Things To Do In Dallas

Growing up, there was nothing better than waking up and realizing that school was cancelled because of wintery weather. Now, SNOWDAY is allowing Dallasites to feel that Christmas magic all season long with a new, interactive gallery.

SNOWDAY, presented by the Bayer Brothers Sets and MOTUS, is an 11-room immersive holiday experience that will put anyone in the holiday spirit.

“We started thinking about it and how it would be something Dallas could use,” Scot Redman, Co-Director of Redman Pictures, says. “Something super immersive, really allowing you to dig in. Christmas was the perfect time to do it, and a Christmas immersive experience hadn’t really been seen here before.”

Upon entering, guests are thrown into the world of SNOWDAY with a giant snow globe adorned with the Dallas skyline. Each room has a different theme, from family road trips in a vintage camper, to igloos at the north pole, to a beach vacation complete with surfboards you can pose on.

“We were trying to create something totally out of a fantasy,” Redman says. “We wanted things to be fun and crazy and silly, fulfilling the ‘what is a snow day’ fantasy. What does that bring?”

Another perk included with the ticket is the chance to meet Santa and his elves. The installation has a 3D-style MOTUS photo booth to document the occasion (you may recognize the impressive booth at parties around town, like our Best of Big D event).

“I don’t think people should expect anything before they come in,” says Redman. “You should be ready to have a good time and get your brain blown, but you can expect to have incredible pictures taken of yourself.”

After attendees wander through the maze of galleries, which takes about an hour, they can browse the gift shop, and print pictures from the interactive booths to take home and remember the day by.

“We’ve had kids come in even when it was halfway built and their brains were blown by it,” Redman says. “I am so excited to see people’s reactions for what the final product is.”

SNOWDAY is located at the The Plaza at Preston Center, and will run from November 21 to January 5.

Tickets are $30 for adults, and $22 for kids. Children under 3 get in free. One dollar from every ticket will go to the Children’s Medical Center. Remember to get your tickets ahead of time so you don’t get iced out!

Chad Daniels | Nov. 23 | Texas Theatre

Minnesota-born Chad Daniels doesn’t have the most recognizable name in comedy, but those who know him know he’s underrated. You may know him from guest appearances on The Late Late Show, The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien, Conan, Live at Gotham and more. He’ll be at Texas Theatre joking around on Saturday night.

The Thanksgiving Play | Nov. 6- Dec. 1 | Undermain Theatre

A take on the modern dilemma of American culture, this play features a group of teaching artists who are scrambling to create a holiday pageant that includes both Thanksgiving and Native American Heritage Month. Showings on Wednesday through Saturday start at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday Matinee showings start at 2 pm. Tickets are $25.

Lewis Black: Alive in Concert! | Nov. 23 | Majestic Theatre

Lewis Black will take the Majestic Theatre stage this month with his “Alive in Concert!” tour. Black is best known for his angry and belligerent comedy style, which he’s flexed on The Daily Show and his defunct Comedy Central series Lewis Black’s Root of All Evil. His routines often escalate into rants about current events, and he uses his sharp wit to keep his audience entertained. Tickets start at $75.

Preacher Lawson | Dec. 5-7 | Arlington Improv

Known for his run on season 12 of America’s Got Talent (he made it to the final round), Preacher Lawson has been making a name for himself since he was 17. Now, following the upcoming debut of his comedy special, Get to Know Me on BET, he will be performing at Arlington Improv for his comedy tour of the same name. Tickets start at $22.

Scrooge Unhinged: A Parody | Dec. 6-7 & 13-14 | Pocket Sandwich Theatre

Adapted from the main stage favorite for Pocket Sandwich Theatre, Scrooge Unhinged gives the classic story a whole new meaning with a comedic twist. With a cast of nine collectively playing over 45 roles, what could possibly go wrong? Doors open at 10:45 p.m. Tickets are $15, and the show is rated R.

Jay Leno | Dec. 7 | The Theatre at Grand Prairie

Love him or hate him, Jay Leno has been in the comedy scene since the 1970s. Known for being the host of The Tonight Show until 2014, he uses a mixture of monologues, wit and wry looks to make his audience laugh. He isn’t afraid to bring up current events, which allows people of all generations to relate to his humor. Tickets start at $40.

Taylor Tomlinson | Jan. 2-4 | Improv Addison

Known for her work on shows like NBC’s Last Comic Standing, and her stand-up special on The Comedy Lineup, which is currently streaming on Netflix, Tomlinson is one of the youngest headlining comedians on tour. She was named a Top 10 Comedian to Watch at the Montreal Comedy Festival. Using her wit and working the crowd with her self-deprecating humor, Tomlinson is sure to bring something fresh to the Improv Addison stage. Tickets start at $20.

Tim and Eric | Jan. 30 | Majestic Theatre

Part of their Mandatory Attendance Tour, Tim Heidecker and Eric Wareheim will take the Majestic Theatre by storm for a night filled with spoofs and goofs. The duo, known for their comedy series on Adult Swim, Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job! have been working together since the 1990s to produce strange, ridiculous, and sometimes grotesque content. Tickets start at $42.50.

Festival of Laughs | Feb. 16 | The Theatre at Grand Prairie

Featuring names such as Sommore (Friday After Next, Soul Plane), Lavell Crawford (Better Call Saul, Breaking Bad), Karlous Miller (Wild ‘n Out), Tony Rock (Living Biblically), and Mark Curry (Hangin’ with Mr. Cooper), this event is sure to keep true to its name and have you laughing the whole time. Tickets start at $52.

Melissa Villaseñor | Feb. 20-22 | Improv Addison

After making a name for herself on America’s Got Talent, Melissa Villaseñor went on to become the first Latina cast member on Saturday Night Live. Praised for her comedic impressions, she has also been featured on shows like American Dad and Family Guy. Rolling Stone also named her one of their 50 Funniest People Right Now. For three nights, catch her in action at Addison Imrov. Tickets are $25.

