Best Things to Do in Fall in Dallas
Best Things to Do in Fall in Dallas: Even if the weather may not exactly send shivers down your spine, October in the Dallas area typically offers a pleasant change from highs in the triple digits. Additionally, the entire metroplex kicks into high gear at this time, with continuous events taking place all throughout the run-up to the holiday season. The State Fair of Texas is one of the greatest, attracting over three million visitors each year with its midway rides, animal shows, and top-notch entertainment.
The annual fall festival at Dallas Arboretum features a stunning pumpkin village made out of more than 90,000 pumpkins, melons, and squash. People who enjoy leaf-peeping and visiting pumpkin patches should go.
And it would be foolish not to mention Halloween-related events. Dark Hour is the spot to go if you want a truly immersive, top-tier haunted house experience.
Are you looking for more thrilling activities? Check out our list of the top 10 events in Dallas for September, October, and November. For the most recent Covid-19 safety warnings, be sure to check with the location.
STATE FAIR OF TEXAS
Dallas residents look forward to the State Fair of Texas, one of the biggest and oldest state fairs in the nation that draws over 3 million visitors annually, every fall. The 24-day festival, which takes place at Dallas’ famed Fair Park and lasts from September 24 to October 17, 2021, includes competitions, cattle displays, performances, displays, a crowded midway, and the biggest Ferris wheel in North America. The food is another aspect. Anything from corn dogs and turkey legs to anything cooked in deep fat is up for discussion. The All-Star Stunt Dog Show and the new State Fair of Texas Rodeo, to name a couple, are must-see events. Adult tickets start at $15, while child and senior tickets are $10.
It is suggested Because The State Fair of Texas, which has been running successfully since 1886, is one of the top state fairs in the country.
DALLAS ARBORETUM AND BOTANICAL GARDEN
Observing leaves in Dallas? Of course. For the Arboretum’s yearly fall festival, there is no better spot to take in the season’s hues than this 66-acre oasis. The event, which runs from September 18 to October 31, 2021, includes chef demos, animal shows, live music, and a renowned Pumpkin Village of more than 90,000 pumpkins, melons, and squash. The theme for this year is “Bugtopia,” so you can expect to see everything from enormous insect topiaries to bugged-out pumpkin houses to interactive demonstrations of living specimens. Did we mention that trick-or-treating will occur throughout the garden on Halloween weekend? The cost of general admission is $17 for adults and $12 for kids 2 to 12 years old.
Because The Travel Channel designated The Arboretum’s Pumpkin Village as one of the “Top 10 U.S. Pumpkin Patches,” it is suggested as a fall activity.
GRAPEVINE GRAPE FEST
Considering that Texas is the fifth-largest wine-producing state in the US, it makes sense that the largest wine festival in the Southwest would be held in a Texas town with the same name. The festival, which runs from September 16–19, 2021, features top wines from Texas, Napa Valley, California, and the Barossa Valley, South Australia. There will be wine tastings, grape stomping, a champagne cork shoot-off, and much more. Bringing the children with you? There are plenty of enjoyable activities available for the whole family, including carnival rides, games, handicrafts, food stalls, and nonstop live music, so there’s no need to worry. The price for general entry is $10 for adults and $5 for senior citizens and kids aged 6 to 12.
Because GrapeFest is a great fall event for both wine enthusiasts and families, it is chosen for Things to Do in the Fall.
DALLAS BY CHOCOLATE TOURS
Dallas By Chocolate is providing an array of Halloween-themed excursions, from a progressive Halloween dinner tour to a Halloween chocolate tour where visitors may dress up and go trick-or-treating, for those who want a scary trip with more goodies than tricks. The business also offers taco and cocktail excursions, brewery and barbecue tours, and strolling food tours. In addition to driving their own car, guests can travel by motorcoach (capacity limited to 20 maximum and all seating socially separated). The cost of each ticket ranges from $31 to $70.
While Dallas By Chocolate Tours is a fantastic choice for eaters of all ages, it is suggested for Fall Things to Do.
