are encouraged.
What: Luke Bryan: Kill the Lights Tour 2016
When: Saturday, Oct. 22nd @ 6:30PM
Where: AT&T Stadium
1 Legends Way., Arlington, TX 76011
Why: Country star Luke Bryan comes back to Dallas-Fort Worth in support of his album, Kill The Lights. He’ll be joined by Chris Stapleton, Little Big Town, Dustin Lynch, and DJ Rock.
What: Prelude: A Preview of Aurora 2017
When: Saturday, Oct. 22nd @ 7:00PM
Where: Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center
2301 Flora St., Dallas, TX 75201
Why: AT&T Performing Arts Center, in partnership with the founders of Aurora, presents Prelude: A Preview of Aurora 2017 – Powered by Reliant. The event will be held on two nights this year instead of one. Prelude, which remains free to the public, will have a more compact footprint, transforming parts of the AT&T Performing Arts Center campus and the Meyerson Symphony Center with light, video, and sound-based, immersive arts installations. Live music to precede each night and guest curators will be in attendance from Dallas, Berlin and New York.
What: The British Emporium’s Doctor Who Day
When: Sunday, Oct. 23rd @ 12:00PM
Where: The British Emporium
140 N. Main St., Grapevine, TX 76051
Why: Grapevine’s British Emporium will be celebrating their 6th Annual Doctor Who Day. This fan event will feature photo opportunities, costume contests, video screenings and more. This event is perfect for all fans, viewers and cosplayers of the cult British Science Fiction show Doctor Who. Attendees can meet and mingle, pose-with-props and dress as their favorite character. USS Joshua, the oldest, largest and most active Sci-Fi group in Dallas/Fort Worth, will provide a TARDIS – the Time Lord’s spaceship outside the Emporium. Live entertainment will be provided by Buttermilk Junction, an old-time string band. Find Collectibles, posters and of course Doctor Who’s much-beloved confections – Jelly Babies and Jammy Dodger tea biscuits.
What: 20th Annual Pug-O-Ween
When: Sunday, Oct. 23rd @ 11:30AM – 4:00PM
Where: Grapevine Convention Center
1209 S. Main St., Grapevine, TX 76051
Why: Join in the fun as hundreds of pugs parade around in hair-raising Halloween costumes. The 20th annual event, presented by DFW Pug Rescue, also includes a pug race, silent auction, bake sale, food and pet-friendly vendors.
