Things to do in Dallas-Fort Worth, November 2-8

by Shannon Sutlief

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This week's best bets include Day of the Dead, Diwali, dogs in costumes, glass being smashed, video games, AltCars, and lots of shopping.

Day of the Dead Celebration: Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) is a Mexican holiday on Nov. 1-2 when families honor loved ones who have died. Oak Cliff Cultural Center hosts a neighborhood celebration with performances by Latin dance companies Alegre Ballet Folklorico and Cuicani in Xochitl. A traditional altar will be on display to which community members can contribute remembrances. Nov. 2 at 7 p.m. at the Oak Cliff Cultural Center, 223 W. Jefferson Blvd., Dallas. Free. 214-670-3777. dallasculture.org /oakcliffculturalcenter.

Texas AltCar Expo: Drivers can step on the natural gas at this car show. All of the vehicles run on alternative fuel sources such as electricity, hydrogen, biodiesel, ethanol, propane and natural gas. And many will be available for hands-on experiences in the Ride & Drive Area. The expo, presented by the North Central Texas Council of Governments and DFW Clean Cities Coalition, also includes exhibits and lectures on topics including energy efficiency, urban planning and alternative transportation. This year's expo is a first for Dallas-Fort Worth after three years in Austin. Nov. 2 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Nov. 3 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Plano Centre, 2000 E. Spring Creek Parkway, Plano. Free. 310-390-2930. altcarexpotexas.com.

Major League Gaming Dallas Fall Championship: The world's largest competitive video game league returns to Dallas with a pre-release tournament of Halo 4, during which hundreds of four-person teams will compete for $40,000 in prizes. Spectators can watch the bouts on video screens, which will also show tourneys for StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty, League of Legends, Tekken Tag Tournament 2, Mortal Kombat and PlayStation All Stars. There will also be game demos, vendor booths and meet-and-greets with professional players. Nov. 2 from 1:30 p.m. to 1:30 a.m., Nov. 3 from 10 a.m. to midnight, Nov. 4 from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. at the Dallas Convention Center, 650 S. Griffin St., Dallas. Spectator passes $35, competitor passes $50-$280. majorleaguegaming.com.

DFW Diwali Mela: Diwali is the Festival of Lights, celebrated throughout South Asia to mark the triumph of good over evil. The Dallas-Fort Worth Indian Cultural Society's annual celebration will be illuminated with fireworks, a laser show and Ravan Dahan, the burning of an effigy of the demon king Ravana, who was defeated by Lord Shri Rama. The event, which regularly draws 50,000 people, will also have displays by cultural groups, Bollywood performances, camel and elephant rides, an area for children with attractions such as a bounce house and a train ride, and more than a hundred vendors, including some offering vegetarian food. Nov. 3 from 4 p.m. to midnight at Cotton Bowl Stadium in Fair Park, 1300 Robert B. Cullum Blvd., Dallas. $5 in advance, $7 at the gate, free for kids under 10. dfwdiwalimela.com.

Bookworm Bash: Put down your e-reader and remember why you love reading in the first place: books. With real pages to flip, corners to turn down to mark a stopping place, margins to write in, and that distinct old-paper smell. Stock up this weekend when thousands of used books will be for sale for a buck or two. This benefit for Senior Adult Services will include fiction, nonfiction, books for kids, cookbooks, textbooks, audio books and even rare books. Nov. 2 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Nov. 3 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Addison Circle Park, 4970 Addison Circle Drive, Addison. Free. 1-800-233-4766. addisontexas.net.

Festival at the Switchyard: This block party in picturesque downtown Carrollton is the rare chance to shop for antiques in a historic building, then ride a zip line, dine at Babe's Chicken Dinner House and play on the bungee trampoline. (Maybe it's best if you reverse those last two.) There will also be concerts by Lifehouse, Sister Hazel, Asleep at the Wheel, Micky and the Motorcars and Bruce Springsteen cover band Thunder Road, plus festival staples such as games and booths selling arts and crafts, food and drinks. Nov. 3 from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. in historic downtown Carrollton, east of Interstate 35 on the south side of Belt Line Road, Carrollton. Free. carrolltonfestival.com.

