Best of the Holidays: Prairie Lights 2019

We love Christmas. We love lights and carols and Elf and Santa Claus. My girls regularly walk around the house humming "Carol of the Bells," and both Love Actually and Home Alone are playing in continuous loops on our TVs. We definitely love Christmas around here!

Last night we got to check out one of the area's most fun holiday attractions- Prairie Lights at Joe Pool Lake in Grand Prairie. 

Prairie Lights is a drive-through lights experience that takes Christmas lights viewing to new heights. Four million lights along two miles tell stories and spread holiday cheer. This year, my girls and I were delighted to see the story of Scrooge in A Christmas Carol brought to life in dazzling lights. Several other themed lights areas come together to create a spectacular show to ward off your inner Grinch.

Halfway through, we hopped out of the car to enjoy the Holiday Village. Underneath the large "Holiday Village" tent you can shop with local vendors or grab a picture with the man in red himself (additional fees apply for Santa photos), as well as grab a bite to eat and enjoy a fun new holiday show. In front of the tent, two carnival rides await kiddos who need to stretch their legs after so much car-riding.

Beyond the tent is the Walk-Thru Forest, a magical experience with tens of thousands of lights. We grabbed a hot chocolate for $2 (hot apple cider, kettle corn and more is also available!) and enjoyed the lights display. We enjoyed seeing landmarks from Christmas Around The World... We are a bit Paris-obsessed at my house, so the Eiffel Tower was our favorite!

Once you get back in your car, you continue making your way through more magical lights displays. We loved seeing lights displays from the 12 Days of Christmas. If you roll your windows down, you can hear the music that accompanies the images!

You end your ride with a drive through tunnel that includes thousands of twinkling lights that dance around to end your experience on a high note. We so enjoyed our experience!

A few things to note:

- Prices start at $45 per car. Fast passes are available for an additional fee. (We went Sunday, 12/8, and got in the car line at 6:22 pm. We got to the ticket counter at 8:06 pm. In hindsight, we wish we had purchased that fast pass!)

- Some indoor activities cost an additional amount.

- Allow about 1.5 hours to properly enjoy all activities. This does NOT include your wait time. Our total trip, from when we drove up to when we were back out on Lake Ridge Parkway, was almost four hours. That did not include taking photos with Santa or viewing the holiday show.

- Bring your camera. So many gorgeous photo opps!

- Dress for the weather. The Holiday Village is totally worth getting out of the car for!

- Prairie Lights is open every day from 6-10 pm. The final day of operation for the 2019 holiday season is December 31, 2019. 

*Please note: we were given a media pass which allowed us to attend Prairie Lights free of charge. All thoughts and comments are my own.*

Community Partners: Exploring All That Arlington Has To Offer (Also: Why We Love Girl Scouts)

I enrolled each of my girls in Girl Scouts right when they began kindergarten. I was a Girl Scout and really enjoying my scouting years; I hoped my girls would be able to enjoy their experiences with Girl Scouts, as well.

I love so very many aspects of Girl Scouting, but one of the things I love the most is partnering with providers all over the community to learn about some of the businesses that make Arlington (and the surrounding area) tick. Through the years, my Girl Scout troops have participated in tours and other activities at a variety of places, including the Arlington Police Station, Grand Prairie Police and Fire Department, the Arlington Humane Society, The Emergency Center of Arlington, MedExpress in Arlington, Natural Grocers in Fort Worth, Peter Piper Pizza in Arlington and the list goes on! We've had floats in several Arlington parades, participated in fun adventures at Medieval Times and iFly and learned about how to conserve energy while overnighting at a local hotel (we've also overnighted at Sea World and the Perot Museum!).

Yes, Girl Scouts has provided my girls so many opportunities to get to know businesses in the area. Most recently, one of my troops had the opportunity to check out The Emergency Center in Arlington to learn about the Center's services and how the doctors and nurses there help patients who come through the front doors. The Center was incredibly accommodating. The doctor there performed an ultrasound on one of the girls, showed us how to do an X-ray and an MRI, helped us make first aid kits to keep in backpacks and cars and so much more. The Center did this all free of charge. The staff there wanted to participate in community outreach, helping to engage with community members and show off what they do at the Center. How awesome is that?!

