60 Magical Things To Do In Dallas This October

‘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 51 terrific things to do in Dallas this October! [Featured image: @zanexdaniel]

1-4. Experience an Amazing Candlelight Concert

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. Highlights in October include:

• A Tribute to Queen
• Candlelight: From Back to The Beatles
• Candlelight: A Haunted Evening of Halloween Classics

5. Get Your Tickets to Dallas’s Haunted Cocktail Soirée

Tickets are now on sale! Unlock a new season of dark secrets at an open-world cocktail party inside the mysterious Volkov Manor. When the Vasiliev children came to live with their uncle, Doctor Grigor Volkov, they discovered the spirits of his former patients wandering the halls, as well as a malicious entity known as The Midnight Man. You will have 2 hours to savor a flight of craft cocktails, sample darkly decadent chocolate truffles, and get immersed in the chilling lore. The characters and themes of House of Spirits: Volkov Manor are loosely based on real-life inspirations, including the final days of Grigori Rasputin, the ancient god Veles, and other Slavic folktales throughout the centuries. Get your tickets for House of Spirits: Volkov Manor – A Haunted Cocktail Soirée in Dallas!

6. Venture into The Haunted Tavern

The Haunted Tavern is an immersive cocktail experience run by the descendants of Ichabod Crane. You will visit one of the most haunted locations in Dallas as the tavern keeper guides you through a 4-part interactive cocktail journey. Hear the chilling and dark tales that haunt the venue, and beware the ghost that never left… Your night will be filled with surprises—the ghost tends to sit in on the experience and scare those brave enough (or filled with enough liquid courage) to enter!

7. Venture into The Upside Down (Store)

Ready for a new adventure, nerd? Join us at Stranger Things: The Official Store for a journey into the show’s most iconic locations, where you’ll find plenty of gnarly merch and rad moments. Take photos in Joyce’s House, shop in the Starcourt Mall, explore the Russian Lab, play games at the Palace Arcade… Just know that you might come face-to-face with a Demogorgon—don’t say we didn’t warn you!

8. Bend the Knee at this ‘Game of Thrones’ Pop-Up

Arya ready to bend the knee? Because the city’s first Game of Thrones-themed pop-up has finally landed in Dallas with the fantasy experience now open at The Whippersnapper – the proprietors of the super popular Breaking Bad pop-up.

9. Partake in Whiskey Wednesdays

Good drinks, fine hors d’oeuvres—all that’s missing to make it complete is you! Hosted by The Whiskey Spot, this Whiskey Wednesday is dedicated to sharing a selection of great spirits from around the world. Expand your drink knowledge with other whiskey enthusiasts, sample some fine food, learn about great whiskey pairings, and get a first-hand education in whiskey mixology. But it’s not just about the whiskey: you’ll also make connections that will live beyond that last taste of fine food and drink.

• Enjoy an exclusive tasting event! Learn more about the tricks of the trade in the world of whiskey with a talk through with experts. Taste an array of whiskeys, including premium whiskeys from around the world to limited edition craft whiskeys that you can’t find at your local liquor store. During the tasting, indulge in making a jarcuterie with premium meats, cheeses and vegetables. The best will be in with the chance of winning a prize!

10. Tantalize Your Taste Buds At This Dining In The Dark Experience

Imagine stepping inside a restaurant blanketed in darkness and being served a sublime three-course meal – the flavours and textures of which are intensified by your remaining senses. Sounds a little bit incredible, right? An experience that’s been backed by psychologists as an ‘amplified’ way to enjoy food, the enticing ‘Dining In The Dark’ event is now open in Dallas so you can “see” for yourself.

11. Take a Spin in this Hidden Bowling Alley Inside Old Movie Theater

Recently opened, Bowlski’s Lakewood Theater is a live concert venue, candy counter, pool lounge, arcade, bar, and bowling alley. When it came to renovating the historical venue, Bowlski’s owners salvaged what they could of their predecessor.

12. Sip Bubbly in Eden

Adorned with colorful artwork, bespoke furniture, and lush greenery – not to mention their gorgeous garden terrace – Paradiso offers a lovely quaint setting with its Bar Eden lounge.

13. Slay at this Drag Bingo Party

Enjoy the classic game of bingo, with a fierce and sassy twist! MyOhMy brings Drag Bingo to the forefront in a fun, engaging, and socially-conscious way every Saturday in downtown Fort Worth. Local drag entertainers from around the state perform in between games, while also calling numbers and co-hosting alongside Salem Moon. 10 bingo games are included, with prizes given out for every game!