Glass on the Tracks: Vetro, a glass-blowing studio and gallery next to the Grapevine Vintage Railroad, auctions off glass works during this annual event. Visitors who bid high enough to meet or exceed the artist's secret reserve price take the artwork with them. If the price isn't met, the piece is smashed in Vetro's "glass guillotine." The shards from last year's shattered items were used to make a new artwork, which will be up for bid this year with proceeds benefiting EASL (Emergency Artists' Support League). The party in the parking lot also includes glass-blowing demonstrations, pyrotechnics by Greg Schaatt and a performance by Austin musician Graham Wilkinson. Nov. 3 from 6 to 10 p.m. at Vetro Glassblowing Studio and Gallery, 701 S. Main St., Grapevine. $35 at the door. 817-251-1668. glassonthetracks.com.

Etsy Denton Handmade Harvest: Have a cool yule by shopping Etsy Denton's market, where you can buy local, support small businesses and find vintage goods. More than 40 merchants will offer clothing, jewelry, accessories, home goods, items for kids and babies, fine art, furniture, paper goods and ceramics. There will also be an "honor bar" where guests can grab snacks in exchange for donations. The first 50 shoppers will receive goody bags with coupons and other items from participants. Nov. 3 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Center for the Visual Arts, 400 E. Hickory St., Denton. Free. facebook.com/etsydenton.

Latino Arts Festival: This family-friendly arts party in the Bishop Arts District is presented by Domingo Garcia, WordSpace, the Latino Cultural Center, and MFA Gallery. The inaugural event includes performances by musical acts Mariachi Quetzal, Feliz Flores and DJ Guero, and literary artists Carlos Salas, Opalina Salas, Joaquin Zihuatanejo, Natasha Carrizosa and Ricardo Garza. There will also be a children's story time with Dallas City Council member Delia Jasso and more than a dozen tents with exhibits and activities. Nov. 4 from noon to 5 p.m. in the Bishop Arts District, on Bishop Street from Seventh to Eighth streets, Dallas. Free. 214-838-3554. wordspacedallas.com.

Dog Day Afternoon: It was raining cats and dogs on Sept. 29, when Operation Kindness planned to hold its annual pet-friendly festival. The group - North Texas' oldest and largest no-kill animal shelter - will try again Nov. 4, and here's hoping it will be a ruff time instead of a rough time. This second attempt will include canine contests for costumes, tricks and other achievements, plus a puppy kissing booth, pet CPR demonstrations, an agility obstacle course for all dogs to enjoy, face painting for children, live music, food trucks and giveaways, including free microchipping for the first 45 dogs. The event benefits homeless and unwanted animals. Nov. 4 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Flag Pole Hill at White Rock Lake, 8100 Doran Circle, Dallas. Free. 972-418-7297. operationkindness.org.

'Neath the Wreath: It's time for holiday shopping, and the Junior League of Collin County's 17th annual charity bazaar is a good place to do it. With a hundred jury-selected vendors selling items such as holiday and home decor, clothing and accessories, things for kids and gourmet food, you can surely scratch some names off your gift list. Get a head start with Ladies Night Out on Nov. 7. The preview party includes first pick of the items for sale, a silent auction, cocktails and photo ops with "hot Santas," who are local firemen donating their time and attractiveness. Also feeling charitable? The Junior League will accept donations of new, unwrapped toys during the five-day event. Nov. 7-11 at Plano Centre, 2000 E. Spring Creek Parkway, Plano. Ladies Night Out is Nov. 7 at 7 p.m. The market is Nov. 8 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Nov. 9 from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., Nov. 10 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Nov. 11 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Ladies Night Out tickets are $45-$100. Market admission is $8 in advance, $10 at the door, free for children under 12. 972-769-0557. jlcollincounty.org/neath-the-wreath.

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