At some point, the weather will start to cool off (right?), and we’ll all settle into our fall festival groove. Here are some events to look forward to. Check event websites for COVID-19 protocols and potential schedule changes or cancellations, and see Guide each week for additional festivals throughout autumn.
Riverfront Jazz Festival
Dallas native Erykah Badu headlines the Black Academy of Arts and Letters’ fourth annual three-day music fest featuring live jazz, R&B, soul, blues and neo-soul performances. The 25-artist lineup includes Con Funk Shun, Eddie Palmieri, Terence Blanchard and members of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, Jeffrey Osborne, the S.O.S. Band, Peabo Bryson, Keiko Matsui and Dwele. Nightly after-party sets will be held at four downtown Dallas hotels from 10:30 p.m. to 1 a.m. The festival’s COVID-19 protocols include temperature checks at the entrance and mandatory masks for attendees and vendors. Coronavirus testing will be available at all main entrances, and Pfizer vaccine shots will be offered on-site on Sept. 4-5 from 1 to 5 p.m. through a partnership with Parkland Health and Hospital System.
Sept. 3-5 at the Black Academy of Arts and Letters, 1309 Canton St., Dallas. $59 for single-day admission, $119 for weekend passes.
Westfest
Pile in the car and take a day trip about an hour south of Dallas to the city of West for this annual event, held every Labor Day weekend. The fundraising festival pays tribute to the area’s Czech heritage and has raised money for community initiatives since its founding in 1976.
Vendors will sell Czech foods like sweet and savory kolaches and the beer bread sandwich with sausage and sauerkraut, plus fair favorites like corn dogs and kettle corn. The shopping pavilion will feature handmade crafts and quilts, clothing, antiques, home decor, art and more. Plus, there will be face painting, blacksmith demonstrations, a carnival with rides and games, contests like the Kolache 5K Challenge and a cornhole tournament, a parade and a polka Mass.
Live music includes performances by country artist Randall King, Waco rock band Huser Brother Band and blues-rock musician Oliver Penn on Sept. 3. Festivalgoers can dance to plenty of polka bands, including Brave Combo, performing at multiple pavilions on Sept. 4 and 5. Tejano musician Sunny Sauceda and country singer-songwriter Gary P. Nunn will close out the fest on Sept. 5.
Sept. 3-5 at 1110 S. Main St., West. $10-$15 per day for adults, $1-$5 for kids 6-12. $5 parking each day.
Labor Day Weekend Festival
Spend a day or make it a weekend getaway in Granbury, a place with a big small-town feel about an hour southwest of Fort Worth. The annual fest features street vendors and sidewalk sales by the shops around the downtown square. Many stores will have extended hours throughout the weekend. If you’re staying in town for a mini vacation, don’t miss out on Lake Granbury’s fun water activities. Put your own spin on your favorite tunes at karaoke on Sept. 3, or jam out with the Jimmy Buffett tribute band Lost Shaker of Salt on Sept. 4. On Sept. 5, the Little Pirates Bike Parade will begin at 2 p.m., and a lighted boat parade will begin at dusk, around 8:15 p.m.
Sept. 3-6 at Granbury Square Plaza, 201 E. Pearl St., Granbury. Free admission.
Tejano Music Fest
Dallas online radio station Tejano to the Bone presents a free family event at Traders Village featuring live music by the Homeboyz, Shelly Lares, Houston-based group Avizo and singer Bobby Pulido. The music begins at 11 a.m. under the Blue Expo tent. In between sets, shop at the 120-acre flea market, where more than 3,500 dealers sell goods every weekend.
The venue also features an amusement park with rides for all ages, from the Fleafall, a 128-foot vertical drop that reaches over 45 mph, and the Village Vortex, a giant looping coaster, to a hand-painted carousel and a playground called the Rumpus Room. You can pay $2.99 per ride, or $13.99 for a wristband that gets you unlimited access to all rides.
Sept. 5 at Traders Village, 2602 Mayfield Road, Grand Prairie. Free admission. $5 parking.
Oak Cliff Flamenco Festival
This annual dance festival hosted by Flamenco Fever celebrates all things dance over a six-day period. All are invited to the artist welcome dinner on Sept. 6 at 8 p.m. at Spanish restaurant Cafe Madrid on Travis Street in the Knox-Henderson neighborhood; reservations are recommended. A free movie night will be held Sept. 8 in the Bishop Arts District, and the Bishop Arts Barrage music event will take place Sept. 9 at the Laughing Willow.
Ticketed events include Flamenco Lec Demo ($10) on Sept. 7 at the Free Man Cajun Cafe and Lounge on Commerce Street and the musicians showcase ($20) on Sept. 10 at the Latino Cultural Center on Live Oak Street. A grand finale event with an all-star cast of dancers and musicians from around the world will close out the festival on Sept. 11 at 8 p.m. at the Majestic Theatre in downtown Dallas. Tickets to this seated event are $29.23-$78.12.
Sept. 6-11 at various locations in and around downtown Dallas. Prices vary. See facebook.com/OakCliffFlamencoFestival/events for a full list of events, and prekindle.com/events/flamencofever for tickets.