14-15. Trick or Drink at this Halloween Bar Crawl

Get ready to experience the best bars that Dallas has to offer—all in one night! Go back to the good old days of trick or treating with an adult twist. The treat is a bev! You’ll be able to enjoy drink specials all night for an incredible time without breaking the bank. You’ll receive a wristband that’ll grant you entry into all of the participating bars and clubs around Dallas, so you don’t have to worry about paying for entrance. Feel free to let your freak flag fly and get dressed up for the frightful occasion! Don’t miss out on this amazing Halloween bar crawl and get your tickets!

• 2022 Dallas Halloween Bar Crawl: Are you ready to paint Dallas red this Halloween? Take your friends and spooky creatures alike on the Halloween Bar Crawl of the year in Dallas! From dance parties, DJs, live bands, to costume contests; your costume-sporting crew will be in heaven as you venture to a variety of amazing venues this Halloween. Sign up to an exciting scavenger hunt and participate in a Halloween contest with a $1,000 prize.

16. Stroll through the Enchanting Pumpkin Garden at the Dallas Arboretum

Every year, the Dallas Arboretum holds their beloved (and highly acclaimed) autumn festival. You know what they say: “everything is bigger in Texas” — well that seems to be the case at the Arboretum. In its 16th year, the festival will feature a dazzling display of autumn flowers embellished with the likes of 90,000 pumpkins, gourds, and squash courtesy of Floydada, Texas. Additionally, you’ll be able to stroll by the four 20-foot tall pumpkin cottages!

17. Go Chasing Waterfalls

There’s no understating the natural beauty of the Lone Star State. This season, head the call to adventure and venture out to the state’s most gorgeous waterfalls and the hiking trails that take you there.

18. Make Your Own Pasta

Escape to Italy without leaving Dallas for an evening to master the the art of making pasta. Follow the steps demonstrated by your chef instructor to make beautiful Pappardelle noodles and Orecchiette. Guests will learn to make dough from scratch, as well as rolling it out and shaping it to create their picture perfect pasta.

19. Indulge in Bottomless Brunch

Looking for a great Sunday brunch? Might as well make it bottomless! Make room in your weekend and join us for a brunch buffet you won’t want to miss. Enjoy unlimited sushi alongside a selection of tasty dishes, with everything from breakfast favorites to locally-sourced vegetarian options. You’ll also be able to take part in a DIY crafting workshop, and do some shopping with several local vendors. All in all, it’s a great way to spend your Sunday!

20. Let The Good Times Roll At This Inventing Gaming Alley

Whether you’re young or an adult, games never get old. And while you can find a bowling alley in any given city in America, you’d be hard pressed to find pin toss anywhere else in the world (to our knowledge). Bowl Games in Dallas is a one-of-a-kind gaming bar that offers shuffleboard, foosball, and the aforementioned pin toss – a bowling and football hybrid that leaves no joy to spare.

21-24. Sneak Into A Speakeasy

There’s something special about speakeasies. The secretive, vicarious forbidden feel of transporting back to the prohibition make imbibing cocktails all the more tantalizing.

• Hope you’ve been reading this quarantine, because you’re going to need your book smarts to get into the Rare Books Bar. In order to gain entry into this Frisco speakeasy, visitors must dial the librarian and ask for a classic piece of literature.
• The only sign post at this bar takes the form of two ambiguous As on a door in a crusty alleyway behind Henry’s Majestic. For those that can get past the initial sketch factor, however, a warm-lit cove of tantalizing libations await

25. Sip On Nitrogen-Infused Margaritas

Who knows who makes up these random holidays? There’s national sibling day, national donut day – there’s even a National Clean Your Desk Day – of which we’ve never celebrated not even once. But National Margarita Day, well that should’ve been something set in stone since the inception of this glorious country.

26. Go Back To The Future

The 1980s are making a come back. Be it the nostalgia-saturated Stranger Things, kaleidoscopic fashion lines, or droves of new wave, synth-driven music flooding the sound waves. Travel back in time at McFly’s, the pub made in the image of what’s been called the most ’80s movie ever made.

27. Tour Texas’s Most Haunted

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.

