Diwali, also known as Deepavali, is the Hindu festival of lights, and is widely celebrated across several Indian religions. The festival represents the victory of light over darkness – represented through vibrant celebrations with lanterns, fireworks, feasts, parties, and more. This year, it falls between Thursday, Oct 31st and Friday, November 1st, and there are tons of happenings for the holiday across DFW! Explore them below.
Updated October 2024
Diwali Mela Dallas Festival of Lights
In the North Dallas suburbs, this grand celebration is one of the largest in DFW! The over-the-top celebration includes carnival rides, a shopping bazaar, a fashion show, Indian food and drinks, stilt walkers, music and dance performances, and a fireworks display! (Header photo courtesy of Diwali Mela Dallas Festival of Lights)
Date & time: October 13th, all day
Location: Southfork Ranch
Price: Varies
Parker | Directions
Diwali Celebration at the North Garland Library
Kids of all ages can prepare for the upcoming holiday by making their own Diwali decorations, and festive cards to give to loved ones!
Date & time: October 24th from 6:30pm to 7:30pm
Location: North Garland Branch Library
Price: Free
Garland | Directions
Kids' Diwali Celebration
Younger people celebrating Diwali can learn more about the holiday at this interactive event! The holiday’s traditional rituals will be performed, with explanations that make it easy for children to understand their cultural significance. Plus, kids can partake in games and making their own oil lamps!
Date & time: October 26th from 1pm to 7:30pm
Location: BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir Irving
Price: Free, RSVP required
Irving | Directions
Photo courtesy of The Southlake Foundation
Southlake DiwaliFest
Celebrate Indian culture and traditions at this bustling celebration! Enjoy traditional and regional Indian eats and drinks, see live entertainment performances, and marvel at a fireworks show!
Date & time: October 26th from 3pm to 10pm
Location: Southlake Town Square
Price: Free
Southlake | Directions
Park Forest Library Diwali Celebration
Bring the whole family for an educational and fun cultural celebration! Enjoy interactive games and crafts, delicious snacks, and traditional music including a performance by Bhuvana Venkatraman with Tejas Dance DFW.
Date & time: November 1st from 2:30pm to 4:30pm
Location: Park Forest Branch Library
Price: Free
Northwest Dallas | Directions
Crafternoon: Diwali Delights Candle Crafting
Children ages six to 11 can learn more about the significance of Diwali and the holiday's relation to candles in this hands-on activity – they’ll make their own paper candle to take home!
Date & time: November 1st from 3:15pm to 4:15pm
Location: Audelia Road Branch Library
Price: Free
White Rock | Directions
Crafternoon STEM: Diwali Diya Circuit
Young science enthusiasts can flex their knowledge by learning about circuitry and electricity! Kids will create their own light-up diya lamp using just copper tape, a battery, and an LED diode. Diya lamps are one of the biggest parts of Diwali, lit to symbolize the triumph of light over dark!
Date & time: November 2nd from 2pm to 3pm
Location: Forest Green Branch Library
Price: Free
Lake Highlands | Directions
Photo courtesy of BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir Irving
Grand Annakut Darshan & Fireworks
Celebrate the Hindu New Year at one of the largest Diwali events in town, featuring lights galore, food stalls, kids activities, games, and even a fireworks show to end the evening! The festival centers around a traditional Annakut – which translates to “a mountain of food”, with over one thousand thals (vegetarian delicacies) placed in an offering.
Date & time: November 2nd from noon to 8pm
Location: BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir Irving
Price: Free
Irving | Directions
Vickery Park 4th Annual Diwali Celebration
This family-friendly Diwali celebration has it all! Enjoy music, henna tattoos, crafts, live music and dance performances, photo ops, pop-ups from local vendors, and delicious Indian food.
Date & time: November 2nd from noon to 2pm
Location: Vickery Park Branch Library
Price: Free
Northeast Dallas | Directions
Diwali in the Park
The beloved Klyde Warren Park is going all out for Diwali, and will be decked out in vibrant decor! Explore cultural performances, eats and drinks, vendors, and more.
Date & time: November 3 from 11am to 3pm
Location: Klyde Warren Park
Price: Free
Uptown | Directions
Diwali Food Festival
Immerse yourself in Indian culture and celebration via cuisine! This celebration is a foodie’s paradise with dozens of food vendors serving authentic regional dishes. Plus, explore a shopping bazaar, cultural dancing for kids, and live DJs, bands, and singers.
Date & time: November 3rd from noon to 8pm
Location: The Sound at Cypress Waters
Price: Free
Coppell | Directions
