Things to Do

I playbook VIST DFWC H I LD. COM FOR DAILY EVEN T S

WORDS ELIZABETH SMITH

SWEET TOOTH HOTEL: REWIND Opens Oct. 16 in Allen

OCTOBER & NOVEMBER

➽ OUR 30 FAVORITE EVENTS FOR AN AMAZING AUTUMN

THE PAW PATROL EXPERIENCE Through October 30

CAMP DALLAS

Join the pack of brave pups in this immersive experience celebrating the recently released PAW Patrol: The Movie. The exhibit is packed with family challenges and skill-based activities throughout Adventure City, such as grabbing a fire hose to help Marshall douse an out-ofcontrol fireworks display at City Hall. $15 per person. 214/612-0451; camp.com/ paw-patrol

TOWERS OF TOMORROW WITH LEGO BRICKS Through April 24

PEROT MUSEUM OF NATURE AND SCIENCE, DALLAS

Certified LEGO professional Ryan McNaught constructed 20 iconic skyscrapers from half a million blocks for the Perot’s recently opened exhibit. Crane your neck upward to take it all in, then let the kids summon their own engineering skills by building towers with colored LEGO bricks in the construction area. $28 for adults; $19 children; and free for children under 2. 214/428-5555; perotmuseum.org

JURASSIC WORLD: THE EXHIBITION Through January 2

GRANDSCAPE, THE COLONY

With dates now extended through New Year’s, you’ve got another chance to experience this highly-rated exhibition of lifelike animatronic dinos—a towering Brachiosaurus, the hybrid Indominus Rex, and a seriously huge but not too scary T. rex—straight from the blockbuster franchise. Tickets from $29.50 for adults; $19.50 for children; free for 2 and younger with a parent. 972/668-2222; jurassicworldexhibition.com

GRACE FOR PRESIDENT October 2–17

CASA MAÑANA, FORT WORTH

In the first show of the season for Casa Mañana

➽ WATER LANTERN FESTIVAL

Children’s Theatre, thirdgrader Grace enters a tough schoolwide election against the boys in her attempt to shatter the proverbial glass ceiling—and also discovers what “proverbial” means. She’s got a lot to learn about the world of politics as she’s thrown into a series of campaign events, pep rallies and service projects to turn her classmates into voters. Tickets from $19. 817/332-2272; casamanana.org

FRIDAMANIA October 9

FORT WORTH BOTANIC GARDEN

Come dressed in your best iteration of famed Mexican artist Frida Kahlo (floral headband, unibrow, shawl) to help set a new record and for a shot at winning the costume contest during the Casa Azul Party for kids activities. (The adult fest starts at 7:30pm.) Frida Fest continues in the garden where Fort Worth Opera stages its children’s opera about Kahlo on Saturday and Sunday. Free with general garden admission: $12 adults; $6 children; free for 5 and younger. 817/463-4160; brit.org

SWEET TOOTH HOTEL: REWIND Opens October 16

WATTERS CREEK, ALLEN

Be kind and rewind (please and thank you) at Sweet Tooth’s latest exhibit, showcasing 10 installations and seven emerging muralists, painters, graffiti and fiber artists. Rewind features a fullblown vintage video store full of VHS tapes, a Rainbow Cave room, and a reboot of some favorite rooms from previously sold-out exhibits. 1970s Saturday morning cartoon series that taught civics, grammar and math to generations. Look online for the child study guide for fun lessons, activities and song lyrics so you can start singing along to “Just a Bill” and “Conjunction Junction” with your own kids before the show even starts. $15. 972/304-7047; coppellartscenter.org

$20 for adults; $15 for children; free for kids under 2. 888/850-8718; sweettoothhotel.com

WATER LANTERN FESTIVAL October 16

PANTHER ISLAND PAVILION, FORT WORTH

Send. Your. Worries. Sailing. Everyone gets a rice paper lantern to decorate—write your name, your hopes for the future, thoughts commemorating a lost loved one, whatever you want. At sunset, illuminate them with provided LED candles, and set them afloat. The event follows a “leave no trace” policy and promises that staff will clean up all the lanterns afterward. Registration from $35.99 in advance. waterlanternfestival.com

BUTTERFLY FLUTTERBY & FALL ROUNDUP October 16

GRAPEVINE BOTANICAL

GARDENS AND NASH FARM

These two kid-friendly events occur simultaneously and are only a quarter-mile away from the other. So if the weather’s nice out, you could first join the garden’s morning butterfly parade honoring the migration of monarch butterflies (wear your costumes!) and then take the short walk alongside Ball Street’s paved sidewalk to the farm for hands-on activities and wagon rides. The farm event is $3 for 3 years and up; free admission for parade and butterfly release. 817/410-3185; grapevinetexasusa.com

SCHOOLHOUSE ROCK LIVE! October 16 TURNER’S MODERN WORLD Opens October 17

KIMBELL ART MUSEUM, FORT WORTH

Works by J.M.W. Turner (1775–1851), the English Romantic landscape artist known as the Painter of Light, debut inside Kimbell’s Piano Pavilion. Download the Kimbell app for the audio tour, and visit on Oct. 24 for a free screening of the 2014 biopic Mr. Turner. $18 for adults; $14 for children; free for children under 6; half-price on Tuesdays and after 5pm on Fridays. 817/332-8451; kimbellart.org

