Our friends at McDonald’s sponsored this edition of “Around Cowtown.” McDonald’s is hosting a series of Lunch Bunch dates for FWMB readers — that include FREE stuff! Be sure to check out next month’s “Around Cowtown” so you don’t miss the next Lunch Bunch event from 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, November 3. Attendees will be able to sample McCafè fall flights and learn about classics drinks and seasonal selections. This event will also feature family-friendly activities — including balloon twisters, a fall photo-booth, and more! Join us at McDonald’s to learn more about their fall flavors, while mixing and mingling with fellow moms and dads! We can’t wait to have lunch with YOU.
The season is here for fall festivals, the state fair, all things pumpkin, and free — and SAFE — after-dark trick-or-treating! The Fort Worth Moms Blog (FWMB) has you covered in this edition of “Around Cowtown,” from interactive art exhibits to outdoor walks (hello, cooler temps!), and from live music to trucks and pop culture conventions. Be sure to head over to our “2018 Guide to Fall Activities” to fill your calendar up with loads more fall events, farms & mazes, and pumpkin patches!
October 1 – 21
2018 State Fair of Texas — Times vary daily. // Celebrate all things Texan. Since its establishment in 1886, the State Fair of Texas has promoted Texas agriculture, education, and community involvement through quality entertainment in a family-friendly environment. As a nonprofit organization, the fair advocates for the community and is committed to preserving Fair Park – building on its legacy as a National Historic Landmark.
October 1 – 28
Loop in Downtown Fort Worth — 8:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m. // This free, one-of-a-kind interactive art exhibit is rolling into Burnett Park for the month of October. Take a seat inside the 12 installations and pump a lever to animate the beautiful images inspired by different childhood fairy tales. When the cylinder starts spinning, it lights up, making a series of still images appear to move through a flickering strobe effect that accompanies the black and white images. Sounds cool!
October 5
Food Truck Friday — 6:00 – 9:00 p.m. // Spend a relaxing Friday evening at Prairie Vista Park and indulge in appetizing food truck dishes! When you’re done eating, hang out in the park and enjoy the music brought to you by live band Matt Wayne and Company.
The Quebe Sisters — 8:00 – 9:30 p.m. // Come to the Levitt Pavilion in Arlington and hear triple-threat fiddles and killer harmony at this free, family-friendly event with outdoor lawn seating!
October 6
NEDA Walks — Fort Worth — 8:30 – 10:30 a.m. // NEDA Walks are inspirational, community-building events where passionate walkers raise money to fund eating disorders education, prevention, and support, as well as advocacy and research initiatives. Starting out of TCU, this installment of the NEDA Walks creates a safe and supportive space where no one will feel alone in his or her battle.
The Ruffolution — 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. // Join the Ruffolution! Strut YOUR mutt along the beautiful Trinity Trails in Fort Worth. The one-mile pet friendly walk at Waterside benefits Stray Dog (a no-kill dog sanctuary) and the NAWIC Fort Worth Chapter #1 Foundation. Pre-event contests will be held on Facebook and Instagram!
Nature Walk — 2:00 – 2:45 p.m. // Enjoy a free family-friendly guided nature walk along the trails surrounding the River Legacy Living Science Center. Space is limited, so be sure to RSVP.
JB & the Moonshine Band — 8:00 – 9:30 p.m. // Come to the Levitt Pavilion in Arlington to hear no-holds-barred honky-tonk tunes at this free, family-friendly event with outdoor lawn seating!
October 7
Touch-A-Truck DFW — 10:00 a.m. — 3:00 p.m. // Touch-A-Truck is an exciting annual event that enables families to enjoy an affordable and unique opportunity to see, touch, and safely explore trucks, machinery, helicopters, equine, and a variety of vehicles, and meet the men and women who protect, serve, and build the DFW community. The vehicles will be the main attraction, but the event will also host a kid zone, food trucks, and community vendor booths. All proceeds from the event benefit the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.
