Oktoberfest Mania Spreads Through North Texas — Your Guide to the Beer Bonanzas From Dallas to Plano

Dallas weekends are packed full of events, but how many of them are truly worthy of your time? PaperCity‘s new events calendar offers a curated look at all of the best things to do in North Texas. But everyone can still use an expert.

PaperCity‘s Weekend Expert Megan Ziots culls our calendar for your must dos in this regular weekly series. For the first weekend of fall, attend one of the many Oktoberfests taking place, check out a brand new fitness fest, or enjoy a concert.

Lake Highlands Oktoberfest

As the primary Oktoberfest in Dallas, Lake Highlands puts on quite the German event at Flag Pole Hill. Just north of White Rock Lake, the event will take place for 12 straight hours on Saturday from 10 am to 10 pm. Brews will obviously be available, as well as bites like brats, pizza, BBQ, burgers and ice cream.

Musical performers include a Beastie Boys tribute band Rhymin N Stealin, Tom Petty cover band Petty Theft, and The Lupners. Also, are you a king of cornhole? There’s a King of the Hill cornhole tournament at noon. Entry wristbands for the day start at $10.

Go to the full PaperCity events calendar listing. 

Oktoberfeast Legacy Hall

Venture over to Legacy Hall in Plano starting at 4 pm on Friday through Sunday for its 2nd annual Oktoberfeast. The free three-day fest includes beers, brats and German music bands, as well as brewery tours, outdoor games and a Sunday Family Fun Day.

You can purchase VIP concert seating for Friday and Saturday evening concerts with your own reserved area. The European-style food hall will also be open Friday and Saturday from 10 am to 2 am and Sunday until 11 pm.

Go to the full PaperCity events calendar listing. 

Oktoberfest McKinney

Since 2008, historic downtown McKinney has been hosting Oktoberfest on the square. The free event starts Friday at noon and ends Sunday at 5 pm. The Biers of Oktoberfest this year include authentic German Hofbrau, as well as McKinney’s own Franconia and Tupps. Brats, sausages, schnitzel, strudel, funnel cakes and roasted almonds will be available for bites.

And the 12th annual festival will also have music, contests, carnival rides, a parade, petting zoo and dancing.

Go to the full PaperCity events calendar listing. 

Frisco Oktoberfest

A brand new Oktoberfest is headed to North Texas. Frisco is holding its inaugural fest presented by Nine Band Brewing Co. at Frisco Square this Saturday. From 5 pm to 10 pm, festivities will kick off with a traditional keg tapping.

There of course will be German food, as well as food from local Frisco restaurants, authentic music and dancing, a marktplatz of 100 shops, a VIP tent experience, brat eating and stein hoisting contests, keg rolling and tons of beer. The family friendly event is free to attend, but beer is available only through ticket purchase.

Go to the full PaperCity events calendar listing. 

Oktoberfest Fort Worth

From Thursday to Saturday, Oktoberfest Fort Worth is taking place at Panther Island Pavilion. The three-day fest also includes beer, music, food, dancing, games and dachshund races. You can start out the day with the Run Und Ride event, which include two cycling and two running events on Saturday. As for beers, there will be Spaten and other Fall & Oktoberfest craft biers.

This year, the Reata Haus Restaurant returns with pork schnitzel, bratwurst and a Kasebrett charcuterie board. The main festival menu also includes sausage, German potato pancakes, soft pretzels and more.

A three-day pass for the event is $15. 

State Fair of Texas

Come say hi to Big Tex. The State Fair‘s opening day is this Friday, September 27 at Fair Park. It’ll kick off the 24 day event of fried food, rides, games and fun.

At 8:30 pm, Rick Springfield will perform on the Chevrolet Main Stage. Other musical performers set to take the stage this weekend include Jacquees, Cameo and La Maquinaria Nortena. New attractions this year include the return The World of Birds Show, a selfie stroll, Mighty Mike, new rides and more.

Tickets start at $39 when you purchase online.

Go to the full PaperCity events calendar listing. 

FAME Fest

Dallas’ first-ever experiential fitness festival, FAME Fest is happening this weekend at Omni Dallas. The two-day festival will include tons of classes on two workout stages, and will fuse art and music for the ultimate sensory fitness experience. Classes include everything from yoga to Pilates to cycling and bootcamps. All will go along with music from DJs and local bands. After a day of workouts, there will be live music performances from 7 pm to 10 pm and an all day block party will take place at the Restaurants on Lamar.

General admission to the block party is free, a Saturday ticket costs $55, and a VIP all access pass runs $125. Tickets are available online.

The Who: Moving On! Tour

On Friday night, The Who members Pete Townshend and Roger Daltrey will perform at American Airlines Center. The Who’s Moving On! tour marks the rock band’s first return to the United States since 2017 and will be in anticipation to the release of their newest album Who.

The English rock band formed in London in 1964 and originally included John Entwistle on bass and Keith Moon on drums. Townshend and Daltrey will be accompanied by fellow rock band Reignwolf, a Canadian indie/blues band.

Tickets start at $41.

Go to the full PaperCity events calendar listing. 

MARINA: LOVE + FEAR Tour

Also this Friday evening, MARINA will be performing at The Bomb Factory on her LOVE + FEAR tour. Originally known as Marina and the Diamonds, MARINA changed her name to something that felt more natural to her as opposed to an artistic persona.

The award winning, platinum-selling artist has released three UK Top 10 albums including The Family Jewels and Electra Heart. LOVE + FEAR — two eight song collections — is her latest full length musical release. Musical duo Broods will be the opener.

Joshua Bell at Dallas Symphony Orchestra Gala

Superstar violinist Joshua Bell is coming to Dallas this Saturday to perform at The Dallas Symphony Orchestra Gala. Beginning at 6 pm, the black-tie event will feature a cocktail reception, elegant seated dinner, and Gala Concert performed by the Dallas Symphony Orchestra and Joshua Bell. This year’s 30th anniversary of the I.M. Pei-designed institution will benefit the DSO’s music and education programs. A Gala After-Party will follow with savory bites, desserts and dancing to a live DJ.

Individual tickets start at $1,250 and tables begin at $12,500.

Go to the full PaperCity events calendar listing.