It’s the weekend, folks! Whether you’re mapping out your brunch plans, gearing up for a concert, comedy show, art event, or night out on the town, take a look below at the most exciting things to do in Dallas this weekend.
If you’re craving something loud and heavy this weekend, 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.
The biggest street party in Texas — free entry on October 24, 2026!
The Dallas Halloween Block Party returns to the 3900 block of Cedar Springs Road in Oak Lawn on Saturday, October 24, 2026, featuring live music, drag shows, and a costume runway competition. Street-party admission is free (individual venues may charge covers) and the event draws over 10,000 revelers.
Denton becomes the Halloween Capital of Texas with over 400 spooky events across October.
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.
Bring your appetite—and your best cosplay—to Denton’s Otaku Food Festival on October 24–25, 2026. If you’re looking to add something a little different to your weekend plans in the Dallas area, Otaku Food Festival is a two-day lantern and street-food event with 100+ vendors, cosplay, live entertainment, and cultural performances at Golden Triangle Mall in Denton on October 24–25, 2026. Admission is free; food vendors accept cash and on-site parking is available.
Experience a larger, more immersive Scarborough’s Hollow this fall — with a brand-new villain, themed weekends, and family-friendly activities. If you’re looking to add some fantasy flair to your weekend plans, Scarborough’s Hollow returns to Waxahachie’s Scarborough Faire for its second season, running Saturdays from Sept. 26 through Oct. 31 (plus Sunday, Nov. 1) with immersive storytelling, live entertainment, artisan shopping, themed weekends, and add-on attractions.
Black Lagoon returns to Nickel City FTW for a goth-glam Halloween takeover. If you’re ready to kick off Halloween season early, 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.
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.
Walk a half-mile trail of 10,000+ hand-carved pumpkins and enjoy live shows, food trucks, and VIP perks. If you’re looking for a seasonal outing close to Dallas this weekend, 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.
Explore Frisco’s new 120-acre nature and bike-focused destination when Northwest Community Park has officially opened to the public. If you’re up for a quick weekend trip outside Dallas, Frisco’s new 120-acre Northwest Community Park features 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.
Play unlimited arcade games for $12 inside a 25,000‑sq‑ft venue. For a quick weekend escape from Dallas, head to Cidercade Fort Worth, a large-scale arcade and entertainment venue with more than 275 games across a 25,000-square-foot warehouse. The venue offers a flat-fee unlimited-play admission for $12 and is located at 1813 W. Bowie St. Ste 101, open daily from 10 am–midnight.
Tormenta Rampaging Run — the world’s first giga dive coaster — is now open at Six Flags Over Texas.
Six Flags Over Texas has debuted Tormenta Rampaging Run— the world’s first giga dive coaster — in the Rancho de la Tormenta area. The Spanish running-of-the-bulls–themed ride climbs roughly 309 feet, features a 95-degree drop and nearly 90 mph top speeds, and claims multiple world-record stats.
City officials have unveiled the new Halperin Park! Now, Dallasites can enjoy 1.2 acres of beautifu new green space as well as the 12th Street Promenade and its Walk of Fame, and the whimsical “Treehouse in the Woods” playground.
Get behind the controls of real construction machinery at Dig World Grapevine. If you’re looking for a new, family-friendly outing, Dig World is a two-acre, construction-themed adventure park where kids and adults can operate real full-sized construction equipment and enjoy themed attractions like a mini tractor course and a Dude Perfect Zone.
Standard Crew Starter Pass general admission is $30; premium and annual passes are also available and children 2 and under are free.
Step back in time at Barber’s Book Store — a three-story Fort Worth treasure with some 60,000 books. For a classic weekend day trip from Dallas, head to Barber’s Book Store, founded in 1925 and widely regarded as the oldest bookstore in Texas. Located at 901 Throckmorton in Fort Worth, the family-owned shop houses roughly 60,000 books across three stories, with rotating rare editions and daily opening hours.
Universal Kids Resort opens July 1, 2026 — tickets are on sale now. Universal Kids Resort in Frisco, Texas will officially open on July 1, 2026. Tickets, annual passes, and vacation packages are on sale now — single-day tickets start at $54.99 and annual passes from $129.99; resort hotel rooms are bookable beginning June 30, 2026.
Dress in costume and enjoy a free, family-friendly Halloween festival in downtown Plano on October 24.
Rest in Peace Plano Fest returns to the Downtown Plano Arts District on Saturday, October 24, offering family-friendly Halloween fun with carnival rides, trick-or-treating, roaming performers, a blackout maze, and themed food and drinks. Admission is free, with some attractions or rides possibly requiring extra tickets.
