guide to dallas fall festivals

This is your guide to Dallas fall festivals 2016! As cool weather comes to Dallas, the city and surrounding communities come alive with festivals and events for the whole family. Whether you want foodie fun, kid approved activities, live music or art, there is a Dallas fall festival out there for you!

September Festivals and Events:

Addison Oktoberfest

When: September 15-18, 2016
Where: Addison Circle Park (4970 Addison Circle Dr.  Addison, Texas 75001)
What: An Addison tradition! Named one of the country’s most authentic Oktoberfest celebrations by Forbes and USA Today, Addison Oktoberfest features four days of traditional Bavarian music, folk dancing, sing-alongs, children’s entertainment and of course, genuine German food! Raise your stein with “Oktoberfest†Paulaner Bier served along with German sausage, sauerkraut, strudel, giant pretzels and more. There are carnival rides, midway games, and children’s entertainment. Guests can purchase tickets and register to dine at the Chamberlain’s Brau Haus for a full service dining experience featuring an exclusive menu.

Little Elm Autumn Fest

When: September 15-18, 2016
Where: Little Elm Park
What: Come out to Little Elm Park for an event you won’t forget! There will be a carnival, complete with rides and games, live music, and much more. This is a great event for the entire family to enjoy.

Grapevine GrapeFest

When: September 15-18, 2016
Where: Downtown Grapevine TX
What: Discover a world of possibilities at the 30th Annual GrapeFest, presented by Bank of the West, on September 15, 16, 17 & 18! Guests of all ages will find a variety of new wines, new vendors, new bands, and more to discover and celebrate throughout the four-day festival. GrapeFest is the place to discover and try new wines and even rediscover some of your favorite varietals. Along with celebrating the fruit of the vine, this four-day annual festival offers a variety of activities and events to discover such as The People’s Choice Wine Tasting Classic, GrapeStomp, Champagne Terrace, KidsWorld, GrapeFest Golf Classic, GrapeFest Tennis Classic, live entertainment, the Texas Wine Tribute and much more!

Autumn at the Arboretum

When: September 17 – November 23, 2016
Where: Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Gardens
What:  Experience why Orbitz Travel named Autumn at the Arboretum as the number one place to go in the fall. The Imaginative Pumpkin houses with over 90,000 pumpkins, gourds and squash, along with 150,000 beautiful fall blooming plants and the most outstanding Children’s Adventure Garden in the world. Don’t miss this amazing festival and be sure to bring your camera. It is breathtaking color at every turn. This year’s event will highlight the “Art of the Pumpkin.” 

Denton Blues Festival

When: September 17-18, 2016
Where: Quakertown Park
What: The Denton Blues Festival sets the stage for one of the best ways to hear blues music in North Texas. A town dedicated to its musical reputation, Denton provides two days of exceptional blues acts in a family-friendly outdoor setting. If you need to take a break from the spellbinding guitar solos, browse through numerous local vendors offering one-of-a-kind arts and crafts.

Barbecue, Boots & Badges Battle of the Pitmasters

When: September 17, 2016
Where: NorthPark Center
What: Barbecue Boots & Badges will host competing teams of police officers and firefighters who will battle to be the best in brisket, pork and ribs. Over 10k in cash and prizes! Celebrity judges are led by Myron Mixon, the winningest man in barbecue. There will be family friendly entertainment, KidZone, vendor booths, craft beer, a selection of Dallas best food trucks, live entertainment with a featured headlining band, and great give aways and raffle items.  Raffles include Nascar Dream Vacation, Dove Hunt in Argentina, and an African Safari to name a few along with drawings every hour for free barbecue for a year. Guests will be able to purchase low cost tasting tickets and sample at each competing team’s station

Dallas Pride

When: September 18, 2016
Where: Around Downtown Dallas
What: This is our 33rd year to celebrate the Heineken Alan Ross Texas Freedom Parade and Miller Lite Festival in the Park presented by T-Mobile. This beautiful full-color publication is produced by the Dallas Tavern Guild and The Dallas Voice. This glossy pride guide is filled with Pride Parade history, great photos, the parade route, Reverchon Park Festival information, GLBT community information and contacts. 20,000 copies of this publication are distributed state-wide and released initially on Labor Day weekend with a second release the weekend of the parade.   

