Best Family-Friendly Festivals in Dallas and Fort Worth

The Annual Uptown Block Party brings the community together for a fun-filled celebration in the heart of Uptown. This event promises a vibrant atmosphere where attendees can dance, enjoy delicious food, play games, explore a market, take memorable photos, and much more.

PRMavens said:  Uptown Dallas Inc., in partnership with The Quad and Lincoln Properties, announces the 9th annual Uptown Block Party: This Ain’t Our First Rodeo, an all ages free and open-to-the-public event set to transform Dallas's most walkable neighborhood into a dynamic fusion of urban sophistication and vibrant country culture. Attendees will enjoy live music from the Neon Moon Stage, a dedicated dance floor, street-side two-steppin', and a variety of engaging surprises throughout the evening. The opening band for the party is The Reverie playing Americana/country and rock. The main act, All Hat No Cadillac, is an Austin country cover band playing crowd favorites. Dazzling neon lights, unique street sips and bites from local restaurants, curated photo opportunities, and a high-energy atmosphere will add to the evening’s festivities.

5:30-10pm

This free family-friendly festival will celebrate local heroes and feature carnival games, festival food, face painting, a balloon artist, a pup cup bar, and more.

PRMavens said:  Uptown Dallas, Inc. invites the community to a FREE, family-friendly festival to celebrate local heroes from Dallas Police, SWAT, bomb dogs, and unsung City of Dallas champions like the Water Department, Sanitation and 311 services. The event, taking place on Saturday, May 10, will feature carnival games, festival food, face painting, a balloon artist, a pup cup bar and even a helicopter—all designed to bring the Dallas community together and help people learn more about those who keep us safe every day. Note: if it rains, the event will be cancelled.

10am-1pm

Come explore public service, emergency, utility, construction, landscaping, transportation, and delivery vehicles all in one place! Children will be allowed to touch, climb on, and ask questions about their favorite trucks in a safe, supervised environment. Vendors will provide additional children's activities. Food trucks will be onsite. The hour before the event officially begins will be a sensory hour for those who may be sensitive to lights and sounds.

10am-2pm

Join Southlake in their annual Oktoberfest celebration! The festival takes place in Southlake Town Square, and over 100,000 people come through each year. There will be food, beverages and booth items for sale each day, a fun-packed children's area, a parade and live music.

10 rip-roarin’ nights of hot country music, first-class rodeos, livestock shows, kid & fun zones, the latest fun attractions and more.

Addison's Oktoberfest boasts delicious German food and beverages, a marketplace to buy your German goodies, German music, as well as kids rides and games.

Festival goers can enjoy great food & drink, arts & crafts, and live music and dance, along with unique events like the Pine Box Races, Coffin Races, a Twilight Lantern Parade, a community altar and a “Flight of Souls,” the “Cirque du Horror Musical,” a Pumpkin Patch and Costume Contest, story telling and performances from Denton ISD schools.

Join in on fun for the whole family, including a pumpkin patch, a corn maze, farm animals, tasty festival food, and so much more! Special events on particular dates include Spooktacular Nights, Trick or Treat on the Farm, and Fireworks.

Sarah D. said:  Every year in January, Dallas hosts the KidFilm Festival (sponsored by the USA Film Festival). This family-oriented festival features classic children's films as well as competitively screened new children's films. USA Film Festival posts program schedules for past annual festivals as an illustration of what your child might enjoy!

This weekend event offers something for everyone; entertainment on the Main Stage, special kids activities, sky divers, an enormous variety of food to tempt your taste buds, merchandise and handmade products showcased, and of course the incredible hot air balloons.

Stephanie W. said:  Whether you are Greek or just interested in the culture, this festival in Euluess is a fun celebration of everything Greek, and you and your family are sure to have a blast! You'll find everything from Greek cooking demo to authentic dance and music performances, along with delicious Greek food to buy, like moussaka, gyros and more!

The Red Steagall Cowboy Gathering offers activities that will keep you busy all weekend long. Don't miss all the excitement. The Cowboy Trapping & Trade Show and Chuck Wagon Cook-Off are free to the public. Come explore the authentic wagons and vendors from all over the United States. Other events include a nightly ranch rodeo, cowboy music, Western Swing dances, cowboy poetry, an invitational team roping, the Texas Trail of Fame induction ceremony, youth chuck wagon cook-off, a youth fiddle contest and more!

