There are many fun things to do in Dallas and surrounding cities for kids, adults and families to enjoy throughout the year. Even though my children are now grown and gone, I continue to look and find fun things to do for us to enjoy during the spring, summer, fall and winter months. No one likes to be bored, especially me, feeling like there’s nothing to do in the fall or cold Texas winters.

Fortunately, the Dallas area has events and festivals in the fall that fill our calendar with lots of fun things to do for us grown adults, grandparents, and children too. Labor Day weekend marks the end of summertime fun, but North Texas cities and counties like Plano, Dallas, Addison, McKinney, Richardson, Sachse, Little Elm, Rockwall and Garland, have events and festivals in the fall for everyone to enjoy.

The fall festival season typically runs from mid-September to mid-October, which includes Oktoberfests in both Addison and McKinney, the Taste of Collin County, the Plano Balloon Festival, Richardson’s Cottonwood Arts Festival, Lake Highlands area Autumn at the Arboretum, Garland’s Wild West Cowboy Round-Up, the annual Sachse Fall Fest, and the State Fair of Texas, just to name a few. Scroll to find your town’s 2010 fall festival or event.

McKinney – The Taste of Collin County in McKinney TX will be held on Monday, September 13, from 5-9 pm. Drat, of all days to have a festival, it’s today and on a Monday weeknight no less. This Taste Of fest will have food, wine and beer samples from over 40 Collin County restaurants, plus live entertainment and kids activities, with event proceeds benefiting the North Collin County Habitat for Humanity organization. Held at the Collin County Regional Airport in McKinney, located at 1496 E. Industrial Blvd, admission prices are $25 in advance, $30 at the door and $10 for kids to get into the event. For more information, visit www.tasteofcollincounty.com or call 972-542-5300, ext. 104.

Addison – Addison Oktoberfest (held in September) may not get the huge crowd turnout that Kaboom Town gets each year, but over 60,000 visitors are expected at Addison Oktoberfest, complete with four full days of fun activities, food and entertainment for kids and families. Authentic German food, beer hall and Weingarten, music and folk dancing, arts and crafts, amusements, children’s entertainment etc. Oktoberfest in Addison starts on Thursday, September 16 and ends on Sunday, September 19. Thursday’s scheduled time runs from 6-11 p.m.; Friday from 6 pm to midnight; Saturday from noon to midnight and Sunday from noon to 5 pm. This festival in Addison is located at Addison Circle Park, 4970 Addison Circle Drive. Admission is Free on the 16th, and $5-$10 on Friday, Saturday and Sunday for anyone 4 years old and up. DFW area Albertsons stores are selling discount coupon tickets for admission, food and beverage for $5 anytime for the Addison fest. For more information, visit www.addisontexas.net/events/Oktoberfest/ for further details.

Plano – The Plano Balloon Festival is a very popular North Texas event, which features over 60 hot air balloons, sky divers, inflatable rides, face painting, crafts, fireworks and live entertainment, and balloon rides. Country singer Scott Ewing will perform live. Balloon rides at the Plano TX festival are available for a cost of about $250.00 per person. The Plano Balloon Fest runs for three days, from Friday, September 17 through Sunday, September 19. The fairgrounds in Plano is located at Oak Point Park, at 2801 E. Spring Creek Parkway.

The price for admission tickets to the Plano event vary: $5 per person for a 1-time admission; $8 per person day ticket – 2-time admission; $4 per person discounted admission 9:00AM – 3:00PM; $1 off for Seniors 65 and over; Kids under 36 inches get in Free. Parking is available for $10 per car plus admission at the Collin College Spring Creek Campus, Oak Point Recreation Center (Jupiter and Spring Creek Parkway), and the First United Methodist Church (Parker and Spring Creek Parkway). $5 parking offsite is available at the Plano Centre (2000 E. Spring Creek Parkway) and the Collin Creek Church (1905 E. Parker Road). For more information, visit www.planoballoonfest.org.

Garland – The City of Garland’s second annual Wild West Round-Up in downtown Garland features chuckwagons serving authentic cowboy grub such as meat, beans and potatoes from dutch ovens; Stagecoach rides; live western entertainment; a petting zoo; face painting; hay mazes; pony cart rides; and a variety of crafts. Garland’s festival is being held on Saturday, September 18, from 10 am to 7 pm, at the Downtown Garland Square, Sixth and Main streets. Admission is Free. For more information and the complete rundown of everything scheduled for this fun event, visit www.garlandcowboyroundup.com.