I'm spending some time today researching more local companies that have similar outreach programs, where different groups (school groups, church groups, Scout groups, etc.) are encouraged to come and learn more about the facility's offerings, take a tour and perhaps engage in some sort of extra-curricular activity (such as a needs drive). If you know of any local companies, restaurants, stores, etc., that offer programs like this, please let me know or tag them in this post. I love getting out and about in the area and learning about all the awesome businesses that make Arlington great!

Kids and Art at the Meadows Museum in Dallas

After our recent trip to Paris, my oldest daughter and I have tried to become a bit more knowledgeable about art. She has now seen the Mona Lisa in person, as well as a computer-generated recreation of Van Gogh's most famous works (hello Atelier des Lumieres). She's seen Degas' famous paintings of ballerinas and paid homage to Paris' most famous work of art, the Eiffel Tower. So now, we figured, is a good time to start learning about art that is right here in DFW!

We started yesterday with a trip to the Meadows Museum at SMU in Dallas, a museum that we honestly didn't know was there until recently. The museum, which opened in 2001, features temporary exhibits on a rotating basis as well as a long term exhibition on load from the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston. The museum is open Tuesday through Sunday and is $12 for adults and $4 for seniors (kids 12 and under are free). Parking is complimentary in a covered garage, and the museum features a gift shop. 

Meadows recently debuted activity bags geared toward children to get them thinking about, and engaging with, art. The girls and I went yesterday to try out these new activity bags and spend our Sunday expanding our horizons. 

These bags feature prompt cards, a book called Ish, a mirror, a journal and writing implements. The included instructions tell kiddos that there is no need to be quiet in the galleries (although, man!, were those galleries quiet) because art is meant to be talked about and enjoyed. The instructions encouraged us to find a spot (on the floor in the middle of the one of the galleries is totally fine!) and begin talking about art.

We started by reading the book, one we had never heard of. It spoke of a young boy trying to figure out what art is. The neatest part for us was that the book was in Spanish and English, so my oldest was able to read aloud to us in Spanish (we love her dual language school!) and then check the English text to make sure she had properly understood what she read. The text was also written in Braille. 

After reading the book, we talked a bit about the art on the walls, what the artists may have been thinking out when they were painting, why they painted what they painted and so on. My middle daughter got busy creating a self portrait with the supplied mirror and crayons. My youngest created figures with the included wax sticks. My oldest wandered from gallery to gallery writing down questions in her notebook to be Googled later. 

The museum was about a 30 minute drive from Arlington and we spent about 1.5 hours in the galleries and an additional 15 minutes checking out the sculptures in front of the museum. This was a nice Sunday getaway that was equally educational and fun for my girls. Thanks to the Meadows Museum for hosting us!

*Please note: we were provided free admission in exchange for this review. All thoughts and comments are my own.*

NTPA Presents The Addams Family

The Addams Family – Willow Bend Center of the Arts – NTPA Repertory Theatre If you’ve never been to a musical inside a mall, you’re missing out!

We had a chance to see The Addams Family, peformed by the NTPA Repertory Theatre, locateed inside the Willow Bend Center of the Arts in Plano- and it was a delight! Parking was easy in Structure D and led directly to the entrance of the theater. The concession stand was right at the ticket booth, and it had plenty snacks and drinks. The facility has multiple theaters so more than one show can be going on at a time - despite that, we only heard what was going on in our theater.

The theaters are intimate and the cast frequently ventured out into the audience, to the delight of many. The show, coming in at over 2 hours with an intermission, kept the attention of two 7-year-olds the day after Halloween! The cast was excellent, with Morticia and Wednesday as true powerhouses, however, the scene-stealer was Lurch, with great comedic timing and impressive stature (he’s 6’7'!). The costumes and makeup were delightful and worked well in tandem. We drove out to Plano from far west Fort Worth and south Arlington, and this is our ringing endorsement: it’s worth the drive!

For the upcoming holiday season, the NTPA will feature Scrooge'd. Go catch the show and support local theater!

*Please note: Everything Arlington received free tickets to this performance in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions belong to the article's author.*

A Night Out at Pumpkin Nights

The temperatures have dropped and the days are getting shorter -- it FINALLY feels like fall in North Texas.

And what better way to celebrate the season than a visit to Pumpkin Nights, the newest holiday attraction located right here in Arlington!

But before you brave the crowds, here are a few things you should know before your visit:

Pumpkin Nights is set up at Howell Farm off of West Division Street. Plug the address into your GPS and keep your eyes open! There is a lack of signage and the farm sits on the other side of the railroad tracks so you could easily miss it if you are not paying attention.