The Black Keys | Nov. 14, 7 pm | Dickies Arena

Even during a nearly five-year hiatus, The Black Keys’ smoky garage rock was somewhat inescapable, always playing somewhere, whether in a commercial or a bar or via Spotify’s algorithm. Singer-guitarist Dan Auerbach and drummer Patrick Carney continued to make music prolifically during that time, just not with each other. Carney produced and performed with Michelle Branch and recorded the theme for BoJack Horseman; Auerbach played with the Arcs and produced Cage the Elephant and Lana Del Rey, among others. But the duo, which got its start in Akron, Ohio, made a triumphant return over the summer with the release of Let’s Rock. Over 12 songs, Auerbach and Carney do what they have always done best: bash out blues-infused Americana with a fun, psychedelic twang. Though the duo recorded without Danger Mouse—the co-producer of their previous four records, including 2011’s breakthrough El Camino and 2014’s Turn Blue—there isn’t anything drastically different on the album. Basically, Let’s Rock does exactly what the title says. And that’s what they’ll do at Fort Worth’s brand-new Dickies Arena.

Brockhampton | Nov. 14, 8 pm | The Bomb Factory

First, the members of Brockhampton were just a few teenagers at The Woodlands High School. Then they were “the internet’s first boy band.” Now, the hip-hop collective is a legit phenomenon, a status solidified by its fifth album, August’s Ginger.

George Strait | Nov. 22 & 23 | Dickies Arena

Even a retired-from-touring icon still has to pay dues to his home state. All his exes live in Texas, after all. The 67-year-old King of Country, who released a new single, “Codigo,” last year, is in Fort Worth with beloved Austin outfit Asleep at the Wheel.

Sleater-Kinney | Nov. 8, 8 pm | House of Blues

Formed in the final waves of the Riot Grrrl movement of the early ’90s, Sleater-Kinney is a collaboration between Corin Tucker and Carrie Brownstein, whom you may know from Portlandia. (Longtime member Janet Weiss left the group earlier this year.) After almost a decade apart, the group reunited in 2015, and a new album produced by Dallas’ St. Vincent, The Center Won’t Hold, was released in August.

Turkey Trot | Nov. 28, 9 am | Dallas City Hall

The YMCA’s annual Turkey Trot is a fun, family-friendly way to kick off Thanksgiving Day in downtown Dallas. There’s a 5k run/walk, an 8-mile run, and a 1k Junior Trot for the little ones. It’s a good way to fire up your metabolism and feel better about that second plate.

Once | Nov. 22-24 | Winspear Opera House

In the stage version of the Oscar-winning film, a Dublin street musician meets a beautiful girl who takes an interest in his love songs, just as he’s ready to give up on his dreams of making it big. Their romance inspires his most powerful music yet, but their connection is more complicated than it seems

Chefs for Farmers | Nov. 3, 2:30 pm | Dallas Heritage Village

Dallas’ premier farm-to-table festival has grown into a weekend-long affair culminating with The Main Event on Sunday afternoon. Taste sustainable delights from 50 chefs and restaurants, enjoy eight breweries, learn the history of the margarita, and more.

Posty Fest | Nov. 2, 1:30 pm | AT&T Stadium

Fresh off the September release of his third album, Hollywood’s Bleeding, Grapevine-raised rapper Post Malone returns home for the second edition of his eponymous festival. Meek Mill, Pharrell Williams, Jaden Smith, and local talents Yella Beezy, Maj, and Snowy are also on the lineup.

Chi Omega Christmas Market | Nov. 20-23 | Centennial Hall of Fair Park

The 42nd annual Chi Omega Christmas Market boasts an impressive 200 merchants with festive gifts, holiday decor, artisanal foods, women’s fashion, home goods, and more. Check the market’s website for special events like a mixology class with Katy Trail Vodka.

Todrick Hall: Haus Party | Nov. 21, 8 pm | The Bomb Factory

The term “triple threat” doesn’t have enough space for this singer, songwriter, and dancer, and choreographer, actor, playwright, and director. Hall does it all, and he does it with panache. Watch his new Netflix film, Behind the Curtain: Todrick Hall, to get acquainted.

Maná | Nov. 9, 8 pm | American Airlines Center

One of the more successful Latin American bands of all time is visiting Dallas on its Rayando el Sol Tour, named after the hit song. The Guadalajara band released an updated version of the song in April.

Night at the Museum | Nov. 9, 7 pm | Perot Museum of Nature and Science

Enjoy dinner and drinks and interactive demonstrations while exploring the museum’s exhibitions at its dazzling fundraising gala. The Georgia Bridgwater Orchestra keeps the party going until midnight.

Focus: Martine Gutierrez | Nov. 8-Jan. 12 | The Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth

Think of Gutierrez as a Cindy Sherman for the next generation. The 30-year-old trans Latinx woman and performance artist has built her career on captivating self-portraits exploring identity. This show highlights work from Indigenous Woman, Gutierrez’s 124-page mock fashion magazine.

Ballet British Columbia | Nov. 8 & 9 | Moody Performance Hall

This vibrant dance company from Canada has captivated audiences across the world with its brilliant performers and cutting-edge repertoire by leading choreographers. They’re in Dallas as part of the TITAS/Dance Unbound 2019–20 season.

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone in Concert | Nov. 27-Dec. 1 | Meyerson Symphony Center

The Wizarding World seems even more magical when set to a live orchestra. Watch Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone on the big screen while the Dallas Symphony Orchestra performs John Williams’ charming score.

