Weekend Event Planner

These are the 13 best things to do in Dallas this Halloween weekend

Halloween weekend in and around Dallas brings the usual assortment of seasonal events, but it also has a bunch of symphony performances, a quintet of new theatrical productions, a historical airshow, reality TV in real life, great opera singers, world-class magicians, a music festival, and the closing of a significant art exhibition.

Below are the best ways to spend your precious free time this weekend.

Thursday, October 28

Dallas Symphony Orchestra events
The Dallas Symphony Orchestra will be very busy this weekend, with events in multiple locations. The Concert Truck, a mobile concert stage that brings classical chamber music directly to communities will hit the road again, parking at five locations in four days as the start of a monthlong journey. They will also present Elgar Symphony No. 1, featuring pianist Isata Kanneh-Mason and conductor Sir Mark Elder, at Meyerson Symphony Center nightly through Saturday. Finally, they'll present a family-friendly Día de los Muertos Concert at Meyerson Symphony Center on Sunday.

Dallas Theater Center presents The Supreme Leader
Dallas Theater Center will present the world premiere of The Supreme Leader, written by Don X. Nguyen. While in boarding school in Switzerland, Kim Jong-Un learns he’s next in line following his older brother’s career-ending trip to Tokyo Disneyland. Set in the snow globe world of stinky cheese and mountain climbing, this coming-of-age comedy imagines Kim Jong-Un’s final throes of youth before his fateful return to North Korea. The production will run at Kalita Humphreys Theater through November 21.

Sangeet Millennium and Art Nomadic presents Clear Light of the Void
Sangeet Millennium, in collaboration with Art Nomadic and other artists, will present Clear Light of the Void a multidisciplinary, multi-media, multi-linguistic performance installation exploring the notion of a journey through a metaphysical world. Audiences will travel through theatrical portals focused on three distinct but related mystical traditions and enacted through live performances of music, movement, and spoken word recitation. The production, part of AT&T Performing Arts Center's Elevator Project, will take place at Wyly Theatre through Saturday.

Friday, October 29

Commemorative Air Force presents Wings Over Dallas
The Commemorative Air Force’s Wings Over Dallas air show is a World War II-themed event featuring aerial activities and living history re-enactments with more than 30 vintage aircraft and other military vehicles. The air show celebrates the historic aircraft that helped win the war, honors the veterans who flew and maintained these iconic warbirds, and recognizes the vital contributions made by civilians on the home front. It will take place at Dallas Executive Airport through Sunday.

Halloween events
Halloween doesn't often take place on a weekend, so you can expect plenty of people out and about and in a spooky mood. The Dallas-Fort Worth does not have a lack of quality haunted houses and other Halloween-themed events, along with things like a ghost tour, themed-train rides, and more all weekend long.

MasterChef Live!
MasterChef Live! is a high-energy, interactive live stage production that brings the culinary hit TV shows MasterChef & MasterChef Junior directly to fans and foodies alike. The family-friendly show, taking place at Comerica Center in Frisco, will feature head-to-head cooking demonstrations and fun (sometimes messy) challenges with past MasterChef & MasterChef Junior contestants.

The Dallas Opera National Vocal Competition
Classically-trained U.S. singers will compete for industry recognition and the chance to perform on a world-class stage with Maestro Emmanuel Villaume and The Dallas Opera Orchestra, all before a live audience and a panel of judges representing some of the most prestigious opera companies in North America. The event will take place at Winspear Opera House.

Lyric Stage presents The Best of Broadway: A Pops Concert
This jam packed, 100-minute concert celebrates Lyric Stage’s 28 years of developing and preserving the musical by featuring 100 years of music from 28 of Broadway’s most beloved shows. The Best Of Broadway boasts performances by local favorites Keron Jackson, Amy Stevenson, Feleceia Benton Wilson, Mary Gilbreath-Grim, Markus Lloyd, Catherine Carpenter-Cox, Christopher J. Deaton, and rising artists Sadat Hossain and Jéssica Webba. There will be four performances through Sunday at Majestic Theatre.

