Best Corn Mazes, Fall Festivals and Agri-Adventures in North Texas. From Dallas to the high plains we have a list of the best corn mazes and fall festivals with materful creative corn mazes, tractor rides, glow-in-the-dark tattoos, storytelling under the stars, thousands of pumpkins, living science activites, tempting harvest time treats, and screen free fun.
Here's the scoop. Autum is an energizing time in Texas and celebrating the season's change can be oodles of fun with kids. Play flashlight tag or chase the kids through the corn stalks; ride on a wagon full of hay or paint a pumpkin face.
Our list includes the Family Travel Files staff picks and reader’s favorites from TELL MOM. The season looks promising.
Autumn at the Dallas Arboretum with and Awesome Pumpkin Village (September through November). The Dallas Arboretum is the place to see more than 75,000 pumpkins, gourds and squash in a magical setting which creates a festive atmosphere and offers the potential to make unique discoveries with children. An extensive menu of activities fills the calendar throughout the festival making any week a great week to be in the garden.
Bonus Points: The added value of any visit with children is the Rory Meyers Children's Adventure Garden which makes a perfect addition to the magical Pumpkin Village. Here’s the deal. Tom Thumb stores are providing $1 off general garden admission to Autumn at the Arboretum. (The Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden is located on the southeastern shore of White Rock Lake at 8525 Garland Road, Dallas, Texas 75218. (214) 515- 6500 or visit
www.dallasarboretum.org)
At’l Do Farms Lubbock(mid-September to the end of November) For more than two decades Texas Panhandle maze has entertained guests of all ages. From train rides and the pens full of pigs, goats, chickens, and sheep to a covered wagon, a hayride out to the pumpkin patch where night time brings creative illuminations. Kids enjoy the cow-train rides, corn cannons, rock wall, extreme air, and as always the horseback rides.
Bonus Points: Stargazing is exceptional even without a telescope.
Here’s the deal! Children aged four or younger admitted free of charge. (6323 FM 1294, Lubbock, Texas. (806) 763-5594 or
www.atldofarms.com)
Mainstay Farm Family Pumpkin Days near Cleburne (October). The menu for family fun includes more than hay rides and pumpkins. The three-story tree house is always popular, and all kids love to bounce on a giant jumping pillow. Tykes can navigate the wooden maze (allergy free). They have three mazes, a play-in-the hay area and a super chute slide plus a pedal-cart race track, and Goat-Scape Mountain. Taste sausage-on-a-stick, caramel apple chips, and save room for pumpkin ice cream.
Best Part: They sell orange as well as designer pumpkins, hay bales, cornstalks, and gourds plus it’s possible to paint your own pumpkin.
Bonus Points: Not part of Pumpkin Days but perhaps use for another time, the Farm has a regulation beach sand volleyball court and six regulation washer courts. And in June each year it is possible to pick blackberries onsite. (Mainstay Farm 900 W. Bethesda Rd. Cleburne, TX 76031. (817) 295-6772 or
www.mainstayfarm.com)
River Legacy Parks "After Dark in the Park" in Arlington (mid-October). This annual four-day fall festival is ideal for families with children ages two to 12. The event highlights the River Legacy Living Science Center's ongoing educational programs and provides oodles of unique activities meant to be shared. In addition to a creative craft area for children there is also storytelling under the stars, many games, glow-in-the-dark tattoos, and a pumpkin patch plus escorted night hikes and hayrides. Always popular, the bounce houses will delight and there will be an opportunity to sing Karaoke.
Best Part: Even when the festival is over there are plenty of great programs for families to enjoy including free story time each Saturday and many special guided walks ideal to share with kids. (River Legacy Living Science Center 703 N.W. Green Oaks Blvd. (at Cooper Street) Arlington, TX 76006. (817) 860-6752 or visit
www.riverlegacy.org)
Hall's Pumpkin Festive Fall Days in Grapevine (late September - October). Start with the corn maze with pathways and dead ends spanning almost two acres. The maze by day is fun but Halls also invites visitors to navigate by flashlight or for a greater challenge night light. Children younger than three years of age are always admitted for free. Fun includes a hay-filled tractor pulled wagon and a chance to select the perfect pumpkin.
Best Part: All ages love to meet and sometimes feed resident farm animals - curious goats, snarky donkeys, and lazy cows.
Bonus Points: Jump in a haystack or snap pictures with scarecrows and chill in the country watching cows graze in the pasture un phased by airplanes overhead on approach to DFW. (Hall Farm 3420 Hall Johnson Road, Grapevine, TX 76051. (817) 991-1052 or
www.hallspumpkinfarm.net)
Checkout details about the annual family friendly fall festival at
Dallas Arboretum.