Name

Time of Year

Description

Mardi Gras Texas

February

Forget Louisiana — Texans flock to Dallas for the city’s annual Mardi Gras festivities. And of course, this yearly party — which typically attracts around 10,000 visitors — puts a Texan spin on the celebration: Country music stars perform across five stages, which revelers can pair with Louisiana and Cajun fare.

The State Fair of Texas

End of September – Mid October

It’s a fair, it’s a festival, and it’s also one of the biggest causes for celebration in the entire state. Head on over to the Dallas State Fair – easily one of the best events Dallas, TX – to enjoy an abundance of fried food, traditional Texas outfits (hint: cowboy boots and hats are involved), farm animals, contests, and rides that might make you want to upchuck all of those heavy snacks you’re bound to consume.

Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo

Mid January to early February

If you like the twice-daily Fort Worth cattle show, then you definitely can’t miss the stock show and rodeo. Featuring livestock shows, music and good ol’ cowboy food, fun, and shopping, this 23-day event has established itself as one of the best annual events in all of Texas.

Savor Dallas

April

It’s not a true party without wine or food, and Savor Dallas certainly serves up both in spades. As one of the premier wine and food festivals in the city, Savor features food from over 65 top chefs.

Addison Oktoberfest

September

All right, it’s not quite in Dallas (and it’s situated a little far from Germany), but the Addison Oktoberfest is still the real deal. Enjoy Schnitzel, folk music, a German spelling Bee, and — of course — some beer at this yearly Oktoberfest celebration.

Index Dallas

November

Formerly known as Untapped Dallas, the Index festival series has rebranded (featuring additional events in Austin, Fort Worth, Houston and San Antonio) and is back for some great beer, music, art and entertainment. This is one of the best events in Dallas for good reason: It boasts more than 300 craft beers that visitors can sample throughout the evening as you enjoy creative performances.

St. Patrick’s Day

March

Dallas is no slacker when it comes to St. Patty’s day festivities. Every year the parade seems to get bigger, featuring the requisite drinking games, crowd of rowdy revelers, and kid-friendly activities for those looking to celebrate without hoisting back too many pints.

Deep Ellum Arts Festival

April

This three-day April arts festival offers an enticing mix of artwork, music, food and drink. Admission to this beloved Dallas festival is free, and visitors can browse and enjoy an array of hand-crafted goods, bands, and food trucks.

Dallas Bloom

Spring

Okay, so maybe this isn’t exactly a raise-your-glasses and party type of party. But the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden is one of Dallas’s most impressive and beautiful claims to fame, and its annual Dallas Bloom gathering easily makes this list. Here, you can enjoy over 500,000 bulbs that bloom at roughly the same time in Dallas’s lovely spring weather. It offers a perfect occasion for photo opportunities.

Out of the Loop Fringe Festival

March

Addison’s Out of the Loop Fringe Festival, hosted at the WaterTower Theatre, has become a favored local tradition. This multidisciplinary event is dedicated to featuring quirky and off-the-beaten-path artists. So grab your tickets, as this exciting and artsy gathering is highly in-demand – you’ll be happy you dropped by.