Rockwall – The City of Rockwall is hosting its annual Aspasians Fall Arts & Crafts Fair, where some 200 vendors will sell a variety of foods and merchandise like jewelry, gourmet popcorn and woodwork. Sponsored by Aspasians nonprofit women’s service organization, proceeds from the Rockwall event will be donated for college scholarships for high school graduating seniors. This event is being held on Saturday, September 18, from 9 am to 5 pm at the Historic Downtown Rockwall Square, located at the intersection of Goliad, San Jacinto, Kaufman and Rusk streets. Admission is Free. For more information, visit the Aspasians website at www.aspasians.com.

Lake Highlands, Dallas – The Dallas Arboretum’s Autumn at the Arboretum begins with the Great Pumpkin Festival (September 18 – November 14), which will include a Storybook Pumpkin Village, a hay bale maze, the Tom Thumb Pumpkin Patch, and thousands of the most gorgeous fall plants and flowers you could imagine. Other fall fun events in Dallas include the Fall Family Fun Weekend (October 30 and 31) and Cool Thursdays Concerts series at the Arboretum (7 pm from September 16 – October 29). (I can’t wait until the Twilight Tuesdays Concert Series at the Dallas Arboretum returns in Spring and Summer 2011, because the lineup of live music was amazing this year, especially since local favorite Emerald City Band performed). The Dallas Arboretum is located at 8525 Garland Road in Dallas, near White Rock Lake. Adult admission is $10, $7 for kids 3-12 years old, and $9 for seniors 65 and up. For more information, visit www.dallasarboretum.org or call (214) 515-6518.

Little Elm, Denton County – The town of Little Elm is hosting its annual Little Elm Autumn Fest, from Thursday September 23 to Sunday, September 26. Featured activities include a family carnival, games, rides, contests, 5K memorial fun run, Little Miss Autumn Fest Pageant, a barbeque cook-off, a 1-mile walk, and various vendors selling arts, crafts and food. Admission is Free. The festival will be held at the Little Elm Park, located at 704 W. Eldorado Parkway, in Little Elm Texas. For more information, visit www.littleelmtx.us.

Dallas – The State Fair of Texas in Dallas Texas is a huge local event, with visitors coming from all over the country to attend this extremely popular event. The 2010 Dallas State Fair includes the ever-popular Chevrolet Main Stage live music entertainment, parades and pyrotechnics, the auto show, a petting zoo, pig races, special shows and exhibits, amusement rides and some of the strangest “award winning” fried food concoctions known to man, and so much more. The State Fair begins on Friday, September 24 and ends on Sunday, October 17. The Fair Park fairgrounds open at 8 am, located at 3921 Martin Luther King Blvd, but closing times vary throughout the event dates. General adult admission is $15; $11 for kids and senior citizens over 60; children under 2 get in Free. For more information, visit www.bigtex.com

McKinney TX – McKinney Oktoberfest is a two-day, family fun event, hosted by McKinney Main Street, shops in downtown McKinney and various supporting sponsors. Activities celebrating a popular tradition that started 200 years ago in Munich, Germany include authentic German beer, wine and foods, authentic German music, traditional costumes, dancing, fun interactive activities for kids such as face painting, pony rides and all types of arts and crafts. Oktoberfest in McKinney is being held on Friday, September 24 (4 pm to 11 pm) and Saturday, September 25 (10 am to 11 pm) at the Historic Downtown Square, located at the intersection of Virginia, Louisiana, Tennessee and Kentucky streets. Admission is Free. For more information, visit www.downtownmckinney.com.

Richardson – Now in its 42nd year, Richardson’s Cottonwood Art Festival is a nationally recognized fall attraction in Texas. This Art Fest features over 240 local, regional and national artists exhibiting their museum-quality work. Local and regional bands perform rock, jazz, country, blues, swing and folk music during this event. 14 categories of art are included at this festival, including 2D and 3D Mixed Media, ceramics, drawings/pastels, fiber, glass, jewelry, leather, metals, paintings, photography, sculpture and wood are some of what visitors can expect to see. Held at Cottonwood Park on Saturday, October 2 and Sunday, October 3, from 9 am to 6 pm rain or shine. Cottonwood Park is located one block east of Coit Road, 1321 W. Beltline Road, in Richardson Texas. Food and drink vendors will be available in the courtyard, and kid’s activities are available at the ArtStop children’s area. Admission is Free, but some kid activities may require a fee.

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I’ve been paying close attention to the Swine Flu school closings in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, especially since I live in Plano TX myself. Swine Flu (H1N1) concerns has lead Fort Worth ISD to close all schools in the district, with Lewisville ISD and Ponder ISD following suit.

The Swine Flu debate rages on, in regards to whether or not school districts and officials are overreacting to the Swine Flu/H1N1 outbreak, especially since Dallas ISD has yet to close all schools at least temporarily, and hearing the word “pandemic” from health officials is quite unsettling for everyone.