DFW Private Education Families of Color Conference — 3:00 — 6:30 p.m. // The DFW Private Education Families of Color Conference is a late lunch/early dinner gathering for prospective African American families all over the metroplex to learn more about local private school options. Come hear from some of DFW Private Education’s partnered schools on why this is important to them, and have your voice heard as well.
Cirque Zuma Zuma — 8:00 — 9:30 p.m. // Come to the Levitt Pavilion in Arlington see an exhilarating Africa cirque experience at this free, family-friendly event with outdoor lawn seating!
October 12
Friday on the Green — 6:00 – 10:00 p.m. // Come to Magnolia Green for the last evening of food and free live music for the 2018 season! Bring your own lawn chairs, blankets, bubbles, beach balls, fur babies, and kids of all ages. Just don’t bring food or drink. Instead, support the excellent food trucks and other vendors who make this fun, free event possible! The food here is so good, it made our “Kid-Friendly Restaurants in Tarrant County” guide.
October 13
GROW Fall Festival — 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. // Join the Botanic Research Institute of Texas (BRIT) in the Fort Worth Botanic Garden to explore the Backyard Veggie Garden, plant seeds, dissect pumpkins, and discover why pumpkins are so much more than just jack-o-lanterns. Don’t miss out on the FREE fun and excitement for the whole family!
October 17
Underwater Halloween Pumpkin Carve-Off at SEA LIFE Grapevine — 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. // Get your frightening fill of creepy creatures and underwater Halloween happenings at SEA LIFE Grapevine Aquarium. Watch highly trained divers dressed in costumes compete at 11:30 a.m. to see who can carve the best jack-o-lantern underwater while surrounded by sea creatures!
October 18
4th Annual Feast in the Fort — 6:00 – 10:00 p.m. // Celebrate the fourth year of Feast in the Fort — the signature fundraiser supporting programs provided by The Parenting Center. Since 1975, The Parenting Center has served more than 525,000 families throughout Tarrant County and the surrounding areas by providing education, home visiting services, marriage and relationship workshops, and clinical counseling. Come enjoy delicious food curated by Magdalena’s and unforgettable entertainment with Emerald City Band, all while helping give the children of Tarrant County the childhood they deserve.
October 19 – 21
Dallas Fan Days — Times vary daily. // Enjoy one of the best comics, sci-fi, horror, anime, and gaming events in Texas, filled with exciting family-friendly activities, celebrity and comic guests, and much more! The pop culture extravaganza is host to tens of thousands of fans at the Irving Convention Center. Dallas Fan Days is a full schedule packed with panels — of celebrities; voice actors; anime superstars; comic book creators; cosplayers; Internet celebrities; and sci-fi, fantasy, horror, and gaming personalities — cosplay contests, gaming, and more. Photography and autograph opportunities are available.
October 20
Underwater Halloween Pumpkin Carve-Off at SEA LIFE Grapevine — 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. // Get your frightening fill of creepy creatures and underwater Halloween happenings at SEA LIFE Grapevine Aquarium. Watch highly trained divers dressed in costumes compete at 11:30 a.m. to see who can carve the best jack-o-lantern underwater while surrounded by sea creatures!
ArtsGoggle 2018 — 12:00 – 10:00 p.m. // This free to the public, family-friendly event attracts a crowd of 50,000+ that are as diverse as the Near Southside neighborhood itself. Offering live music, artistic displays of every kind, food, drink, and fun for everyone, ArtsGoggle is a wonderfully pleasant testament to the community spirit that fills the Near Southside.
October 20 – 21
Brick-or-Treat at LEGOLAND Discovery Center — 11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. // Get your costume ready for some spooky family fun. Take a photo in a pumpkin patch made entirely out of LEGO® bricks featuring a giant pumpkin, then build your own pumpkin to add to the patch and receive a special Halloween-themed LEGO® brick. Take on the scare-venger hunt or enter for a chance to win a family four-pack of annual passes when you post a photo to social media.
