Wednesday, Sept. 15
Gaylord Texan Resort presents Goblins and GigglesIt’s officially time for pumpkin patches and spooky fun as the Gaylord Texan Resort (1501 Gaylord Trail, Grapevine) hosts its second annual Goblins and Giggles now through Oct. 31. Choose from a variety of activities for the whole family, including art classes, scavenger hunts, trick-or-treating, ghost stories, cookie decorating and family bingo. Each day’s events start at 9 a.m. and ticket prices vary depending on activity. For a complete list of prices and events, go to gaylordtexan.com.
Thursday, Sept. 16
35th Annual GrapeFest: A Texas Wine ExperienceIf you spend hours drinking wine on a normal day, it’s considered excessive; but when it’s a wine festival, it’s encouraged. The 35th Annual GrapeFest: A Texas Wine Experience definitely encourages you to try several local and Napa Valley-based wines at its event this year in Grapevine’s historic downtown (200 S. Main St.). The four-day festival, starting at 10 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 16, will include a grape stomp, an Italian car show, shopping, live music from Berlin and more. Thursday’s admission is free, Friday and Saturday’s admission is $10 for adults and $5 for kids and seniors. Go to grapevinetexasusa.com for more information.
Perot Museum of Nature and Science presents Thursdays on Tap at the Perot
Forget the noisy nightclubs and boisterous bars this week and instead go for a night out at the museum. The Perot Museum of Nature and Science (2201 N Field St.) hosts the 21-and-up Thursdays on Tap at the Perot this week at 6 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 16. It will include food from Momentum, Smokey Ray's BBQ, Mi Cocina and others, as well as brews from Community Brewing Co. Ditch the daytime crowds and kids for full access to the exhibit halls. Tickets are $15 for members and $25 for non-members and are available at perotmuseum.org.
Addison Oktoberfest
The German harvest festival Oktoberfest was originally a farewell party to pleasant weather and summer ales as the season shifted and bar owners needed to empty their kegs for the new winter beers to come. We can’t say that mid-September offers the most pleasant weather around here, but we still like to celebrate with a four-day Oktoberfest of our own. Addison Oktoberfest is back this week and will feature German entertainers in authentic outfits performing Bavarian folk dances, authentic German cuisines such as sausage, sauerkraut and giant pretzels, carnival rides, kids’ entertainment and more Sept. 16-19 at Addison Circle Park (4970 Addison Circle Drive). Ticket packages vary and are available at addisonoktoberfest.com.
Friday, Sept. 17
Fan Expo DallasEveryone’s a fan of something, and that’s what Fan Expo Dallas counts on with its massive three-day convention starting on Friday, Sept. 17, and celebrating pop culture’s best in comics, sci-fi, horror, anime and gaming. Celebrity guests this year include Carl Weathers, William Shatner, Adam Savage, George Takei and more. In its 19th year, Fan Expo Dallas continues to be the largest convention of its kind in Texas and will take place at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center (650 S. Griffin St.). Ticket prices start at $30 with weekend passes and VIP packages available at fanexpohq.com.
Collin County Home & Garden Show
You don’t need a fixer-upper to appreciate the joy of revamping your home’s space and decor. At the Collin County Home & Garden Show, you can get the answers to all of your home improvement and garden project needs with builders, contractors, remodelers, decks, storage solutions, kitchen accessories, landscape displays and more on-site. The event runs Friday, Sept. 17 through Sunday, Sept. 19 at Allen Event Center (200 E. Stacy Road). Admission is free. For more information, go to showtechnology.com
Saturday, Sept. 18
White Rock Farmers MarketFew things make you feel more accomplished as a young adult than getting up early on a Saturday morning to buy fresh produce from your local farmers market — and maybe scarf down a hot kolache and sip an iced coffee while you pick out a bouquet of freshly cut flowers. It’s all very quaint and sophisticated, and helps local farmers, vendors and artists, too. Since 2009, East Dallas has enjoyed its White Rock Farmers Market complete with producer-only meats, cheeses, jams, specialty items and more. The market runs from 8 a.m. to noon on Saturdays and is located in the LakePointe Church parking lot (9150 Garland Road).
It's pumpkin patch season and Autumn at the Arboretum features over 90,000 pumpkins, gourds and squash.
Stacey Mecca
Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden presents Autumn at the Arboretum
Now through Oct. 31, visit the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden (8525 Garland Road) for Autumn at the Arboretum, complete with more than 90,000 pumpkins, gourds, and squash throughout the garden. The nationally recognized pumpkin village has a new twist this year as it transforms into Bugtopia with “larger-than-life insect topiaries and fascinatingly bugged-out pumpkin houses.” Slated throughout the season are special events, live music and Halloween festivities, as well as a pumpkin maze. Admission is $12 to $17 at dallasarboretum.org.
Iliza Shlesinger
Dallas-born comedian Iliza Shlesinger plays the Texas Trust CU Theatre at Grand Prairie (1001 Performance Place) at 8 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 18. In 2008, Shlesinger became the only woman and youngest person to hold the title of NBC’s "Last Comic Standing," and has since performed five Netflix stand-up specials. Tickets to the show range from $39.75 to $79.75 at axs.com.
Deep Ellum Open Studios
Deep Ellum Open Studios is a free, day-long event celebrating the spaces in which local artists create and contribute to the vibrant artistic nature of the neighborhood. For its third iteration, on Saturday, Sept. 18 in Deep Ellum, expect visual arts, artist tours, an artisan market, live music by Remy Reilly and DJ Trikky Bombradio and live muraling by Alec DeJesus, Alicia Chapman and Armando Aguirre. Art galleries featured include Deep Ellum Art Co., Kettle Art, Maestri Gallery and The Umbrella Gallery.
Sunday, Sept. 19
Charlie Chaplin’s The Kid with Live Score
Any cinephile will want to check out the 100th-anniversary screening of legendary filmmaker Charlie Chaplin’s first feature film, 1921’s The Kid, at 3 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 19 at the Majestic Theatre (1925 Elm St.). The film will play alongside live piano accompaniment by radio DJ and musician Paul Slavens as part of the theater’s own 100th-anniversary celebration. The Criterion Collection dubbed The Kid "an expressive masterwork of silent cinema,” following an unlikely relationship between The Tramp and a young boy he reluctantly takes in off the street. The screening is free to attend and will include a 28-minute documentary on the theater’s anniversary, titled 100 Years of Majestic, playing before the film.
Denton Blues Festival
The Denton Black Chamber of Commerce presents the 23rd annual Denton Blues Festival this week at Quakertown Park (321 E Mckinney St.). Hear live music, participate in karaoke and visit arts and crafts booths throughout the free two-day event on Saturday, Sept. 18 and Sunday, Sept. 19. Notable music acts include blues and gospel singer Mr. Sipp, Rockin' Dopsie Jr. & The Zydeco Twisters and record producer and songwriter Mike Zito.
