Worth the Drive: AirSho, Fall Fun & Big Tex | October 16–18, 2026
October 16–18, 2026 | Cheryl’s North Texas Weekend Picks
Airplanes overhead, a festival down the road, and one last chance for a State Fair corn dog. We’ve got options this weekend, y’all.
✈️ Corsicana AirSho
Saturday, October 17 | Gates open 9 a.m.; show starts noon
Corsicana Municipal Airport | 9000 Navarro Road
Grab your lawn chairs and head to the airport! The Corsicana AirSho is back, with food and drink vendors onsite. Admission is $20 per carload, so gather your crew. Leave outside coolers, tents, and pets at home.
🌾 Kerens Cotton Harvest Festival
Saturday, October 17 | Downtown Kerens
A little small-town Texas belongs on the weekend calendar. Kerens’ 22nd annual Cotton Harvest Festival brings folks together on its red-brick main street, with proceeds benefiting Friends of the Kerens Library. A good excuse to take the back roads and spend some time with our neighbors.
Festival details
🛍️ Sunday Stroll in Corsicana
Sunday, October 18 | 1–4 p.m.
Historic Downtown Corsicana
If Saturday gets busy, save a little room for Sunday. Participating downtown businesses open for an afternoon of shopping and browsing. Grab a friend and see what catches your eye.
🎡 Last Call for the State Fair
Friday–Sunday, October 16–18 | Fair Park, Dallas
Still haven’t made your annual visit to Big Tex? This is the final weekend of the 2026 State Fair of Texas. Go get that corn dog you’ve been talking about.
Hours are 10 a.m.–10 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 10 a.m.–9 p.m. Sunday.
Tickets and details
🍂 Pumpkins, Please
October 16–18 | 9 a.m.–5 p.m.
Dallas Arboretum | 8525 Garland Road
Autumn at the Arboretum is an easy pick for a fall outing, with more than 100,000 pumpkins, gourds, and squash throughout the gardens. Bring your walking shoes—and somebody willing to take your picture.
Plan your visit
🌳 Near Cedar Creek Lake: Take the Kids Outside
Saturday, October 17 | Purtis Creek State Park
Try something different with ranger-led archery for ages 9 and up from 10–11:30 a.m., or Jr. Ranger Explorers from 3–4 p.m. Park admission is $5 for ages 13 and older; children 12 and under enter free. Bring water and closed-toe shoes. Minors need adult supervision.
Program details
🥂 Date Night Pick: Pizza and Pours
Friday, October 16 | 6–9 p.m.
Dallas Arboretum’s Pumpkins and Pints
Pizza, beer and wine, and an evening among the pumpkins? That’ll work. This Friday’s theme is Pizza and Pours, with food and drinks available for purchase. Book event tickets ahead; outside food and beverages aren’t permitted.
Event tickets and details
If I had to pick…
I’d keep Saturday close to home with the Corsicana AirSho, then save Sunday afternoon for a downtown stroll. Sometimes a weekend worth talking about is right in your own backyard.
Check organizers’ pages before heading out for weather updates and ticket availability.