Teatro Dallas presents The Merit System
Teatro Dallas will present The Merit System, which centers on Ray Rivers, a young Puerto Rican man on the way up. Struggling with the cost of assimilation, he walks a tightrope both at the factory, where he has been recently promoted to management, and with his fiancée. When a recently divorced Cuca joins the assembly line, an unexpected friendship develops and allows him to finally accept the part of himself that he’s long denied. The production will run through November 13 at Latino Cultural Center.

Penn & Teller
For over 45 years Penn & Teller have defied labels, and at times physics and good taste, by redefining the genre of magic and inventing their own very distinct niche in comedy. They currently host the hit series Penn & Teller: Fool Us! for The CW Network, on which up-and-comers and magic veterans try to fool Penn & Teller for a chance to star in the duo’s hit Las Vegas stage show. They'll perform at the Music Hall at Fair Park.

Imprint Theatreworks presents We Are Pussy Riot! (Or, Everything is P.R.)
In February 2012, five young women activists, who called themselves Pussy Riot, walked into the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour in Moscow to protest the illegal presidential election in Russia. We Are Pussy Riot! (Or, Everything is P.R.) weaves together trial transcripts, letters, interviews, media coverage, and statements from celebrities and public officials, to re-imagine the story of Pussy Riot. The production will run at Bath House Cultural Center through November 13.

Saturday, October 30

LaReunion Music Fest
The LaReunion Music Fest celebrates live music from acts in and around Dallas-Fort Worth. It will feature performances by The Suffers, Bob Schneider, Rebirth Brass Band, Sir Woman, and more. The festival, taking place at Dallas Heritage Village on both Saturday and Sunday, will also feature vendors, food, and drinks.

Sunday, October 31

Dallas Museum of Art presents "My|gration" closing day
Originally opening on February 1, 2020, the exhibition "My|gration" will finally come to a close on Sunday at the Dallas Museum of Art. It is an installation of works that traces the migration of people, objects, and ideas in art across times and cultures. Composed of works from the DMA’s collection, "My|gration" highlights the contributions of artists who immigrated to the United States, examines how the movement of people is expressed through art, and illuminates ways cross-cultural connections inform artistic production.

The Wings Over Dallas air show takes place at Dallas Executive Airport, October 29-31.

Photo courtesy of Commemorative Air Force

The Wings Over Dallas air show takes place at Dallas Executive Airport, October 29-31.

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World Cup record

Lionel Messi sets World Cup scoring record as Argentina wins in Dallas

Photo by Charlotte Wilson/Getty Images

Lionel Messi #10 of Argentina celebrates after scoring his team's first goal during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group J match between Argentina and Austria at Dallas Stadium on June 22, 2026 in Arlington.

Scoring goals and breaking records is what Lionel Messi does, and it’s what he did again Monday, June 22 at the FIFA World Cup at Dallas Stadium in Arlington.

The Argentina captain, who many consider the greatest player of all time, scored two more World Cup goals on Monday in his team's 2-0 victory over Austria. That gave him a record total of 18 at the world's biggest tournament.

The Argentina-Austria group stage match at Dallas Stadium drew 70,649 spectators - an official sell-out crowd and the highest attendance yet for a World Cup match at the venue, officials said.

“Beyond anything I’m so happy for the win," Messi said. "It was huge, tough and difficult. It would allow us to be relaxed to what’s ahead. All matches in this World Cup are very even, very intense. I’m enjoying this moment and craving to enjoy with my teammates.”

The first goal against Austria came in the 38th minute and two days before Messi’s 39th birthday, and amid the concern of an ailing father back at home. It was the sixth consecutive World Cup game in which Messi has scored — joining France striker Just Fontaine and Brazil great Jairzinho as only players to do so.

