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.
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.
DFW Italian Festival
The DFW Italian Festival takes over Irving’s Levy Event Plaza for two days of fresh pasta, wine, and culture. Eataly hosts live food demos alongside pasta masterclasses by chef Jen Bajsel and sauce workshops with Matteo Cina. Beyond the food, catch an Italian supercar show, scenic gondola rides, medieval sword-fighting demos, and live performances by Opera on Tap, classical guitarist Vincenzo Martinelli, and looping violinist Zuriel Merek.
Saturday kicks off early at 8 a.m. with the Italian Club Dallas bocce tournament benefiting Special Olympics Texas, followed by a traditional Marian procession at 10:30 a.m. Three VIP ticketed upgrades offer extra perks: a 20-region Italian Wine Tour (Saturday, 12–3 p.m.), a four-course Dinner Under the Stars with wine and a movie screening (Saturday, 7–9:30 p.m.), and a family-style Sunday Spaghetti Supper (Sunday, 1–3 p.m.).
The festival is cashless, and outside coolers, food, and drinks are prohibited. Well-behaved, leashed dogs are welcome, and bringing lawn chairs, blankets, and shade protection is recommended due to limited covered space.
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.
Kacey Musgraves at American Airlines Center
Grammy-winning artist Kacey Musgraves returns for a two-night hometown run in Dallas, featuring Texas singer-songwriter William Beckmann as the opener. The performance includes a 21-song setlist mixing tracks from her latest album with hits like “High Horse,” “Slow Burn,” and “Space Cowboy,” plus covers of George Strait and the Texas Tornados.
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.
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.
Over 300 miles of shoreline and dramatic cliffs await at Possum Kingdom Lake — a North Texas summer oasis. If you’re looking to swap the city for lake views this weekend, Possum Kingdom Lake and Possum Kingdom State Park in Caddo, Palo Pinto County, deliver more than 300 miles of shoreline, clear blue water, dramatic limestone cliffs (including the famous Hell’s Gate), plus swimming areas, scuba spots, fishing, and boating. The park grounds are open daily—and the lake also hosts a legendary Fourth of July fireworks show.
If you’re looking for an easy outdoor escape, make it a beach day at Isle du Bois at Ray Roberts Lake State Park. Isle du Bois features an expansive sandy beach, 200+ campsites, and year-round outdoor activities. When July temperatures hit their peak, head to Ray Roberts Lake State Park for a classic North Texas lake escape.
This 3,777-acre Texas state park is centered on the 29,000-acre Lake Ray Roberts, with options for swimming, hiking, paddling, and extensive camping. The most popular area is Isle du Bois on the south shore, where you’ll find a sandy beach, kids’ fishing pond, trails, showers, restrooms, and over 200 campsites.
If you’re craving a reset after the holiday rush, Spa Castle Texas has reopened with $4.5 million in upgrades, new therapeutic pools, and monthly wellness programming. Spa Castle Texas in Carrollton has officially reopened following a $4.5 million renovation, adding new amenities like a River Rock Foot Bath, rebuilt Himalayan Salt Sauna, and upgraded core systems. The venue also relaunched its K-Beauty Lab menu and will host monthly wellness events.
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.
