5 Best Fall Festivals in Dallas

There are plenty of fun things to do in the Dallas area during fall. Whether you’re ready to head to the scariest haunted house you can find, or you’re excited to cheer on your favorite football team on a Friday night, there are plenty of exciting options for you to consider. Another great way to spend your time is heading to a festival with your family or friends. Our team at the Hand and Wrist Institute has created this list of some of the best fall festivals in the Dallas area to help you to decide where to go.

Autumn at the Arboretum

Autumn at the Arboretum returns to the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden for its 16th year. This whimsical event transforms the gardens with the addition of more than 100,000 pumpkins, squash, and gourds to create the perfect fall utopia. The garden sources these items from Floydada, which is the pumpkin capital of Texas.

This year’s theme for Autumn at the Arboretum is “A Fall Fairy Tale.” In addition to the Pumpkin Village, one iconic piece that you must see during your visit is Cinderella’s Carriage. This impressive carriage features intricate wire details with pumpkin adornments covering it. The event also features displays made from pumpkins, which showcase scenes from many fairy tales, including the following:

• Jack and the Beanstalk.
• One Thousand and One Nights.
• The Sword in the Stone.
• The Three Little Pigs.

Special events will take place throughout the entirety of the event. For example, children can enjoy the Insect Encounters offerings, which allow them to learn more about the different bugs at the arboretum. Adults may enjoy signing up for one of the paid cooking classes.

Autumn at the Arboretum operates daily from Sept. 17 through Oct. 31. Tickets are available now to reserve your preferred date and time, and be sure to check whether you want to enter at Gate 1 or Gate 4. Admission is $20 per adult, $16 for seniors 65 or older, $12 for children aged 2 to 12, and free for children under 2 years old. There may also be discounts for members of the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden.

State Fair of Texas

The State Fair of Texas is one of the biggest events of the year and a definitive can’t-miss event for your family this fall. The festival began in 1886 and still exists today as a celebration of Texas’ community, education, and agriculture. At an impressive 24 consecutive days, it’s also one of the largest and longest-running festivals in the country. This family-friendly event includes rides, games, a rodeo, an auto show, delicious food, live music, and much more. The 2022 schedule includes several artists, such as Trace Adkins, Lucinda Williams, and Fitz & the Tantrums.

There are many ways for you to participate in the State Fair of Texas beyond simply attending. For example, there are many showcases and competitions for various age groups and categories, as well as Creative Arts competitions, including options for arts and crafts, cooking, barbecue, and chili. Livestock Shows are another cornerstone of these competitions, and they include livestock and horse exhibitors, a youth livestock auction, and a rodeo.

The State Fair of Texas runs daily from Sept. 30 through Oct. 23. There are plenty of ticket options to consider and entertainment options to enjoy, so be sure to plan your visit in advance. For example, you can buy single-day tickets, or if you plan to go to the fair more often, you can purchase a season pass for all 24 days.

Turtle Creek Fine Arts Festival

The Turtle Creek Fine Arts Festival returns to Reverchon Park this fall. The biannual festival showcases the work of an estimated 125 painters, sculptors, glass blowers, photographers, jewelers, leather and metal workers, and crafters. It aims to focus on as many Dallas and Texas artists as possible. You can also enjoy live music, an art demonstration, a children’s play area, food and beverage options, and more.

The Turtle Creek Fine Arts Festival takes place on Nov. 12 and 13. The event is free to attend. Atlanta Foundation for Public Spaces (AFFPS) sponsors this event, as well as a variety of other art festivals, to create an environment that celebrates artists and nurtures their skills.

Tacolandia

Tacolandia is the perfect destination for taco lovers and is the largest taco festival in Dallas. Sponsored by the Dallas Observer, this outdoor festival features more than 20 different taco vendors in one location. Most vendors also offer other delicious food options, and there are cash bar options so you can get the perfect drink to go with your tacos.

Tacolandia takes place on Saturday, Nov. 12, at Energy Square Plaza, and all guests must be at least 21 years old with a valid form of identification. There are two ticket options available, and both options include unlimited samples from the vendors. VIP admission includes early admission to the festival, drink tickets to redeem at the private bar, and exclusive VIP restrooms.

Dallas Festival of the Arts

The Dallas Festival of the Arts is a two-day festival that celebrates the visual arts. This year, it’s moving to a new location at Kidd Springs Park. The goal of this festival is to give back to the community through art and celebrate the works of local, regional, and national artists. It includes works by crafters, glass blowers, jewelers, leather and metal workers, painters, photographers, and sculptors.

The Dallas Festival of the Arts takes place on Oct. 22 and 23. The event is free to attend, and there will be food, beverages, and items from vendors available for purchase. AFFPS also sponsors this event, and there may be live music, art activities, and more.

Well, that brings us to the end of our list of some of the best fall festivals in the Dallas area. We at The Hand and Wrist Institute are proud to be a part of this local community, and we hope that you discovered an exciting upcoming event. Do you know about another festival that we forgot to include? Contact us and let us know. We’ll be sure to add it to our own calendars so that we can check it out too.

Dallas arboretum by Rodney is licensed with CC BY 2.0

Dr. John Knight

Dr. Knight is a renowned hand, wrist and upper extremity surgeon with over 25 years of experience. Dr. Knight is a Board Certified Orthopedic Surgeon and Fellowship trained. Dr Knight has appeared on CNN, The Doctors TV, Good Morning America, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, Forbes, The Huffington Post, Entrepreneur, Oxygen network and more.