Things to Do in Dallas Fort Worth This Weekend: October 9-11, 2026

The second weekend of October is one of the busiest of the year in North Texas. The State Fair is in full swing, the Red River Rivalry brings thousands of football fans to Fair Park, and fall festivals are popping up from Roanoke to Ennis. Whether you live here, just moved here, or are visiting while you look at homes, here are some of the best things to do in Dallas Fort Worth this weekend, Friday, October 9 through Sunday, October 11, 2026. 

Event details can change, so we have linked to official sources wherever possible. Check them before you head out, especially for weather updates, parking and ticket availability.

Dallas: State Fair of Texas and the Red River Rivalry

The State Fair of Texas runs at Fair Park through Sunday, October 18. Gates are open 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Sunday. Daily admission ranges from $10 to $25 plus a ticket fee depending on the day, and flex tickets that work on any fair day start around $27.

Saturday is the big one. The annual Texas vs. Oklahoma game, better known as the Red River Rivalry, kicks off at 2:30 p.m. at the Cotton Bowl inside Fair Park. Expect heavy crowds, packed parking lots and slow traffic around the fairgrounds most of the day. If you want a calmer fair visit, Friday evening or Sunday may be a better choice. DART rail is another way to skip the parking hassle.

Autumn at the Dallas Arboretum

Across town on White Rock Lake, Autumn at the Arboretum continues daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. through November 1. This year's Pumpkin Village features more than 100,000 pumpkins, gourds and squash under the theme "Harvest Hues," with displays inspired by modern artists. Adults can also check out Pumpkins and Pints on Friday, October 9, from 6 to 9 p.m.

Grand Prairie and Irving: A Big Food Weekend

SHEF Food + Wine returns to EpicCentral in Grand Prairie Friday through Sunday. The festival, founded by Dallas chef Tiffany Derry, includes a Friday welcome reception and block party, a Saturday chef panel and Grand Tasting, and a Sunday matinee. Tickets range from about $10 for a single panel to several hundred dollars for VIP packages. Details are on the SHEF Food + Wine website.

Just up the road, the DFW Italian Festival fills Levy Event Plaza in Irving's Las Colinas area on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. Admission is free, with food, wine and cultural activities throughout the weekend. A ticketed Palio Dinner is held separately on Saturday night. See Visit Irving for the schedule.

Grapevine: Pumpkins, Trains and Small Town Charm

Grapevine is a strong pick for families this weekend. PumpkinFest opens at Meadowmere Park, 3000 Meadowmere Lane, and runs through October 18. Visitors can stroll pumpkin-lined paths, shop local artisans and take a spooky walk on the park trail. Entry is $20 per car, and local listings note that payment is cashless.

Little train fans can also catch Day Out With Thomas at the Grapevine Vintage Railroad Friday through Sunday, with a second weekend October 16 through 18. Tickets are about $30 per rider, and train times vary.

Free Fall Festivals Across North Texas

Several cities are hosting free community festivals, which makes this a great weekend to explore a new part of the metroplex.

• Celebrate Roanoke takes over Oak Street in downtown Roanoke on Saturday from noon to 10 p.m. The free festival includes two music stages, rodeo shows at noon, 3 and 6 p.m., more than 75 artisan vendors, food trucks, kids' activities and a drone show to close the night. Country group LANCO headlines. Visit CelebrateRoanokeTexas.com.
• Fall Into Flower Mound returns to the River Walk on Friday from 5 to 10 p.m. and Saturday from noon to 10 p.m. Admission is free, though some activities may cost extra. Details are on the Town of Flower Mound website.
• Farmers Branch Fall Fest and Spooky Dash is set for Saturday at Farmers Branch Historical Park, with trick-or-treating, haunted attractions, entertainment and a costume-friendly race. Check the City of Farmers Branch for times.

Ellis County: Stars of Texas Music Festival in Ennis

South of Dallas, the Stars of Texas Music Festival runs Friday through Sunday at the Texas Motorplex, 7500 US Highway 287 in Ennis. Aaron Watson performs Friday, Brad Paisley on Saturday and Travis Tritt on Sunday. The weekend also includes bull riding, drag racing, barbecue, camping and lantern releases on Saturday and Sunday nights. Ticket information is at StarsOfTexas.com. If you live in Waxahachie, Midlothian or Red Oak, this is one of the bigger events you can reach without fighting Dallas traffic.

Concerts and Shows Around the Metroplex

If live music is more your speed, there is plenty on the calendar:

• Brooks & Dunn play Dickies Arena in Fort Worth on Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m.
• Kacey Musgraves performs at the American Airlines Center in Dallas on Saturday and Sunday at 7:30 p.m.
• The Dallas Symphony Orchestra presents Disney's Hocus Pocus in Concert at the Meyerson Symphony Center Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m.
• Levitt Pavilion Arlington continues its free outdoor concert series on Friday and Saturday evenings in downtown Arlington.

More Family-Friendly Ideas

Plano has two free Sunday events that require an RSVP: Diwali Mela at Assembly Park from 3 to 7 p.m. and Plano Barktoberfest for dogs and their owners in the Downtown Plano Arts District from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. In McKinney, the Heard Natural Science Museum's Dinosaurs Live! exhibit is open through March 2027. For more thrills, Six Flags Over Texas in Arlington is running Fright Fest on select nights through November 1.

Looking for something lower key? Our guide to the best trails in the Dallas Fort Worth area is a good place to start now that mornings are a little cooler. New to the area? You might also like our list of weekend spots for new DFW homeowners.

Make the Most of Fall in DFW

Weekends like this one are a good reminder of how much the metroplex has to offer, from big-ticket events at Fair Park to small-town festivals in Roanoke and Flower Mound. If you are thinking about moving within DFW, spending a Saturday at a local festival is also an easy way to get a feel for a community before you start touring homes.

If you have questions about buying or selling in the Dallas Fort Worth area, Blue Mountain Realty Group is happy to help. Reach us at (214) 271-4733 or Team@BlueMgroup.com.

Event dates, times and prices were gathered from official event pages and local listings as of October 8, 2026, and are subject to change. Please confirm details with each organizer before attending.

Sources: State Fair of Texas, Dallas Sports Commission, Dallas Arboretum, CultureMap Dallas, Visit Irving, Celebrate Roanoke, Waxahachie CVB, KRLD, DFWChild.

Blue Mountain Realty Group | Brando Villatoro, REALTOR® | Real Broker, LLC