‘Tis the season of scary movies, costume parties, and everything pumpkin we can get our hands on. While here in Texas the weather is a bit indifferent, there’s still plenty of ways to enjoy the autumn in Dallas. Read on to discover 20 terrific things to do in Dallas this October!
Denton becomes the Halloween Capital of Texas with over 400 spooky events across October. If you’re up for a quick getaway from Dallas, Denton, Texas transforms into the Halloween Capital of Texas with more than 400 events running October 1 through November 1, 2026, including a kickoff Blocktober Party and Pumpkin Drop at Quakertown Civic Center. The month features nightly performances, immersive art installations, markets, family activities and the Day of the Dead festival.
Step into an immersive fantasy world with artisan markets, roaming characters, and nightly entertainment.
Scarborough’s Hollow returns to Waxahachie this fall as a month-long immersive 16th-century village and fantasy festival featuring artisan markets, live entertainment, themed events, and optional paid attractions.
Enter the spine-chilling world of Dark Hour Haunted House in Dallas! With frighteningly realistic live actors and cutting-edge special effects, your worst nightmares come alive, immersing you in terrifying realms like you’ve never experienced. Make this Halloween unforgettable by visiting one of the most highly rated haunted houses in the DFW area!
Step into the shadows with BITE!, Dallas’s daring Halloween cabaret that blends dark allure with jaw-dropping spectacle. This limited-run production entwines gravity-defying cirque acts, sultry burlesque, surprise pop-up performances, and an indulgent cocktail hour into one electrifying night of thrills. Haunting, provocative, and unforgettable—this is Halloween entertainment with a wicked twist.
If you’re looking for a fun, out-of-the-box thing to do with kids this October near Dallas, the Bubble Planet experience is filled with colorful, sensory-filled rooms, interactive moments, and plenty of space to explore, making it an easy win for families. And if you’re celebrating a birthday, you can take it a step further with a dedicated space, complete with festive décor, space to gather, and everything set up so you can walk in and enjoy cake, music, and memories without the stress.
Start your fall in Dallas magically with at Fever Originals wildly popular Candlelight series in the form of intimate concerts lit by candlelight at breathtaking venues, including: Candlelight: A Haunted Evening of Halloween Classics.
Sip Texas craft beer aboard a spooky adults-only vintage train this Halloween. If you’re looking for a Halloween night out with a twist, Grapevine Vintage Railway is hosting an adults-only, two-hour Witches’ Brew Train on October 30 and 31, 2026, featuring Texas craft beer, immersive Halloween entertainment, and access to Grapevine’s Haunted Depot. Tickets include two pours and a commemorative cup, with appetizers and dietary options served onboard.
If you’re someone who embraces the Halloween vibe all year long, make your way to the Haunted Castle Cafe in Plano, a wickedly entertaining dining spot that combines gothic charm with a welcoming, family-friendly environment for guests of all ages. The real draw here is the cafe’s fully immersive gothic setting, blending the feel of a museum with the thrills of a haunted house.
Gather around the campfire, folks, for Halloween season is here. Ushering in the celebration of all that is spooky, we’ve compiled a list of the most haunted places in and around Texas as well as the grim tales that beseech them.
Walk a half-mile trail of 10,000+ hand-carved pumpkins and enjoy live shows, food trucks, and VIP perks.
Pumpkin Nights is an immersive fall art experience at Howell Farms featuring over 10,000 hand-carved pumpkins across a half-mile walking trail with nine themed areas, live entertainment, a village with food trucks and games, and VIP options. The event runs from September 17 through October 31 with timed general-admission and VIP ticketing.
Experience Dallas’ giant Pumpkin Village with over 100,000 pumpkins and six larger-than-life artist-themed Pumpkin Houses.
Autumn at the Arboretum returns to the Dallas Arboretum from September 19 through November 1, 2026, transforming the 66-acre grounds into a fall wonderland with over 100,000 pumpkins, themed Pumpkin Houses, family activities, workshops, and special evening events.
Explore Frisco’s new 120-acre nature and bike-focused destination when Northwest Community Park opens September 19.
Frisco’s new 120-acre Northwest Community Park opens Saturday, September 19, 2026, featuring multi-use trails, a restored Blackland Prairie, bike skills area, themed play zones including a 16.5-foot bison play structure, dog park, splash pad, and picnic pavilions.
An adults-only, sultry cabaret of pole, aerial and burlesque coming to Dallas on October 8.
After Dark by Pink Puma is an adults-only sensual cabaret arriving at Sons of Hermann Hall in Dallas starting October 8, featuring world-class pole, aerial and burlesque performers in a 75–90 minute show; join the waitlist for presale and VIP upgrades.
Black Lagoon returns to Nickel City FTW for a goth-glam Halloween takeover.
Nationally acclaimed cocktail pop-up Black Lagoon is returning for its 2026 North American tour, transforming Nickel City FTW in Fort Worth into a dark, immersive Halloween cocktail experience. The multi-week activation is set to begin in late September 2026 and run through the Halloween season, featuring theatrical cocktails, custom glassware, and immersive goth-glam decor.
Enjoy 24 days of food, rides, concerts, and lowered ticket prices at the State Fair of Texas.
The 2026 State Fair of Texas returns to Fair Park for 24 days from September 25 to October 18, featuring discounted admission, over 70 rides, iconic fair food (including Big Tex Choice winners), free concerts, and Cotton Bowl sporting events.
All Halloween activities are included with general park admission, with a few pay-as-you-go extras like take-home pumpkins and themed drinks.
Peppa Pig Theme Park Dallas-Fort Worth is hosting Peppa’s Halloween Party for young children, running daily from October 1 through November 1 (closed Wednesdays). The family-friendly event includes costumed character meet-and-greets, a hay bale maze, a pumpkin patch, a Halloween live show, kid parades, and indoor screenings.
One of the country’s most intense metal festivals lands in Fort Worth on October 24, 2026.
Sick New World — a one-day alternative and metal festival — takes over Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth on October 24, 2026, featuring headliners like System of a Down, Deftones, and Slayer plus dozens more across multiple stages.
Fright Fest returns with haunted mazes, new scare zones and family-friendly Halloween fun.
Six Flags Over Texas in Arlington is hosting Fright Fest on select nights through November 1, 2026, featuring haunted mazes, themed scare zones, live entertainment and family-friendly daytime activities.
The frozen Chipotle margarita returns to Dallas for two days only — $6 each. For a fun October stop in the city, Chipotle’s Summon the Spirits Tour brings back the Chipotle margarita to Dallas for a limited two-day pop-up at Victory Park, featuring original and frozen margaritas alongside immersive Halloween activations.
