Pumpkins Galore

Pumpkin Nights brings new family-friendly Halloween fun to Dallas-Fort Worth

Pumpkin Nights will be at Howell Farms in Arlington October 10 through November 3.

Photo courtesy of Pumpkin Nights

Pumpkin Nights, an interactive Halloween experience and festival that's new to the Dallas-Fort Worth area, will open to the public on Thursday, October 10 at Howell Farms in Arlington.

The event, which will be open nightly from 5:30-10:30 pm through November 3, will feature multi-sensory Halloween displays and seven Pumpkin Lands created with more than 3,000 artistically hand-carved real and synthetic pumpkins, the organizers say.

Unlike haunted houses around the area, there will be nothing scary about Pumpkin Nights. Each Pumpkin Land has a festive spirit and a land guardian that will guide “Heroes” (aka guests) through a magical quest as they discover and preserve the spirit of Halloween. The journey starts at the Pumpkin Passage, a pumpkin tunnel with 600 hand-carved jack-o-lanterns before moving on to a quest to discover seven immersive Pumpkin Lands.

The seven Pumpkin Lands include Forbidden Pumpkin City, featuring a 40-foot Dragon made of pumpkins; Maravilla Lane, a land representing Día de los Muertos; Pumpkin Pirate Cove, where Heroes dig for treasure in the shadows of pumpkin palm trees; Pumpkin Reef, a UV black light underwater pumpkin wonderland filled with bubbles, sea creatures, coral, and jellyfish; and more.

The journey ends at Pumpkin Central, a festival featuring live pumpkin artists, food vendors, a live fire show, movie screenings, a bounce house, and more.

“We’re excited to launch our enchanted Pumpkin Lands in Dallas/Fort Worth this year," says Marielle Croudo, designer of Pumpkin Nights, in a release. "Guests discover the story of the lands through the quest, then can stay for a fire show, outdoor movie, food and drinks, and much more, making Pumpkin Nights the ideal family or date night.”

Anyone wanting to attend must purchase their tickets in advance at www.PumpkinNights.com; no tickets will be sold at the gate. Also, in an apparent nod to the tradition of trick-or-treating, the event is closed on Halloween night. Ticket prices are $20 for anyone 13 and over, $18 for seniors 60 and over, $16 for kids 4-12, and free for anyone 3 and under. You can save a little with the Family Pack, which gets two adults and two kids in for $65. There is also a weekday Night Owl Special, Monday through Thursday from 8-10:30 pm, that gives a $2-$3 discount per ticket level.

Pumpkin Nights also has iterations in Los Angeles and Santa Rosa, California; Salt Lake City; and Denver.

families holidays festivals kids

Roller Coaster News

Six Flags Over Texas in Arlington bids farewell to 2 roller coasters

Six Flags

Six Flags Over Texas El Diablo roller coaster, RIP.

Amusement park operator Six Flags Entertainment Corporation is investing more than $1 billion in its theme parks over the next two years, with an array of enhancements for Six Flags Over Texas — including a record-breaking dive roller coaster, slated to launch at the Arlington theme park in 2026.

They'll also give Hurricane Harbor Arlington the largest investment in its history, with the introduction of a massive interactive kids area, Splash Island.

Waterparks and water features have become an increasingly popular category, aided by technological advancements such as man-made surf machines. According to a report by Hotel & Leisure Advisors, 16 indoor waterparks opened or expanded in 2023, and 12 new outdoor waterparks opened. The largest new outdoor waterpark of the year was Kalahari Resort in Round Rock, featuring 11 slides, a lazy river, pools, and swim-up bars.

“Six Flags is dedicated to creating unforgettable experiences and will be implementing a wide array of enhancements throughout the property. Our park's multi-year expansion plans will bring major investments including cutting-edge thrill rides, revitalized family experiences, elevated dining and expanded events,” says the park's president Richard Douaihy in a statement.

And now the sad news. To make room for the all-new dive coaster they're installing at Six Flags, they're retiring two roller coasters:

La Vibora, a steel bobsled-style roller coaster, which opened in 1986
El Diablo, known as a giga loop coaster, which has been in operation since 2019

The rides’ retirement enables the park to make way for a new generation of thrill machines in the Spain section of the park.

'We understand that saying goodbye to beloved rides can be difficult, and we appreciate our guests' passion. These changes are an important part of our growth and dedication to delivering exceptional new experiences. We look forward to sharing more details this summer,” Douaihy says.

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