Black Tie Dinner | Nov. 2, 7 pm | Sheraton Dallas Hotel

Since its inception, Black Tie Dinner has raised more than $23 million and become the largest fundraising dinner for the LGBTQ community in the nation. The night offers a unique mix of inspiration and entertainment with special guests including Billy Porter.

Snoop Dog | Nov. 9, 7 pm | Dos Equis Pavilion

If you have a different plan for the night, drop it like it’s hot. Snoop D-O-double-G is in town with Goodie Mob, Master P, and Houston legends Slim Thug and Paul Wall. The concert, dubbed How the Southwest Was Won, is very likely to include some throwbacks.

Women in Classical Music Symposium | Nov. 6-9 | Meyerson Symphony Center

This first-time conference aims to help prepare women for careers in the classical music industry and connect them with their peers. The weekend includes panel discussions like “Lifting Up the Next Generation of Women” and “Self Entrepreneurship for Musicians,” a mentorship speed-dating session, concerts, and networking events.

The 1975 | Nov. 27, 6:30 pm | The Theatre at Grand Prairie

Back from a brief hiatus and preparing to release its fourth studio album, Notes on a Conditional Form, The 1975 hasn’t missed a beat. The Manchester-born rock band sounds as manic as ever on its new single “People.” They’re in Dallas for Alterium with Catfish and the Bottlemen and SWMRS.

Two Door Cinema Club | Nov. 12, 8 pm | South Side Ballroom

Nearly a decade after breaking onto the scene with “What You Know,” the Northern Irish band has gotten much more experimental—and, perhaps, a little less likable—on its fourth album, False Alarm. They’re in Dallas with Canadian pop band Peach Pit.

Special Olympics Texas returns to Dallas this weekend with an unusual fundraising event that will have participants leaping down a high rise. Those who raise $1,200 or more will be rewarded with the terrifying-slash-awesome experience of rappelling down the 22 story office tower known as Union Dallas. You’ll do so on Friday, November 1 or Saturday, November 2. Sorry for the late notice, but that means you only have a few days to register and ask people for money if you want to face your fear!

All proceeds from the event go to Special Olympics Texas, a privately funded non-profit organization that uses sports to encourage and empower people with intellectual disabilities. Its services reach more than 58,800 children and adults in Texas. Over The Edge has a fundraising goal of $100,000, and, as of this writing Tuesday afternoon, it has brought in a little more than $22,000 through 235 donors. (You can make contributions to others’ efforts, or register yourself here.) 

Dallas Police Chief U. Reneé Hall will be one of many daredevils to rappel down The Union this weekend. The descent takes between five to 15 minutes, with speed controlled by the participant. The activity requires no prior experience, but there will be a short training session on site.

If you’d rather watch from solid ground, neighboring restaurant TacoLingo is offering discounted drinks and street tacos to spectators during the weekend’s events.

Bouchercon, the World Mystery Convention, celebrates its 50th anniversary this year—and it just so happens to be taking place in Dallas for the first time ever.

The convention is named after Anthony Boucher, who was a mystery fiction critic, author and editor. The first Bouchercon was held in Santa Monica, California in 1970, and it has travelled all over the U.S., Canada, and the U.K. since then.

This year’s event, which will be held October 31 through November 3, will have something for everyone in the mystery community, including panels, parties, and of course, your favorite books and authors.

The theme, “Denim, Diamonds, and Death,” pays homage to the hosting city.

“Every year at every location, the theme is always tied into the city that it’s located at,” says Harry Hunsicker, who is Bouchercon’s 2019 Toastmaster. “Last year it was in New Orleans, and it was Mardi Gras themed. For Dallas, they are going for the cowboy theme, going with the denim, and it has nice alliteration, too.”

Hunsicker is a Dallas-based author who has written eight mystery novels since 2005. He also served two terms on the Board of Directors for the Mystery Writers for America, and has remained active in the community ever since. As Toastmaster at Bouchercon, he will act as the Master of Ceremonies for the convention and will be seen at numerous events throughout the weekend.

“I am thrilled that it’s in Dallas, because Dallas is such a great city,” Husicker says. “It is also a great convention, and it is a wonderful opportunity to showcase the city to people all over the country.

Thérèse Plummer, one of the speakers for the ‘Unlocking the Mystery of Audiobooks’ panel (taking place Friday at 2:30 p.m.), has been involved in the audiobook community for the last 15 years, and is excited to show people that side of the literary spectrum.

“The audiobook panel at this year’s Bouchercon will be a behind-the-curtain look at the booming business of audiobooks,” Plummer says. “Seeing how audio publishers acquire the books, how professional actors approach the craft of audiobook narration, and how authors react to hearing their words interpreted in the audio medium.”

Plummer has narrated over 400 titles across all genres, including all 20 of the books in the Virgin River series by Robyn Carr. She will also guest star in an episode of the upcoming television adaption of the series, which is set to premiere on Netflix.

While it is her first time attending Boucheron, she is already very excited for what the weekend has to offer.

“I love talking to all the different authors, because I bring their characters to life, and I love to hear about their process of writing the characters in the first place,” Plummer says. “It’s a great combination of storytelling and storytellers all together in one place, celebrating what we do.”

The schedule includes unusual opportunities for readers and authors to interact, like author “speed dating” breakfast sessions, and workshops for aspiring writers.

Throughout the weekend, other featured guests will make appearances, including James Patterson, who has written dozens of novels for both adults and children and is known for the popular Alex Cross series and the Women’s Murder Club series.

Peter Lovesey, who is known for his Peter Diamond mysteries, will be awarded the Lifetime Achievement award during the convention, and Emmy-award winning journalist and best-selling author Hank Phillippi Ryan will receive the American Guest of Honor. The International guest of honor, Felix Francis, is trained physicist who took up the family trade of writing when his father Dick, retired. These authors will be honored by Hunsicker during the weekend’s festivities.

