Ready for sweater weather, Fort Worth? From pumpkin patches and corn mazes to apple picking and German beer celebrations, fall is one of our favorite seasons in Cowtown.
Get ready to come alive — or play dead at a fall-tastic haunted house like Cutting Edge — with this guide featuring 30+ fall events happening now through November.
Cultural happenings
¡Celebramos!, Fort Worth Botanic Garden
The festival will celebrate Latin American culture and heritage on select days through Sunday, Oct. 24 with live performances, exhibitions, food, and shopping experiences — and 46,000 marigolds.
Tarrant County Harambee Festival, William M. McDonald YMCA
Harambee, a Swahili word meaning “all pull together,” will feature two days of events starting with a Chicken & Seafood Blues Fest on Friday, Oct. 4. The family-friendly celebration will include street food, performances, and vendors.
Fall Japanese Festival, Fort Worth Botanic Garden
Take in the vibrant colors of the Japanese Garden on Saturday, Nov. 2 and Sunday, Nov. 3 + enjoy Taiko drummers, Japanese swordsmanship, tea ceremonies, and more.
Día de los Muertos Parade, Marine Park
Mark your calendar for a parade, mariachis, folklorico dances, and costumes in a festival hosted by Artes de la Rosa on Saturday, Nov. 2.
Art-y parties
CERA Art Festival, CERA Recreational Facility
Peruse original works at this indoor festival on Saturday, Oct. 12 + Sunday, Oct. 13.
ArtsGoggle, Near Southside
The free, family-friendly art festival will return on Saturday, Oct. 19 on Magnolia Avenue with 750+ artists, 20 bands, artistic displays, and food vendors.
Art Worth, The Shops at Clearfork
The third annual art festival will take place Friday, Oct. 25-Sunday, Oct. 27 with an impressive collection of cultural resources, art, food, libations, and live music.
Music must-do
Shaq’s Bass All-Stars Festival, Panther Island Pavilion
NBA Hall of Famer Shaquille O’Neal brings his electronic music festival back to Cowtown on Saturday, Nov. 16 with 17 entertainers across two stages. The curated lineup includes Dion Timmer, Dirt Monkey, Peekaboo, and DJ Diesel, himself — to name a few.
Fall After Hours, Fort Worth Botanic Garden
Spend Friday night on October 11 and November 8 under the stars. Sip a seasonal cocktail while listening to performances from local musicians.
Food-focused fairs
Oktoberfest, Trinity Park
Celebrate German culture during the three-day festival beginning Thursday, Sept. 26 with beer, Bavarian food, shopping, family-friendly entertainment, and the highly anticipated Dachshund Dash.
Fort Worth EATZ Food Fest, Trinity Park
Eat your way through the festival — don’t forget to stop at the Frozen Margarita Garden — and groove to the drumline battle between Grambling State University and Prairie View A&M on Sunday, Sept. 29.
State Fair of Texas, Fair Park, Dallas
Known to be the longest-running fair in the nation, this year’s festival will run from Friday, Sept. 27 to Sunday, Oct. 20. Guests can expect new attractions like circus acts, fried food delicacies, butter sculptures, thrilling rides, and so much more.
Fort Worth Greek Festival, St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church
Mark your calendar for Friday, Nov. 8-Sunday, Nov. 10 to chow down on all the moussaka, spanakopita, and bakalava you can eat while watching dances.
The Cutting Edge ghoul will grace the skyline once again.
Photo by @_jrh79
Haunted houses
Cutting Edge Haunted House, Lancaster Avenue
Voted USA Today’s “Best Haunted Attraction” in 2021, thrill seekers can experience many jump scares in this 55-minute terrifying tour of the historic meat-packing facility on 18 different dates through Friday, Nov. 2
Six Flags Fright Fest, Arlington
Scream through the amusement park with eight haunted houses, 12 shows, four scare zones, and rides in the dark now through from Friday, Sept. 13-Sunday, Nov. 3.
Hangman’s House of Horror, Blue Mound Road
For its 36th season, Hangman’s features the legend of Hezekiah Jones — an 1882 serial killer who prowled the Trinity River — an interactive horror photo exhibit, and zombies that jump out at you. Be scared every Friday-Sunday from September 27 to November 2 + the full week of Halloween.