October 21
Step Up for Down Syndrome Walk — 2:00 – 4:00 p.m. // The Step Up For Down Syndrome Walk, formally known as the North Texas Buddy Walk®, is the Down Syndrome Partnership of North Texas’ (DSPNT) largest fundraising event. In addition to raising awareness of Down syndrome, the Step Up For Down Syndrome Walk provides funds for DSPNT to provide education and other services for individuals with Down syndrome and their families.
October 24
Underwater Halloween Pumpkin Carve-Off at SEA LIFE Grapevine — 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. // Get your frightening fill of creepy creatures and underwater Halloween happenings at SEA LIFE Grapevine Aquarium. Watch highly trained divers dressed in costumes compete at 11:30 a.m. to see who can carve the best jack-o-lantern underwater while surrounded by sea creatures!
Community Trunk or Treat — 6:30 – 7:30 p.m. // Community Trunk or Treat is a free event for the whole community! Come dressed in your best and non-scary costume, grab a bag for candy, and join University Baptist Church for a fun and safe time for families! There will be a kid’s train, food, and games! Registration is at the event.
October 26 – 27
The GrapeYard — 6:00 – 11:00 p.m. // Join the freak show at the creepiest carnival in town as you try your hand at old-school carnival games, and test your daredevil spirit as you step on to the haunted trail. Always family-friendly, the thrills and chills won’t stop until the curtain falls. Immerse yourself in scream-worthy games you’ll have to see to believe. Don’t forget those three lovable faces of the famous singing pumpkins! Indulge in sweet treats and eats available for purchase all night! All ages are encouraged to come dressed in their best costumes, but please no face masks or hand props.
October 27
Underwater Halloween Pumpkin Carve-Off at SEA LIFE Grapevine — 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. // Get your frightening fill of creepy creatures and underwater Halloween happenings at SEA LIFE Grapevine Aquarium. Watch highly trained divers dressed in costumes compete at 11:30 a.m. to see who can carve the best jack-o-lantern underwater while surrounded by sea creatures!
Texas Veggie Fair — 11:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. // Come out to Reverchon Park in Dallas and enjoy Texas Veggie Fair — a FREE event celebrating plant-based lifestyle options of all kinds! Tens of thousands of attendees over the years have enjoyed food from local vendors, free food samples, music, arts, and other family-friendly entertainment, while learning about the benefits of a plant-based diet from notable speakers and chefs. Kids’ activities include arts and crafts, bounce houses, and more!
October 27 – 28
Family Fun Weekend at Dallas Arboretum — Times vary daily. // Come enjoy trick-or-treating throughout the garden, live music, face painting, a petting zoo, and live character appearances. Family fun activities and parking are complimentary with paid garden admission ($10 general admission). The Rory Meyer’s Children’s Adventure Garden features activities including sticker treating, monster plant lab, spooky maze scavenger hunt, and nighttime trick-or-treating.
Brick-or-Treat at LEGOLAND Discovery Center — 11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. // Get your costume ready for some spooky family fun. Take a photo in a pumpkin patch made entirely out of LEGO® bricks featuring a giant pumpkin, then build your own pumpkin to add to the patch and receive a special Halloween-themed LEGO® brick. Take on the scare-venger hunt or enter for a chance to win a family four-pack of annual passes when you post a photo to social media.
October 31
Underwater Halloween Pumpkin Carve-Off at SEA LIFE Grapevine — 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. // Get your frightening fill of creepy creatures and underwater Halloween happenings at SEA LIFE Grapevine Aquarium. Watch highly trained divers dressed in costumes compete at 11:30 a.m. to see who can carve the best jack-o-lantern underwater while surrounded by sea creatures! Plus, trick-or-treat alongside sharks, crocodiles, and other eerie creatures all day on Halloween.
Brick-or-Treat at LEGOLAND Discovery Center — 11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. // Get your costume ready for some spooky family fun. Take a photo in a pumpkin patch made entirely out of LEGO® bricks featuring a giant pumpkin, then build your own pumpkin to add to the patch and receive a special Halloween-themed LEGO® brick. Take on the scare-venger hunt or enter for a chance to win a family four-pack of annual passes when you post a photo to social media. Plus, trick-or-treat all day on Halloween inside the attraction.