Tickets for Bouchercon are $175, and include admission to all four days of the convention. The Hyatt Regency Dallas, which is hosting the convention, has special room rates for attendees. Find the full schedule, lineup of guests, and event details on the Bouchercon 2019 website. 

It’s never been a problem for Dallasites to find drink deals or late-night events for Cinco de Mayo, but when it comes to celebrating authentic Mexican holidays like Día de los Muertos, the options are scarce–and usually very Americanized. That’s beginning to change, though, and we have Latinx groups across North Texas to thank. This fall brings three new, exciting, and Latinx-led events for Día de los Muertos. From the city’s first Day of the Dead parade to exhibits of ofrendas crafted by local artists, here are some things to see this Día de Los Muertos in DFW.

Dallas Día de los Muertos Parade

What seems to be the biggest tribute that Dallas has given to the holiday is the very first Día de los Muertos Parade and Festival taking place downtown this Saturday. The event is set to become the largest Día de los Muertos Parade in Texas–even bigger than San Antonio’s famous parade–complete with floats,  altars honoring the deceased, and calaveras.

The parade has raised some questions about authenticity, because Día de los Muertos isn’t typically celebrated with a parade. But Mexico City-born Mauricio Navarro, executive director of the parade, says he’s committed to executing the event respectfully.

“We’re being very vigilant, our standards of tradition are going to be upheld. This is something that we’re going to have to control very tightly,” he says.

As a child growing up in Houston, Mauricio’s Día de los Muertos were marked by altars composed of family member’s photos and stories his father would tell him of his late relatives. Navarro says that his experiences as a Mexican immigrant, combined with years of producing the St. Patrick’s Parade, and dealing with the loss of his father and sister all brought him to found this parade. “It was just the perfect storm of being who I am, my background, my experience of loss and grief, and my Hispanic heritage that made all this come to fruition,” says Navarro.

When: 4-11 p.m.; parade from 5-7 p.m.

Where: Dallas City Hall Plaza. Latino Cultural Center will have a separate fest from 11 a.m.-4 p.m.

Cost: Free.

Betsabeé Romero: An Altar in Their Memory/ Un Altar en Su Memoria

Latino Arts Project, Dallas’ new non-collecting museum is celebrating Día de los Muertos with an interactive art exhibition by Mexican artist Betsbeé Romero.

A lot of the fascination with Día de los Muertos comes from what people see in movies and trends, and the museum wanted to showcase the holiday through a more traditional lens, says Latino Arts Project executive director Carlos Gonzalez-Jaime. The exhibition will have an altar, true to Mexican tradition. But it will also feature another, immersive altar that utilizes contemporary elements to pay homage to migrants who have died crossing the U.S. border, and those who have suffered from gun violence.

“You’re celebrating the souls that died trying to find a better life, crossing the border,” says Gonzalez-Jaime.

When: October 22-November 17. Museum is open Tuesday – Friday 10 a.m.- 5 p.m.; Saturdays and Sundays 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Where: Latino Arts Project, 1130 Dragon Street.

Cost: $12; Seniors, students and military, $6.

Latino Hustle: Día de los Muertos 2019

Latino Hustle, a Fort Worth-based collective, is using Día de los Muertos to embrace local Latinx art. The collective will incorporate traditional ofrendas created by artists, as well as a marketplace with artists and vendors who are all Latinx.

Jessika Guillen, a founder of the collective, admits that she didn’t grow up celebrating Día de los Muertos. “I wasn’t always a participant of those traditional aspects of our culture, but I’m still really attached to it,” Guillen says. Oftentimes, children of immigrants don’t grow up celebrating the holiday, but now that they’re older, they want to know more about it.  Events like this can help younger people in the Latinx community learn more about the holiday, and, in turn, their heritage.

Although the collective is composed of mostly millennials, the event is family-friendly and meant to attract Latinos and non-Latinos from every walk of life.

When: Nov. 2, 4-9 p.m.

Where: FWBLACKHOUSE, 1105 Peach St, Fort Worth.

Cost: Free.

We all have the friend who manages to find gems while rummaging through second-hand goods. Brittany Cobb has made a business out of being that friend. Flea Style, which began as a one-day showcase of local artisans and transformed into a full-fledged lifestyle brand with a Deep Ellum storefront, an e-commerce shop, a podcast, and (soon) a restaurant, is turning 10 years old.

Ahead of this weekend’s 10-year anniversary show at Dallas Market Hall North, the mother, entrepreneur, and former editor spoke to us about what 10 years of Flea Style has taught her.

What did changing career paths (from lifestyle editor to entrepreneur) teach you?
My journalism career 100 percent set me up for success in my other businesses. The writing skills alone have been a huge asset for everything I do, from pitching a client as an interior designer to writing copy for our website, blog, or podcast at Flea Style. Working on tight deadlines also taught me insane efficiency. Interviewing people honed my social skills and communication chops. I am so thankful for my eclectic career path that laid a foundation for Flea Style’s multi-channel approach and success.

Did running a business make you realize the importance of friends and family in any way?  
Yes, running a business quickly teaches you how to find your personal work-life balance. For me, that includes making time for friends and family. Instead of paying myself, I currently invest in my company and its growth. I pay myself right now with lunches with friends, play dates, and occasionally self-care dates for one (like a manicure or rare massage). Unplugging with people I love is my favorite stress reliever and always a solid reminder of what’s truly important in life.

What have unsuccessful deals and various location moves taught you about failure and not settling? 
I have learned over the years that failure is just a lesson learned and often an opportunity for redirection or reflection. And yes, it definitely makes you push through to the next thing or chapter and not settle.

