October in Fort Worth is shaping up to be a full-throttle festival of music, theater, and good old-fashioned spooky fun — from fairy-tale flights over Neverland to the Grammy-topping beats of live concerts. Whether you’re craving country hits, folk anthems, or a taste of the city’s finest micheladas, there’s an event on the calendar with your name on it. And if pumpkins, the Addams Family, and Boo at the Zoo are more your speed, rest assured — this month has got Halloween covered, too.
October 3 – 5
‘Peter Pan’
The Texas Ballet Theater takes on J.M. Barrie’s classic tale of Neverland, the Darlings, and the boy who just wouldn’t grow up. The performance will include stunning costumes, dancing, and, in the true “Peter Pan”-style, jaw-dropping aerobatics.
Bass Hall
October 9
Keith Urban
Promoting the release of his 13th studio album, High, Australian country star Keith Urban hit the road with his High and Alive World Tour in May and will swing by Dickies Arena in October. Special guests include Chase Matthew, Alana Springsteen, and Karley Scott Collins.
Dickies Arena
October 11
ArtsGoggle
One of the city’s premier showcases of local artisans and musicians — with a few food trucks thrown in for good measure — ArtsGoggle takes over the entirety of Near Southside’s Magnolia Avenue for a full day in early October.
Magnolia Avenue from Eighth Avenue to S. Main Street
October 11
The Lumineers
Known for their unison chants of “Hey” and songs about women with names that end in an “a” — “Ophelia,” “Gloria,” and “Cleopatra” — the Grammy-nominated, Billboard-topping folk outfit visit Dickies Arena in support of their fifth studio album, Automatic.
Dickies Arena
October 12
Michelada Festival
The Clamato and beer concoction is one of maybe two beverages that has entered the cultural zeitgeist to a point of warranting a festival. Festivities will include michelada vendors, live music, and plenty of tajin.
900 Main St.
October 12 – 18
Jenny Saville: The Anatomy of Painting
Organized by the National Portrait Gallery, London, this marks the first major exhibition of Jenny Saville’s work on this side of the Atlantic. The showcase will feature 50 pieces that encapsulate the celebrated figurative painter’s 30-plus-year career.
The Modern
October 24 – 26
‘The Addams Family’
A musical based on the hilariously macabre family every generation has come to love — thanks to TV, film, and now Netflix — “The Addams Family” swings by Bass Hall for a three-night stint right before Halloween.
Bass Hall
October 24 – 26
Boo at the Zoo
With live music, animal shows, and sweet treats, this annual family-friendly event at Fort Worth Zoo is the perfect Halloween outing for kiddos that haven’t graduated to Cowtown’s plethora of haunted houses.
Fort Worth Zoo
October 28 – Nov. 2
‘A Beautiful Noise’
The never-before-told story of Neil Diamond set to Neil Diamond tunes, sign us up. This biographical musical, which ran for over 600 performances on Broadway, includes all of Diamond’s hits and plenty of big-collar button-downs — and the chest hair to boot.
Bass Hall