Homeschool & family fun in Dallas–Fort Worth

Fall festival with the Pumpkin Village throughout the garden.

• When: Sept 19–Nov 1, 2026
• Time: 9 a.m.–5 p.m.
• Price: Garden admission (price varies by date; see the Arboretum)
• Ages: All ages
• Booking: Buy timed tickets on the Arboretum site.

Daytime Halloween event: treat stations, live entertainment and animal shows. Six treat coupons per admission ticket or membership (6 more for $5).

Upcoming dates: Fri, Oct 23, 2026; Sat, Oct 24, 2026; Sun, Oct 25, 2026

• When: Fri–Sun, Oct 23–25, 2026
• Time: 10 a.m.–5 p.m.
• Price: Included with Zoo admission or membership; parking $5 (members free); Bone Rattler Express and Kooky Carousel $5 ($4 members)
• Ages: All ages
• Booking: Buy general admission online. Guests 13 and older must keep their faces visible.

Halloween-themed evening story time.

Upcoming dates: Wed, Oct 28, 2026

• When: Wed Oct 28, 2026
• Time: 6:30–7:30 p.m.
• Price: No fee listed
• Ages: Kids
• Booking: See the library event page.

Halloween story time with Fort Worth police officers, at two branches.

Upcoming dates: Fri, Oct 30, 2026

• When: Fri Oct 30, 2026: Ridglea Library and Southwest Regional Library
• Time: Ridglea 10:30–11:15 a.m.; Southwest Regional 10:30–11:30 a.m.
• Price: No fee listed
• Ages: Families
• Booking: See the library event pages.

The Dallas Opera brings its Opera Truck and musicians for a musical take on the Brothers Grimm tale.

Upcoming dates: Sat, Oct 31, 2026

• When: Sat Oct 31, 2026
• Time: 11 a.m.–12 p.m.
• Price: No fee listed
• Ages: Families
• Booking: Registration is on the library event page.

Altars, music, ballet folklórico, mariachi and a procession with a priest's blessing at 3:30 p.m. Garden admission is half price all day.

Upcoming dates: Sun, Nov 1, 2026

• When: Sun Nov 1, 2026
• Time: Activities noon–5 p.m.; procession 3:30 p.m.
• Price: Half-price garden admission all day
• Ages: All ages
• Booking: Buy garden tickets online or at the gate.

Hands-on STEAM activities for homeschoolers.

Upcoming dates: Mon, Oct 26, 2026; Mon, Nov 9, 2026

• When: Mondays: Oct 26 and Nov 9, 2026
• Time: 2:30–3:30 p.m.
• Price: No fee listed
• Ages: Grades K–6
• Booking: See the library event page. Questions: (817) 459-6900.

For teens (13+). Make a stop-motion film. Oct 27: claymation. Nov 24: paper crafts.

Upcoming dates: Tue, Oct 27, 2026; Tue, Nov 24, 2026

• When: Tuesdays: Oct 27 and Nov 24, 2026
• Time: 1–2:30 p.m.
• Price: No fee listed
• Ages: For teens (13+): grades 7–12
• Booking: No registration required, per the library.

Teamwork, technology and robot building in the Explore Technology Classroom. Registration covers an 8-week series.

Upcoming dates: Wed, Oct 28, 2026

• When: Starts Wed Oct 28, 2026 (8-week series)
• Time: 1:30–3 p.m.
• Price: No fee listed
• Ages: Ages 10 and up
• Booking: Registration required for the whole series; see the library event page.

Classroom-style, hands-on STEAM labs by grade band. Nov 3: Chemistry of Bubbles. Nov 17: Coding with Ozobots, Part 1. Dec 8: Coding with Ozobots, Part 2.

Upcoming dates: Tue, Nov 3, 2026; Tue, Nov 17, 2026; Tue, Dec 8, 2026

• When: Tuesdays: Nov 3, Nov 17 and Dec 8, 2026
• Time: Check-in on the hour; classes start 15 minutes after and last 45 minutes
• Price: Full fall semester (7 labs) $150 members / $180 non-members; single session $26 members / $28 non-members
• Ages: Grades PK4–8 (grouped by grade)
• Booking: Register on the Sci-Tech page. Grades 1–5 are full for fall (waitlist available).

Family-group workshop: explore "The Statue of Liberty from Bartholdi to Warhol" and works from the collection to see how artists assert their creative freedom.

Upcoming dates: Wed, Nov 4, 2026

• When: Wed Nov 4, 2026
• Time: 10 a.m.–12 p.m. (meet at the Information Desk)
• Price: Free; reservations required
• Ages: Students ages 5–17 (families stay together with their adults)
• Booking: Register on the Carter event page (registration opened Aug 1, 2026).

