As the golden hues of autumn settle across the Dallas-Fort Worth area, the region known for virtually year-round sun and some scorcher summers can surprisingly transform into a tapestry of fall festivities and charming events. From lively pumpkin patches to rustic hayrides, fall in North Texas is a season to savor. Here is a highly curated guide to just some of the area’s most enchanting traditional fall experiences, from offbeat to awe-inspiring.
Pumpkin patches, hayrides, wine and wow
No fall experience is complete without a visit to a North Texas pumpkin patch, where you’ll wander through rows of plump, vibrant pumpkins, each perfect for carving or decorating. Find them in Irving, Grapevine, Arlington, McKinney, Frisco, Aubrey, Sanger, Justin, Rockwall, Gunter, Van Alstyne, Denison, Alvarado, Cleburne, Midlothian. A great list is here.
To see some fabulous — and funny — decorated pumpkins, head to Parker County, where the annual Parkerfest each October in the city of Parker is a one-day festival complete with prettied-up pumpkins, food, music, games, a petting zoo, a car show and more. (Earlier in the year, each July, the one-day Parker County Peach Festival in Weatherford celebrates the summer season with the area’s famous peaches — as homemade peach ice cream, peach cobbler, peach juleps, peach tea and other juicy treats.)
One of North Texas’ most famous fall adventures is GrapeFest, in wine-producing Grapevine, an annual September extravaganza which celebrates wines from around the world but takes special pride in Texas wines. There are wine tastings, kid-friendly activities and much more when Main Street closes down to traffic for the four-day festival.
The essence of fall is truly captured in hayrides and corn mazes, and the Dallas-Fort Worth boasts several options for both. Two popular experiences are Pumpkins on the Prairie, all October long, with its hayrides, pumpkin-cooking classes and pumpkin-launch catapult, and the Yesterland Farm Fall Festival, with its pumpkin patch, corn maze, pig races and fireworks. You can find hayrides and corn mazes, too, in Grapevine, Canton, Cleburne, Flower Mound, Midlothian, Gunter and other towns.
Festive celebrations with a seasonal twist
In Frisco, the Frisco Fresh Market hosts a one-day fall festival where visitors can revel in arts, crafts, live music, performances, activities for all ages, fall treats and much more. The event is ideal for families seeking a day of festive fun and relaxation amidst fall’s beautiful light.
The Southlake area brings a European touch to fall festivities with its Southlake Oktoberfest. This big, beloved, annual event merges traditional German celebrations with fall flair, offering a delightful array of food, music, activities, arts, crafts, a kids’ zone, a petting zoo, a stein-hoisting contest and live entertainment all weekend. (The 2024 headliner? The Spazmatics on Saturday night.) A favorite fall tradition here is, by far, the wiener-dog race and costume contest.
Further north, Plano invites visitors to its four-day Plano Balloon Festival, where the (hopefully) crisp fall air provides the perfect backdrop for 30 hot air balloons to soar — and, at night, glow. This must-do event, while not exclusively fall-themed, captures the spirit of the season with its vibrant colors and family friendly activities.
The Lakewood neighborhood of Dallas offers a more intimate fall experience with an annual Fall Fest, hosted by the Lakewood Elementary PTA. This one-day event features artisan vendors, seasonal foods and fun fall activities, making it a charming, community-centric outing.
The Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden hosts an annual fall extravaganza, pictured above, that is not to be missed. It is called Autumn at the Arboretum and traditionally features 100,000 pumpkins, gourds and squash — hailing from the pumpkin capital of Texas, Floydada — and 150,000 beautiful fall blooming plants throughout the garden. In 2024, the beloved Pumpkin Village is featuring the theme “Texas Town,” taking visitors on a journey through Texas pioneer life.
In bustling Fort Worth, The Fort Worth Japanese Garden at the lush Fort Worth Botanic Garden is an enlightened place for enjoying fall. Its colors can rival those of Vermont, come autumn, thanks to its stunning Japanese maples. Completed in 1973, it is a strolling garden with winding paths, bridges and ponds filled with koi fish.
EXPLORE MORE: Guides to 2024’s fall festivities and cultural experiences, gathered up by local media, sites and magazines.
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