As you pull in, there are two small parking lots at the front of Pumpkin Nights. But you will more than likely be directed to the back lot which is about a quarter of a mile from the entrance. Wear comfortable shoes that you don’t mind getting dirty! You will be walking in tall grass, dirt and gravel (stroller not recommended).

Howell Farm is a working farm and much of it is dark. The organizers of Pumpkin Nights had to bring in additional electricity to light up the attraction. There is a portable spotlight in the parking lot but the path to the entrance itself is not lit. You may want to carry a small flashlight or pull out your cellphone to help.

Once you enter Pumpkin Nights, it is a sight to behold. Thousands of carved (foam) pumpkins are strung along the pathways and there are several themed “lands” to walk through. Unfortunately, some of the lands were still under construction on the media preview night but what was already there was impressive. If you enjoy driving around in December, looking at Christmas lights, then you would definitely enjoy Pumpkin Nights for the lights alone!

Come dressed to impress (for social media)! Pumpkin Nights provides the perfect backdrop and has several staged areas for unique and fun photo ops!

Speaking of fun, there is a play area for the little ones with giant seesaws and several yard games. But keep in mind, this area is also lit with a portable spotlight and is otherwise a bit dark.
There are also two inflatables in a separate open field. So if the kids aren’t tired enough, you can let them jump out the rest of their energy before bed.

In addition to the walk through decorations, there are other attractions included in your Pumpkin Nights admission -- The Spirit of Pumpkins Fire Show, outdoor screenings of The Nightmare Before Christmas, live owl, live pumpkin artist and face painting (varies by date).

Several food trucks are parked along the perimeter of the farm and there is a bar located inside the barn that serves beer, wine and vodka infused sparkling water.

Pumpkin Nights has an on-site store that sells numerous light up accessories as well as t-shirts. The souvenirs range in price from one dollar to $25. If you don’t want to spend the money, keep the kids away from the blinking tent in the open field!

Pumpkin Nights is open nightly 5:30 - 10:30pm through November 3rd. Tickets are only available online at www.pumpkinnights.com. Use code Stephanie25 for 25 percent off full price tickets.

*Everything Arlington was given free access to this event in exchange for social media promotion. All thoughts and opinions are the author's own.*

A Day Date at Frozen Junior: Supporting Local Children's Theaters

I don't mean to brag, but I won the best actress award at my middle school some years ago (I won't go into detail about how many). So, basically, I'm a really great actress.
Ha! If only.
But I did grow up participating in lots of plays with my local children's' theater back in Illinois. Whether I had speaking lines or was in the chorus, I loved everything about being in a play. I made so many friends, learned about working together for the greater good and loved when younger kids looked up to me and whatever character I was portraying.
Now my girls get the privilege of attending a fine arts academy and have been exposed to theater from a young age. My oldest is currently participating in her school play and completely admires all of the kids who were cast as main characters.
We got the chance to support The Firehouse Theatre in Farmer's Branch on Sunday when we went to see Frozen Jr. 

My girls were in awe from start to finish watching these actors and actresses on stage.
The theater is located right off of 35 in an old firehouse and is super easy to find. It took us about 35 minutes to get there from Arlington. There is an adorable area out front to snap photos to commemorate your experience. Tickets to this show are $12 each.

Once inside, you can grab food from the concession stand to take with you to watch the show. Because what's a performance (or movie) without popcorn and a Sprite? We were even offered blankets once inside the theater so we wouldn't be cold. Now that's going above and beyond!

I love bringing my girls to Disney Junior plays because they are just the right length for kids. Frozen Jr was about an hour and a half including intermission and filled with song and dance. There were actors of all ages on stage- my oldest commented multiple times how much she would have loved to be part of the cast!
Everyone on stage was animated and very talented. Even better, they all appeared to having as much fun performing as we were having watching them! The young actress who portrays Anna is simply stellar to watch. She sang beautifully and added the perfect amount of silliness to her character. Kristoff, my favorite character from the original movie, was likewise an excellent actor. His theatrics and well-delivered lines made him fun to watch for kids and adults alike.
Afterward, the cast sticks around for a meet and greet with show attendees. My girls loved snapping a photo with the main characters, even if they did act shy once we were up close and personal!