Free homeschool sketching and writing program in the permanent collection; all materials provided. Parents can explore the museum or use the free Studio A play space with younger siblings.

Upcoming dates: Thu, Nov 5, 2026

• When: Thu Nov 5, 2026
• Time: 10:30–11:30 a.m.
• Price: Free; registration required
• Ages: Homeschool students in grades K–8
• Booking: Register on the Kimbell event page.

Monthly homeschool meetup with a different activity each month; the library provides all supplies.

Upcoming dates: Fri, Nov 6, 2026

• When: Fri Nov 6, 2026
• Time: 2:30–4:30 p.m.
• Price: No fee listed
• Ages: Ages 6–17
• Booking: See the library event page.

Homeschool program in the Children's Play Room.

Upcoming dates: Thu, Nov 12, 2026

• When: Thu Nov 12, 2026
• Time: 10:30–11:30 a.m.
• Price: No fee listed
• Ages: Grades K–6
• Booking: See the library event page. Questions: (817) 459-6900.

Monthly themed tours led by Carter gallery teachers with close looking, conversation and an art activity. Nov 13: "Many Faces of U.S." Dec 11: "Creative Gifts."

Upcoming dates: Fri, Nov 13, 2026; Fri, Dec 11, 2026

• When: Fridays: Nov 13 and Dec 11, 2026
• Time: 10–11:30 a.m.
• Price: Free; reservations required
• Ages: Students ages 5–17 (tour groups assigned by age)
• Booking: Seating is limited; register ahead on each event page.

Hands-on environmental science for homeschool families. Registration includes garden admission for the day; children must come with an adult.

Upcoming dates: Mon, Nov 16, 2026; Mon, Nov 23, 2026

• When: Mondays: Nov 16 and Nov 23, 2026
• Time: 10–11:45 a.m.
• Price: $12 per student ($10 member student); $5 per adult (members free)
• Ages: Recommended for ages 4–8
• Booking: Both sessions are SOLD OUT; the garden offers a waitlist. Registration closes the Thursday before each session.

⚠️ Sold out as of Oct 23, 2026; listed so you can join the waitlist.

Hands-on chemistry for kids and their adult: physical vs. chemical changes, a hypothesis and a simple experiment using the scientific method.

Upcoming dates: Wed, Nov 18, 2026

• When: Wed Nov 18, 2026
• Time: 2–3 p.m.
• Price: Class ticket plus museum admission (admission is not included in the class price; see the ticket page)
• Ages: Ages 5–11 with an adult
• Booking: Buy tickets on the museum calendar page. Note: the museum entrance has moved to the Omni Theater entrance on Lansford Lane.

Groups move cabin to cabin in pods of 10 or fewer, meeting historical interpreters in period dress. Works for homeschool co-ops and groups.

• When: Tuesday–Saturday, by reservation
• Time: Starts at 10 a.m. or 1 p.m.
• Price: $5 per participant; one chaperone free per 10 participants, extra chaperones $5
• Ages: All ages
• Booking: 10–80 participants. Book online at least two weeks ahead.

Weekly natural-science classes by age band. Spring 2027 topics: Discover Your World: The Earth (6–7), Explorers: Adaptations (8–9), Earth Trek: Sharing the Planet (10–11).

• When: Spring 2027: meet the teacher Jan 12; classes start the week of Jan 19 and end the week of Apr 20 (no classes the week of Mar 15)
• Time: Tuesdays or Wednesdays, 1:30–3:30 p.m.
• Price: $216 per semester (members) / $240 (non-members), paid in installments
• Ages: Ages 5–11 (separate ages 12–13 and preschool programs)
• Booking: Pre-registration required. Spring 2027 registration opened Oct 20 for returning students; the page says it opens to everyone after that and stays open until spots fill.

General admission to the collection is free; tickets are required. Free First Sundays add free exhibition admission, an open studio (noon–4 p.m.) and a highlights tour (2–3 p.m.).

Upcoming dates: Sun, Nov 1, 2026; Sun, Dec 6, 2026

• When: General admission free whenever open. Free First Sundays: Nov 1 and Dec 6, 2026
• Time: Free First Sundays: open studio 12–4 p.m.
• Price: Free (tickets required); underground parking $25
• Ages: All ages
• Booking: Reserve free tickets on the DMA site.

Free garden admission on Veterans Day. On other days: adults $12, children 3–15 $6 online.

Upcoming dates: Wed, Nov 11, 2026

• When: Wed Nov 11, 2026
• Time: 8 a.m.–5 p.m. (last entry 4 p.m.)
• Price: Free
• Ages: All ages
• Booking: No booking listed.

Free admission and free parking in the museum lot on Camp Bowie Blvd.