What have you learned about dressing well while being busy? 
I love to get dressed every day. It’s a form of creativity and expression. It also lets me live out the far-flung crazy corners of my personality. Some days, I’ll dress buttoned up and others super casual and bohemian. At the end of the day though, I’m comfortable in my skin, so I can run a meeting in front of professionals, schlep dirty flea market finds into storage, and handle my kids’ pickup or sports schedules.

What have the past 10 years taught you the importance of self-care? 
I know it’s so important, but honestly it currently falls to the bottom of my to-do list. However, I do make time for a manicure at Verbena every two weeks (they serve free iced lattes and wine!), try to eat my leafy greens, and visit with loved ones that fulfill me way more than a massage! Anything beyond that is a bonus right now.

Additional lessons you’d like to add? 
Don’t burn bridges. We’re all so connected and it’s important to keep lines of communication open with people you’ve worked with. I have leaned on old colleagues, past clients, and former vendors for so much over the years. Everything from my realtor that landed our Deep Ellum headquarters to coffee for my new restaurant came from direct or indirect connections I’ve made over the years.

Also, always keep an open mind. I would not be where I am today if I wasn’t available to new opportunities that were not necessarily in my plan.

To celebrate a decade of the curated flea market experience, Flea Style is throwing a 10-year Anniversary show taking place Friday and Saturday at the Dallas Market Hall. Attendees can shop vintage finds and pose for various photo opps. Friday is a VIP night ($28) and Saturday is open to General Admission ($5) ticket holders.

The days are growing darker and there’s a chill in the air–Halloween is near and we’re ready for a scare! Spooky season is in full swing, and the frightening festivities in Dallas kick off this weekend. Whether you’re looking for a kid-friendly fest, a high stakes costume contest, or a swanky holiday bash, we’ve rounded up all the best bashes in town.

Family-Friendly Frights 

The Forth Worth Zoo will host their annual Boo at the Zoo event October 25-27. This family-friendly event will have Halloween-themed activities throughout the park all day included with the price of admission.

Winfest at Win Kids will be held on October 27 at 2p.m. to 5 p.m. Open to kids of all ages, there will be bounce houses, games (including a ninja warrior course) and a costume contest.

Malloween, hosted by Music City Mall in Lewisville, will provide a safe, indoor trick-or-treating opportunity on October 31 from 6-8 p.m. Tickets are free; characters will be attending for photo ops, and popcorn and cotton candy will be provided while supplies last.

Denton’s Day of the Dead Festival will be held October 26. Activities for the day will include coffin races, a pumpkin patch and the Twilight Lantern Parade, where the kids can walk the streets of historic downtown Denton with their own paper lantern.

The Fort Worth Stockyards will host their annual Treat Street event on October 31 from 5-7 p.m. Full of treats, games, and hayrides, this free event is fun for the whole family. Kids that come in costume will also have the opportunity to enter the Cowtown Cattlepen Maze for half-price.

Friscovania, a massive Halloween extravaganza, returns to Toyota Stadium on Saturday, October 26 from 3-8 p.m. This year, the free event includes a haunted carnival, games, DJs and live entertainment, a costume contest, and a fashion show and concert.

The Shops at Willow Bend in Plano are hosting an unusual holiday affair, a Halloween and Christmas Mashup on Saturday, October 26 from 5-8:30 p.m. You can carve pumpkins and decorate ornaments, meet Santa, and watch a screening of The Nightmare Before Christmas. It’s a free event.

Chill Thrills

NTPA Repertory Theatre presents an interesting new take on The Addams Family this Halloween season. Wednesday is all grown up and falling in love. She decides to bring her “normal” boyfriend and his parents home for dinner, and hilarity unfolds. The play is showing Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from October 25 through November 2. Purchase tickets here.

Mutt’s Canine Cantina in Dallas hosts its annual Howl-O-ween party on October 19 from 1-4 p.m. Arrive early to enter your pup in the costume contest!

Fangoria and the Dallas Museum of Art are teaming up for Mid-Century Modern Horror, a day full of retro thrills on the big screen in the Horchow Auditorium. There’s a screening of A Bucket of Blood at 3:30 p.m., a screening of Peeping Tom at 6:30 p.m., and a special preview screening of A24’s In Fabric, which will include a conversation with the film’s costume designer, Jo Thompson. Tickets are $10-30.

Danielle Georgiou Dance Group and Theatre Three present a haunting new dance musical, The Bippy Bobby Boo Show, from October 25-November 2. The play is styled after a ‘60s musical variety show, with talented ghosts taking the stage one after another to entertain you with music, dance, and comedy. Tickets are $20.

The Mesquite Arts Theatre, which is housed in an old hospital, revisits its past during its annual fundraiser on October 26 from 4 to 7 p.m. The Haunted Hospital Tour will be filled with surprises and restless souls. The event is open by donation.

Halloween Bash at the Boo-tanical Gardens in Grapevine is happening October 26 from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. There will be activities, food, a costume contest and live music from the Michael Hix Band. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for kids.

Spooky Sprint North Dallas will take place on October 26 at the Carter Softball Complex and Duck Creek Trail in Garland. Entry fees start at $33, and they are partnering with Hope Clinic-Garland to collect personal hygiene items and basic medical supplies. Be sure to stick around after to show off your costume, and participate in one of many activities.

Rainbow Vomit will open its doors to guests to bring a special Halloween version of “Night Mode.” Their art exhibit will be transformed for a new interactive Illumination Station, which features a curated sonic experience. This event is 21+, and is BYOB. Costumes are encouraged, and tickets start at $23. 

Stomping Ground Comedy Theatre presents Slay: Halloween Variety Hour, a holiday-themed improv on October 26 at 8 p.m. Hosted by Jamie Zeske, the sketches will feature local comedy talent. Tickets are $5; The event is 18+ and BYOB.