Supporting local theaters such as these is such a great way to support your local community! Attend a show and compliment the actors afterward. Make a monetary donation if you are able. Encourage your kids to get involved. If you have talents you can lend to the theaters, do so! We can't wait to attend another show at this theater! (I'm also now super pumped for the new Frozen movie to come out next month!)
If Farmer's Branch is too far for you to drive, consider checking out The Artisan Theater in Hurst or Kennedale Community Theater, both of which have options for the budding actor or actress in your life!

*I was given free tickets to this show in exchange for my review. All thoughts and opinions are my own*

Fall Fun in Arlington (and the surrounding area)!

Here is the post y'all have been waiting for...
THE comprehensive list of Fall Festivals, Trunk-or-Treats and Halloween Happenings in the Arlington area! 
Please let me know if I missed any!
Happy Fall, Y'all!

Ongoing Events:

Fright Fest, Six Flags Over Texas. 
September 21- November 3. Check website for Open Hours. Must buy ticket for park admission.
Fright Fest
By day, Fright Fest is perfect for little wizards and witches, but, by night, the park transforms into a creepy affair complete with scare zones and haunted houses. 

The Village on Front St., 201 W. Front. St., downtown Arlington
October 3- November 3. Purchase tickets in advance (proceeds benefit the Arlington Historical Society).
The Village on Front
From the event site: The Village on Front will include a haunted maze, as well as many scenes that have lighting and sound effects, sure to scare attendees and leaving them with a desire to tell their friends about it and come back.

Pumpkin Nights, Howell Farm, 4016 W. Division St., Arlington.
October 10- November 3. Purchase tickets in advance.
Pumpkin Nights (Use code Stephanie25 for 25% off your regular price tickets!)
From the organizers: Pumpkin Nights will transform Howell Farms into enchanted worlds filled with Halloween displays and seven Pumpkin Lands created with more than 3,000 hand-carved synthetic and real pumpkins. 


October 2:

Story Time in the Pumpkin Patch, St. John Youth Ministry Pumpkin Patch, 1218 E. Debbie Lane, Mansfield.
Wednesday, October 2. Free.
Story Time in the Pumpkin Patch
From the event site: We will be reading books, singing a few songs. Bring some friends - take some pictures - and get your pumpkins!

October 4-6:

Pumpkin Fest 2019, October 5, 9a- 7p. Calloway's (three area locations: North Arlington, South Arlington and Mansfield). Free.
Calloway's Pumpkin Fest
From the organizers: You’ll find spectacular fall decorations including Pumpkins, Gourds, Squash, Scarecrows, and Bales of Hay, along with special displays for the season! Enjoy loads of free activities that are fun for the whole family:
– Pie Pumpkin Decorating!
– Performances by family favorite Mad Science (schedule is available on our website)
– Costumed Characters! Superheroes and Princesses at select locations
– Face Painting at select locations
– Bella’s Story Time presented by the BRIT: 1PM at Calloway’s Nursery Fort Worth
– Gift Card Giveaways
– Fresh Popcorn
– And More!

New World Fall Fest, New World UMC, 2201 N Davis Dr., Arlington, October 5, 8a- 3p, free.
New World Fall Fest
Dunk, Kona Ice, rock wall, zipline, horse rides, raffles, vendors and so much more!

Annual Fall Festival, Green's Produce and Plants, 3001 Arkansas Lane, Arlington.

October 5, 11a- 3p. Free.

Green's Fall Festival

Paint a pumpkin, get your face painted, enjoy multiple bounce houses, food and more.

Learning Express Fall Festival, 1252 N. Holland Rd., Mansfield, October 5, 11a- 2p, Free.

Learning Express Fall Festival

At our Fall Festival, you can enjoy: Food Trucks, Pony Rides, Photo Booth, Candy, Pumpkin Decorating, Local Vendors, Face Painting, Games and Raffles.

October 10-13:

Oakridge Fall Festival, The Oakridge School, 5900 W Pioneer Parkway, Arlington. Thursday, October 10, 6-8p. $5 admission.

Fall Festival

Dickey's BBQ • Games • Pumpkin Decorating • Crafts • Face Painting • Petting Zoo

Chick Fil A Family Fall Festival, Two locations: Camp Wisdom & 360 in GP and Cooper St. in Arlington. Friday, October 11, 2p. Free.

Chick Fil A Fall Festival

Fun for the whole family! Pumpkin decorating, digital scavenger hunt, games & caramel apple samples will help us welcome fall & all the fun that comes with it! We'll even have one-of-a-kind tattoos for all the kids!

