Autumn at the Arboretum: Harvest HuesDallas
daily 9 to 5, September 19 to November 1
Over 100,000 pumpkins and gourds, and this year the pumpkin houses are each made to look like a famous artist's work.
Fall in Dallas and Fort Worth2 things
The ones people drive in from other counties for. Most of them run the whole season, so you don't have to pick a weekend yet.
State Fair of TexasDallas
September 25 to October 18
Big Tex saying Howdy Folks, the midway rides, the livestock barns and all the crazy fried food.
The little stuff, by town0 things
The city Halloween parties and the trunk or treats and the free stuff. Cities post their 2026 dates late, so anything marked "check the date" gets fixed the second it's announced.
The cities post these in early November. Check back.
For the rest of your list
These don't need an address, tap them and they go on your list with everything else.
Christmas in Dallas and Fort Worth3 things
The North Pole Express tickets go on sale October 1 at 10 and they go fast, so set an alarm. The rest post their 2026 dates in the fall.
Santa's North Pole ExpressGrapevine
starts November 27, tickets on sale October 1 at 10 · check the date
A ride on old 1920s train cars with elves and Christmas singalongs and time with Santa.
Christmas Capital of TexasGrapevine
about 40 days from late November through December · check the date
Over 1,400 Christmas events, with an ice rink at Peace Plaza and cartoons and crafts at the old theater.
ICE! at the Gaylord TexanGrapevine
mid November into early January · check the date
A freezing cold room full of giant ice carvings and ice slides, so bring the coats even though it's Texas.
Town Christmas stuff
The town stuff, and I'll add the tree lightings as the cities post them in November.
The cities post these in early November. Check back.
For the rest of your Christmas list
This is the at-home stuff, tap them and they go on your list with the lights and the train.
put it on the wall
Turn your Christmas picks into a real bucket list
Tap the lights and the trains and the town stuff you want and pick the Christmas design you like, and I'll hold onto your picks. The Christmas lists are coming soon, and the second they're up your picks drop straight into the slots.
Good any weekend0 things
The stuff that doesn't need a date, for the Saturday when nothing's going on.
Dallas and Fort Worth fall and Christmas questions
When is Autumn at the Arboretum in 2026?
September 19 to November 1, 2026 at the Dallas Arboretum, open daily 9 to 5.
When is the State Fair of Texas in 2026?
September 25 to October 18, 2026 at Fair Park in Dallas.
When do Grapevine North Pole Express tickets go on sale?
October 1, 2026 at 10 a.m. Central, and the train starts running November 27.
who's writing this
Hi, I'm Amy.
We roadschool six kids out of a van. I'm just a mom with a Ford Transit and a lot of opinions about corn mazes, so if something on here is wrong, or your town's party is missing, email me at hello@bellebucket.com and I'll fix it.
put it on the wall
Turn your picks into a real bucket list
Tap the ones you want and I'll drop them onto whichever fall design you pick, then you add your own stuff (birthdays, carving pumpkins, whatever your family does). It prints big, like 24x36 big, and it hangs on the wall all season.