Arts, Culture, Recreation in the Dallas Texas Area | What’s happening in Dallas

FEATURED EVENTS

Autumn at the Arboretum

September 19 – November 1, 2026. Every autumn, the gardens come alive with one of Dallas’s most beloved seasonal traditions. More than 100,000 pumpkins, gourds, and squash fill the garden and this year, the Pumpkin Village embraces the theme Harvest Hues, reimagined through the lens of modern and contemporary artists including Basquiat, Rothko, Bourgeois, Mondrian, Escher, and Pollock.
Dates: 
10/01/2026
10/02/2026
10/03/2026
9 am- 5 pm
Location: 
McCasland Sunken Garden, 8525 Garland Road, Dallas, Dallas, TX 75218, United States
See map: Google Maps
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October Movie Nights

Five Friday nights. Five classics of horror, camp, and the supernatural. Downtown Dallas, Inc. brings an outdoor movie series to Harwood Park this October — a Halloween countdown spanning four decades of spooky cinema, from an early '80s haunted house to a modern nightmare, with a movie double feature (October 23) for good measure.
Dates: 
10/02/2026
10/09/2026
10/16/2026
7 pm
Location: 
Harwood Park, South Harwood Street, Dallas, TX, USA
See map: Google Maps
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Cottonwood Art Festival

From its humble beginnings in 1969, the Cottonwood Art Festival has developed into one of the most prestigious fine art festivals in the United States. Local artists staged their first festival at the scenic Cottonwood Park in Richardson, Texas. It was all tie-dye, bell-bottoms and braids back then where the artists laid down blankets and set up easels with the hopes of selling a few pieces of art. Since that first weekend nearly five decades later, Cottonwood has established itself as signature art event, become a tradition in the community and the home to the finest artists in the country for the first weekend of May and October.
Dates: 
10/03/2026
10/04/2026
Sat. 10a-7p, Sun. 10a-5p
Location: 
Cottonwood Park, West Belt Line Road, Richardson, TX, USA
See map: Google Maps
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Viva Cultura!

Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month in style at Viva Cultura, happening Friday, October 2, from 6:00-9:00pm in Downtown Rowlett. This vibrant evening is packed with authentic culinary flavors, an artisan Latin market, and performances that showcase the rich culture and traditions of the community — from mariachi and folklórico dance to live Tejano music. Come hungry, come curious, and come ready to celebrate.
Dates: 
10/02/2026
6-9 pm
Location: 
Downtown Rowlett
See map: Google Maps
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Frisco Oktoberfest

Raise your steins and get ready to PROST! Frisco Oktoberfest is back for its 7th annual celebration! Join us at The Star in Frisco for a full day of festive fun, featuring authentic German cuisine, traditional Oktoberfest games, stein-hoisting contests, live music, and plenty of ice-cold Oktoberfest bier. Join us for a full day of festive fun! PROST!
Dates: 
10/03/2026
11 am-9 pm
Location: 
The Star in Frisco, Cowboys Way, Frisco, TX, USA
See map: Google Maps
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