Greek Food Festival of Dallas

When: September 23-25, 2016
Where: Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church (13555 Hillcrest Road at Alpha)
What: It’s the big fat 60th Greek Food Festival of Dallas. Let’s celebrate! We’re serving up delicious Greek Food, music, dancing and fun – all the elements of a big fat Greek party. Enjoy the delicious tastes of Greece right here in Dallas. No passport needed! The Festival offers a variety of authentic foods and treats made with love by our own Greek chefs from recipes passed through the generations. Visit our Children’s Area for all the fun designed especially for kids — sand art & crafts, caricature artists, face painting, and more. The Agora Marketplace also features a number of delights for young Festival-goers.

Rockwall Rubber Duck Regatta

When: September 24, 2016
Where: Rockwall Harbor
What: We invite you to help support the 5th Annual Rockwall Duck Regatta event September 24, 2016 at The Harbor. The Rockwall Rubber Duck Regatta is a fun, family-friendly event guaranteed to be a quackin’ good time! There will be entertainment for all ages, including vendors, arts & crafts, food, kids zone, duck beauty pageant, live concert, and, of course, rubber duck races including a new glow in the dark race! All proceeds will go to support the Boys & Girls Club of Rockwall County and Meals on Wheels of Rockwall County. Committed to the youth, disabled, and elderly in our community, these two worthy organizations need your help to make a difference in the lives of our community’s most vulnerable members. So “take the plungeâ€! 

Plano Balloon Festival

When: September 23-25, 2016
Where: Oak Point Park (2801 E. Spring Creek Parkway, Plano, TX 75074)
What: This year mark’s 37 years of Ballooning in Plano, Texas. Join in the Celebration at the InTouch Credit Union Plano Balloon Festival, a spectacular three-day event beginning at 4:00pm Friday, September 23rd at Oak Point Park, 2801 E. Spring Creek Parkway, Plano, TX 75074. This weekend event offers something for everyone; entertainment on the FOX 4 community stage and KLUV main stage, Saturday evening spectacular fireworks show, special kids activities, sky divers, an enormous variety of food to tempt your taste buds, merchandise and handmade products showcased, and of course the incredible hot air balloons. The balloons will launch Friday at 6:00pm, Saturday at 7:00am and 6:00pm, and Sunday at 7:00am and 6:00pm (weather permitting).

Dallas Salsa Dance Festival

When: September 22-25, 2016
Where: Holiday Inn Dallas-Richardson Hotel
What: Celebrating 10 years of Salsa Music and Dancing. International Performers:
Ataca y La Alemana, Griselle Ponce, Carine & Rafael, Alma Latina, Majesty in Motion, Santo Rico, Jayson Molina, Adrian Arellano, Salsa y Control and many more. Salsa Dallas Promotions in Dallas, TX. is an organization comprised of area merchants and property owners striving to revive the Salsa Music/Salsa Dance Shows. The Dallas Salsa Congress is a multicultural, family-friendly entertainment and open to everyone age 10 and up.

Dallas Fort Worth Japanese Festival

When: September 26, 2016
Where: Dallas Japanese Association
What: The Japanese Fall Festival in Dallas, Texas, is a beautiful celebration of Japanese culture, cuisine and entertainment. Watch exciting martial arts demonstrations, sample authentic culinary creations and listen to traditional taiko drumming and live music.

State Fair of Texas

When: September 30 – October 23, 2016
Where: Fair Park
What: If you enjoy the traditional fair atmosphere of carnival rides, livestock shows, live music and fried food, the State Fair of Texas is for you! The fair begins the end of September and runs for 24 straight days with a long list of attractions. It remains the only fair in the country to host an auto show, complete with a test drive track. The State Fair of Texas is also known for its unique fried food selection including deep fried oreos, twinkies and peanut butter among others. Live music comes from approximately 85 different performances over the 24 day fair period. There are 17 shopping areas at various locations throughout the fair featuring electronics, household products, agriculture products, clothing, travel, children’s toy, food, health and beauty and unique handmade arts and crafts. Big Tex has been the fair mascot since 1952. Standing 55 feet tall at the entrance, he greets visitors with a ‘Howdy, folks’ in his well recognized southern drawl. Gates open at 10 a.m. daily until 9 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays. Friday and Saturday night it is open until 10 p.m.