The Dallas Symphony Orchestra is performing the haunting score to The Nightmare Before Christmas while the movie plays on the big screen at the Meyerson Symphony Center from October 31-November 3. Costumes are encouraged. Find tickets here.

Costume Contests

The Statler is hosting Leather and Laces: Halloween Edition on Friday, October 25. The party will be hosted by Jeremy Piven (a.k.a. Ari Gold) and DJ’d by Brandon Olds. Tickets start at $45–but with $10,000 in prizes at stake in the costume contest, you might come out a little richer.

Denton Halloween Fest, hosted by Denton Pride Foundation, will take place on October 31 at the North Texas Fair Grounds. Think your costume has what it takes? Along with their drag shows, they will also host costume contests and a catwalk, where there are multiple prizes, including a first place prize of $500. This event is free and open to all ages.

Join the Terror at Texas Live! Halloween Party on October 26. The night will include music from DJ Dynamix and a costume contest starting at 11 p.m. that has prizes valued over $5,500. Tickets are $5, or $10 at the door.

Heroes Lounge will host the 9th annual Heroes Halloween Ball on October 26. Tickets are $15, and there is a cash prize of $500 for the costume contest. This event will include live music from DJ Petro, as well as a full bar and a Caribbean-based menu.

Celebrating their 20th anniversary, Dragons Halloween Ball, hosted by the Wyndham Garden Dallas North Hotel, presents their theme for this year; ‘Once Upon a Time.’ Doors open at 8 p.m., and the $1,000 and other prizes will be given away at 11:30 p.m. Tickets for this event are $40.

Spooky Soirées 

Disco, TX is kicking off Halloween a little early with a Euphoria-themed costume party at Ferris Wheelers on Friday, October 18. Entertainment includes DJs Blake Ward and Christy Ray, drag by Bleach, Ruby Diamond, and Kylee Ohara Fatale, and more. Buy tickets here.

The famous Oak Lawn Block Party is back on October 26 from 7 p.m. to 2 a.m. in the 3900 block of Cedar Springs. The area is fenced off from traffic for the event, making it perfect for a Costume Promenade with live commentary. Round Up Saloon will be decked out in Halloween decor and open during the fun.

The W Dallas will host their annual Halloween Costume Ball on their rooftop bar, Altitude. Tickets start at $35, and attendees can expect champagne, live music, and plenty of Halloween-themed party favors.

House of Blues Dallas will host their 9th annual Mega Masquerade & Costume Bash on October 26. Hosted in their VIP Foundation Room, guests are free to engage in whatever mischief they want to for a night full of live music and fun. The event starts at 10 p.m., and tickets are $15.

Canton Hall’s 3rd annual Throwback 90’s Halloween Party is set to happen on October 31 at 7 p.m. The DJs will be bringing their best playlists, including music from the late 80’s through the early 2000’s. There will also be a free photo booth, and a costume contest with a $200 prize. The show is 18+, and tickets are $10.

The SWEET BAR in Deep Ellum will host this year’s House of Halloween. This year’s theme is Glitter Party, so costumes are encouraged to get as sparkly as possible, and there will be a $500 prize for whoever is deemed best dressed. The event starts at 6 p.m. on October 26, and will include music from DJ ROGERTHAT, NIVEK and MVNKEE. Tickets are $10 at the door.

Status Night Club will have three rooms for partying on Dallas’ Horror of the Year party on Halloween night, including Top 40, Hip-Hop and EDM music from KYLECANNON and TWALK. The party starts a 10 p.m., and there will be prizes for the best costumes. Tickets for this event as $10.

Face your fears in style with Hotel Zaza’s annual Halloween Bash. Starting at 10 p.m. on October 25, the party will include light snacks, local DJ’s and spooky specials you won’t find anywhere else. Tickets are $75.

Lizard Lounge holds its 27^th annual Halloween Bash on October 26 with music from DJ Johnny Funk and Xavier Grigsby, and a $1000 costume contest. It’s free for everyone before 10 p.m.

Double Wide throws its Spooktacular Halloween Bash on October 26 from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. with live music by The Rich Girls, Weezing (a Weezer tribute), and The Texas Jesus & Mary Chainsaw Massacre, a $500 costume contest with Frida Monet, and drag performances. Tickets are $10.

Editor’s note: There’s a lot happening in Dallas this weekend. Here, we home in on one event. See our Things To Do page for the full lineup. 

Saturday brings the fifth annual Art Walk West, a self-guided tour of West Dallas’ arts community. If you aren’t familiar with the neighborhood, this is a perfect time to get acquainted: Tons of artists will open their studios to visitors, Ex Ovo gallery has a new, Dallas-centric group exhibition titled Next Exit, Sweet Pass Sculpture Park will be open, and a Little D pop-up market will be stationed at Trinity Groves. Meanwhile, 16 artists are taking their talent straight to the streets for Wild West Mural Fest. 

The mural fest, now in its second year, is beautifying the area one wall at a time. Each artist has their own space to imagine a Western-themed montage–previous works include cacti and galloping horses. Painting started early this week and will conclude on Saturday during the Art Walk. 

The group is mostly local, with a few out of towners in the mix. Drigo, who I recently interviewed, is doing a mural with students from the Sidney Lanier Expressive Arts Vanguard. Mariell Guzman from Fort Worth and Dallas’ Sour Grapes collective will return to the fest for a second year, while local artists Brennen Bechtol, Dummy Fresh, Mario Sanchez, Tex Moton, and others are participating for the first time. Nicky Davis is repping Houston, Jenny Lane is here from Austin, and Jill Stanton came all the way from Edmonton, Canada to make her mark on Dallas. 

