Dallas – Fort Worth loves its festivals. You can typically find one almost every weekend throughout the year across the expansive Metroplex. But the best ones are in the fall. Maybe it’s the promise of cooler temperatures, the cute crafts, or even the smells of kettle corn and cider that waft through the walkways and hint of the approaching holiday season. Here are 15 Funtober festivals in chronological order to check out:
- Octoberfest Southlake - October 6-8
Oktoberfest Southlake/Facebook Crowds of over 100,000 are expected at this 17th annual event held at the town square area. Highlights include live music, arts and crafts, a children’s area, and of course, German food and beer! A crowd favorite is the wiener dog race.
- Richardson Cottonwood Art Festival - Oct. 7-8
Cottonwood Art Festival/Facebook The 48th annual event is held at Cottonwood Park. In addition to being a juried art show with 14 categories, the event includes live music, food and drink, and shopping. Find the park at 1321 West Beltline Road.
- Aubrey Peanut Festival - Oct. 7
Aubrey Peanut Festival/Facebook This festival celebrates its 31st year with peanut spitting, a chef contest, parade, and more, all held on the festival grounds.
- Denison Main Street Fall Festival - Oct. 7
Denison Chamber/Facebook The festival has all you would expect: great crafts and fall decorations, food, live entertainment, and fun for the entire family. It is at Heritage Park located at 324 West Main Street.
- Dog Days of Denton - Oct. 7
Dog Days of Denton/Facebook Held at the North Texas State Fairgrounds, this 24th annual event is totally for the dogs! This dog-mania event also includes arts and crafts, canine talent contests, live entertainment, and food.
- Plano International Festival - Oct. 14
Visit Plano This fall cultural celebration is held at Haggard Park, 901 E. 15th St.
- Canton Main Street Autumn Festival - Oct. 14
Canton Main Street Autumn Festival/Facebook How about a good ol-fashioned dunkin’ booth, cake walk, art show, raffle, and endless food choices? Canton’s annual celebration is located downtown on its Main St.
- “Ghouls Night Out” at Dallas’ Autumn at the Arboretum - Oct. 18
Dallas Arboretum The gardens features a “Wizard of Oz” inspired theme this year and all the pumpkin-ey splendor is on display through Nov. 25. New for 2017 is a “Ghoul’s Night Out.” Stay during our Arboretum After Hours (plus buy one get one free admission) to enjoy a palm reading, handwriting analysis and a caricature artist drawing as well as wine, live music, and food trucks.
- Farmers Branch Bloomin’ Bluegrass - Oct. 20-21
Farmers Branch A talent-filled music festival and chili cook off brings people to the Farmers Branch Historical Park, located at 2540 Farmers Branch Lane. The free festival is considered one of the best bluegrass events of the year.
- Granbury Harvest Moon Festival of the Arts - October 21-22
Facebook/Harvest Moon Festival of the Arts The whole town turns out for this popular two-day festival, which is held around the courthouse on the historic town square. Various live events occur from opening until well past dark.
- Ennis Autumn Daze - Oct. 21
Facebook / Ennis, TX: A Main Street City The popular festival takes place in the historic downtown Ennis, 100 N.E. Main St.
- Mansfield Boo Bash - Oct. 27
MansfieldTexas Activities are scattered throughout the Mansfield Activities Center area, 106 S. Wisteria St.
- Plano Fun on the Farm: Trick or Treat - Oct. 27
The Heritage Farmstead Museum/Facebook Heritage Farmstead offers families a farm-focused Halloween option with trick or treating, chicken feeding, tractor rides, and crafts. Advance registration is required. The farm is at 1900 W. 15th St.
- Kaufman Scarecrow Festival - Oct. 27-28
Kaufman Texas Scarecrow Festival/Facebook Expect to listen to some great live music while here! Location is at Kaufman’s downtown square.
- Fort Worth’s Japanese Garden Fall Festival - Oct. 28-29
Botanic Garden Fort Worth Enjoy traditional Japanese dance, music, martial arts, sword demonstrations, raku, tea ceremonies, and more. The location is within the Fort Worth Botanic Gardens, with entrance at 3300 Japanese Garden Ln.
Which fall festival in the Metroplex is your favorite? Are there others that should be added to this list?
Oktoberfest Southlake/Facebook
Crowds of over 100,000 are expected at this 17th annual event held at the town square area. Highlights include live music, arts and crafts, a children’s area, and of course, German food and beer! A crowd favorite is the wiener dog race.
Cottonwood Art Festival/Facebook
The 48th annual event is held at Cottonwood Park. In addition to being a juried art show with 14 categories, the event includes live music, food and drink, and shopping. Find the park at 1321 West Beltline Road.
Aubrey Peanut Festival/Facebook
This festival celebrates its 31st year with peanut spitting, a chef contest, parade, and more, all held on the festival grounds.
Denison Chamber/Facebook
The festival has all you would expect: great crafts and fall decorations, food, live entertainment, and fun for the entire family. It is at Heritage Park located at 324 West Main Street.
Dog Days of Denton/Facebook
Held at the North Texas State Fairgrounds, this 24th annual event is totally for the dogs! This dog-mania event also includes arts and crafts, canine talent contests, live entertainment, and food.
Visit Plano
This fall cultural celebration is held at Haggard Park, 901 E. 15th St.
Canton Main Street Autumn Festival/Facebook
How about a good ol-fashioned dunkin’ booth, cake walk, art show, raffle, and endless food choices? Canton’s annual celebration is located downtown on its Main St.
Dallas Arboretum
The gardens features a “Wizard of Oz” inspired theme this year and all the pumpkin-ey splendor is on display through Nov. 25. New for 2017 is a “Ghoul’s Night Out.” Stay during our Arboretum After Hours (plus buy one get one free admission) to enjoy a palm reading, handwriting analysis and a caricature artist drawing as well as wine, live music, and food trucks.
Farmers Branch
A talent-filled music festival and chili cook off brings people to the Farmers Branch Historical Park, located at 2540 Farmers Branch Lane. The free festival is considered one of the best bluegrass events of the year.
Facebook/Harvest Moon Festival of the Arts
The whole town turns out for this popular two-day festival, which is held around the courthouse on the historic town square. Various live events occur from opening until well past dark.
Facebook / Ennis, TX: A Main Street City
The popular festival takes place in the historic downtown Ennis, 100 N.E. Main St.
MansfieldTexas
Activities are scattered throughout the Mansfield Activities Center area, 106 S. Wisteria St.
The Heritage Farmstead Museum/Facebook
Heritage Farmstead offers families a farm-focused Halloween option with trick or treating, chicken feeding, tractor rides, and crafts. Advance registration is required. The farm is at 1900 W. 15th St.
Kaufman Texas Scarecrow Festival/Facebook
Expect to listen to some great live music while here! Location is at Kaufman’s downtown square.
Botanic Garden Fort Worth
Enjoy traditional Japanese dance, music, martial arts, sword demonstrations, raku, tea ceremonies, and more. The location is within the Fort Worth Botanic Gardens, with entrance at 3300 Japanese Garden Ln.
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