River Legacy Fall Festival, River Legacy, 710 NW Green Oaks Blvd., Arlington. October 12 & 13, 11a- 9p. $8 per person, ages 3 and under are free.

River Legacy Fall Festival

Enjoy animal encounters, a pumpkin patch, face painting, bounce houses, crafts, games and more!

The Screaming Bridge & Hell's Gate Investigation Tour, River Legacy Park, 710 701 NW Green Oaks Blvd., Arlington. Saturday, October 12, 8p- 12a. $20 per person.

The Screaming Bridge Tour

Join us for a hike in the woods late into the evening as we visit two haunted locations inside of River Legacy Park in Arlington, TX.
The Tour/investigation will last about 4 hours and cost $20 per person.
This is a family friendly event, so we welcome all ages, however, please be aware that this event involves hiking through the woods and brush. This event involves quite a bit of walking. You have been warned.

October 16-20

Pumpkin Decorating: A Special Full STEAM Ahead, Warmack Library, 760 W. Bardin Rd., GP. 4:15-5p, Wednesday, October 16. Free. For kids in grades 1-5.

Pumpkin Decorating

Get creative as you design your favorite book character or other creature using paint and other materials provided. There will be a limited supply of pumpkins distributed on a first come, first served basis. You are welcome to bring your own pumpkin and other supplies.

Haunt The Block, Historic Downtown Mansfield, Thursday, October 17, 5-8p. Free.

Haunted Mansfield

Trick or treating, games and costume contests! Historic Downtown Mansfield comes alive during the monthly Third Thursday event with the ultimate, family friendly Halloween event. Best of all, taking part in this event is absolutely FREE, and a perfect start to your evening before you head off to the haunted house or ghost tours!

Annual Fall Festival, Emerald Hills Funeral Home, 500 Kennedale Sublett Rd., Kennedale, October 19, 2-4p, Free.

(Submitted by a reader; no link available)

Bounce houses and food.

Fall Fest at the Central YMCA, 2200 S. Davis St., Arlington, Sunday, October 20, 2-4p. Free.

Central Y Fall Fest

Join us for a good time! This event is FREE and open to the public. We will have inflatables, Y on the Fly games, face painting, costumes, trick or treating, crafts, family classes and more!

October 25-27

Trick or Trail Event, Tony Shotwell LIbrary, 2750 Graham St., GP, Friday, October 25, 5-7p. Free.

Trick or Trail Event

There plenty of family friendly fun to be had at our annual Trick or Trail Event. There will be a haunted house, games and candy.

Halloween Community Carnival, Charley Taylor Recreation Center, 601 E. Grand Prairie Rd., GP, Friday, October 25, 5-7p. Free.

Halloween Community Carnival

All ages! Ghosts and goblins will not want to miss the haunting experience we have planned for Halloween night! The spooky fun includes a games, bounce houses, candy and more!

MAC Boo Bash, Mansfield Activity Center, 106 S. Wisteria St., Mansfield, Friday, October 25, 6- 8:30p. Tickets are $8 in advance, $10 at the door.

MAC Boo Bash

Bring the family to the MAC for a night of games, crafts and, of course, candy! This carnival-style event is geared toward children ages 2-6Y but all ages are welcome. Everyone 2Y+ must be registered, including adults. Spaces are limited and it does fill quickly, please get your tickets early to save a spot!

Arlington FFA Fall Festival, 2212 Michigan Ave., Arlington, Saturday, 10/26, 9a- 12p, Free.

Arlington FFA Festival

The event is free to attend and we will have kid friendly games, petting zoo, local vendors, live music, food, a silent auction, and more!

Target Paw Patrol Trick or Treat Event, Multiple Target locations in Arlington, GP & Mansfield, Saturday, 10/26, 10a- 1p, Free.

Paw Patrol Trick or Treat Event

Kids are invited to come in costume and trick or treat through the store as well as watch an exclusive episode of Pawl Patrol. There will also be giveaways.

Pumpkin Swim, Kirby Natatorium, 3201 Corn Valley Rd., GP, Saturday, 10/26, 1p, $5 per swimmer.

Pumpkin Swim

Jump in and swim with all hundreds of pumpkins in our heated indoor pool. Pick out your favorite, decorate it and take it home. Limit 1 pumpkin for swimmer. Event starts at 1:00 p.m. and pumpkins are limited.

Fall Festival, Resurrection Church, 415 New York Ave., Arlington, Saturday, 10/26, 2-5p, Free.

