August 11, 2026
Updated:
August 19, 2026

13 Fun Dallas Activities in October

October is the perfect time to enjoy the outdoors and take in fall festivities in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. The region hosts festivals, Halloween events, and special attractions that you won’t find at any other time of the year.

Here are 13 things to do in Dallas that you won’t want to miss this fall.

Halloween Events

Halloween is on October 31st, and the Dallas Halloween festivities are happening all month long. Make sure to check out the following.

1. The Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden

The famed Dallas Arboretum enjoys a full makeover during the Halloween season, including a multi-acre pumpkin patch with over 100,000 pumpkins and 20-foot-tall pumpkin cottages in the enormous Pumpkin Village.

The village features elaborate displays and challenging mazes. While you’re there, you can enjoy beer gardens with local craft brews and evening concerts on the lawn near White Rock Lake.

2. Quest Room Dallas

Quest Room Dallas provides challenging escape room experiences for large and small groups. Our horror-themed escape games are perfect for Halloween. Escape rooms are ideal for dates and outings with friends, and they’re suitable for those hot October days when the weather can creep above 90 degrees in Dallas.

  • Cannibal’s Den is a terrifying attraction where you find yourself in a cold, dark room with only a handful of clues to guide you to safety before a serial killer comes to claim you.
  • Heretics is another popular escape room where you portray a prisoner accused of witchcraft in the 15th century.

3. Dark Hour Haunted House

Dark Hour Haunted House is a fully immersive horror experience with live actors, state-of-the-art lighting and audio, and bone-chilling effects that will make you think you’re truly in a game of survival. It takes about 30 minutes to explore the entire attraction, but a 90-minute VIP experience is also available.

Dark Hour Haunted House opens most evenings at 6:30 p.m. during October, so if you’re looking for one of the best activities in Dallas to do at night, look no further. The attraction is open to all ages, though the venue recommends it for children ages 10 and up.

Tip: See more activities to do in Dallas at night here.

4. Pumpkin Nights at Howell Farms

Pumpkin Nights is a living art exhibit with a half-mile of themed fairy-tale lands all constructed from pumpkins. Explore the Pirate’s Cove, Forbidden City, Pumpkin Village, and other breathtaking installations.

Howell Family Farms has been a beloved fixture in Arlington, Texas, for over 120 years. Pumpkin Nights is the facility’s most popular attraction of the year, suitable for all ages.

October Festivals

October is festival season in Dallas. High temperatures typically fall into the low 70s by the end of the month, so it’s the perfect time to enjoy the good life outdoors.

5. Dallas Brew Festival

Hosted in Old City Park, Dallas Brew Festival brings together more than 50 breweries and 150 types of beer, along with food trucks, games, and nightly live music. This event is strictly for guests 21 and up, so you’ll need to leave the kids at home for this adult adventure.

6. Día De Los Muertos Festival

The Día De Los Muertos Festival is an exciting, family-friendly event with art exhibits, live music, delicious food, and traditional ofrendas. Make sure to stick around for the city’s legendary Día de los Muertos Parade. This event is typically hosted the week before Halloween.

7. State Fair of TX

The State Fair of Texas is a nearly month-long celebration of all things Texas, complete with carnival rides, exhibits, animals, deep-fried delicacies, and live performances from world-renowned music acts. View the Dallas skyline from the massive 212-foot Texas Star Ferris Wheel.

8. Yesterland Farm Fall Festival

Yesterland Farm Fall Festival features 40 rides, three pumpkin patches, food vendors, games, a petting zoo, and even zombie paintball. Think of it like a smaller, calmer version of the State Fair.

9. Oktoberfest Dallas

Oktoberfest Dallas brings classic Bavarian revelry to the Lone Star State, with a massive selection of craft beers as well as German culinary staples like Jägerschnitzel and Wiener Schnitzel. Dance to live music, explore the German market, and make memories with the whole family at Flag Pole Hill Park this October.

Dallas Pumpkin Patches

The Dallas-Fort Worth area has several notable pumpkin patches to help make your autumn special.

10. Hall’s Pumpkin Farm

More than just a pumpkin patch, Hall’s Pumpkin Farm has scenic photo ops, hayrides, a petting zoo, and one of the biggest corn mazes in the state. The farm is located in Grapevine, but most Dallas visitors find it to be well worth the drive.

11. Dallas Farmers Market

The famed Dallas Farmers Market features a large food hall and a variety of artisan and specialty shops open daily, as well as a huge open-air market accessible on weekends.

During October, the market comes alive with thousands of pumpkins for sale, so you can find your perfect jack-o’-lantern while having a memorable dinner, buying specialty gifts, and sampling local produce. Best of all, it’s free.

Special Attractions in Town

In addition to the many autumn and Halloween-themed events, Dallas plays host to a wealth of other special attractions throughout the month of October.

12. Candlelight Concerts

The Candlelight Concerts series features orchestral tributes to legends like Queen, the Beatles, Ariana Grande, and Frank Sinatra, all in an intimate, candlelit setting. In October, you can also find Halloween Classics as part of the series.

13. Hockey Games

October is the start of hockey season, and the Dallas Stars are back on the ice. You can find great deals on early-season games, so it’s the perfect time to head out to American Airlines Center and cheer on the home team.

Discover the Best of Dallas in October

From fall festivals to haunted houses, Dallas saves many of its best events for October. Make sure to book early, as some specialty attractions sell out. Say goodbye to summer and let the fall memories begin.

John Smith

John is an expert in escape room design and development for almost a decade. He and his team have developed dozens of 5-star escape rooms across multiple genres in the United States, focusing on amazing live experience and unforgettable storytelling.

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