Sarah D. said:  Arbor Daze, deemed the ultimate family festival, is focused on educating the entire family about the importance of trees! Each festival attendee receives a tree with their admission that they are encouraged to plant to foster environmental growth and awareness! The festival boasts child-friendly, local entertainment, bouncy houses, a kid-zone and much more!

10am-9pm

Sarah D. said:  The Dallas St. Patrick's Parade & Festival is the largest St. Patrick's Day parade in the Southwest! Take your family anywhere along the two-mile parade route to see over 90 parade-floats. This St. Patrick tradition dates back to 1979 when the project was little more than a few proud Irish with a dream! Be sure to enjoy the continued celebration of St. Patrick and all things Irish!

9am-3pm

Sarah D. said:  The Ft. Worth Stock Show & Rodeo has entertainment for everyone in the family! Kids can learn about Western tradition through this legendary annual festival which boasts the action of the rodeo alongside a western parade, a "moo-seum experience" and a good old-fashioned carnival.

Sarah D. said:  Bring your children to the largest and highest rated arts festival in the Southwest! This festival is perfect for all ages. It features music, world class art work and an array of different cuisine (including, especially, funnel cake and ice cream!), and plenty of hands-on, arts and crafts activities in the Maker Zone.

Sarah D. said:  Celebrate Mardi Gras, Texas-style! Lake Dallas hosts an annual Mardi Gras celebration that includes a parade, contests for kids, contests for adults, and arts and crafts! And, of course, celebrate Mardi Gras traditions with Cajun food and live music.

5pm

Sarah D. said:  Take your children to learn about the civil rights movement and to celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. during the Annual MLK Celebration. Each year in January, Dallas celebrates the life of Dr. King through a series of events including a parade, wreath laying ceremony, celebration fair, youth field day, candlelight ceremony, and more.

The State Fair of Texas is the longest-running fair in the nation, as well as one of the largest.

Mlhasenkamp said:  Join us for the Dallas Cooperative Preschool's First Annual Family Fun Carnival! Come and spend the afternoon playing classic carnival games, joining in fun activities, and eating delicious snacks on the midway! Activities are planned for all ages and 100% of the proceeds benefit the Dallas Cooperative Preschool's Annual Fund! Tickets and Pricing available at door.

11am-3pm

Enjoy Greek food, music and traditional Greek folk dancing while learning more about the rich Greek culture.

Sarah D. said:  Another can't miss cultural event of the year is the annual National Day of the American Cowboy, hosted annually by the Stockyards National Historic District. From face painting, to rib eating, to rodeo clowns, and even a cow milking contest, this cultural event celebrates the American Cowboy culture.

10am-8pm

Sarah D. said:  Don't miss the world-renowned Blue Angels soaring over North Texas! The Air Show includes a tour of historic planes and helicopters on display, a simulator booth to test your little pilot's aviation skills, a kid zone just for the little ones and so much more!

Stephanie W. said:  Spend a day in the holiday season at Mainstay Farm that you'll never forget! They've got over 40 attractions including giant jumping pillow, a hayride, and featuring cable rides and the Texas Tubin' Hill. You'll also find sweets like funnel cake and Henry's ice cream, and tasty pulled pork sandwiches and burgers to eat. Plus, they've got one of the best pumpkin patches around DFW with pumpkins of every shape and size available to pick!

Open Friday-Sunday

Stephanie W. said:  Endless entertainment awaits you at the Scarborough Renaissance Festival! Your kids will get to meet mermaids, knights, kings and queens in the Village of Scarborough, a recreated medieval town. You can watch the Grande Parade daily, visit the Petting Zoo, even be knighted be the Queen! Several pubs and taverns await you with delicious food, and you can't miss the jousting tournaments that take place every day. A day at the Scarborough Faire is a day you and your family won't forget!

Saturdays, Sundays, & Memorial Day

10am-7pm

Sarah D. said:  Bring your little piano enthusiast to this first-rate international piano competition and festival. The Cliburn is home to world-class classical concerts and music education. This year, Former First Lady Laura Bush will serve as honorary chairman of the junior competition and festival which offers various events designed to advance the artisty of competitiors and festival attendees alike, including guest artist recitals, guest workshops and more!

Sarah D. said:  Mayfest is one of Fort Worth's most beloved festivals in operation since 1973. The purpose of Mayfest is to raise funds for community programs and infrastructural development of the city's parks and recreation. Mayfest truly has something for everyone: music and entertainment, family friendly carnival rides, activities for younger children including pony rides, a petting zoo and so much more!

Don’t miss the annual Halloween weekend petting zoo and live music on the Martin Rutchik Concert Stage & Lawn.