October at the AT&T Performing Arts Center: Music, Culture, Comedy and Community
Rollos de Mujeres Media is proud to announce that our founder, Ana Cruz Hollingsworth, has been selected to serve on the AT&T Performing Arts Center’s Hispanic/Latino Community Advisory Council for 2026–2027. This new chapter represents an opportunity to help strengthen the connection between the Center and the Latino community across North Texas, creating more opportunities for our community to feel welcomed, represented and engaged in one of Dallas’ most important artistic and cultural spaces.
And there may be no better time to explore the AT&T Performing Arts Center than this October.
From Latin music and family festivals to comedy, magic, storytelling and live performances, the Center’s October calendar offers plenty of reasons to visit the Dallas Arts District.
Celebrate Latino Culture at Latinidad Festival
October begins with one of the events closest to our hearts. On October 3, the AT&T Performing Arts Center will host its fifth annual Latinidad Festival, a free celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month featuring the food, music, dance and cultures of Latin America and the Hispanic and Latino communities of North Texas. The festival takes place from 6 to 10 p.m. at Strauss Square, and admission is free with RSVP.
That same day, visitors can also take advantage of the Center's First Saturday Tours, offering free docent-led tours that provide a behind-the-scenes look at spaces including the Winspear Opera House and Wyly Theatre.
Music, Family Fun and Live Entertainment
On October 10, violinist Dominique Hammons brings Soul Sessions to the Wyly Theatre. His performance blends violin, jazz influences and contemporary musical styles for an evening designed to showcase both musicianship and showmanship.
Families can return the following afternoon for Brains On: Smash Boom Best on October 11. Inspired by the popular debate show for kids and families, the live performance invites audiences to listen to competing arguments, weigh the facts and help decide which side wins.
On October 12, journalists Maggie Haberman and Jonathan Swan take the stage for Regime Change, a conversation based on their book examining President Donald Trump’s first year back in office and its implications for U.S. foreign policy and international relations.
Comedy Takes Center Stage
Need a laugh? Paula Poundstone comes to the Wyly Theatre on October 16, bringing the observational humor and spontaneous wit that have defined her decades-long career in comedy, radio and television.
Then things get a little more prehistoric.
On October 17, Hold On To Your Butts turns one of cinema’s most famous dinosaur adventures into a live parody performed by two actors and a Foley artist. With performances at 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m., expect physical comedy, theatrical creativity and plenty of nostalgia.
A Little Magic, Please
From October 22–25, magician and character performer Lucy Darling brings As You Wish to the Wyly Theatre. The show combines magic, sharp humor and theatrical charm in an intimate solo performance. Demand has already been strong, with multiple performances currently listed as sold out, so anyone interested should check current ticket availability directly with the Center.
For the Music Lovers
Fans of classic pop and rock can head to the Majestic Theatre on October 25 for The Billy Joel Legacy, a concert experience celebrating Billy Joel’s music and the story behind his career.
The month’s ticketed programming also includes something especially distinctive on October 30: YOU ARE NOT ALONE – A Symphonic Hip-Hop Storytelling Experience. Presented at the Wyly Theatre, the production brings together storytelling, symphonic music and hip-hop culture in a performance centered on the intersection of story, music and community.
Free Thursdays at Patio Sessions
Not every night at the Arts District requires a ticket.
Throughout October, Patio Sessions returns on Thursday evenings with free live music, lawn games and happy hour outside Flora Cantina. Performances run from 5:30 to 8 p.m., offering an easy way to experience local music and enjoy the Arts District with friends or family. October’s lineup begins October 8 and includes artists from a variety of genres, including Latin music.
End the Month With a Little Stage Fright
Finally, Halloween belongs to the entire family.
On October 31, the AT&T Performing Arts Center and the Dallas Police Department’s Office of Community Affairs present the fifth annual Stage Fright: A Halloween Family Festival at Sammons Park. The free event runs from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and requires an RSVP.
From celebrating our Latino heritage to introducing children to the arts, discovering new performers or simply enjoying an evening of music under the Dallas skyline, October offers countless ways to experience the AT&T Performing Arts Center.
For us at Rollos de Mujeres Media, this new relationship is about more than sharing an event calendar. It is about helping our community know that these artistic spaces belong to us, too.
Art becomes more powerful when more people feel invited to experience it.
So this October, bring your family, invite a friend, discover something new and take your seat.
We’ll see you at the AT&T Performing Arts Center.