Fall Festival

This will be our 3rd annual Fall festival! This is a family friendly event that everyone is invited to! We'll have games, bounce houses, and candy for everyone! The event is free to get in and so are the games! Bring the entire family, dress as your favorite character, and have a blast! The event will be located on the campus of Resurrection Church this year and we look forward to having everyone come out! See you there!

2019 Fall Festival, Holy Cross Church, 4400 W. Arkansas Lane, Arlington, Saturday, 10/26, 4-6p, Free.

Fall Festival

Join us for an evening of Fun, Food, and Games. Festivities include:inflatables, puppet shows, petting zoo, picture spots and games and crafts.

Trunk or Treat, City Chapel Arlington, 4015 W. Interstate 20, Arlington, Saturday, 10/26, 4-6p, Free.

Trunk or Treat

Candy, petting zoo, pony rides and giveaways!

Trunk or Treat and Community Fair, The Welcome Table Christian Church, 4600 Highwood Dr., Arlington, Saturday, 10/26, 4-6p. Free.

Trunk or Treat & Community Fair

Trunk or treat event with vendors.

Epic Halloween Campout at Epic Central, 2960 Epic Place, GP, 4p Saturday, 10/26- 9a Sunday, 10/27, $5 per person.

Epic Halloween Campout

Campers will have the opportunity to participate in many activities such as: laser tag, scavenger hunt, flashlight night hike, and s’mores making! Be sure to bring decorations for your tent to compete in the “tent decorating” contest! We will also be showing the Halloween classic movie, Hocus Pocus, as part of our “Movies On The Lawn” series. Participants will then spend the night under the stars with breakfast provided the next morning. Registration opens September 9th. Please fill out the registration form linked below and email to manderson@gptx.org or bring into our office at 400 College St.

Fall Fest, The Vineyard Church in Arlington, 1301 W. Abram St., Arlington, Saturday, 10/26, 4-7p, Free.

Fall Fest

Carnival Games + Candy + Bounce Houses + More!

ALC Trunk or Treat 2019, Advent Lutheran Church, 3232 S. Cooper St., Arlington, Saturday, 10/26, 5-7p, Free.

ALC Trunk or Treat

Trick-or-treating, games, food, candy, candy, CANDY and so much more!

Trunk or Treat and Pumpkin Palooza, Kennedale City Hall, 405 Municipal Dr., Kennedale, Saturday, 10/26, 5-7p. Free.

Kennedale Trunk or Treat

There's something for all ages at the TownCenter Trunk-or-Treat!
• Trunk-or-Treating in the Library parking lot (316 W 3rd St.)
• Pumpkin Palooza! in TownCenter Park (405 Municipal Dr., behind the Kennedale Public Library), featuring: pumpkin painting*, cotton candy, and chalk art

Trunk or Treat 2019, The Grace Place, 5950 S. Cooper St., Arlington, Saturday, 10/26, 6-8:30p, Free.

Trunk or Treat 2019

Join us for our FREE Trunk or Treat event! Come load up on candy and treats from our decorated trunks, and vote on your favorite one. There will also be other goodies such as kettle corn and cotton candy. Bring the entire family!

Halloween at the Y, Cooper Street Y, 7120 S. Cooper St., Arlington, Saturday 10/26, 6- 9p, Free.

Halloween at the Y

Put on your costumes, gather your friends and family, and join us for a spook-tacular good time! Halloween at the Y is FREE and open to the public and features a Haunted Trail, fun Halloween-themed games, trunk or treating, a food truck, and more!

Trunk or Treat and Fall Fest, Mansfield Church of Christ, 580 Pleasant Ridge Dr., Mansfield, Sunday, 10/27, 5:30- 7:30p. Free.

Trunk or Treat and Fall Fest

FREE family event! Wear your costume and come have some fun at our Trunk or Treat & Fall Fest: candy, games, activities and food! Invite your friends and family, too! Everyone is welcome!

Halloween Week

Heritage Baptist Church Drive-Thru Trick or Treating, 5100 Parliament Drive, Arlington, Wednesday, October 30, 8- 8:30p. Free.

Drive-Thru Trick or Treat

Come drive-thru on Wednesday October 30th @8pm. Each child in the vehicle will get candy and prizes!

Boo Babies: A Special Book Babies Program, GP Main Library, 901 Conover Dr., GP, Thursday, 10/31, 11a, Free.

