Night & Day: The End Is Near (Southside)

This time next year, you’ll be standing on the empty streets of the Near Southside, lamenting the (temporary) passing of its annual arts events with visions of the ghosts of ArtsGoggles past dancing through your head. Yes, with street construction looming, this weekend is the final ArtsGoggle for the foreseeable future. Based on what the city is telling organizers, they will be back in 2028. So, we’re only skipping one year, right? Road construction deadlines are typically met on time, right? Right. I’d get out there and make some memories this weekend. It could be a minute.

Fri-Sat, Oct 23-24

Kick off your ArtsGoggle weekend with local glassmaker SiNaCa Studios (1013 W Magnolia Av, Fort Worth, 817-899-0024) at its Fall Market & Pumpkin Patch 3pm-9pm Fri and noon-10pm Sat. At this outdoor event, you can shop for pieces from local and regional artisans, with artists receiving 50% of proceeds and the other half supporting the studio’s initiatives. If you’re staying home — it will be quite people-y, after all — you can also shop online at SiNaCaStudios.org/shop.

There is also an official ArtsGoggle preparty on Friday. Starting at 9pm, the local businesses and restaurants along the next day’s path (stretching 21 blocks from 8th Avenue to S Main Street) will offer pop-up markets and outdoor patio activations ahead of the big day. As for ArtsGoggle proper, 800 artists and 50+ bands will be out in force all along Magnolia Avenue on the Near Southside from noon to 10pm Sat. Bring the kids. Bring the pets. And bring some foldin’ money! For more information, visit ArtsGoggle.org.

Sat, Oct 24

From noon to 5pm, TX Whiskey Ranch (2601 Whiskey Ranch Rd, Fort Worth, 817-840-9140) hosts its annual Costumes & Cocktails event with a DJ spinning Halloween music 1pm-4pm, a costume contest at 3pm, and eats and drinks for purchase all afternoon. Admission is $15 and includes one TX signature cocktail. Reserve your spot at TXWhiskey.com.

Sat, Oct 24/30 + Sun, Nov 1

For the past two years during late summer/early fall, lovable Scarborough Renaissance Festival has transformed into a vibrant yet spooky Halloween fantasy. Scarborough’s Hollow (2511 FM 66, Waxahachie, @ScarboroughsHollow) offers more than 20 live acts, 70 artisan shoppes, and a wild lineup of drinks and eats, including apple-pie nachos, s’mores funnel cake, hot-chocolate bombs, pumpkin-pie fluff, soups served in bread bowls, and, indeed, gigantic turkey legs. Scarborough’s Hollow is open this Saturday and next, plus a special Día de los Muertos celebration on Sun, Nov 1. — Best Of 2026

Sun, Oct 25

Texas Theatre (231 Jefferson Blvd, Oak Cliff, 214-948-1546), the closest art house for us cinephiles, is screening 1935’s Bride of Frankenstein. Before the big hair, the mad science, and the doomed romance, Bishop Street Ballet will do a dance performance inspired by this strange, beloved film. Doors open at 4pm, and the show starts at 5pm. Tickets start at $22 on Prekindle.com. Now thru Fri, Oct 29.

Fri, Oct 30

We are living in scary times, y’all. Do your part to change that: Vote! Here in Texas, in-person early voting for the midterm elections is underway and ends on Fri, Oct 30.

Sat, Oct 31

Sundance Square (420 Main St, Fort Worth, 817-222-1111) is hosting Trunk or Treat from 5pm to 11pm. Children and adults are encouraged to wear Halloween costumes for free family-friendly fun. Food trucks will be on-site for eats, and the plaza bars will be open for drinks. The evening kicks off at 5pm with DJ music, followed by dance lessons with DanceMakers of Texas at 6pm and trunk-or-treating with the Fort Worth chapter of Duke’s Car Club 6pm-8pm, with the variety band The Highrollers playing from 7pm to 11pm. There is no cost to attend.

Downtown Arlington in general, and Create Arlington specifically, invite you to attend what they hope will be an annual tradition: Shakespeare LIVE! RenFest at Levitt Pavilion (100 W Abram St, Arlington, 817-543-4308). This free family-friendly festival combines a traditional Renaissance faire with Halloween and Día de los Muertos. From noon to 6pm, spend the afternoon enjoying art, music, theater, and lots of eats and drinks. Themed costumes are encouraged: Renaissance royalty and knights, fairies and witches, Shakespearean characters, and the like. Then at 7pm, there will be a live performance of Macbeth. There is no cost to attend.

There are also a ton of great Halloween events with entertainment by some of Fort Worth’s best musicians. From big venues like Billy Bob’s Texas to small businesses like Maven’s Moon, there are tunes to be heard. For a few choice options, check out this week’s Music section, then for a comprehensive list of everybody everywhere, meet me over at Crosstown Sounds on FWWeekly.com later this week.

Sun, Nov. 1

From 11am to 5pm, Crockett Street will close for Artisan Circle’s third annual Día de los Muertos celebration. Celebrated throughout Mexico and in communities worldwide, the holiday is known for colorful displays, music, art, and traditions that recognize the connection between past and present generations. This outdoor festival features live mariachi performances, street-style tacos, buttery elote, local artisans, photo opportunities with a roaming Catrina, and entertainment for all ages. A pop-up market by Latina-owned company Cultura Markets will also sell handmade goods from local artisans, including specialty products that celebrate Hispanic culture and traditions. Along with street food options outside, Mexican restaurant La Cabrona (2933 Crockett St, Fort Worth, 682-224-2560) is offering its popular all-you-can-eat buffet for $35. Free parking is available in five garages.

Tue, Nov 3

Born cursed? The first Tuesday of the month is for you! Whatever you’re doomed with, The Boiled Owl Tavern (909 W Magnolia Av, Fort Worth, @TheBoiledOwlTavern), via a mysterious entity known only as Night Owl, is showcasing various forms of high-decibel, psychic exorcism the first Tuesday of every month. The series Born Cursed features local artists and bands that skew toward the ear-scorching end of the pop-music spectrum. The first one, in September, offered industrial-gothcore project Digimechanoid and sludge-metal clowns Channel Planet. The next Born Cursed is on Tue, Nov 3, with Fort Worth metalheads Arenda Light and Pleasr. No cover, 21+, starts at 9pm. — Steve Steward

At Your Leisure

About a million years ago, in a town far, far away (Dallas), I worked in the Classifieds team at the Dallas Observer, our likeminded alt-cousin to the east. Early on, I had a co-worker pursuing an acting career. He actively practiced and (sort of) perfected an Australian accent by role-playing it with potential clients on the phone (#TrueStory). Along with Hollywood films like W (2008) and many voice-actor gigs, Bryan Massey also produces his own independent “no budget” films. Enter: Massey’s The Texorcist, in which a Texas Ranger must convert to Catholicism to defeat an ancient demon named Brazuzu. The tagline? “Faith brings you here. Hell brings you back.” It’s the kind of campy horror fun you’d see riffed on by the Mocky Horror Picture Show gang. It had a limited theatrical release in September, and now you can stream it on Massey’s YouTube channel (@BryanMassey13). — Jennifer Bovee