Kathy Tran
Audio By Carbonatix
In a city this big, there’s something to do every single day of the week. How could there not be? Dallas is a destination for festivals, traveling art exhibitions, stand-up comedy circuits and literally everything in between. This list is by no means exhaustively comprehensive, but it is a stacked, weekly guide of top picks you don’t want to miss. And the ways to fill your schedule don’t stop here – check out our full events calendar for even more ways to get through the week in North Texas.
Monday, Oct. 27
Little Shop of Horrors at the Angelika Film Center
This is undoubtedly going to be a big week for spooky movies and The Angelika Film Center (5321 E. Mockingbird Lane) is offering up this cult horror-comedy musical to kick it off. Directed by Frank Oz and starring Rick Moranis, Ellen Greene, Steve Martin and a singing, man-eating plant, Little Shop of Horrors provides impeccably silly and spooky vibes. It’s probably best known for its soundtrack, which features classic songs like “Suddenly Seymour” and “Mean Green Mother from Outer Space” by the songwriting team of Howard Ashman and Alan Menken. Though this duo is best known for kid-friendly Disney classics like The Little Mermaid and Beauty and the Beast, Little Shop is rated PG-13. Viewer discretion is advised. Tickets cost $16.19.
Tuesday, Oct. 28
Pumpkin Carving Competition at Oak St. Drafthouse
If you haven’t gotten around to carving a pumpkin yet this year, Oak St. Drafthouse (308 E. Oak St., Denton) is giving you one last chance. This annual event includes two competitions, one for kids and one for adults. All kid contestants will get a goodie bag for participating while the top three adults will get a prize. The event is free and all materials, including pumpkins and carving tools, will be provided.
Wednesday, Oct. 29
The Vienna Boys Choir at Eisemann Center
Since 1498, the Vienna Boys choir has been delighting audiences worldwide with “their purity of tone, distinctive charm and diverse repertoire which includes everything from medieval to contemporary to experimental music.” These gifted child musicians will be bringing this legacy to the Eisemann Center (2351 Performance Drive, Richardson) this Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. Tickets start at $31 and can be purchased online.
Avatar: The Last Airbender in Concert
In honor of the beloved animated series’ 20th anniversary, the Majestic Theater (1925 Elm St.) is hosting “a two-hour visual journey through all three seasons […] on a full-size cinema screen with new elements and artistic surprises.” The original dialog will remain intact, but the score will be performed by a live orchestra with strings, woodwinds and taiko drums conducted by original series composer Jeremy Zuckerman. If you’re one of countless millennials who grew up on the adventures of Aang and his friends, this is a must-see event. Tickets start at $50.90.
Thursday, Oct. 30
Nosferatu with a Live Score at Texas Theatre
The 1922 version of Nosferatu is a masterpiece of both silent horror and German expressionism and it’s returning to the Texas Theatre (231 W. Jefferson Blvd.) just in time for Halloweekend. The film will be accompanied by a “tastefully modern” live score by Austin band The Adventurous Czars that blends classical elements with 1920s Romanian folk music. For anyone who wants to cherish their memories of this event forever, there will be attractive and appropriately creepy screen printed show posters for sale. Tickets start at $22.50.
Friday, Oct. 31
Trick or Treat on Downtown Streets
Downtown Dallas, Inc. and HEB have teamed for the seventh annual Trick or Treat on Downtown Streets, an all-ages spooktacular that will haunt Main Street Garden Park (1902 Main St.) on Halloween from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Kids (and kids at heart) are encouraged to show up in their scariest (or silliest) costumes and take part in both tricks and treats, as well as live entertainment and “ghoulish surprises.” Admission is free.
W Dallas Halloween Rooftop Masquerade Party
This might be the scariest Halloween party in the city. If you’re afraid of heights, that is. Starting at 9 p.m. and raging until 2 a.m., the W Dallas Rooftop Altitude (2440 Victory Park Lane) is hosting an exclusive party with some of Dallas’ best DJs and sweeping views of the city you can only get at 33 stories in the air. Party favors are complimentary for all while supplies last and a VIP ticket gets you two hours of prepaid premium drinks and access to a private bar. This event is 21+.