Boo Babies

For babies 0-18 months. Join us for a baby-friendly trick-or-treating parade around the library! Babies (and parents) are encouraged to wear costumes!

Tiny Treaters, Southeast Branch of the Arlington Public Library, 900 SE Green Oaks Blvd., Arlington, Thursday, 10/31, 5p, Free.

Tiny Treaters

All of our tiniest trick-or-treaters are invited for a special fall event just for them! Tiny Treaters is a safe, age-appropriate alternative to trick-or-treating for children ages 0-5. Games and art activities, photo spots, and a fall puppet show will make this a memorable evening for your family. Take a free book home while supplies last!

Street N' Treat, GP Farmers Market, 120 W Main Street, GP, Thursday, 10/31, 6-8p. Free.

Street N' Treat

Join us for an enjoyable Halloween event in Grand Prairie! Participants will enjoy FREE games, face painting, kid’s crafts, and trick-or-treating at the Farmers Market! Prepare to dress to impress, ask “Trick-or-Treat” and bring a large bucket for candy!

The Great State Fair of Texas on the Cheap!: Deals & Discounts

I fell in love with the Great State Fair of Texas years ago when I first worked a promotion for PartyPoker.net there. Five or six days a week, I would drive to Fair Park, pay at least $10 to park (I would be reimbursed) and hand out freebies from PartyPoker.net at the State Fair. It was hot and the days were long (I would typically work 10-7 or 8 on my feet, on the blacktop, in the Texas heat) but I loved it! The State Fair was unlike anything I'd experienced before.

Now it's an annual event I love taking my family to. We pick a weekday (usually whatever half day the girls have at school during the State Fair's three-week run) and head out to Dallas to check out the food, admire the cars, go on a few rides and generally enjoy the noise and fun that is the Great State Fair of Texas!

Luckily each of my girls receive a ticket from school granting them weekday admission to the fair for free. From there, I check out all the available discounts to get the best rate for my husband and me. The State Fair can be hard on the wallet, so I'm all about finding the deals wherever I can!

Here are a few of my tips for maximizing your budget at the Great State Fair of Texas:

1. Check Facebook Marketplace and groups for free student and adult tickets. Please, please don't sell your student's free ticket. However, if you aren't going to use it, please post it for a others who may be in need! Last year, when my youngest was too old to get in for free but too young to be in kinder and receive a free ticket, I found a free ticket for her on Marketplace that saved us the $14 kids ticket price. Teachers and educators usually receive complimentary tickets, as well, and may pass these on if they are unable to go.

2. Grab an empty Dr. Pepper can and reap the rewards! Use your empty can to get half price admission any day of the week after 5 pm (that's $9 off the entry price of $18 at the gate). Or go all day on Tuesday for half price with an empty Dr. Pepper can!

3. Stock up on canned goods to donate to the North Texas Food Bank and get in for $4 on Wednesdays during the Fair. Must bring 4 cans per person to receive $4 admission.

4. Thursday is Senior Citizen Day- any guest over 60 gets in free on Thursdays! For those of you who don't qualify for this discount, no worries! Grab an empty 20-ounce Coca Cola product and get in for $9! That's right- half price on Thursdays thanks to Coca Cola.

5. Military? Your get-in-free day is Friday, September 27. Your spouse and kids get in free, too! Just bring valid ID. First Responder? Your free day is Friday, October 11. You can bring up to three guests with you for free. Don't forget your ID.

6. Stop by Kroger or McDonald's and snag discount vouchers at these locations. McDonald's trays have liners that will save you $5 per ticket. Kroger has discounted tickets available at customer service.

7. Save your unused ride and food tickets! Did you know that those don't expire? Each year we have two or three that we don't spend. I keep them all in an envelope in my office to bring the next year. It's not much but it does give us something to start with each year- and we never feel badly if we don't use all of our tickets each year! Be sure to check FB for ride and food tickets, as well. Sometimes people way over-buy and then try to unload tickets (at a small discount) to recoup some of their expense.

8. Buy online at www.bigtex.com and save $1.50 per ticket. If none of the above discounts and tricks have been able to save you any money, consider buying online ahead of time to save. Gate prices are $18 for adults, and you can save $1.50 buying online.

What are your tips for saving money at the State Fair?

Amusement Park Must-Haves (brought to you by Hurricane Harbor)

We are lucky to live in an area with so many fun activities for kids. My girls absolutely love that both Six Flags and Hurricane Harbor are right here in Arlington! No matter how many times we visit each, we always have fun. We hit as many roller coasters and water slides as we can handle and enjoy the time we spend making memories.

