Visit DFW: October 9–12, 2026
This is one of the BIGGEST weekends of fall in Dallas!
Texas-OU weekend has arrived, bringing thousands of fans to Dallas for the Red River Rivalry at the Cotton Bowl, while the State Fair of Texas is hitting its final stretch. Add Kacey Musgraves, Brooks & Dunn, Blackberry Smoke, live music, fall attractions, and plenty of Fair food, and there’s no shortage of ways to spend October 9–12.
Here’s your Dallas Native guide to the weekend.
Friday Night in DFW
Bash Before the Clash – Friday, October 9
Texas-OU weekend starts Friday night with the annual Bash Before the Clash.
Texas Exes kicks things off at 7 p.m. with live music, followed by the Beat OU Pep Rally at 9 p.m. Expect plenty of burnt orange, appearances from alumni members of the Longhorn Band, Cheer and Pom, and Texas-style game-day energy.
Admission is free.
State Fair of Texas – Fair Park | All Weekend
You can’t do Texas-OU weekend without Big Tex.
The State Fair continues throughout the weekend with fried food, rides, live entertainment, livestock, exhibits, games, shopping, and all the traditions that make Fair season in Dallas so much fun.
If Saturday is all about football, use Friday or Sunday to explore the Fair without having to rush to kickoff.
Brooks & Dunn – Dickies Arena | Friday & Saturday, October 9–10
Country fans have TWO chances to see Brooks & Dunn this weekend.
The Neon Moon Tour comes to Dickies Arena in Fort Worth Friday and Saturday night, making it an easy reason to head west for dinner and a show.
Blackberry Smoke – Billy Bob’s Texas | Friday, October 9
Keep the Fort Worth option going with Blackberry Smoke at Billy Bob’s Texas Friday night.
Spend the evening exploring the Stockyards, grab dinner, and finish the night with live music inside the World’s Largest Honky Tonk.
Role Model – Toyota Music Factory | Friday, October 9
Role Model brings the Chuck On Tour to The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory Friday night.
The show begins at 8 p.m., giving you another option if you want live music without heading into downtown Dallas or Fort Worth.
Saturday: Texas-OU Game Day
Red River Rivalry – Texas vs. Oklahoma | Cotton Bowl | Saturday, October 10
THIS is the weekend.
The Texas Longhorns and Oklahoma Sooners meet inside the Cotton Bowl Saturday for the annual Red River Rivalry.
Kickoff is scheduled for 2:30 p.m., right in the middle of the State Fair of Texas.
Arrive early, grab a Fletcher’s corny dog, take your obligatory Big Tex photo, soak up the sea of burnt orange and crimson, and enjoy one of college football’s most iconic traditions.
Even if you don’t have a game ticket, Fair Park on Texas-OU Saturday is an experience all its own.
State Fair of Texas – Texas-OU Saturday
Football may be the headline, but the State Fair is still the party surrounding it.
Ride the Texas Star, hit the Midway, sample this year’s Fair foods, explore the exhibits, and stick around after the game for more entertainment around Fair Park.
Expect BIG crowds and plan transportation accordingly.
Kacey Musgraves – American Airlines Center | Saturday, October 10
If football isn’t your thing, Kacey Musgraves gives Dallas another major Saturday-night option.
The Middle of Nowhere Tour comes to American Airlines Center at 7:30 p.m.
Grab dinner around Victory Park before the show and make it a completely different kind of Dallas Saturday.
Brooks & Dunn – Night Two | Saturday, October 10
Brooks & Dunn return to Dickies Arena Saturday night for the second of their two Fort Worth shows.
If Dallas is packed with Texas-OU crowds, this is a great excuse to spend Saturday evening on the Fort Worth side of the Metroplex.
Stockyards Championship Rodeo | Saturday, October 10
Want something quintessentially Fort Worth?
Head to Cowtown Coliseum for the Stockyards Championship Rodeo. Pair it with shopping, dinner, the cattle drive, and a walk through Mule Alley for a full Stockyards day.
Sunday Around DFW
State Fair Sunday | Sunday, October 11
After the Texas-OU crowds clear out, Sunday is a great day to head back to the State Fair.
Take your time exploring the food, rides, exhibits, livestock, shopping, and live entertainment you may have missed Saturday.
Autumn at the Arboretum
If you need a change of scenery after Fair Park, head to the Dallas Arboretum for one of the prettiest fall traditions in North Texas.
More than 100,000 pumpkins, gourds, and squash transform the gardens during Autumn at the Arboretum.
Go early, take your fall photos, explore the Pumpkin Village, and grab lunch nearby afterward.
Dallas Farmers Market
Keep Sunday simple with brunch and shopping at the Dallas Farmers Market.
Browse local produce and artisan goods at The Shed, shop small businesses, and grab lunch before heading to your afternoon plans.
Fort Worth Stockyards
Sunday is also a great day to head west.
Catch the Fort Worth Herd cattle drive, browse the Stockyards, explore Mule Alley, shop, and grab dinner for an easy Texas-style Sunday.
Monday, October 12
Breaking Benjamin – Dickies Arena | Monday, October 12
Why end the weekend Sunday?
Breaking Benjamin takes over Dickies Arena Monday evening, giving rock fans one more major concert to add to the weekend.
State Fair Monday
The State Fair runs through October 18, so Monday is an excellent time to visit after the Texas-OU crowds have left town.
Go back for the food you didn’t get to try, explore the exhibits at a slower pace, catch live entertainment, and take one more spin through the Midway.
Museum Monday
If you’ve had enough Fair food and crowds, make Monday an indoor day.
Spend the afternoon at the Perot Museum of Nature and Science, Dallas Museum of Art, Nasher Sculpture Center, or another Dallas cultural favorite.
How to Use This Weekend Guide
Friday is all about kicking off Texas-OU weekend. Head to Bash Before the Clash, spend the evening at the State Fair, catch Brooks & Dunn in Fort Worth, or see Role Model in Irving.
Saturday belongs to the Red River Rivalry. Spend the day at Fair Park, catch Texas vs. Oklahoma at the Cotton Bowl, and then keep the night going—or trade football completely for Kacey Musgraves at American Airlines Center.
Slow things down Sunday with another State Fair visit, pumpkins at the Arboretum, brunch at the Dallas Farmers Market, or a Fort Worth Stockyards day.
Then stretch the weekend into Monday with Breaking Benjamin, Museum Monday, or a much calmer day with Big Tex.
However you spend it, Texas-OU weekend is one of those weekends that makes fall in Dallas feel like fall in Dallas.
Event Links
State Fair of Texas
State Fair Schedule
Texas-OU Weekend Guide
https://www.visitdallas.com/blog/texas-ou-weekend/
Red River Rivalry – Texas vs. Oklahoma
https://www.ticketmaster.com/discover/dallas
Bash Before the Clash
https://www.visitdallas.com/blog/texas-ou-weekend/
Kacey Musgraves – American Airlines Center
https://www.ticketmaster.com/discover/dallas
Brooks & Dunn – Dickies Arena
Blackberry Smoke – Billy Bob’s Texas
https://billybobstexas.com/events/
Role Model – Toyota Music Factory
https://www.thepaviliontmf.com/
Stockyards Championship Rodeo
https://www.fortworthstockyards.org/events
Autumn at the Arboretum
https://www.dallasarboretum.org/
Dallas Farmers Market
https://dallasfarmersmarket.org/
Breaking Benjamin – Dickies Arena
Perot Museum of Nature and Science
Dallas Museum of Art
Visit Dallas Events
https://www.visitdallas.com/events/