Hey There, Pumpkin

NorthPark Pumpkin Patch returns with a little magic for Dallas this fall

Fall is getting a festive makeover at NorthPark Center, where the NorthPark Pumpkin Patch returns to Center Park October 1-November 1 for its third annual season, bringing pumpkins, whimsical installations, family-friendly activities, and plenty of opportunities to make memories, all while supporting a meaningful cause.

The free, open-to-the-public experience transforms Center Park into an autumn wonderland, with bountiful plantings, sculptural pumpkin creations, a whimsical gnome village, mythical maze, and charming wishing well. New for 2026 are giant toadstools, a witch’s hat, and an Eataly Dallas pop-up adding a delicious Italian twist to the seasonal celebration.

Designed by Harold Leidner Landscape Architects, local artist David Daniel, and NorthPark’s landscape team, the Pumpkin Patch offers plenty of picture-perfect moments for families. Visitors can also look forward to storytimes from Bookmarks, the Dallas Public Library, movie nights, live music, children’s entertainment, and more throughout the nearly five-week run.

NorthPark Pumpkin Patch You will fall in love with the season,Photo courtesy of NorthPark Center

Photo courtesy of NorthPark Center

Welcome the magic of autumn with NorthPark Center.

Food lovers can stop by the Eataly Dallas pop-up on select Fridays and Saturdays for pizzas, paninis, salads, gelato, desserts, coffee, and other seasonal favorites. Meanwhile, family photo sessions will return in collaboration with Red Photo Booths, with five-minute sessions available for $20 when booked in advance or $25 for walk-ups on select Saturdays and Sundays.

The fall festivities officially kick off with Change is Good, Community Partners of Dallas’ annual family fundraiser, on Sunday, October 4. From 4-7 pm, children can collect coins, bills, and even virtual change in support of CPD’s work providing critical resources to abused and neglected children in Dallas County.

This year's NorthPark Pumpkin Patch is chaired by Andrea Nayfa, luxury real estate agent with Allie Beth Allman & Associates, and Courtney Johnson, head of associate experience at Capital One, with Dirk and Jessica Nowitzki serving as honorary chairs.

Throughout the Pumpkin Patch’s run, visitors can also help make a difference by tossing spare change into the wishing well in Center Park, as well as the Neiman Marcus and Dillard’s fountains. All change collected will benefit Community Partners of Dallas.

The calendar is packed with reasons to return. Friday nights feature Eataly pop-ups, movies, and live music from Chap + Daisy, while Saturdays bring Bookmarks storytimes, photo sessions, and special children’s programming. Highlights include Dallas Children’s Opera’s presentation of The Bremen Town Musicians on October 24 and a Halloween-themed Bookmarks storytime with Creepy Critters on October 31.

With its colorful installations, seasonal entertainment, tasty treats, and charitable mission, the NorthPark Pumpkin Patch offers a festive way for families to celebrate fall while giving back to local children who need support.

The NorthPark Pumpkin Patch is free and open to the public October 1-November 1. Visit northparkcenter.com for the complete schedule and additional details.

dallas northpark pumpkin patch promoted

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

Hey There, Pumpkin

NorthPark Pumpkin Patch returns with a little magic for Dallas this fall

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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