Attendees walked past Big Tex at last year’s State Fair of Texas in Fair Park. The big fella will don a new pair of size-96 boots for the 2026 fair.
Christine Vo/Staff Photographer
Dallas might not have Coachella or Lollapalooza, but there’s no shortage of major yearly events in the city.
From the iconic State Fair of Texas every fall in Dallas to the historic Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo, major fairs, festivals and events take place across the metro area throughout the year.
Here’s a look at more than a dozen major events in North Texas:
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State Fair of Texas: Taking place over 24 days every fall, the fair typically runs from the end of September through mid-October. It has taken place at Fair Park in South Dallas since 1936, and includes a wide variety of events and game. The fair hosts the yearly Texas-Oklahoma college football rivalry game at the Cotton Bowl. And it’s known for its unique and ever-changing food options.
Van Alstyne 4-H Club members Jett James (1383, left) held his heavyweight Shorthorn as his brother Ace James (right) circles during the Jr. Steer Show at the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo in Fort Worth in 2024. Jett won the class competition.
Tom Fox/Staff Photographer
Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo: The event is the oldest continuously running livestock show, dating back to 1896, and usually takes place in January and February. It’s highlighted by the FWSSR PRORODEO Tournament, and features livestock and horse shows, activities, exhibits, live music and more.
Dallas International Film Festival: Arguably the biggest film festival in North Texas, DIFF is an Oscar Qualifying Festival that usually takes place across a week in late April/early May. It includes film screenings, filmmaker panels, meetups and more.
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Dallas Blooms: A springtime staple, this event is at the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden every year. It is the largest annual floral festival in the Southwest, according to their website.
Main Street Fort Worth Arts Festival: This large arts festival traces its roots back to the 1980s and is now one of the best-attended of its kind in the Southwest, according to its website. The event stretches across downtown Fort Worth over several days, typically in April, and features hundreds of artists.
Parade participants passed along Greenville Ave. during the 45th St. Patrick’s Day Parade on March 14, 2026, in Dallas.
Shafkat Anowar/Staff Photographer
St. Patrick’s Day Parade and Festival: This parade and festival take over Greenville Avenue in East Dallas every March.
Riverfront Jazz Festival: Organized by The Black Academy of Arts and Letters, this festival made its mark when it first started in 2017. Held on Labor Day weekend, the event attracts notable contemporary jazz musicians. For 2026, the legendary Erykah Badu is an honorary chair.
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Dallas Art Book Fair: This two-day event is usually at the Dallas Contemporary in March. The free event brings together bookstores, publishers, artists and more.
Hot air balloons lit up in turn to complement a performance by the Plano Symphony Orchestra at the Plano Balloon Festival at Oak Point Park and Nature Preserve in Plano.
Liesbeth Powers/Staff Photographer
Plano Balloon Festival: This Plano staple started in 1980 and is best known for its hot air balloon launch.
GrapeFest: This longtime Grapevine event is the largest wine festival in the Southwest, according to its website. The four-day celebration of Texas wine-making features tastings, live entertainment, food and even grape stomping. It usually takes place in September.
Denton Blues Festival: This longtime event takes place every September at Quakertown Park in downtown Denton. It features live blues music, food vendors and more.
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Cottonwood Arts Festival: This Richardson staple dates back to 1969 and is now a nationally prestigious fine arts festival, according to its website. It takes place every year on the first weekend of May and October.
Sharonda Taylor as Lady Janya and Brian Taylor as Hyrule Justice walked around the grounds during the Scarborough Renaissance Festival’s 45th season in Waxahachie on April 11, 2026.
Juan Figueroa/The Dallas Morning News
Scarborough Renaissance Festival: This themed festival takes place in a re-created 16th century English village on the outskirts of Waxahachie. The event, which started in 1981, typically runs through April and May.
Ennis Bluebonnet Trails Festival: This historic festival goes back more than 70 years and celebrates the state flower of Texas. The small city south of Dallas is home to more than 40 miles of mapped bluebonnet trails. The festival typically takes place in mid-April during the bluebonnet peak season.
Japanese Spring Festival: This event at the Fort Worth Japanese Garden is a celebration of Japan’s arts and culture including taiko drumming, tea ceremonies and more. The event, which is a collaboration between Fort Worth Botanic Garden and the Fort Worth Japanese Society, typically happens in late April.
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Festival of Joy: This celebration at Klyde Warren Park, usually in April, is inspired by millennia of ancient Indian tradition. It’s a street party that features a parade, floral displays, music, dance and a free vegetarian feast.
Staff writer Alyson Rodriguez contributed to this report.