Things to Do in Dallas Fort Worth This Weekend: November 13-15, 2026

Thanksgiving is still two weeks out, but North Texas is not waiting. This is the weekend the big holiday attractions switch on, and there is still plenty of fall on the calendar too. Here are our picks for things to do in Dallas Fort Worth this weekend, November 13-15, 2026.

Times and prices can change, so confirm with the venue before you head out.

Holiday attractions opening this week

Holiday at the Arboretum (Dallas)

The Dallas Arboretum's holiday season opened Wednesday, November 11 and runs through January 3. This is reported to be the final season for the 12 Days of Christmas gazebos, so it is a good year to go. Evening admission generally runs $35 to $40, and online Night Owl tickets for visits starting at 8:30 p.m. are $15. Daytime and nighttime visits are ticketed separately.

ICE! at the Gaylord Texan (Grapevine)

ICE! opens Friday, November 13 with a Harry Potter theme. The walk-through exhibit uses more than two million pounds of carved ice and is kept at about 9 degrees. Parkas are provided, but bring gloves, warm socks and closed-toe shoes.

Dallas Zoo Lights (Dallas)

Also opening Friday, Dallas Zoo Lights marks its tenth year with more than two million lights. Admission starts at $19 and public parking is $15. Most animals are not on view at night, so think of it as a light show more than a zoo visit.

The Trains at NorthPark (Dallas)

The miniature railway returns Saturday, November 14 on Level One of NorthPark Center. The exhibit benefits Ronald McDonald House Dallas.

Two more to know

• SNOWDAY and SANTALAND begin Friday at Galleria Dallas.
• The Light Park drive-through shows are already running at Riders Field in Frisco and Hurricane Harbor in Arlington. The Arlington show is open 5:30 to 10 p.m., later on Fridays and Saturdays, with tickets from about $30 to $60 per vehicle.

Festivals and community events

• Blues, Bandits and BBQ (Oak Cliff), Saturday. Go Oak Cliff hosts the 18th year of this fall festival, which pairs live blues with a barbecue competition. Check Go Oak Cliff for the location and hours.
• Frisco Community Parade, Saturday at 10 a.m. The parade rolls down Main Street in the Rail District, according to Lifestyle Frisco.
• 'Neath the Wreath Holiday Gift Market (Plano), through Sunday. The annual market fills the Plano Event Center with holiday decor, clothing, jewelry and food gifts, Local Profile reports.
• Plano Flags of Honor, through Saturday. A display of 1,111 American flags at the Red Tail Pavilion in Oak Point Park honors veterans, active-duty service members and first responders, according to CW33.
• Aurora Biennial (Dallas and Fort Worth), through November 21. The digital art event brings light projections and live music to sites in both cities.

Sports and shows

• Cowboys vs. 49ers (Arlington), Sunday at 3:25 p.m. One of the bigger home games of the season at AT&T Stadium. Expect heavy traffic around the Entertainment District from late morning on.
• Dallas Stars (Dallas), Saturday and Sunday. The Stars are home at American Airlines Center on back-to-back nights.
• Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live Glow-N-Fire (Fort Worth), Friday through Sunday. Four performances at Ariat Arena with oversized trucks, lights and pyrotechnics. Hearing protection is a good idea for little ones.
• Stockyards Championship Rodeo (Fort Worth), Friday at 7:30 p.m. A Cowtown Coliseum staple and an easy add to a Stockyards evening.
• Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella (Irving), through November 22. MainStage Irving-Las Colinas presents the musical at Irving Arts Center.
• Daughtry (Dallas), Saturday at 7 p.m. The 20 Years Unplugged tour stops at the Majestic Theatre. On Sunday at 2 p.m., the same stage hosts Elmo's Got the Moves for the preschool crowd.

Get outside

Mid-November is prime time for North Texas trails. Texas state parks near DFW have ranger programs all weekend, including guided hikes at Lake Mineral Wells State Park and track talks at Dinosaur Valley State Park in Glen Rose. See the Texas Parks and Wildlife calendar for times and entry fees.

Out exploring? Take a look around

Weekend outings are one of the best ways to get a feel for a part of town you do not know well. If you are heading to Grapevine for ICE!, walk Main Street while you are there. In Frisco for the parade? Drive a few of the nearby neighborhoods afterward. In Fort Worth for the rodeo, stop in the Near Southside or the Cultural District on the way home.

Pay attention to the things a listing cannot show you: how long the drive really took, what the streets feel like on a Saturday, and whether the places you would use every week are close by.

If a city catches your eye this weekend, Blue Mountain Realty Group can send you a quick snapshot of what is for sale there and what homes have been selling for. Call or text Brando Villatoro at (214) 271-4733 or email Team@BlueMgroup.com.

Brando Villatoro, REALTOR®, Blue Mountain Realty Group, brokered by Real Broker, LLC. Event details are from the organizers and outlets linked above and may change.