For the artists who traveled to be here, it’s an opportunity to add some Texas flair to their usual style. When Eric Karbeling from Miami was given the western theme, he immediately thought of one iconic symbol he had seen on previous business trips to Dallas. 

https://www.instagram.com/p/B3nchmsn2WB/

“I remember seeing people driving around with the longhorn skull on their car and being blown away by that,” says Karbeling. His mural at Singleton Blvd. and Topeka Ave. depicts a giant longhorn head made up of abstract paint strokes. While Karbeling has been to Dallas several times before, this is the first time he’s really gotten to experience the art scene.

“It’s cool to see it through a local artist’s eyes, rather than like, either my corporate eyes or if you’re on vacation trying to [see everything],” he says. 

Dallas artist Mariel Pohlman is known for her murals around town–she has five in Uptown and a few more in West Dallas–but painting for Wild West Mural Fest has also pushed her outside of her typical practice. 

“I’m a commercial muralist, so this is a good opportunity because it’s not commercial, so they said, ‘Ok, just give us Mari,’” she explains. Pohlman made a large, rectangular frame of abstract shapes and squiggles on a wall in the backyard of Sweet Pass Sculpture Park, where it will be used for art film screenings. “This is a pattern I’ve been doing a lot lately…There’s something about interlocking shapes that I like, especially when they’re a similar distance apart, so that’s the methodology.”

https://www.instagram.com/p/B3nTU50HimD/

Stephanie “SM” Sanz is also a seasoned muralist, but having moved to Dallas from Panama City a short five months ago, this is the first time her work will be on display locally. Before coming here to be near family, she’d been traveling, painting large-scale projects in Panama, Mexico, and Colombia. 

“The reason I moved to the States is that I wanted to try a bigger arts scene, so I’m definitely on the lookout for opportunities all the time,” she says. She’s been getting to know Dallas’ tight-knit arts scene, especially through her fellow muralists. 

“I feel like it’s small, but it has a group of very talented people in it,” she says. “I think it’s cool that the market isn’t super saturated yet, it’s an opportunity for people to grow.”

For Wild West Mural Fest, Sanz is painting a giant cowgirl motif on a brick wall on Beckley Ave. between Main and Commerce streets. 

“I’ve always loved the idea of cowboys, like vintage ones. I mostly do all girls, because I love drawing women who are adventurous and in a strong position. So, I wanted to do some cowgirls that look like real badasses from the Wild West,” she says with a smile. 

You can see all of the artists at work this Saturday, October 19 during Art Walk West. Check the Facebook event page for updates, including a map with the artists’ locations.

In my own humble opinion and Vogue’s, “Vanderpump Rules” is a perfect reality show. It’s a pure, messy, masterful joy filled with rage texting and half shots. It’s a real-world workplace drama featuring actual friends who have all dated (and cheated) on each other. It’s irresistible. Plus, Rihanna loves it, so we’re golden.

I would absolutely follow these waiters-turned-“celebrities” anywhere, and I pretty much have. I’ve stood in line at TomTom in West Hollywood. I’d consider ordering a case of “Witches of Weho” wine for Halloween. I’ve even listened to Scheana’s podcast once!

And I would absolutely go see my beloved Stassi Schroeder perform live at The Majestic. Before her show next Wednesday, October 16, I caught up with the New York Times best-selling author to discuss her show, Dallas, and season eight of “Vanderpump Rules.”

It’s so good to talk with you. Have you been to Dallas before?
I have! I actually was able to go there on my book tour, so I was able to see a little bit of the city and it was just beautiful, so I’m really excited about this Texas run.

Are there any spots you want to revisit when you’re in town?
Unfortunately, this time around I have zero time to do anything. I didn’t realize with a podcast tour you basically take a flight in the morning, get in an Uber, check into your hotel, get glammed, go to a meet and greet, and do the show. Then you go back to your hotel and it’s 11pm and you’re dead. But like, some of the nights I’ve been able to go out to one bar. So I’m hoping I have enough in me to do that because I love the city so much. I need to take a proper trip back soon.

You definitely do. I feel like Dallas people are your people.
I mean, I’ve been there a few times because I’ve done something with the Dallas Housewives.

I was wondering if you had met them. 
I met with Stephanie and Brandi. They were so sweet. They took me out and I had such a good time with them. 

So, did you ever imagine you would go on a tour like this when you started a podcast?
Oh fuck no. So many people were telling me to do a live podcast, and I was like no way in hell. I love going to stand up shows, and I just think it’s the scariest thing in the world. So I was always pushing back. And then after my book tour, I realized, okay, I feel like I can do this. But if I’m going to do this, it needs to be a full experience. I don’t want it just to be me sitting at a table with my computer talking. I want it to be interactive. I want it to be a really cool set. I want music. I want people to walk away from it and be like, “What the fuck did I just watch? But that was awesome.”

The Majestic is a great venue for that. And Luann [de Lesseps] was actually there last week doing her cabaret act.
Wait, that’s amazing.

Did you know she had been there?
I didn’t, actually. But I performed in the Gramercy Theater after her and while I was in the dressing room I was like, Countess Luann was in here. So cool.

So what can people expect at your show?
So, basically, the goal is to feel like you’re in my apartment and we’re all having a boozy girls’ night in, but [my fiancé] Beau is crashing it. He’s also like a girl though—he loves gossiping. We have different segments and then there’s interaction with the audience. There’s kind of a karaoke section. It’s just a lot, and to have one of my best friends, Taylor [Strecker], who’s such a pro and so great at performing be there too—it’s just a party atmosphere.

Are Stephanie and Brandi going to be coming to the show?
I hope so! I need to reach out to them and demand that they go. They are the sweetest. I’ve met a lot of the Housewives, but I’ve spent a lot of time with those two, so I’m very partial to them. I love them.

Is there anything unique about the Dallas show?
We tailor each show to the city that we’re in. So there’s a little bit of Dallas in the show.

