Party Time

Discover Dallas' go-to spot for attending — and hosting — holiday events

The Dallas Farmers Market is a find-it-all-here destination for some of the city's best events, from art shows to foodie fests to holiday markets. It's a go-to spot year-round, but things start getting extra festive in November.

One of Dallas' top culinary events kicks off November 2, as Chefs for Farmers BITE Night and Knife chef John Tesar take over the Dallas Farmers Market. The Top Chef alum hosts the cooking showdown, which will feature some stellar past competitors from the reality cooking show, offering their takes on Texan meats and cuisine. Bring an appetite and get ready to eat your fill.

Still hungry? There are plenty more food events coming, starting with the Holiday Market that opens right after Thanksgiving. On November 25, you can celebrate National Cookie Day (don't forget to snag a free tote bag!), and December 2 is National Red Apple Day (temporary tattoos are the gratis swag that day, while they last). Also mark down December 2 for the Tamale Festival — a Texas tradition.

While you're there, snag the opportunity to design a giftable fruit basket and pick up some fresh produce for yourself. Sweet potatoes, green beans, eggplant, butternut squash, pecans, oyster mushrooms, and black-eyed peas are all in season, and all guaranteed to be needed somewhere on your holiday menus.

For culture vultures, the DFM has Julia Jalowiec’s one-woman art show on November 10. The Boho Market can help you get a jump on holiday shopping November 11-12, while a special pop-up reappears on December 9.

All throughout the Holiday Market, be sure to make time to sample apple cider, sip from the hot chocolate bar, and pause for a picture with Santa. After all, adults have wish lists too, right?

And 'tis the season for parties, be they sponsored by the Dallas Farmers Market or simply held there. The Market's European-style food hall is a hidden gem for corporate and social gatherings, thanks to its central seating areas that are surrounded by local artisanal food vendors. You can book one or multiple food vendors, making your event a progressive dinner with a custom-designed menu.

For even bigger events, The Shed's open-air pavilion can accommodate more than 2,700 people, or more than 5,000 by spilling into the surrounding areas. But the area can also be partitioned, making it ideal for smaller, more intimate events. The space is full of personality, with a mix of outdoor and indoor to create a unique atmosphere. The giant, quiet ceiling fans create a gentle breeze during still-warm fall events, but there are also overhead radiant heaters, misters, WiFi, potable water, and plenty of 110 & 220 electrical outlets to help power whomever you might book to perform on the large built-in stage.

Another option is renting out Mudhen Meat and Greens, the next-door restaurant that specializes in farm-to-table fare and killer handcrafted cocktails and local beer. No matter which venue you choose, count on easy and ample parking, amazing skyline views, and close proximity to Big D's other attractions and nightlife. Reach out to Susan Armanovs at 469-607-4596 or susan.armanovs@dallasfarmersmarket.org for more info on booking the Dallas Farmers Market for your next event.

Dallas Observer Brewfest brought beer enthusiasts to the Dallas Farmers Market.

Dallas Brewfest at Dallas Farmers Market

Photo by Melissa Hennings

Dallas Observer Brewfest brought beer enthusiasts to the Dallas Farmers Market.

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who needs a raise?

Here's the income it takes to be in the top 1 percent in Texas in 2026

Hundred dollar bills, top 1 percent earners, income study

Photo by Jonathan Borba on Unsplash

The income needed to be ranked among the top 1 percent of earners in Texas has snowballed past $800,000.

In a state where local billionaires are wealthier than they've ever been, high-earning Texans need to make $73,000 more than they did a year ago if they want to be among the top 1 percent of earners, a new report has revealed.

SmartAsset's latest study analyzed income thresholds for the top 1, 5, and 10 percent of earners in all 50 states and the District of Columbia, using 2022 IRS data for individual tax return filers (the most recent year available), adjusted to 2026 dollars.

Texas has the 11th highest income threshold, with residents needing to make a minimum of $817,158 to be considered among the top 1 percent of earners statewide. In 2025, Texans needed to make about $744,000 to be among the top 1 percent.

For comparison, residents living in the nation's capital must make at least $1.16 million to qualify as top 1 percent earners. The District of Columbia led the nation with the highest income threshold to be a top earner.

To be considered among the top 5 percent of earners in Texas, a resident would need to make $312,671. The income threshold to be considered among the top 10 percent is $210,609.

SmartAsset additionally found that 128,130 Texas residents qualified as top 1 percent earners in 2022. Nationally, the report estimated that fewer than 2 million households earn enough to be considered among the top 1 percent of earners nationwide, but 23 million households rank among the top 10 percent.

"In some places, households can enter the top 1 percent at income levels that fall well below the threshold elsewhere, reflecting an uneven landscape of wages and wealth," the report said.

A separate SmartAsset study that tracked the upper and lower thresholds for middle class households found Dallas residents need to make anywhere from $49,549 to $148,646 to maintain their middle class status. But in other North Texas cities, residents can make up to $291,000 — a figure that would place them between the top 5 and 10 percent of earners — and still be labeled "middle class."

The top 10 states with the highest thresholds to be considered in the top 1 percent of earners in the U.S. are:

No. 1 – District of Columbia ($1,156,664)
No. 2 – Connecticut ($1,147,898)
No. 3 – Massachusetts ($1,006,921)
No. 4 – California ($987,325)
No. 5– New Jersey ($969,976)
No. 6 – New York ($959,562)
No. 7 – Florida ($956,449)
No. 8 – Washington ($903,303)
No. 9 – Colorado ($828,772)
No. 10 – Wyoming ($819,014)

income finance smartasset reports salaries

Party Time

Discover Dallas' go-to spot for attending — and hosting — holiday events

Dallas Observer Brewfest brought beer enthusiasts to the Dallas Farmers Market.

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Here's the income it takes to be in the top 1 percent in Texas in 2026

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