28. Level Up at this Boozy Arcade

Some of weren’t around in the ’80s, but that doesn’t stop us from the feeling of vivid nostalgia we have for new wave hits, technicolored-patterned jumpers, and all the zaniness the decade had to offer. This season, Dallasites can blast back to the ’80s at the new FlashBack RetroPub in Bishops Arts District!

29. Let Your Colors Out at This New Concept Bar

iPhones at the ready, Dallas, for a new selfie sanctuary has come to town with the opening of Austin-based Wonder Bar. While the quirky, IG-ready watering hole has teased their opening for a while, the bar has finally opened.

30. Hit Up the 7-Eleven Deluxe

Irving-based 7-Eleven has unveiled its latest Evolution store in the DFW: a mega convenience store with a covered outdoor patio, frozen margaritas, customizable coffee machine, and more!

31-32. Sweetin’ Up at Dallas’ Best Bakeries

Treating yourself in the pandemic has become something of a lifestyle rather than a once-in-a-blue-moon event. If you need a sweet pick-me-up, or want to share the love, these Dallas bakeries have got all the goods.

• Withdraw for the Sprinkles Cupcakes’ ATM – Sprinkles is a small-batch bakery that whips up everything from decadent cupcakes to delicious ice cream.

33. Enjoy a Drink on the Patio

Enjoy the cool, crisp temperatures while you can, Dallas. Get out and about this southern winter at the city’s many great patios! Be it a sprawling, boot-stomping backyard or a rooftop vista with a view, there is a swell of wonderful outdoor venues to savor the season.

34-35. Sing (and Drink) From the Rooftops

Nothing quite says “living the highlife” like clinking glasses on a city rooftop. Touch the sky this season with a brunch, evening, or nightcap on the most jaw-dropping rooftops in Dallas.

• New York-based RH, formerly known as Restoration Hardware, has opened its first Texas outpost with a luxurious three-story establishment complete with a glass-encased rooftop restaurant.

36. Visit this Dazzling New Bohemian Cafe

A brand new oasis has opened in Dallas. Located in the back alley behind Tejas in the heart of Bishop Arts, Casablanca is a vibrant cafe transporting patrons to the Silk Road with its unparalleled ambience and dazzling variety of craft cocktails and shared plates.

37. Go on a Culinary Journey from Bangkok to Bali

From the alleyway to the table, bar, and lounge, and back again, Elephant East in Harwood feels like a multi-sensory excursion to a faraway land and experience that you won’t want to miss!

38-39. Take Your Sweetheart To The Most Romantic Restaurants In Town

If you’re looking for somewhere sultry to dine out or have a drink this season, these local establishments will set the mood.

• The hidden speakeasy behind a dumpster – much less sketch than you think.
• A darkly romantic Tulum-inspired coctelería – Deep Ellum oasis with mezcal-mixed libations and serious mood.

40. Experience Pumpkin Pandemonium at Pumpkin Nights

For the rest of the season, Pumpkin Nights is inundating Howell Farms with an un-gourdly amount of fall festivity for their autumn-exclusive Pumpkin Nights event running all October long.

41. Visit Llama Castle

Tucked in the North Texas countryside is the charming town of Royse City. There dwells a castle. It is no ordinary castle, mind you. In this Irish replica castle abides a fellowship of frolicking llamas, who await travelers and enthusiasts alike, to take them on hikes and learn of their llama ways.

42. Beat The High Score At This Retro Arcade

We weren’t around in the 80s, but that doesn’t stop us from being nostalgic for new wave-style synth pop, campy horror movies, fluorescent jackets, and an underground bustling arcade culture. If you want to wreck it like Ralph, grab your Walkman and head down to the National Video Game Museum in Frisco, home to their “Pixel Dreams” retro arcade.

43. Enter a Xmas Explosion at This Tex-Mex Restaurant

There’s no such thing as having too many holiday lights. Neither is there such a thing as having too many fajitas. Do Christmas, but make it Tex-Mex at Campo Verde in Arlington for the most festive fajita experience you’ll have all year.

44. Glamp In The Stars

New resident Texan, Elon Musk, promises that humans will land on Mars by 2026. If you can’t wait that long, you can spend a few nights at Basecamp Terlingua, an other-worldly glamping experience that integrates the future with the past, giving its visitors the impression of luxury camping in the cosmos.

45. Eat The Best Tacos In Town

46. Visit the Spa Castle

Spa Castle in Carrollton is like the amusement park version of a spa, only instead of rides they have Himalayan salt rooms and hydrotherapy pools. The innovative spa blends together traditional Asian and European styles to create a fun and luxury experience all on its own.