SIX FLAGS OVER TEXAS
Fright Fest at Six Flags Over Texas in Arlington is the ideal event if your notion of enjoying the season involves spooky good Halloween activities for the whole family. From September 18 to October 31, 2021, every weekend, the park provides family-friendly experiences before turning up the fright level with everything from scary homes to scare zones to eerie plays. Of course, there are also a huge amount of terrifying rides, but don’t be shocked if a monster is sitting next to you on one of them. The price of admission is $34.99. Be aware that certain Halloween-themed attractions charge extra.
Suggested for Fall Activities because Six Flags hosts a variety of frightening, family-friendly events throughout the Halloween season.
DARK HOUR HAUNTED HOUSE
It’s a given that the autumn season is also the Halloween season. It goes without saying that the Halloween season falls during the autumnal equinox. So, people in need of a good scare might want to visit this 30,000-square-foot house of horrors in Plano. It’s no surprise that this haunt frequently ranks as one of the nation’s scariest because of its complex sets, cutting-edge special effects, and professional-caliber actors. The best part is that by combining two distinct haunted attractions into one space, Dark Hour ups the spook effect. The price for general admission is $15 per person. From September 24 to Halloween 2021, open on selected nights.
The Dark Hour is suggested for fall activities because it was named one of the scariest haunted houses in the country by USA Today.
DALLAS MUSEUM OF ART
“Van Gogh and the Olive Groves” will be on display at the Dallas Museum of Art from October 17, 2021, to February 6, 2022, in association with the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam. The entire olive grove collection, which the renowned artist created at Saint-Rémy-de-Provence during the final year of his lifetime, is being displayed for the first time. The collection, which consists of 15 canvases and is regarded as one of Van Gogh’s best, depicts the varying colors of olive trees at various times of the day and throughout the year. The unique exhibition’s ticket costs range from $20 to $24. Children under the age of 11 and DMA members are both admitted free.
Because the Dallas Museum of Art is the only place in North America where you may see Van Gogh and the Olive Groves, it is selected for Fall Things to Do.
VAN GOGH: THE IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCE
Experience The best works of Vincent Van Gogh exhibited in 360 degrees. The display, which will be available at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington daily from August 19 to November 28, 2021, will contain 20,000 square feet of floor-to-ceiling digital projectors made possible by cutting-edge digital mapping technology. The experience also features larger-than-life galleries with panels, and replicas, and explores detailing Van Gogh’s life in addition to the main area. Discover a virtual reality experience that takes you on a journey through “A Day in the Life of the Artist” as well as a sketching studio for budding artists. Tickets start at $36.00 for adults and $19.90 for kids, and the visit lasts about 60 to 75 minutes.
The Van Gogh Immersion Experience is a fantastic excursion for people of all ages, making it a recommendation for Fall Things to Do.
PUMPKIN NIGHTS
Visit Howell Farms in Arlington for everything pumpkin. There, you can walk along a half-mile route that features six magical lands filled with more than 3,000 hand-carved pumpkins in eye-catching larger-than-life displays. There will be 10-foot-tall Jack-o-Lanterns, the biggest pumpkin guitar in the world, a 40-foot flying homemade dragon, a life-size pumpkin speed boat, as well as live pumpkin carving, pumpkin games, and a variety of goodies from nearby merchants. The festival runs from September 23 to Halloween 2021 every evening. Tickets cost $18 to $23 for adults, and $14 to $16 for children (4 to 12), and are free for children under 3 on weekdays and weekends.
Because Pumpkin Nights is an excellent family-friendly Halloween attraction without the gore, it is suggested for Fall Things to Do.
SAIL WITH SCOTT
There is no better way to take advantage of the changing seasons than by taking a trip on a gorgeous 40-foot-long by 25-foot-wide wooden catamaran on Rockwall’s Lake Ray Hubbard. There are daily 90-minute sunset excursions available, as well as weekend 60-minute moonlight and daylight cruises. The lakeside eateries will carry food and drinks to the boat, but passengers are asked to bring their own supplies. Tickets for the 2021 season, which runs from April 16 through the end of October, cost between $25 and $35 per person. Children’s tickets for the daytime trip cost $15.
Sail With Scott is a great option for a date or an anniversary special, thus it’s recommended for Fall Things to Do.