BELL FORT WORTH ALLIANCE AIR SHOW October 23–24

FORT WORTH ALLIANCE AIRPORT

The U.S. Navy’s Blue Angels, whose reputation precedes them, headline this civilian air show, operating for drive-in viewing for a second year. There’s no general admission per person, but parking

➽ SCHOOLHOUSE ROCK LIVE! passes are required (starting at $60) and allowing up to 15 people per vehicle. Bring your chairs and picnic within your “parking pod” or catch a free shuttle to the new 1.5acre Landing Zone for kids activities, simulators and food vendors. 800/318-9268; allianceairshow.com

MASTERCHEF LIVE! October 29

COMERICA CENTER, FRISCO

All you foodies out there, listen up. Kid chefs Mikey and Malia (pictured), from MasterChef Junior seasons 6 and 7, demonstrate their recipes live on stage alongside adult chefs Noah and Suu, also MasterChef alums. Expect audience participation and messy challenges in this family-friendly show that’s a must-see for fans of the hit TV culinary competition. Tickets from $32. comericacenter.com

KINDNESS DUCK PROJECT PARTY October 30

TRINITY PARK, FORT WORTH

After its inaugural event was postponed back in July, the world’s largest rubber duck is headed back to Fort Worth to launch the new nonprofit called the Kindness Duck Project. Don’t miss your chance to see the inflatable, 60-foot-tall mama duck and her 10-foot baby duck, Timmy—and support great causes. FREE kindnessduck.com

FESTIVAL AT THE SWITCHYARD November 6

HISTORIC DOWNTOWN CARROLLTON

All the kids events are free at this family and music fest, and we mean all of them— the bungee trampolines and inflatables, the zip line, the giant slide and carnival games, the crafting. The face painting and balloon twisting booths shut down at 6pm, and rides and games at 7pm, but you’ll want to stay after dark if you’re fans of headlining band Blue October. FREE carrolltonfestival.com

POTTED POTTER November 12–13 COPPELL ARTS CENTER

This is mischief (un)managed: A cast of two actors—both British—acting out scenes from all seven Harry Potter books in 70 minutes, playing 360 different characters, with a fire-breathing dragon and a Quidditch game to boot. Creators Dan and Jeff first came up with this touring parody show in 2005 while waiting in line for the midnight release of the sixth book. $29. 972/304-7047; coppellartscenter.org

DINOSAUR SAFARI Opens November 13 RIVER LEGACY LIVING SCIENCE CENTER, ARLINGTON

Welcome to the Jurassic jungle inside River Legacy’s Discovery Room. Its newest traveling exhibit, on loan from Omaha Children’s Museum, features animatronic dinosaurs including a T. rex, velociraptor and a triceratops. Kids can hop inside a kid-size safari Jeep, uncover realistic

fossils from the dig tables and climb on some of the dinosaurs. $10 adults; $7 children; free for 2 and younger. 817/860-6752; riverlegacy.org

HOT WHEELS MONSTER TRUCK SHOW LIVE! November 13–14

DICKIES ARENA, FORT WORTH

This one’s for your kids who love to race their Hot Wheels cars across the living room floor. This touring monster truck exhibition debuts three new trucks, including 12-foot dino-inspired Mega Wrex, and opens up the Crash Zone Pre-Show Party so you can see the trucks up close and meet the drivers. Tickets start at $34. Crash Zone passes are $5 per person. 817/402-9801; hotwheelsmonstertruckslive.com

CATS November 16–21 BASS PERFORMANCE HALL, FORT WORTH

The feline frenzy that is Andrew Lloyd Webber’s famous musical—inspired by the 1939 children’s book by T.S. Eliot—follows a tribe of junkyard cats as they gather for their annual Jellicle Ball, introduce themselves, and accept one outcast cat back into their inner circle. If you’ve never experienced it, you’re missing meowt. Tickets start at around $50. 817/212-4280; basshall.com

DISNEY ON ICE: LET’S CELEBRATE November 24–28

ALLEN EVENT CENTER

Mickey and Minnie Mouse once again warm our hearts with their ice-skating spectacular featuring many of your kids’ favorite princes, princesses and other nonroyal but equally worthy characters, like Forky from Toy Story 4. Tickets from $33 and required for age 2 and older. 972/912-1057; disneyonice.com

➽ DISNEY ON ICE:

HALLOWEEN

HALLOWEEN SPOOKTACULAR October 16

BASS PERFORMANCE HALL, FORT WORTH

There’s dressing up for the symphony and then there’s dressing up for a costume party at the symphony. Don your spookiest costumes (or cutest!) for this Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra concert designed just for littles, lasting about one hour. Come early to enjoy the kids’ activities and crafts in the lobby. Tickets from $12. 817/665-6000; fwsymphony.org

