8 Best Halloween Things to Do in Dallas Fort Worth in 2026
Halloween in Dallas Fort Worth goes way beyond haunted houses. You can spend the night wandering through glowing pumpkins, explore an entire city that transforms for Halloween, take a ghost tour through downtown Dallas, or test your nerves inside some of the area’s biggest haunts.
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The Best Halloween Events in DFW for 2026
1. Scarborough’s Hollow
⭐ Best Halloween Festival
📍 Waxahachie
📅 September 26 to November 1, 2026
Scarborough’s Hollow combines Halloween atmosphere with live entertainment, themed experiences, food, shopping and plenty of spooky surprises. It’s a good choice if you want an entire Halloween evening rather than just walking through a haunted house.
Don’t Miss: The themed entertainment and after-dark atmosphere.
Good to Know: I’ll be visiting Scarborough’s Hollow this season, so I’ll update this guide with firsthand tips and photos after my visit.
2. Denton Halloween
👑 Best Halloween Destination
📍 Denton
📅 Throughout October
Denton doesn’t just host a Halloween event. The city turns Halloween into a month-long celebration with downtown decorations, special events, markets and spooky experiences throughout October.
The biggest weekend is the Denton Day of the Dead Festival, featuring the famous Coffin Races, Cirque du Horror and Twilight Lantern & Costume Parade.
Don’t Miss: Day of the Dead Festival and the Coffin Races.
Good to Know: Many Denton Halloween activities are free.
3. Dark Hour Haunted House
👻 Best Immersive Haunt
📍 Plano
📅 Select nights beginning September 19
Dark Hour is known for elaborate sets, theatrical effects and detailed storytelling that make it feel more like stepping into a horror movie than walking through a basic haunted house.
If you want one really good traditional haunted house, this would be one of my first choices.
Don’t Miss: The elaborate sets and special effects.
4. Pumpkin Nights
✨ Best Not So Scary Halloween Experience
📍 Arlington
📅 September 17 to October 31
Walk through a half-mile trail filled with 10,000+ glowing pumpkins and multiple themed lands. Pumpkin Nights delivers all the Halloween atmosphere without requiring anyone to be chased through a haunted house.
It’s an especially good choice for a Halloween date night or family evening out.
Don’t Miss: The Pumpkin Tunnel and themed pumpkin lands.
Good to Know: Go after dark to get the full effect.
5. Cutting Edge Haunted House
💀 Best for Serious Scares
📍 Fort Worth
📅 Select nights during Halloween season
Set inside a century-old former meatpacking plant, Cutting Edge has one of the most unusual haunted-house settings in DFW. It’s big, dark and intense, making this the pick for people who actually want to be scared.
Don’t Miss: The industrial setting is part of what makes this haunt different.
Good to Know: This isn’t the one I’d choose for someone who doesn’t enjoy intense haunted houses.
6. Yesterland Spooktacular Nights
🎃 Best for Families
📍 Canton
📅 September 19 to November 1
Yesterland turns its fall festival into a nighttime Halloween experience with a glowing hayride, creepy corn maze, zombie paintball, rides, fireworks and more.
It’s spooky without being focused on gore, making it one of the better choices for families and older kids.
Don’t Miss: The Goblin Glow Hayride.
Good to Know: There’s enough here to make the drive to Canton worthwhile.
7. Deadly Dallas Ghost Tour
👻 Best Ghost Tour
📍 Downtown Dallas
⏱️ About 1 hour
Trade fake monsters for Dallas ghost stories on this walking tour through some of downtown’s darker history. Stops include historic locations around the West End and Dealey Plaza.
This is my pick for anyone who prefers haunted history over haunted houses.
Don’t Miss: The stories surrounding some of downtown Dallas’s most recognizable locations.
Good to Know: It’s outdoors and involves walking, so dress for the weather.
8. Six Flags Over Texas Fright Fest
🎢 Best for Rides + Halloween
📍 Arlington
📅 September 11 to November 1
Fright Fest combines Six Flags rides with scare zones, haunted attractions, Halloween entertainment and nighttime atmosphere.
I wouldn’t choose it over DFW’s dedicated Halloween attractions if Halloween is your only priority, but it makes sense if you want roller coasters and Halloween in the same night.
Don’t Miss: The park after dark when the Halloween atmosphere really kicks in.
Good to Know: Some haunted attractions require an additional purchase beyond park admission.
Which DFW Halloween Experience Should You Choose?
For the full Halloween festival experience, choose Scarborough’s Hollow. For an entire Halloween destination, head to Denton. If getting scared is the goal, choose Dark Hour or Cutting Edge.
Want something less intense? Pumpkin Nights gives you the atmosphere without the scares, while Yesterland is my pick for families. And if you’d rather hear real ghost stories than walk through a haunted house, book the Deadly Dallas Ghost Tour.
💙 One Last Thought
The best Halloween events in DFW offer a little bit of everything, from full Halloween festivals to genuinely scary, haunted attractions. One of the best things about Halloween in DFW is how different every weekend can look. You can spend one night surrounded by glowing pumpkins and the next exploring a haunted house or watching coffin races in Denton.
🧭 Continue Planning Your DFW Trip
Planning more around DFW? These guides can help you find more seasonal experiences and things to do.
👻 4 Best Ghost Tours in Dallas Fort Worth
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🎃 5 Best Pumpkin Patches in DFW
Find pumpkin farms, fall activities, and family friendly seasonal fun around DFW.