Unique pumpkin carvings could earn a $10,000 prize.
St. James Episcopal is famous for its annual pumpkin patch, open every day in October, Sunday through Thursday from 1-7 p.m.; Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Every Saturday, the patch includes a fall activity and this week it’s a pumpkin carving contest at 5:30 p.m. with a major prize. Hosted by Pumpkin USA, the entries will be posted online where voters can decide who has the $10,000 design (see all the rules here). To sign up, register here.
Two neighborhood schools host Spirit Nights this week, where they partner with neighborhood restaurants to pack the place in exchange for a portion of the night’s proceeds.
Lake Highlands Elementary is taking their fundraiser to Lakewood’s Penne Pomodoro, 1924 Abrams Parkway. On Thursday, Oct. 12, from 4 p.m. to close, just say you’re there to support the school and 15 percent of your check will benefit the elementary.
As we reported last week, Lake Highlands Junior High is upping the ante on Spirit events this Sunday, Oct. 15 at Shady’s. In addition to collecting receipts from supportive diners, from 3-4 p.m. watch the seventh-graders take on the eighth-graders in a hotdog-eating contest. There will also be live music and a visit from the school’s mascot. Of all the receipts collected, 10 percent of sales, including alcohol, will benefit the junior high.
The Lake Highlands Junior Women’s League (featured in this month’s cover story) is hosting their own Spirit Night. On Thursday from 4-8 p.m., Chick-fil-A at 6176 Retail Road will give “a portion” of proceeds to the community boosting group.
Lake Highlands United Methodist Church is looking for extra hands to help Rise Against Hunger on Sunday. Beginning at noon, volunteers will help pack hundreds of meals in the church’s great hall, 9015 Plano Road. To take part, register here.
Speaking of volunteering, the monthly Wildcat Wonderland Work Day is set for Saturday, when the community comes together to clean up the interior courtyards at Lake Highlands Elementary School. Volunteers are needed from 9-11 a.m., sign up here.
Need an extra dose of arts and culture this weekend? The 25th annual White Rock Studio Tour highlights dozens of artists around the lake, who will open their doors to visitors from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. this Saturday and Sunday. The event is totally free. Simply grab a map online and select the studios you want to tour.
Ghouls and Graveyards opens at the Dallas Children’s Theater this Friday the 13th. The Teen Scene Players from the Academy program at Dallas Children’s Theater (DCT) will perform the works of Edgar Allan Poe, W. W. Jacobs, and Texas ghost stories. The show will run through Oct. 29, and will be at 7:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday nights, with a Sunday matinee at 1:30 p.m. Tickets are $16.
C.C. Young’s Wellness Fair will be Saturday with a focus on Active Aging. The wellness fair will include organizations, vendors, and social clubs to join that offer senior health resources. The event will be at The Point at C.C. Young from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and is free.
Looking for a unique Halloween costume or knick knack? Dallas Children’s Theater is hosting its annual costume and prop sale on Saturday from 12:30-7:30 p.m. and Sunday from 12:30-6:30 p.m. Items have been featured in past DCT shows, and the sale benefits future theater opportunities.
Looking for a new furry friend to join the family? Unleashed by Petco at 10675 Northwest Highway will host Dallas DogRRR, an area rescue we featured last year, who have a slew of adoptable dogs and cats. See them Sunday from 11 a.m.-2 p.m.
The Bath House Cultural Center will host Día de los Muertos: The Path of Winged Souls, an exhibition that includes traditional and contemporary works of art that celebrate the Day of the Dead. This show runs from Oct. 14 to Nov. 11. A reception with the artist will be held on Sunday from 5 to 7 p.m., with live music by Jacco Velarde. All events are are free and open to the public.
The Dallas Arboretum’s Cool Thursday concerts continue this week with San Antonio Lights, A Tribute to Journey NEW. The gates open at 6 p.m., and the concert begins at 7:00 p.m. Single tickets start at $10 – $27.
Dallas Water Utilities and the Dallas County Master Gardeners will teach neighbors to create beautiful landscapes while being environmentally friendly. The 23rd annual Water-Wise Landscape Tour will highlight water saving techniques for residential landscapes, schools and demonstration gardens around Dallas. The tour is on Saturday, Oct. 14, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and begins at the White Rock Pump Station.
