5 Reasons To Visit DFW In The Fall

As the summer sun finally sets over the metroplex, North Texans can turn down the air conditioning and begin to venture back out again. When they do, it is not hard to see just how beautiful DFW is during the fall.

Dallas Arboretum - Autumn at the Arboretum
8525 Garland Road
Dallas, TX 75218
(214) 515-6615
www.dallasarboretum.orgDate: Sept. 20 - Nov. 26, 2014

From September 20 to November 26, the Dallas Arboretum comes alive with autumn hues through the pumpkins, squashes and gourds that transform the hot palate of summer colors into the warm, delicious shades of red, orange and yellow. The widely acclaimed Pumpkin Village is back as well as the Cinderella Carriage that previously captured the imaginations of so many. It's time to return to make more family memories in this gorgeous natural setting.

Addison Oktoberfest
4970 Addison Circle Drive
Addison, TX 75001
(972) 450-2851
www.addisontexas.net/oktoberfestDate: Sept. 18-21, 2014

Named by USA Today as one of the best Oktoberfests in the nation, the Addison Oktoberfest is a major draw to the area in the fall. This year's festival will be held, as always, in Addison Circle Park from September 18-21. Peruse the Family Fun Zone, the Carnival and arts and crafts between meals at the Kaffee Und Kuchen Haus and the richest of German beers at the Draught Haus. Culture, cuisine and cold brews make this the ideal fall event for locals and visitors to the area.

State Fair of Texas
3921 Martin Luther King Jr., Blvd.
Dallas, TX 75210
(214) 565-9931
www.bigtex.comDate: Sept. 26 - Oct. 19, 2014

Friday, September 26 to Sunday, October 19 will mark the season of the State Fair of Texas in Dallas at Fair Park. With live music and dance performances, chili cook-offs, famous fair food, shopping and rides, it is nearly impossible to cover everything in one day. Sample the newest crazy fair concoction while preparing to board the fastest rides just after your picture with the new and improved symbol of the fair, Big Tex. Attendance of the State Fair is practically a requirement for Texans.

Related: Free Fall Activities For Families In DFW

The Flower Mound Pumpkin Patch
5100 Cross Timbers Road
Flower Mound, TX 75028
(817) 430-4536
www.flowermoundpumpkinpatch.comDate: Oct. 1-31, 2014

As the fall blooms in North Texas, one of the best seasonal activities in the area is to visit a pumpkin patch. The Flower Mound Pumpkin Patch is a favorite because it offers more than simply picking a pumpkin, but a cornucopia of family fun activities like hayrides, bounce houses and a pumpkin patch train. The Flower Mound Pumpkin Patch is open October 1-31 from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. for food and fall fun.

Six Flags Over Texas Fright Fest
2201 Road to Six Flags
Arlington, TX 76010
(817) 640-8900
www.sixflags.com/fright-fest-2014-09-27
Date: Sept. 27 - Nov. 2, 2014

Six Flags Over Texas is haunted this fall. Friday through Sunday every week from September 26 to November 2 (and Monday October 13 - Columbus Day), Six Flags is part of the dark side, tainted by heart-stopping haunted houses and scare zones where you never know who or what is lurking in the shadows.

Related: Best Fall Festivals In The Dallas Fort Worth Area

Kena Sosa is a freelance writer in Dallas. Her work can be found at Examiner.com.