Halloween in North Texas: Family Fun, Fall Festivals & Spooky Adventures for 2026

Halloween in North Texas is about a lot more than October 31.

Once September rolls around, communities across the Dallas-Fort Worth area start filling up with pumpkin patches, fall festivals, trick-or-treat events, costume contests, haunted attractions and plenty of creative ways to celebrate the season.

And if you live in Mansfield, Texas, Arlington, Texas, Midlothian, Texas or one of the surrounding North Texas communities, you don't have to go far to find something fun to do.

Whether you have little ones who are excited about dressing up, teenagers looking for a scare or adults who want a night out, there's something on the calendar for just about everyone.

Here are some of the Halloween and fall activities worth putting on your calendar for 2026.

Halloween Fun Close to Home

Arlington, Texas: Fright Fest

If you're looking for something bigger and a little more intense, Fright Fest at Six Flags Over Texas runs September 11 through November 1.

The park transforms for the Halloween season with haunted attractions, spooky entertainment, monsters and thrilling rides on select nights.

It's definitely one for the Halloween fans who like their fall festivities with a little extra adrenaline.

Mansfield, Texas: Haunt the Block

Mansfield's Historic Downtown is getting into the Halloween spirit with Haunt the Block on October 15.

The family-friendly event will include treats, vendors, activities and plenty of spooky attractions throughout downtown.

If you live in Mansfield, Texas, this is one of those local events that makes it easy to celebrate Halloween without turning it into a major road trip.

Mansfield, Texas: Crawl the Block

Then on October 16, Historic Downtown Mansfield keeps the Halloween fun going with Crawl the Block.

This one has a different vibe, with a trolley taking costumed participants around to local spots downtown. So grab some friends, put together a costume and make a night of it.

It's a fun example of how Halloween celebrations don't always have to be centered around kids.

Midlothian, Texas: Shadow Creek Pumpkin Farm

For a more traditional fall experience, Shadow Creek Pumpkin Farm in Midlothian, Texas, is open during September and October.

You can pick out pumpkins, enjoy seasonal activities and spend some time soaking up the fall atmosphere with the family.

If your ideal Halloween season involves pumpkins, fall photos and a little less “scary,” this is the kind of activity to add to the list.

A Few More Family-Friendly Halloween Events

If you're willing to venture a little farther, there are plenty of other community celebrations happening around DFW.

Scare on the Square in Cedar Hill takes place October 29 and includes trick-or-treating, entertainment, photo opportunities and plenty of candy.

Eerie Irving takes place October 24 with Halloween-themed entertainment and family activities. Irving also has a Fall Carnival on October 31 at Lee Park Recreation Center with carnival games and family fun.

In Fort Worth, Boo at the Zoo runs October 23–25 and combines Halloween activities with the Fort Worth Zoo, including trick-or-treat stations and entertainment.

And if you want something a little different, Haunted Camp Out in Keller takes place October 24–25. Families can decorate their tents, participate in a costume contest, roast s'mores and go trick-or-treating.

Don't Forget the Pumpkin Patches

Halloween doesn't have to mean costumes and candy.

For many North Texas families, pumpkin patches are just as much a part of the season.

A few options around the area include:

• Mainstay Farm Pumpkin Fall Days – Cleburne: September 20–November 7, with pumpkins, hayrides, games, photo opportunities and more than 30 family-friendly attractions.

• Autumn at the Arboretum – Dallas: September 19–November 1, featuring more than 100,000 pumpkins, gourds and squash.

• Hall's Pumpkin Farm & Corn Maze – Grapevine: October 2–November 1, with pumpkin picking, a corn maze, hayrides and traditional fall activities.

• Pumpkin Patch at Sunset Trail Farm – McKinney: September 25–November 8, with pumpkins, food, games and family-friendly activities.

• Blase Family Farm – Rockwall: September 19–November 1, featuring pumpkins, hayrides, a petting zoo and hay maze.

These are especially good options if you're looking for a fall outing that doesn't revolve around being scared.

Want Something Actually Scary?

Of course, some people come to Halloween specifically for the scares.

North Texas has no shortage of haunted attractions.

Moxley Manor Haunted Attraction in Bedford offers elaborate sets, frightening characters and plenty of scares on select October dates.

In Fort Worth, Cutting Edge Haunted House is open on select dates in September and October and is known for elaborate sets, special effects and terrifying characters.

Dark Hour Haunted House in Plano runs September 19 through November 13 with elaborate sets, creatures, animatronics and plenty of jump scares.

And in Denton, Outbreak at the Parker House runs throughout October for those looking for a more immersive haunted-house experience.

Just remember: these aren't necessarily the events I'd recommend for younger children!

Halloween Doesn't Have to Be on Halloween

One of my favorite things about the North Texas Halloween season is that you don't have to cram everything into one night.

There are events happening throughout September and October, which means you can spread the fun out.

Go to a pumpkin patch early in the season.

Visit a fall festival in October.

Take the kids trick-or-treating at a community event.

Then save October 31 for costumes, candy and the neighborhood tradition.

Or skip the traditional Halloween night altogether and plan an adults-only evening.

For example, the Witches' Brew Train in Grapevine runs October 30 and 31 at 7:40 PM and is specifically for adults age 21 and over, with craft brews and spooky entertainment.

Make a North Texas Halloween Bucket List

One of the best things about living in this area is the variety.

You can spend one weekend picking pumpkins in Midlothian, Texas, another enjoying a community event in Mansfield, Texas, and another exploring one of the larger Halloween attractions around DFW.

You don't have to travel hours to find something different to do.

And that's one of the things I love about living and working in North Texas. There is always another local event, festival, restaurant, neighborhood or community to discover.

The Bottom Line

Whether your perfect Halloween involves pumpkins and hayrides, trick-or-treating and costumes, haunted houses and jump scares, or a night out with friends, there are plenty of ways to enjoy the season around North Texas.

And if you're new to the area, this is also a fun way to get to know the communities around you.

Looking for more ways to enjoy life in Mansfield, Arlington, Midlothian and the surrounding North Texas communities? Reach out to me, Stephanie Deeds, and let's talk about what makes the area such a great place to call home.

A Note Before You Go

Event dates, times, admission requirements and activities can change. Always check the event organizer's website before heading out, especially for weather-related changes, ticket requirements and age restrictions.