Family Weekend Guide

Dallas–Fort Worth family weekend: Friday, October 16 – Sunday, October 18

113 events for the weekend of Oct 16–18, with 109 free and 110 indoors.

Age
Area
Cost
Weather
Days (pick any)

Top picks this weekend

Big outings first: festivals, farms, shows and attractions, mixing free and paid, for a range of ages.

Sat, Oct 17 · 6pm–10pm

Halloween at the Heard

Heard Natural Science Museum & Wildlife Sanctuary — McKinney · Collin Co. · North suburbs

Evening Halloween event at the Heard's nature preserve and museum.

  • Ages 0-2
  • Ages 3-5
  • Ages 6-10
  • 11+
  • Big outing
  • Cost not listed

See the Heard's site for tickets and age guidance.

Details at Heard Museum ↗
Oct 16 – Nov 1

Autumn at the Arboretum

Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden — Dallas · Dallas Co. · Dallas

The Arboretum's famous fall display of pumpkins and harvest color, plus the Children's Adventure Garden.

  • Ages 0-2
  • Ages 3-5
  • Ages 6-10
  • 11+
  • Big outing
  • Paid: Garden admission; see site

Sept 19 – Nov 1.

Details at Dallas Arboretum ↗
Oct 16 – Oct 18 · 10am

State Fair of Texas (final weekend)

Fair Park — Dallas · Dallas Co. · Dallas

The State Fair of Texas wraps up its 2026 run with rides, a petting zoo, Little Lone Stars Land and fair food.

  • Ages 0-2
  • Ages 3-5
  • Ages 6-10
  • 11+
  • Big outing
  • Paid: Daily tickets; see site

Runs Sept 25 – Oct 18. Hours 10am–10pm Fri–Sat, 10am–9pm Sun (per the fair FAQ).

Details at State Fair of Texas ↗

Museums, gardens & more

Library storytimes & programs (109, free)

From Dallas, Fort Worth, Plano and Denton public libraries. Some need registration; check the library page.

Friday, Oct 16

9:30amBaby Basics · Preston Royal Branch, Dallas 0-2 · 3-5 · Free
10:30amBaby Story Time · Vivian J. Lincoln Library, Fort Worth 0-2 · Free
10:30amFamily Story Time · Clifford Crossing Library, Fort Worth 0-2 · 3-5 · 6-10 · 11+ · Free
10:30amToddler Storytime · Bookmarks in NorthPark Center, Dallas 0-2 · 3-5 · Free
11amStory Time · North Branch Library, Denton 6-10 · Free
3pmFive Senses · Haggard Library, Plano 0-2 · 3-5 · 6-10 · 11+ · Free
3pmGuitar Class · Hampton-Illinois Branch, Dallas 0-2 · 3-5 · 6-10 · 11+ · Free
3:30pmPokemon Club · Vickery Park Branch, Dallas 6-10 · Free
4pmBrain Break · North Branch Library, Denton 11+ · Free
4pmTeen Gaming Club · Diamond Hill/Jarvis Library, Fort Worth 6-10 · 11+ · Free
4pmViolin Class · Hampton-Illinois Branch, Dallas 0-2 · 3-5 · 6-10 · 11+ · Free
5pmAnime Club · Northwest Library, Fort Worth 6-10 · 11+ · Free

Saturday, Oct 17

10amHaunted Hike · Mountain Creek Branch, Dallas 0-2 · 3-5 · 6-10 · 11+ · Free
10amKeyboard Class · J. Erik Jonsson Central Library, Dallas 0-2 · 3-5 · 6-10 · 11+ · Free
10:30amBeginner Banjo · Golden Triangle Library, Fort Worth 0-2 · 3-5 · 6-10 · 11+ · Free
10:30amBlock Party · Preston Royal Branch, Dallas 0-2 · 3-5 · Free
10:30amFamily Story Time · Reby Cary Youth Library, Fort Worth 0-2 · 3-5 · 6-10 · 11+ · Free
10:30amFamily Story Time · Southwest Regional Library, Fort Worth 0-2 · 3-5 · 6-10 · 11+ · Free
10:30amFamily Storytime · Parr Library, Plano 0-2 · 3-5 · 6-10 · 11+ · Free
10:30amRead to Rover · South Branch Library, Denton 6-10 · Free
10:30amStory Bites · Summerglen Library, Fort Worth 6-10 · Free
11:30amToddler Towers · Vivian J. Lincoln Library, Fort Worth 0-2 · Free
12pmUkulele Basics · Golden Triangle Library, Fort Worth 0-2 · 3-5 · 6-10 · 11+ · Free
1pmFall Fest · Lochwood Branch, Dallas 0-2 · 3-5 · 6-10 · 11+ · Free
1pmKeyboard Class · J. Erik Jonsson Central Library, Dallas 0-2 · 3-5 · 6-10 · 11+ · Free
1:30pmGuitar Basics · Golden Triangle Library, Fort Worth 0-2 · 3-5 · 6-10 · 11+ · Free
2pmBot Builders · Summerglen Library, Fort Worth 6-10 · 11+ · Free
2pmGuitar Class · J. Erik Jonsson Central Library, Dallas 0-2 · 3-5 · 6-10 · 11+ · Free
2pmPaws and Pages · Dallas West Branch, Dallas 0-2 · 3-5 · 6-10 · 11+ · Free
2pmSpace Rocks! · Vivian J. Lincoln Library, Fort Worth 0-2 · 3-5 · 6-10 · 11+ · Free
3pmViolin Class · J. Erik Jonsson Central Library, Dallas 0-2 · 3-5 · 6-10 · 11+ · Free
4pmPokémon Club · Reby Cary Youth Library, Fort Worth 6-10 · Free

Sunday, Oct 18

1pmBoard Games · Bachman Lake Branch, Dallas 6-10 · Free
3pmSpooky Sundays! · J. Erik Jonsson Central Library, Dallas 6-10 · Free