Moxley Manor Haunted House, Bedford
Explore three haunted houses — including the 3D Haunted House Big Top Terror and Regans Revenge — with one ticket during 19 dates from Friday, Sept. 27 to Halloween. Moxley Manor is inspired by a real-life massacre that occurred in the 1920s.
The real question — what are you wearing for your fall family photos at Hall’s Pumpkin Farm?
Photo by @girlinchief
Pumpkin patches
Mainstay Farm, Cleburne
Take a ride on the Ferris wheel, pet the farm animals, find your way through the corn maze, and take seasonal photos in front of the pumpkin house or new World of Pumpkins display through Sunday, Nov. 3.
Pumpkin Nights at Howell Farms, Arlington
The interactive pumpkin patch features a walk-through pumpkin tunnel, elaborate displays, and 5,000 hand-carved real and synthetic pumpkins through Halloween.
Hall’s Pumpkin Farm and Corn Maze, Grapevine
Opening Friday, Oct. 4, the working farm lets guests pick pumpkins off the vine + features a two-acre maze of corn stalks and a petting zoo for the kids.
Pumpkinfest, Grapevine
Grab your boots for a Halloween-themed hike on the Meadowmere Park Trail and enjoy other fall activities like a pumpkin patch, singing pumpkins, and photo ops from Friday, Oct. 4 to Sunday, Oct. 20.
Trick-or-treating
Trick or Trot, Alice Walton Cowgirl Park
The National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame is hosting its second free Trick or Trot event on Saturday, Oct. 12 with food trucks, games and crafts, face painting, costume contests, and candy stations.
Ick-or-Treat, Fort Worth Museum of Science and History
Bring the kiddos for creepy-crawly fun with hands-on spooky activities on Saturday, Oct. 19.
NB Motors Truck or Treat, New Beginning Motors
Join the sixth annual event with games, a cake walk, raffles, and treat stations on Sunday, Oct. 20. The theme of this year’s event is “Toy Story.”
Boo at the Zoo, Fort Worth Zoo
Trick-or-treat through the exhibits, enjoy live entertainment, and learn some monstrous animal facts in this not-so-frightening family event from Friday, Oct. 25 to Sunday, Oct. 27.
You won’t look silly. We promise.
Photo courtesy of @theshopsatclearfork
Racing through fall
Rock of Ages Run, Farrington Field parking lot
Rock your way through a 5K, 10K, or half marathon to the beat of music that will be played along the course. Plus, chow down on post-race pancakes on Saturday, Sept. 21.
More Than Pink Walk, The Shops at Clearfork
Join the Susan G. Komen Foundation in raising money for a cure for breast cancer on Saturday, Oct. 5.
Tunnel to Towers, Stockyards
Carry forward the legacy and courage after 9/11 and support the nation’s fallen and injured first responders, military heroes, and their families on Saturday, Oct. 12.
John Wayne Grit Series, Stockyards
The 5K course starts at John Wayne: An American Experience and travels along the Trinity Trail. The Saturday, Nov. 9 race benefits the John Wayne Cancer Foundation.
Fort Worth Marathon, Farrington Field
On Sunday, Nov. 10, run along the Trinity River and back to Panther Island Pavilion during the marathon relay, 20-mile run, half marathon, or 5K course with food trucks, hot showers, and music. The race raises funds to fight childhood obesity in the Tarrant County area.
Pumpkin Spice Half Marathon, 5K, + 10K, Panther Island Pavilion
Cruise along the Trinity River during a variety of races + enjoy pumpkin spice coffee, hot chocolate, beer, and music after the race on Saturday, Nov. 23. Proceeds benefit various North Texas organizations including Animal Rescue Crusaders of North Texas, Hands of Hope, and Girls on the Run DFW.
Fort Worth YMCA Turkey Trot, The Shops at Clearfork
The annual Thanksgiving race runs along the Clearfork trail with 1K, 5K, and 10K courses on Thursday, Nov. 28. Proceeds support programs at The Y including childcare, water safety lessons, summer camp, and youth sports.