A friend back home was recently talking about packing for an amusement park, and she had no idea what she was going to need. I rattled off a few things for her absentmindedly, and she was impressed. "How do you know to pack some of these things?" she inquired. "There have been a few summers that we've been at Six Flags more than we've been home," I said.

If you are planning a trip to Disney or Universal for the upcoming holiday season, or just need a refresher on what you need to pack for your next trip to Hurricane Harbor (it's open for two more weekends!), check out the Everything Arlington list of must-haves, thanks to Hurricane Harbor!

1. Sunscreen. Seriously. This. Is. A. Must. Even in Fall or Winter. Especially in Florida and Texas. My girls are so fair, my youngest especially, that I always pack about three times what I think I will need. Nothing ruins a trip like a nasty sunburn.

2. A wristband with your name and cell phone number. Before we went to Disney a few years ago, I ordered paper wristbands from Amazon. The kind you get when you go to trampoline parks (or bars!) and wrote my name and cell phone number on them. If my girls didn't want to wear it on their wrist each day, I put it around their ankles. This way, if one of my girls got separated from me, she could find an adult and ask for help contacting me. At a water park such as Hurricane Harbor, try writing your cell and name in Sharpie your child's wrist if you are worried the paper wristband might not hold up.

3. A portable cell phone charger. This is one of those items I don't give much thought to. Disney World made me realize that a portable battery is an absolute must. If you snap photos and use apps the way I do, your cell phone battery probably wears down fairly quickly. Yes, cell phone charging stations are becoming more commonplace in popular spots such as Disney. But it takes a bite out of your day to have to locate the charging spot and stop what you are doing for 20-30 minutes to put some juice back into your phone. Charge up your portable battery and stick it in your purse or backpack. My portable battery holds 2.5 cell phones charges, guaranteeing both hubby and I could recharge dying cell phones without disrupting the day.

4. A portable lock box for water parks. I won a portable lock box a few summers back, and it has become a summertime staple for me. It's the product I didn't know I couldn't live without. I hate getting to a water park and locking up my items in a locker and then having to go back and forth to that spot each time I want to check the time or buy a snack. Plus, renting a locker isn't cheap! When we go to Hurricane Harbor, we use my portable lock box. It accommodates two cell phones, credit/debit cards, two FitBits and car keys. We usually tether it to the chair we have our stuff on, or, at very least, to my bag or backpack. It saves me so much money and then I always have all my stuff in one place!

5. Baby wipes/ Wet wipes. No, I don't have babies any more, and I haven't had a baby in years. But baby wipes are as much a staple in my life as they were when I was actually using them to wipe tiny tushies. I love having baby wipes on me because they make life easier! We can wipe down dirty tables quickly. We can clean off hands before chowing down on food without having to find the closest restroom first. We can easily wipe sticky fingers and dirty faces. On super hot and sweaty days, I use them to wipe sweat off my own face! If a bathroom is out of toilet paper, we are good to go. I always have a package on me, no matter where we are!

6. A running belt. Hear me out on this one! I own a bunch of running belts because, well, because I'm a runner. But my husband and I visited Universal two years ago without kids. We stayed on property and walked to and from the hotel room each day. Without kids, you don't need the stuff you might need when you are with them! I didn't want to carry a purse all day or wear a backpack, but my pockets weren't big enough to hold all the things I wanted to bring with me. Enter my running belt! It was big enough to hold my cell phone, lip gloss, debit card, cash and hotel key. It fit discreetly under my t-shirts and kept my items secure. I could easily access everything but wasn't killing my shoulders with a heavy bag. You can get them for less than $10 at TJ Maxx or Marshalls and stick them easily into your purse when you travel. They are brilliant!

7. An empty water bottle. Whether you bring a nice aluminum one or an inexpensive plastic one, bring an empty water bottle that can be refilled at a soda station or water fountain. Not only is it important to stay hydrated (especially when it's hot outside), but you will save money if you aren't constantly stopping to purchase overpriced bottled water.

Other things I always bring- light jackets for everyone, if we are going to be at a park once the sun sets. My girls don't like being cold! Snacks, if parks allow them in (but check the food policy first!). Hats or sunglasses if its a really sunny day.

What did I miss?

*I received free tickets to Hurricane Harbor in exchange for this article. All thoughts and comments are my own!*