Tawnell Hobbs, a Dallas ISD reporter, recently asked if school districts are overreacting to the “swine flu thing” on her blog:

“We’re trying to understand why school districts have reacted differently to this swine flu thing. Here’s what some districts are doing:

*Dallas is closing Daniel Webster Elementary after one student tested positive for the virus.

*Fort Worth ISD decided to close all of its campuses after one student tested positive for swine flu. Three students in the district also are listed as “probable” for having the virus.

*Cleburne ISD decided to close all of its campuses because four students could possibly have the virus.

*Lewisville ISD shut down a campus because three students possibly have it.”

The discussion in the comments section on Tawnell’s post from readers pretty much sums up what I’ve thought about the school closings in Fort Worth, Ponder, Lewisville as well as other cities and suburbs.

Ever heard the phrase, “damned if you do and damned if you don’t”? Schools that make the decision to close due to concerns about Swine Flu are said to be overreacting and in sheer panic mode, and schools in districts like Dallas that haven’t (yet) decided to close cause people to ask, “Why hasn’t Dallas ISD closed because of Swine Flu”? Damned if you do, and damned if you don’t.

Canyon Creek Elementary in Richardson TX closed its doors due to a confirmed case of Swine Flu, and the fact that Canyon Creek Elem. is just a stones throw from our office, the news really hits home for us because my boss’ niece and nephew attend Canyon Creek.

Some highly popular public events, like the annual Mayfest, have been canceled while other events have not, leaving some to feel that there are mixed messages about swine flu being given to the general public living in North Texas: “There are still a lot of unknowns with this illness, which is why most communities are using extreme caution”.

Dallas County Health and Human Services Directory Zachary Thompson defended his agency’s aggressive approach in dealing with the swine flu crisis. “This is not overkill; this is serious,” he said. “If we had a similar scenario that you have in Mexico, it would definitely not appear to be overkill.” County medical director and health authority Dr. John Carlo said it continues to be a very “fluid situation.”

Hearing news reports and seeing photos of parents in Fort Worth attempting to drop off their children at school after numerous announcements were made and continue to be reported on radio, television and the internet that all schools in Fort Worth were closed due to Swine Flu, seemed rather odd to me. Hello??? Have you not turned on your television news or listened to the radio and heard the news/updates about swine flu at all? Have you even heard about Swine Flu/H1N1 and/or read information about how to protect yourself and loved ones from getting the flu?

H1N1 Swine Flu- How to Protect Yourself

The Centers For Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has updated their website with information for the general public, including an explanation of What is H1N1 (Swine Flu):

H1N1 (referred to as “swine flu” early on) is a new influenza virus causing illness in people. This new virus was first detected in people in April 2009 in the United States. Other countries, including Mexico and Canada, have reported people sick with this new virus. This virus is spreading from person-to-person, probably in much the same way that regular seasonal influenza viruses spread.

Is this new H1N1 virus contagious? CDC has determined that this new H1N1 virus is contagious and is spreading from human to human. However, at this time, it is not known how easily the virus spreads between people.

What are the signs and symptoms of this virus in people? The symptoms of this new influenza A H1N1 virus in people are similar to the symptoms of regular human flu and include fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. A significant number of people who have been infected with this virus also have reported diarrhea and vomiting. Also, like seasonal flu, severe illnesses and death has occurred as a result of illness associated with this virus.

What can I do to protect myself from getting sick? There is no vaccine available right now to protect against this new H1N1 virus. There are everyday actions that can help prevent the spread of germs that cause respiratory illnesses like influenza. Take these everyday steps to protect your health:

• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread this way.
• Try to avoid close contact with sick people.
• Stay home if you are sick for 7 days after your symptoms begin or until you have been symptom-free for 24 hours, whichever is longer. This is to keep from infecting others and spreading the virus further.
• Follow public health advice regarding school closures, avoiding crowds and other social distancing measures.
• Be prepared in case you get sick and need to stay home for a week or so; a supply of over-the-counter medicines, alcohol-based hand rubs, tissues and other related items might could be useful and help avoid the need to make trips out in public while you are sick and contagious.

There is a right way and wrong way to wash your hands. Parents, be sure you are taking the necessary precautions to educate and protect yourselves and your children from becoming sick, by teaching your children how to wash your hands correctly for a full 20 seconds with soap and water. Stay updated on the list of school closings in North Texas from regular updates on WFAA.com’s school closings page.

What do you think? Do you think school districts are doing enough to prevent the spread of H1N1 (swine flu) throughout their schools, or do you think the school closings are just overkill?

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