• When: Tue, Wed, Fri, Sat 10 a.m.–5 p.m.; Thu 10 a.m.–8 p.m.; Sun noon–5 p.m. Closed Mondays and major holidays.
• Time: See schedule
• Price: Free
• Ages: All ages
• Booking: No tickets listed.

Always-free museum with two locations: the Dallas Arts District and the UT Dallas campus (800 W. Campbell Rd, Richardson).

• When: Tuesday–Sunday. Closed Mondays and major holidays.
• Time: 11 a.m.–5 p.m.
• Price: Free
• Ages: All ages
• Booking: No tickets listed.

Admission to the Kimbell collection is always free. Special exhibitions are ticketed (children under 6 free).

• When: Tue–Thu and Sat 10 a.m.–5 p.m.; Fri noon–8 p.m.; Sun noon–5 p.m. Closed Mondays, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day.
• Time: See schedule
• Price: Collection free; special exhibitions $14–$18
• Ages: All ages
• Booking: No tickets needed for the collection.

Christmas Village, decorated DeGolyer House and the final season of the 12 Days of Christmas gazebos. Holiday at Night adds evening lights.

• When: Nov 11, 2026–Jan 3, 2027
• Time: Daytime 9 a.m.–4 p.m.; Holiday at Night 5–10 p.m.
• Price: Daytime: adults $21.95–$25.95, children 3–12 $17.95–$21.95, under 3 free, Museums for All $3. Night: $35–$40 (members $20–$25)
• Ages: All ages
• Booking: Buy tickets online; price depends on the date. Night walk-up adds $4.

Evening walk-through light display with themed areas. Sensory-friendly night Nov 17.

• When: Select nights, Nov 13, 2026–Jan 3, 2027
• Time: 5:30–9 p.m.
• Price: General admission from $19; combo ticket +$10; parking $15
• Ages: All ages
• Booking: Buy dated tickets online; check the zoo calendar for open nights.

Photos with one of Santa's reindeer and a sleigh outside in CenterPark Garden. First come, first served.

Upcoming dates: Wed, Nov 25, 2026

• When: Wed Nov 25, 2026
• Time: 9–11:30 a.m.
• Price: No fee listed
• Ages: Families
• Booking: No registration; served in order of arrival.

"How the Grinch Stole Christmas" read by the Grinch himself, then photos and holiday fun.

Upcoming dates: Sat, Dec 5, 2026

• When: Sat Dec 5, 2026
• Time: 10 a.m.–12 p.m.
• Price: No fee listed
• Ages: Families
• Booking: No registration required.

Photos with Santa and Krampus on the afternoon before Krampusnacht.

Upcoming dates: Sat, Dec 5, 2026

• When: Sat Dec 5, 2026
• Time: 1–3 p.m.
• Price: No fee listed
• Ages: Families
• Booking: No registration required.

Bilingual Santa (English and Spanish) for wish lists and holiday photos. Come dressed in holiday gear.

Upcoming dates: Sun, Dec 6, 2026

• When: Sun Dec 6, 2026
• Time: 1–3 p.m.
• Price: No fee listed
• Ages: Families
• Booking: Registration is on the library event page.

Holiday stories and songs, a short visit from Santa and an ornament craft to take home.

Upcoming dates: Tue, Dec 8, 2026; Mon, Dec 14, 2026; Tue, Dec 15, 2026

• When: Dec 8: North Branch (3020 N. Locust St), 10 and 11:30 a.m. Dec 14: South Branch (3228 Teasley Lane), 10 and 11:30 a.m. Dec 15: Emily Fowler Library (502 Oakland St), 6:30 p.m.
• Time: Varies by branch (see schedule)
• Price: No fee listed
• Ages: Young children (South Branch lists ages 1–5)
• Booking: See each event page.

Christmas, Hanukkah and Kwanzaa plus Yule, Las Posadas, Shogatsu, Soyal and Shalako traditions.

Upcoming dates: Sat, Dec 12, 2026

• When: Sat Dec 12, 2026
• Time: 12–2 p.m.
• Price: No fee listed
• Ages: Families
• Booking: Registration is on the library event page.

Music, juice boxes and a countdown to noon with a balloon drop.

Upcoming dates: Thu, Dec 31, 2026

• When: Thu Dec 31, 2026
• Time: 11:30 a.m.–1 p.m.
• Price: No fee listed
• Ages: All ages
• Booking: No registration required.

Come in pajamas for hands-on activities and a countdown to 12:00 noon. Same program at three branches.

Upcoming dates: Thu, Dec 31, 2026

• When: Thu Dec 31, 2026 at Parr Library (6200 Windhaven Pkwy), Harrington Library (1501 18th St) and Haggard Library (2501 Coit Rd)
• Time: 11:30 a.m.–12:15 p.m.
• Price: No fee listed
• Ages: Babies, toddlers and preschoolers
• Booking: No registration required.