Deep Ellum Arts Festival
More than 200 juried decorative and visual artists will sell and commission original works, and 100 musical acts will perform across eight stages. The fest requests that everyone wear masks throughout the grounds. There will also be a clinic offering free COVID-19 vaccinations and tests on Sept. 11-12.
Sept. 10-12 at 2900-3600 Main St., Dallas. Free admission.
Dallas Observer Brewfest and The Morning After
Begin a boozy weekend with the 11th annual BrewFest, featuring samples from more than 100 local, international and craft beers. Then celebrate Sunday Funday with bottomless bites from Dallas brunch spots, plus six drink tickets to finish the weekend off strong.
Sept. 11-12 at the Dallas Farmers Market, 920 S. Harwood St., Dallas. $42 for Brewfest, $45 for brunch; $76 for both events.
Grapefest: A Texas Wine Experience
The 35th annual wine experience in Grapevine features local, national and international wines, plus a consumer-judged wine competition, the GrapeStomp event on Sept. 18, live music and entertainment, a carnival midway and shopping. The ItalianCarFest event will be held Sept. 11 at Nash Farm, 626 Ball St. in Grapevine.
Sept. 16-19 along Main Street in downtown Grapevine; check the website for parking lot and shuttle locations. Free admission Sept. 16; $10 admission per day ($5 for seniors and kids 6-12) Sept. 17-19; $25 weekend passes.
Oktoberfest Events
The original Oktoberfest in Munich is canceled this year, but North Texas events celebrating the German folk festival are still on. Expect beer, traditional German foods, music and activities at these fall fests.
Addison Oktoberfest: Sept. 16-19 at Addison Circle Park, 4970 Addison Circle. $10 for adults, free for kids 9 and younger.
McKinney: Sept. 24-26 in Historic Downtown McKinney, 111 N. Tennessee St. Free admission.
Dallas: Oct. 2 at Flag Pole Hill Park, 8015 Doran Circle. $15.
Southlake: Oct. 15-17 at Southlake Town Square, 285 Grand Ave. Free admission.
Latino Heritage Festival
The city of DeSoto kicks off Hispanic Heritage Month with live music by local and national Latin recording artists, food vendors, shopping and family activities.
Sept. 18 at the amphitheater at DeSoto Recreation Center, 211 E. Pleasant Run Road, DeSoto. Free admission.
Denton Blues Festival
The Denton Black Chamber of Commerce presents the 23rd annual event featuring live blues music by artists like Mr. Sipp, Rockin’ Dopsie Jr. and Mike Zito, along with family activities, shopping and food vendors. Attendees are encouraged to take their own lawn chair or blanket.
Sept. 18-19 at Quakertown Park, 321 E. McKinney St., Denton. Free admission. dentonblackchamberonline.org.
Autumn at the Arboretum
The theme this year for the arboretum’s 16th annual fall festival is Bugtopia, and it will feature the highly decorated Pumpkin Village and other artistic displays featuring 90,000 pumpkins.
Sept. 18-Oct. 31 at the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden, 8525 Garland Road, Dallas. Tickets must be reserved in advance. $17 for adults, $14 for seniors 65 and up, $12 for children 2-12, free for children younger than 2. Entrance to the Rory Meyers Children’s Adventure Garden is $3 extra. $15 for parking or $10 if bought online in advance.
Western Days
The annual country music event in Lewisville features live music, vendors, a tamale eating contest, children’s activities, professional cooking demonstrations and a car show.
Sept. 24-25 at 150 W. Church St. in Old Town Lewisville. Free until 7 p.m. both days; $15 admission after 7 p.m.
Art in the Square
The annual family festival in Southlake features visual artists, food vendors, live entertainment and children’s activities like a play zone, face painting and sugar art. All proceeds benefit community organizations.
Sept. 24-26 at Southlake Town Square, 285 Grand Ave., Southlake. Free admission.
State Fair of Texas
The fair is back after being canceled in 2020. Plan a day out to enjoy classic fair foods, carnival rides, auto shows, farm animals, live music, cooking demonstrations and rodeo events.
Sept. 24-Oct. 17 at Fair Park, 3809 Grand Ave., Dallas. $10-$25 daily admission; season passes start at $50.
Murphy Maize Days
The 12th annual festival includes a petting zoo, pet adoptions, pumpkin launching, a kids’ zone, a car show, shopping, fireworks and live music by the Blue Hat Band and cover band the British Invasion.
Sept. 25 from noon to 9:45 p.m. at Murphy Central, 550 N. Murphy Road, Murphy. Free admission.
Wings Over Dallas
The World War II air show returns to Dallas this year with living history exhibits and activities, airplane rides, military vehicles, veteran guest speakers and a family activity area.
Oct. 29-31 at Dallas Executive Airport, 5303 Challenger Drive, Dallas. $20 per day for adults, with discounts for military, students and youth.
Festival at the Switchyard
The city of Carrollton’s annual fest features live music by bands like Blue October and Dishwalla, fried foods, shopping and children’s activities.
Nov. 6 from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. at 1106 S. Broadway St. in historic downtown Carrollton. Free admission.