I have to ask, is there anything you can tease about the next season of “Vanderpump Rules?” You guys have already filmed right?
Yeah we did. We’ve wrapped season eight. I think it’s going to be a whole different type of season. Even though there’s a lot of focus on [Brittany and Jax’s] wedding, we do have new cast members, and I think it’s shifted a lot this season. Most of the people who were still working at SUR, it’s sort of impossible for them to do that now, and they’re all moved into big houses and everyone’s doing different things. I feel like it’s even more authentic than it was before. So I’m excited. I’m excited to watch it.

Editor’s note: There are plenty of happenings in Dallas this weekend. Here, we home in on one. See the full weekend lineup on our Things To Do page. 

Los Angeles-based artist and former Dallas resident Samantha McCurdy celebrates the opening of her second solo exhibition at Galleri Urbane, Sun Systems, this Saturday. Where 2018’s Personal Boundaries used McCurdy’s signature spandex shapes to explore the human body, the new selection of work contemplates the extraterrestrial bodies of our solar system with the same materials. Once again, viewers are left wondering what exists beneath the thin veil of fabric separating them from the guts of the artwork. 

Frequent readers will remember McCurdy being featured in D Magazine for both her art and her impeccable personal style–but anyone who’s interacted with the young artist knows her for her exuberant personality, which I encountered for the first time over the phone this week. I gave Samantha a call while she was on the road hauling her work from Los Angeles to Dallas to talk about the mini universe she’s created in Sun Systems. 

Your first show at Galleri Urbane was about human bodies, now you’re getting into celestial bodies. How did you move from one idea to the other? Basically, it’s just about the unknown. Shit that you can’t see, right? My first show, Personal Boundaries, was a micro exploration of that, where it’s like, my clothing is a boundary, you can’t see my boobs or my body. These bed sheets are a boundary, you can’t see what’s going on underneath them between me and another person–you know, but you can’t see it. Like the planets, we know them, but we can’t see them. There’s this unfathomable boundary between us and them, and it’s kind of faith-based. At least at the micro level, the bodily level, we all have bodies that we know and we interact with–we don’t interact with planets at all. It’s all faith and assumption based, based off science. Not to be, like, a conspiracy theorist, but if we couldn’t see the stars, and someone told me there’s these giant gas bodies out there, what would I do?

 I’ve always been fascinated with human interactions, physical interactions, bodily interactions, and I’ve always been interested in the macro level, which is planets. Things that we can’t explain fascinate me. 

But also, as a minimalist abstract artist, I just like the idea of choosing the same vehicle that I already used to make the work I make–spandex, wood, circles–using that to represent each planet based on facts and mood. It sounded really fun to me. 

It’s interesting that you say that because, yeah, we know that there are planets but nobody’s really been to them.  I haven’t been there, have you been there? 

No! [We laugh.] Did you want to let your imagination or your own ideas play into how you portrayed them, or did you want to keep it science based?  It is, in a weird way, kind of faith based…

For some reason, I get this question every time I show my work, ‘What’s in there? What’s behind it making that shape?’ and I’m like, ‘I don’t know dude, you gotta buy it to find out I guess!’ So, I thought about that, too. My paintings are kind of like planets in that way–nobody knows what is creating that surface, they only know the shape of the planet or the shape of the piece–but they don’t know the internal makeup of it.

Have you ever considered doing work that explores the inside of them and kind of opens that up to the public? It’s so funny–I actually started an Instagram account years ago. I don’t know the password anymore, but it’s called The Back of the Front, you might be able to find it. 

 It was me taking pictures of the back of my work and the back of some of my friends’ work. I did a studio visit with this artist who was up-and-coming around the same time, and he was like ‘Oh, you can’t take any pictures of my work because I have a show,’ and I thought, ‘Oh, that’s so weird. You’re really famous and cool I guess, because fucking anyone can take pictures of my work.’ I asked to take a picture of the back and he said yes, so I took a bunch of pictures of the back of it. I thought about that idea for a long time, and I just haven’t revisited it. 

At the time, I also did a couple experiments with sheer spandex that showed what was on the inside…Seeing what’s inside of it defeated the purpose for me. There’s something sexy or horny or intriguing about it that you don’t know what’s in there. The chase and the excitement is something that I want to carry.

These shaped spandex paintings are your signature. How do you continue to evolve that idea? This show’s about outer space, it’s about the solar system, so I’m going to make a shape for each planet, and then I’m also going to do a series of black holes–because at my last show I did a couple inverted pieces that I wanted to work on–and I was like, okay, for Saturn I’ll get some neon rings and plug them in and they’ll light up, maybe add crystals, have a rainbow…the more I thought about this, the more I was like, ‘Sam. Your work doesn’t have neon lights in it anywhere, or any other shit. This is not a natural evolution of your process. Don’t reinvent the wheel, keep it simple. Do exactly what you were doing just get better at it and get more edited with color.’ 

It’s really important to me not to use any gimmicks or easy grab-ons. I focused on making the forms cleaner, better, and then editing down colors. I tend to use a lot of colors. Not only did I want to have a different color for each planet, but all of those colors had to go together as a palette.

Can you tell me what the show looks like? So seventh grade, my science class, we had this project where we each made a planet and hung it from the ceiling, and it was there all year long. It was really cute. That was definitely an inspiration for me… I just like the way classrooms look and the way little kid solar systems look, so that’s how I decided to curate the show. 

You’re based in L.A. now, but you lived in Dallas for four years. Do you miss anything here? The people! I miss the people! Yeah, it sucks being landlocked, and I live in Cali now and I bought a wetsuit and I’m friends with surfers and it’s so tight–but I miss the people. I met so many weird, lovely people there. And It’ll Do! That’s my favorite dance club. Literally after the show, I’m going to go to It’ll Do and dance my tiny heart out.