Mark your calendars for these upcoming celebrations of all things fall, spooky and Halloween across Dallas-Fort Worth. Go to one or all of them, but don’t forget to take time and enjoy the autumn season before it gets away from us!
Collin County
Gateway Fall Festival, Frisco Campus, Oct. 23, 6 to 9 p.m. – Food, a "game" truck, train rides and kids games can be found at the church’s second annual fall festival. It costs $5 to get in for ages three and up. You can buy tickets here or at the gate.
Downtown Plano Feast-ival, Oct. 26, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. – Join 10,000 of your closest friends in Downtown Plano at the annual Feast-ival benefiting the Assistance Center of Collin County to take in live music, the 2nd Annual Great Pumpkin Race, food from some of Plano’s top restaurants, (including MooYah Burgers and Urban Crust), a vintage car show and a 5K to kick off the fun. Click here for more information.
Prestonwood Fall Festival, Oct. 31, 6 to 9 p.m.– Instead of trick-or-treating, head on over to Prestonwood with the family. There will be 50 inflatables—yes, 50. Carousels, a petting zoo, “adventure” trains, face painting and a cookie walk top the list of exciting Halloween activities available at the event. Food trucks will be on site, and tickets for special festival features are for sale now. The fall-themed event will be held rain or shine. Click here for more information.
Scare on the Square, Oct. 31, 4 to 6 p.m. – In the bustling downtown McKinney square, “Scare on the Square” will be a safe alternative to door-to-door trick or treating, as the downtown streets will be closed off just for the event. There will be a “ghost hunt,” prizes for the best costumes and plenty of candy to go around. Click here for more information.
Dallas County
Autumn at the Arboretum, now until Nov. 27, hours vary by day – The arboretum has been offering this seasonal display for seven years now, with its Pumpkin Village featuring a staggering 50,000 pumpkins, gourds and squash. Family photo opportunities abound, and a hay bale maze and live music offered daily will keep everyone entertained.Oct. 26-27 is Family Fun Weekend, where families are invited to trick-or-treat in their costumes at the Arboretum.For more information on ticket prices and special events during “Autumn at the Arboretum,” click here.
Halloween Nights at the Dallas Zoo, Oct. 24-27, 5 to 8 p.m. – Just before Halloween, stop by the zoo for an evening to see costumed characters, let the kids take in the sights and sounds of the animals, live entertainment (a Monster Mash show!) and traditional fall carnival games. There will be candy, of course, and a pumpkin patch for photo-snapping. Click here for more information and tickets.
SMU Fall Festival, Oct. 19, 4 to 7 p.m. - At Gerald J. Ford Stadium, SMU student-athletes will be hosting game booths and giving Park Cities kids a chance to trick-or-treat. There will be face-painting, pumpkin bowling and a photo booth with Peruna at the free event. Don't forget to wear your Halloween costume! Click here for more information.
Highland Park United Methodist Church Fall Fest 2013, Oct. 20, 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. - Held in Arden Forest between HPUMC and Perkins/SMU, HPUMC’s Fall Fest will feature live music with Jayson Bales and the Charmers, Dean Fearing and Kate Miner. This event is a service opportunity as well as a chance to picnic with your neighbors! The church will be assembling boxed meals for delivery by Meals on Wheels on days when the organization doesn’t make normal deliveries. So bring the kids along, enjoy a picnic dinner on the lawn and then consider helping put together the boxed meals. Click here for more information.
Lakeside Baptist Church Fall Family Festival, Oct. 31, 6 to 9 p.m. – Church members and area neighbors will gather on Halloween night in the north parking lot of Lakeside, located at 9150 Garland Road, to enjoy food, prizes, a video game truck and bounce houses. Everyone is invited. Click here for more information.
Denton County
Family Fright Night, Oct. 19 – Oct. 20, 4 p.m. to 9 a.m. – This Halloween-themed campout held at The Colony’s Stewart Creek Park features a “spooky” trail, trick or treating among your neighbors’ tents, costume contests, a campfire and delicious eats. Get away for a night and spend some time with your family while it’s fall. It’s $50 per campsite, which covers four campers. Click here to register and for more information.
TWU’s Boo at the U, Oct. 24, 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. – The annual festival for kids at the Student Union located at Bell Avenue and Administration Drive includes “trunk-or-treating,” haunted houses, treats, train rides and carnival games. Admission is free, but donations of one canned good per person are encouraged for the TWU Food Pantry.
Denton Day of the Dead Festival, Oct. 26, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. – It sounds a bit menacing, but we promise it’s family friendly. Held outdoors on Industrial and Hickory Streets, the festival celebrates Halloween, fall and Dia De Los Muertos complete with a costume parade, great local food and activities for all ages. Click here for more information.
Howl-oween at the Shops at Highland Village, Oct. 26, 3 to 6 p.m. – Hayrides and trick-or-treating outside the retail shops will make for a “spook-tacular” time at Howl-oween, specifically designed for kids under 12. There will be plenty of games and even a canine costume contest parade. Plus, the event is benefiting the Humane Society of Flower Mound! A great cause and a great time. Click here for more information.
Tarrant County
Boo at the Zoo, Oct. 25-27, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. – Included with Fort Worth Zoo admission on these days is plenty of Halloween and fall-themed entertainment including a magic show, live animal shows, a pumpkin patch, costume parade and of course, plenty of treats! Click here for more information.
Hoot ‘n Howl, Oct. 26, 5 to 8 p.m. – Come out to Green Valley Park at 7701 Smithfield Road for carnival games, hayrides and a special performance by Jess Kellner, a graduate of Birdville High School on the Hoot ‘n Howl stage at 6 p.m. The free event is fun for all ages and is open to the community, courtesy of the City of North Richland Hills. Click here for more information.
Halloween Treat Train, Oct. 27, 1 to 3:30 p.m. – Hop aboard the Grapevine Vintage Railroad in costume for a ride and treats in the spirit of Halloween. Train rides start at 1 and 2:45 p.m. at 705 S. Main Street in Grapevine. Click here for more information.
Treat Street, Oct. 31, 6 to 8 p.m. – Radio Disney and Stockyards Station are teaming up to throw a family Halloween party in the Fort Worth Stockyards. You can decorate pumpkins, trick or treat and go on a hayride at the free event. Wear your costumes! Click here for more information.