47. Do Yoga with Adorable Baby Goats

Like meditation, yoga is a practice of centeredness and concentration. It’s a discipline of balance in the face of stress and adversity — that which may be difficult to do when resisting the urge to snuggle one of the herd of baby goats bouncing around.

48. Smash the Champagne Button and Ferris Wheel Cupcakes

Stylish, glitzy, and vividly pink, the XOXO Dining Room in Dallas offers one of the most dazzling and photo-ready dining experiences in town. Whether its the cupcakes served in Ferris Wheels, striking pop-art, twinkling chandeliers, or bright XOXO wall, the dining room and lounge is Dallas’s go-to place to smash that champagne button – seriously, XOXO has champagne buttons.

49. Dine Royally

Savor the high life this fall at Monarch Restaurant. Perched on the 49th floor of The National, Monarch is designed with floor-to-ceiling windows, giving restaurant-goers the chance to dine on their wood-fired Italian dishes with an epic view of the city.

50. Go Buckwild at This Rodeo-Themed Bar

Nostalgic Dallasites will remember the Rodeo Bar’s previous incarnation. Opened back in 1981, the iconic bar was renowned as an authentic, laidback hangout where one could drink ice cold beers and grab a bite without a fuss. After 40 years, the bar is back on the scene with its original grit, albeit, with a modern vibe.

51. Dine Inside A Blanket Fort

Back in the heyday of childhood there was no sanctuary like a blanket fort. If the sheer mention of such fortress of youth was enough to trigger a nostalgic revery, you’ll be happy to know that you can enliven your whimsical childhood memories at Ida Claire bistro in Addison, where the indoor and outdoor eatery is fixed with a trailer adorned top to bottom in warm and fuzzy fabrics.

52. Go on a Mystery Picnic Date

This self-guided food adventure by Amazingco is the perfect way to explore Dallas’s best neighborhoods and avoid the crowds! Starting with a picnic basket, have fun solving personally-curated clues and riddles sent to your smartphone that’ll take you on a journey to collect your special gourmet picnic food bit by bit.

53. Enjoy La Fantaisie Drag Show Extravaganza

Texas’ most entertaining and well-known drag show is seen on Saturday nights in downtown Fort Worth. Head on over to Red Goose Saloon and witness great costume, great music, and great performances coming together in one of the most highly-rated drag shows in the US. Join host Patrick Mikyles and unleash your inner diva at this extravaganza you just will not want to miss!

54. Cozy Up In The Nooks Of This Bookish Coffee Shop

For all the people out there who have ever been shushed at a library – this place for you. At the Funny Library Coffee Shop, guests are encouraged to crack up as much they are to crack open one of its many books.

55. Snag Some Bling At The Bar

The City of Dallas is filled with countless gems. Everywhere you look, there’s a precious neighborhood, business, or boutique. The Trove in Bishop Arts is a literal a gem, wherein the cocktail lounge doubles as an upscale jewelry store.

56. Create A DIY Masterpiece At This Boozy Workshop

If the pandemic taught us anything it’s that free time isn’t the only requisite for completing all those home fix-up projects we pinned on our Pinterest accounts. If you need a little extra moral support – and some creative juices – swing down to Upstairs Circus for a little bit of both!

57. Live La Dulce Vita In This Italian Marketplace

Given the circumstances, you might have had to cancel your vacation to Italy over the summer. Be that as it may, you can still get a taste of Tuscany with the arrival of the famed Italian market, Eataly.

58. Capture The Moment

Dallas is full of flourishing neighborhoods, fantastic city views, and gorgeous natural settings. If it’s been a while since you and bae shot a cute pic together, these Dallas sites will offer a backdrop as precious as the subject: you.

59-60. Burlesque After Dark

Not to be confused with the late night show, this evening edition is sure to be unique and different from the night show. Get ready for a wild ride! Food and drink will be available for purchase at the bar. Enjoy a night of pure entertainment with a great atmosphere for everyone! Get your tickets now!

• Burlesque After Dark Late Night Show: The MyOhMy family of drag shows is proud to present Burlesque After Dark, easily the best burlesque show in Ft. Worth! Not to be confused with the earlier show, this special Late Night edition is sure to be unique and different from the afternoon show. Get ready for a wild ride! Food and drink will be available for purchase at the bar. Enjoy a night of pure entertainment with a great atmosphere for everyone!