Halloween is getting spookily close, which means little ghosts and goblins will soon be donning their costumes and hoping for more treats than tricks.
Opendoor’s Dallas-Fort Worth market is one of the best cities to celebrate Halloween, according to the real estate blog, Candy’s Dirt, based on single-home density and the number of kids under age 10, or in short: more candy for less walking.
Besides the traditional trick-or-treat events and the over-the-top Cutting Edge Haunted House, there’s a variety of alternatives for families who are looking for festive activities, such as churches that hold organized “Trunk or Treat” gatherings, or local fall carnivals.
We’ve gathered some of the best neighborhoods for trick-or-treating, but also included a few other festivities to enjoy Halloween in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.
Far north Dallas suburbs
Plano and Frisco, two suburban cities located north of Dallas, are popular among families. Recently, the U.S. Census announced that Frisco was the number one fastest growing city in the U.S. between 2016 and 2017. When it comes to the annual candy hunt, several Plano and Frisco neighborhoods go all out.
- Deerfield, known for its amazing Christmas light displays, according to the Deerfield Homeowners Association, also welcomes Halloween hordes. Homeowners stock up on plenty of sugary loot. You’ll find Deerfield in northwest Plano near the intersection of Preston and Legacy.
- Singletree Trail, northwest of the Parker Road and Independence Parkway intersection, has a home dubbed the “Halloween House” that is often decorated. The street is typically blocked to car traffic as neighbors sit outside their homes to hand out candy. In past years, a DJ has played spooky Halloween music, according to the Plano Mom’s Blog.
- Frisco’s Panther Creek Estates (PCE) is also one of the best spots to celebrate Halloween in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, according to the local CBS affiliate. It was built during the housing boom between 2003 and 2007 and includes a community pool and playground. Its one- and two-story brick homes are situated fairly close together with modest front yards that make running from house to house a breeze.
Dallas and close-in neighborhoods
Within Dallas’ city limits and close-in suburbs, these two neighborhoods have been perennial favorites due to their over-the-top Halloween displays.
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- The Swiss Avenue Historic District in Old East Dallas was designated as Dallas’s first historic district and homes in the area come from many different architectural styles, such as Mediterranean, Spanish, Georgian and Craftsman. When it comes to Halloween, “revelers pile in by the thousands,” notes CBS, as “homes are decorated to the max.”
- The Lakewood neighborhood, essentially Lakewood Boulevard and the streets parallel, is also a beehive of activity on Halloween. Homeowners decorate their properties and they buy a variety of candy. Kids from nearby subdivisions often head here for the good eats. The active Lakewood Neighborhood Association often hosts grownup gatherings for adult Halloween revelry as well.
Fort Worth and northwestern suburbs
- The Monticello neighborhood is known by locals for its great Halloween activities. According to the Fort Worth Mom’s Blog, the area of Monticello Park near Dorothy Lane and Monticello Drive is an especially good neighborhood for trick-or-treaters.
- Hometown North Richland Hills, a neighborhood in the northern Tarrant County suburb of North Richland Hills, has the idyllic look of the fictional town depicted in the movie, “The Truman Show.” The wide sidewalks, townhomes and close-together single-family abodes with inviting front porches offer an efficient place for families with young children to trick or treat.
Far south in Waxahachie
Kids in this town of about 35,000, about 35 miles south of Dallas, typically have three options.
- In the main downtown area of Waxahachie, festivities start early with “Trick or Treat on the Square” from 3 to 5 p.m., where merchants give out candy.
- Then drive about a mile over to a “Trunk or Treat” event at the First United Methodist Church from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. As an alternative to trick or treating, a “Trunk or Treat” has cars parked on a lot with open trunks, usually sporting festive decor (monsters, witches) and offering candy as kids go from trunk to trunk. Sponsors may include other goodies, like music or activities.
- The mini ghosts and ghouls can then walk to homes along several blocks of Harbin and Marvin street, or head nearby to Main Street where neighbors are known for getting into the Halloween spirit with plenty of treats on hand.
Other Halloween festivities
It’s also possible to celebrate Halloween in Dallas-Fort Worth without going door-to-door.
- The Fort Worth Zoo’s “Boo at the Zoo” is one of the longest-running and most popular events in the city. Held October 26-28, “Boo at the Zoo” occurs during the day and is included with admission. The event offers treat stations, carnival games, and animal shows.
- The Grapevine Vintage Railroad offers a “Trick ‘r Treat Train,” October 27 and 28 at 2 and 4 p.m. on authentic 1920s Victorian coaches. Wear your costume and enjoy a train ride and some treats. For adults, an evening Witches Brew Train features craft beers and light bites — costumes encouraged.
- The Frontiers of Flight Museum offers a Star Wars Day Halloween Sci-Fi Extravaganza on October 27. Kids in costume get in free. They’ll be able to trick-or-treat with their favorite Star Wars characters, while ghostbusters (via a nonprofit fan group) secure the premises. The day’s activities, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., will include a costume contest and the chance to enter the Star Wars Universe in the museum’s SPOC planetarium.
Halloween can be a lot of fun in Dallas-Fort Worth, whether it’s spent going door-to-door or at a special event. No matter what neighborhood or Halloween activity you ultimately choose, we’re sure your kids will fill up some treat bags and have some spooky good fun.