Messi had equaled Germany striker Miroslav Klose for the most goals in the World Cup at 16 with his first hat trick at the tournament in Argentina’s 3-0 win over Algeria in the Group J opener last Tuesday night in Kansas City.

He first had a chance to set the record in the ninth minute against Austria on Monday, but he missed a penalty kick.

“There were moments when I was really angry about missing the penalty, but I was able to make up for it,” said Messi, who has won a record eight Ballon d'Or awards as the best player in Europe.

Argentina advanced to the knockout round by winning its first two group games, with Messi scoring all five of the team's goals so far in his sixth World Cup.

Messi added his 18th World Cup goal in stoppage time when he shot one through several defenders after the first attempt was turned away by goalkeeper Alexander Schlager.

Lionel Messi World Cup 2022 Lionel "Leo" Messi and Argentina came into the 2026 World Cup as defending champions. Leo Messi/Facebook

In the first half, the record became Messi's alone when he caught Schlager leaning the wrong way after Thiago Almada let Facuno Medina’s pass go by him and directly onto the Argentina captain’s left foot from about 20 yards.

As the ball went into the net, Messi ran toward a corner and thrust his right arm into the air to celebrate the mark with the decidedly pro-Argentina crowd among the 70,649 fans in Dallas Stadium (AT&T Stadium) in Arlington, the sold-out home of the NFL's Dallas Cowboys.

There had been a gasp from those same fans when Messi missed the penalty kick in the ninth minute.

His left-footed attempt went just wide of the right post. He is now 4 of 7 on penalty kicks in regulation play at the World Cup with misses in three consecutive tournaments.

Klose scored his 16 goals while playing in 24 World Cup matches for Germany, which wrapped up his fourth tournament by winning the 2014 final 1-0 in extra time over Messi and Argentina.

In an interview published on June 12, Klose said he expected Messi to break the scoring record.

“I expect my record to fall in this tournament,” Klose told German newspaper Sueddeutsche Zeitung. “With the larger field of competing teams there are more games and so more chances to score goals. And I assume Argentina and France will go far. That’s perfectly OK, the record will be broken eventually anyhow and Messi is welcome to be the one who does it. I’m a big fan of Messi, always have been. Messi is a genius.”

Messi’s hat trick in the previous game, in his 200th international appearance, came 20 years to the date of his World Cup debut in Germany, when he also scored. Monday was his FIFA-record 28th match in the tournament.

The penalty kick came after Lautaro Martinez was running free in the box and was tackled from behind by Xaver Schlager and Stefan Posch, the defender playing with a broken jaw. Schalger got a foot on the ball, but Posch drew the penalty because he did not touch the ball as Martinez tumbled to the ground.

Play continued for more than a minute with Martinez still on the ground near the goal. When the game was stopped for him, officials reviewed the play.

Messi’s father has been undergoing medical treatment for an undisclosed illness, the family said in a statement last week while not providing any specifics. The 68-year-old Jorge Messi has played a key role in his third son’s soccer career, acting as his agent and managing his business affairs off the field.

Lionel Messi was overcome with emotion after scoring his first goal against Algeria, and said after that match his tears came following some tough days not related to soccer.

"Messi Mania" took over Dallas-Fort Worth for days surrounding the match, with passionate Argentina fans filling the Arlington Entertainment District, Fort Worth's Sundance Square, Dallas' Klyde Warren Park, and FIFA Fan Festival at Fair Park in Dallas.

The Argentina-Austria game was the third of nine FIFA World Cup matches (more than in any other host city) to be played at AT&T Stadium in Arlington. They started with Netherlands vs. Japan on June 14, followed by England vs. Croatia on June 17, Argentina vs. Austria on June 22, Japan vs. Sweden on June 25, and Jordan vs. Argentina on June 27.

The stadium will also host two Round of 32 matches (June 30 and July 3), one Round of 16 match (July 6), and one Semi-Final match (July 14).

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