PUMPKIN NIGHTS Through October 31 HOWELL FARM, ARLINGTON

Ten-foot jack-o’-lanterns, a 40-foot flying dragon, the world’s largest pumpkin guitar, a life-size pumpkin pirate ship—need we go on? Yes, we do! There’s also a wall of monstersize pumpkins, and more displays with more than 5,000 handcarved real and synthetic pumpkins at this special exhibit. Tickets from $14; free for children 3 and younger. Advance tickets are required. pumpkinnights.com/dallas

AUTUMN AT THE ARBORETUM: BUGTOPIA Through October 31

DALLAS ARBORETUM

Insects—both real and floral—are taking over the arboretum through Halloween. Come see the bees, ants and more larger-than-life insect topiaries on display as part of the Pumpkin Village, and let the kids enjoy insect encounters each day of the week. Free with general admission: $17 adults; $12 children; free for children under 2. $3 additional for children’s adventure garden. 214/515-6615; dallasarboretum.org

TRICK OR TREAT THE SQUARE October 30

FRISCO SQUARE

Meet at Simpson Plaza—the public park space at Frisco Square—on the Saturday before Halloween for an afternoon of spooky family entertainment. There’ll be carnival games, inflatables, horse-pulled wagon rides around the center and, of course, people-watching, so be sure to wear your cutest, scariest or most elaborate costumes to score compliments and, hey, maybe even a few extra pieces of candy! FREE 214/872-1054; friscosquare.com

THANKSGIVING

DALLAS YMCA TURKEY TROT November 25

DALLAS CITY HALL

On Thanksgiving morning, join in this show of goodwill in support the YMCA of Metropolitan Dallas’ community health programs. The 1K has been paused for this year, but all ages can join the 5K or 8-mile runs for $37 and up. The $15 Tot Trot registration for kids 5 and younger includes their own racing bib and shirt, and all ages are welcome at the free family zone with bounce houses, face painting and photo ops with the giant turkey. 214/954-0500; thetrot.org

CHRISTMAS

HOLIDAY AT THE ARBORETUM Opens November 9

DALLAS ARBORETUM

When “The 12 Days of Christmas” aren’t enough, the arboretum gives you 53 days. This new season of exhibits and entertainment features the return of its glass-encased gazebos inspired by the “12 Days” holiday song, the Europeanstyle Christmas Village, the 50-foot-tall musical tree and lots more. Daytime admission: $17 adults; $12 children; free for children under 2. Come on select evenings for 12 Days of Christmas at Night, with nonmember pricing starting at $15 for adults and $13 for children. 214/515-6615; dallasarboretum.org

➽ TRICK OR TREAT THE SQUARE

RUDOLPH THE REDNOSED REINDEER Opens November 20

THE TRAINS AT NORTHPARK Opens November 13

NORTHPARK CENTER, DALLAS

This 34-year tradition continues with its dual purpose: entertaining children with an elaborate, 1,600-foottrack model train exhibit and raising vital funds for the Ronald McDonald House of Dallas. Stop by this secondfloor exhibit on your next shopping trip to NorthPark. Tickets available on Nov. 1: $10 adults; $5 children; free for children under 2. $1 off at Tom Thumb and Albertsons. Handpainted railcars also for sale. 214/6317354; thetrainsatnorthpark.com

SCROOGE THE MUSICAL Opens November 19 ARTISAN CENTER THEATER, HURST

What is the holiday season without our annual lesson from Ebenezer? Witness him reach his ephiphany—that life is short and you should be nice to people—in this musical version of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, presented by the Artisan’s Main Stage company. Choose your seats online for your preferred view of the theater-in-the-round. $28 adults; $15 children. 817/284-1200; artisanct.com

CASA MAÑANA, FORT WORTH

This performing arts theater welcomes people of all ages and with all types of noses to join the reindeer games in this holiday musical starring Rudolph, Santa and Mrs. Claus, and sidekicks Hermey the Elf, Bumble the Abominable Snow Monster, and Yukon Cornelius. Follow their adventures around the North Pole and then around the world. Tickets from $19. 817/332-2272; casamanana.org

ENCHANT CHRISTMAS Opens November 26 FAIR PARK, DALLAS

Not seen in North Texas since 2018, this holiday experi-

WHEN DO YOU START LISTENING TO CHRISTMAS MUSIC? ence is back for more magical nights at the 36% after Fair Park Esplanade. Halloween Join the search for Santa’s missing gifts lost inside the Christmas Light Maze and slip on rented blades for the ice skating trail. Take note: This is no mere rink but a path that winds in and around a forest of trees lit with millions of twinkling lights. Tickets from $20 for adults and from $19 for children; free for under 2. 833/362-6445; enchantchristmas.com

64%

after Thanksgiving *according to @dfwchildmag's Instagram poll

It’s Back To School Time!

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East Plano: 972-515-2248 West Plano: 972-515-2236 Allen: 214-504-3841 North Garland: 972-515-2221 Richardson: 972-591-0892 Mesquite: 972-591-0301 Sachse: 469-417-6568