Courtesy photo.

“Be My Neighbor” Block Party 

When: 3-7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 26 

Where: Near Munger Park in Junius Heights 

Tickets: Free!

More information: This may be a “spoonful of sugar” kind of event, depending on how excited you get talking about zoning. The block party will educate attendees on Dallas’s Zoning Code Reform through custom interactive tools (courtesy of Better Block) while also supplying neighborhood fun with food, music, performances, vendors and games. The host, Dallas Housing Coalition, is planning two more of these parties in October near Pleasant Grove and Oak Cliff, respectively. This is all part of the coalition’s “Be My Neighbor” campaign that “aims to raise awareness about Dallas’s need for more attainable and diverse housing options, allowing more walkable retail and home-based small businesses in residential neighborhoods, and neighborhood preservation through the City of Dallas’s zoning code update,” according to a press release. 

Find more information about the Dallas Housing Coalition here.

Last year’s event. Courtesy of Citrusfest.

Second annual Citrusfest music showcase

When: The evening of Thursday, Oct. 1

Where: The Studio at The Bomb Factory in Deep Ellum

Tickets: $34.06 for general admission (includes fees), can be bought here.

More information: The showcase features performances from up-and-coming musicians while also connecting them with industry professionals. Hosted by 97.9 FM The Beat’s Jazzi Black, featured artists include Alexis Ray Parker (R&B and soul), D.X.N (genre-blending singer-songwriter), David Forsyth (indie-country), Leslie Austin (singer-songwriter) and TRVR? (independent folk artist and American Idol contestant), according to a press release. 

“Citrusfest has always been about creating opportunities that go beyond the stage,” founder Sydney Peters said in the release. “We want emerging artists to perform in front of new audiences, but we also want them in the same room with people who understand this industry and can offer real insight, connections and perspective. That access can make a meaningful difference for an artist trying to take the next step.”

More information about Citrusfest can be found here.

Brad Miller of Punch Drunk Chef Meal Prep serves up sliders at last year’s Burgers + Burgundy event. Photo Courtesy of Chef John Tesar, Danny Campbell, Allison David, Francesca Nelo, Don Clausen, DIFFA Dallas.

DIFFA Dallas’s 17th annual Burgers + Burgundy

When: Thursday, Oct. 1. VIP entry is at 6:30 p.m. while general admission starts at 7 p.m.

Where: The Village Dallas

Tickets: $100 or $150 for VIPs (who get access to the afterparty and complimentary valet), can be bought here. 

More information: This is a fundraiser for DIFFA (Design Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS) Dallas, which raises money for organizations that aim to fight HIV/AIDS and help those diagnosed in a variety of ways. The details of the event are in the name — guests can expect to drink wine and taste burgers crafted by local chefs. This includes John Tesar of Knife (who’s also the host), plus some with East Dallas ties: Meridian at The Village’s Eduardo Osario, Punch Drunk Chef Meal Prep’s Ariel Wakeland, Easy Slider’s Caroline Perini, St. Martin’s Jeremy Massudi, Burger Schmurger’s Dave Culwell and Loro Asian Smokehouse & Bar, according to a press release. 

Music by DJ Flip and a raffle ($25 per ticket or $100 for five) are also part of the event.

“Burgers + Burgundy is such a special way to kick off the DIFFA Dallas season because it truly captures what our organization is all about – bringing people together for a great cause while celebrating the incredible creativity and generosity of our community,” a 2026 event chairperson JR Shoman said in the release. “It’s a relaxed, fun evening with amazing food from some of Dallas’s best chefs and the perfect introduction for anyone new to DIFFA Dallas. Most importantly, the event helps support the grants we’ll award to our beneficiaries at the end of the season, making a meaningful impact in the communities we serve.” 

Find out more about DIFFA Dallas here. 

Photo courtesy of Earlybirds Club.

Earlybirds Club 

When: 6-10 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 3

Where: The Studio at The Bomb Factory in Deep Ellum

Tickets: $36.65 for general admission (includes fees), can be bought here.

More information: This event is for women and transgender and nonbinary folks, all age 21 or older, to have a safe nightlife experience that doesn’t require being up all night. DJ Luv SSIK is expected to play pop, hip-hop, new wave and R&B music from the ’80s, ’90s and 2000s, according to the event’s website. A portion of the proceeds benefits the Susie Lee Legacy Fund, named after the club’s late co-founder and donates to organizations that aim to help women, girls, queer people and survivors of violence. Find more information about the fund here.

Last year’s Dallas All Star Chef Classic. Photo courtesy of Dallas 24 Hour Club.

Dallas 24 Hour Club’s 13th annual Dallas All Star Chef Classic

When: Sunday, Oct. 4. The VIP reception is at 5 p.m., and the main event will start at 5:30 p.m.

Where: Longhorn Ballroom near the Cedars

Tickets: Individual tickets are $200 and can be purchased here.

More information: This is a fundraiser for The 24, a nonprofit based in Old East Dallas that aims to support those in recovery for addiction and homelessness. The event will include multiple stations, and participating chefs with East Dallas ties are Carlo Gattini of Botolino Gelato Artigianale, CJ Morgan of The Hubcap Café, Misti Norris of Far Out, Meaders Ozarow of Empire Baking Co., Gerardo Pena of Rodeo Goat, Tida Pichakron of Haute Sweets Patisserie, Alejandro Velazquez of McRae’s American Bistro and Justin Wern of Garden Café.

“The Dallas All Star Chef Classic has grown tremendously over the past 13 years, but the heart of the evening has always remained the same,” said Tim Grigsby, Dallas 24 Hour Club CEO and a former resident, in a press release. “It is about bringing people together to create a brand new start for individuals working courageously to rebuild their lives. Because of the generosity of our chefs, chairs, sponsors and guests, we are serving more people than ever before and expanding the tools our residents need to find employment, secure housing, strengthen their recovery and move forward with confidence.”

Find more information about The 24 here.