Saturday, Nov. 1
Dia de Los Muertos Festival at the Latino Cultural Center
Nov. 1 – 2 is Dia de Los Muertos, a traditional Mexican holiday honoring family and loved ones who have died. The Latino Cultural Center’s (2600 Live Oak St.) annual exhibition celebrates this tradition by showcasing altars, art and other tributes from local artists and community members. Vendors, live music and various activities will also be available. Admission is free and open to the public.
Edward Scissorhands with Live Ballet Pre-Show at Texas Theatre
If you’re looking for something seasonal on Nov. 1 but aren’t ready to dive right into more straightforward Christmas movies, there are few films that can gently nudge you from the Halloween season into the winter holidays like Tim Burton’s Edward Scissorhands. The 1990 film features some of Burton’s signature spooky flourishes (like the Frankenstein-esque titular character) set against the backdrop of the holidays. Texas Theatre (231 W. Jefferson Blvd.) will be screening this transitional classic alongside a live pre-show by the Bishop Street Ballet. Tickets start at $19.75.
Sunday, Oct. 26
International Surrealism at the Dallas Museum of Art
The DMA (1717 N. Harwood St.) will be showing its latest exhibition, International Surrealism, from this Sunday through March 22, 2026. Featuring Surrealist icons like Salvador Dalí, René Magritte and Leonora Carrington, this showcase aims to “[plunge] audiences into the mind-bending dreamscapes of the Surrealist movement” and “[highlight] the wide range of practices and techniques from around the globe that define Surrealism.” Public tickets cost $20 and DMA members get in for free. International Surrealism will be included in the DMA’s Free First Sundays for every month of its run.
Continuing Events
Roaming Mexico: Laura Wilson at Meadows Museum, through Jan. 11
Now, if you’re thinking, “Wait, I thought that was going to be a book of Laura Wilson’s photographs,” you’re not wrong. The Roaming Mexico title inspiring artist/author events at the likes of Interabang Books in October, is published to accompany the major exhibition of the Meadows Museum opening Sunday, Sept. 14. The show features nearly 90 of Wilson’s photographs documenting more than three decades of the artist’s travels and studies across the country. It shows incredible range of Wilson’s talents, of course, but also of the people and culture of Mexico. Subjects sometimes provide a vibrant harmony and other times, offer a distinct dissonance when put in juxtaposition. Don’t miss Wilson’s love letter from the lens, hanging through Jan. 11. Find more online.
Return to Infinity: Yayoi Kusama at the Dallas Museum of Art, through Jan. 18
“All the Eternal Love I Have for the Pumpkins,” one of Yayoi Kusama’s iconic “infinity room” installations, will be displayed at the Dallas Museum of Art (1717 N. Harwood St.) for the first time since 2018, starting Wednesday. The immersive exhibition at the DMA envelopes the viewer in a trippy, tangible display of art history. Kusama hails from the mythic ’60s art scene. “Pumpkins,” created in 1991, incorporates many themes characteristic of the legendary artist’s work: infinity, the sublime, and obsessive repetition. And, of course, pumpkins – so many pumpkins. To book your appointment to honor these pumpkins, visit the DMA’s website.
Groundbreakers: Post-War Japan and Korea from the DMA Collection at The Crow Museum of Asian Art at UT Dallas, through July 26, 2026
If you missed it at the Dallas Arts District location of The Crow, now’s your chance to see Groundbreakers: Post-War Japan and Korea from the DMA Collection… and consider that second degree. The Crow Museum of Asian Art at UT Dallas offers up the fantastic exhibition that includes pieces created in fascinating ways: with feet, with a mouth, by pouring paint onto a canvas, and other methods that channeled convention after the considerably conventional 1950s. Don’t miss it. Find out more online.