October Festivals and Events:

Dallas VideoFest

When: October 12-18, 2016
Where: Multiple locations in Dallas
What: The 29th Annual Dallas VideoFest will host approximately 125 screenings of local, regional and internationally produced media art programs. The festival specializes in independent, alternative, and non-commercial media, presenting hard-to-find works rarely seen on television, in movie theaters, or elsewhere. You’ll see experimental video, documentaries, shorts, feature length films and animation. VideoFest will include panel discussions, and displays of new technology, as well as provide professional development and collaborative opportunities for attendees and artists.

Women in Film Dallas Chick Flicks Festival

When: October 19, 2016
Where: Angelika Film Center (5321 E Mockingbird Ln #230)
What: Chick Flicks Festival is a short film competition for female filmmakers from around the country. While you do have to be a chick to enter your film, anyone can enjoy the rich creativity and variety that this festival has to offer. The event raises money for scholarships that help women who are in school or entering the film industry.

So What?! Music Festival

When: October 21-23, 2016
Where: Multiple Locations in Deep Ellum
What: So What?! Music Festival was originally established as a way for music lovers in Dallas to see performances by dozens of bands headed to SXSW, but for one low ticket price, turning “SXSW” into “South By So What.” The addition of a fall lineup brings tons of great bands to the Dallas area for a second time each year. The festival always boasts an eclectic lineup spanning genres like metal, indie rock, hip-hop, electronic, and more. The festival takes place at multiple venues inside Deep Ellum. Participating venues include: The Door, The Prophet Bar, Three Links, Club Dada, Curtain Club and Liquid Lounge.

Arlington Medieval Arts Festival

When: October 22, 2016
Where: George W. Hawkes Central Library (101 E Abram St., Arlington, TX 76010)
What: Experience the Middle Ages as history comes to life at the Arlington Public Library’s 12th annual Medieval Arts Festival! Fascinating exhibits of medieval arts and sciences will be on display. Live demonstrations of ancient weaponry will be conducted by costumed members of the Society for Creative Anachronism, an international organization dedicated to researching and re-creating the arts and skills of the Middle Ages. Festivities will be held on the grounds and inside the library and will include stories, games and crafts for children. Those in attendance at the Festival will be eligible for a drawing for prizes donated by Theatre Arlington, Scarborough Renaissance Festival and Medieval Times. This event is entertaining and educational for the whole family. Come join us and celebrate autumn in medieval style!  Admission is free.

Huffhines Art Trails

When: October 22-23, 2016
Where: Huffhines Park (1500 Apollo Rd, Richardson, TX 75081)
What: Huffhines Art Trails was created to provide local artists and craftsmen a venue to promote and sell their work. The show has grown since its humble beginnings to become one of the best arts and crafts shows in North Texas! Patrons will find a variety of Contemporary Crafts, Traditional Crafts, and Art in mediums that range from painting to pottery to glass to wood work to jewelry and even hand work.

Dallas Bachata Festival

When: October 27-30, 2016
Where: Sheraton DFW Airport Hotel (4440 W John Carpenter Fwy)
What: The Dallas Bachata Festival is an opportunity to learn about and participate in several different forms of Latin dance. In addition to various styles of Bachata, guests can get acquainted with Salsa, Kizomba and other dances under the helpful and gentle guidance of seasoned instructors. With numerous workshops and lots of activity, the festival is sure to be a fun and sensual occasion. 

Dallas Food Truck Palooza

When: October 30, 2016
Where: Temple Shalom
What: Dallas Food Truck Paloozaâ„¢ & Music Festival is one of the best Family Friendly Festivals in Dallas. Enjoy great food from up to 18 North Texas premier food trucks, including Nammi, Easy Sliders, Gandolfo’s and more. Sit under the shade at one of our many tables and enjoy music all day from local musicians and high school bands. Bring your kids to play in one of the largest Kids Zones in North Texas. This year we have four large bounce structures, professional face painters, a photo booth wagon, balloon creations and other fun activities – ALL INCLUDED IN THE ADMISSION PRICE!

There you have it! This has been our guide to Dallas fall festivals for 2016! What festivals and events are you most looking forward to in coming months? Let us know in the comment section below! As always, stay tuned to our blog for all things eat, shop and play around Dallas.

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