Celestina Blok

One of Fort Worth's longest running and most beloved festivals happens this week featuring food, music, and dancing that will make guests want to shout, "Opa!" This week also brings lots of tasty educational opportunities, including classes on Thai cuisine, Cajun dishes, and fall-themed charcuterie boards perfect for upcoming holiday gatherings.

The busiest time of the year for restaurants is nearly here with holiday parties on the horizon. This week is already startin to ramp up, with festivals and pairing dinners featuring special guests. Visitors include a Brooklyn brewmaster, a Houston chef, and a prestigious California winery co-founder. And there's a weekend-long chef festival featuring some TV-famous name chefs.

Christmas decor is going up earlier than ever, but let's not forget the biggest foodie holiday of the year arrives first. Thanksgiving lands on November 28 this year and many restaurants are readily taking reservations. Scan this list of all the Fort Worth area restaurants serving brunch, lunch, and dinner on Thanksgiving Day and secure yours now.

The Winter Wonderland Bubbles are back at Hotel Vin. Facebook/Hotel Vin The Sterling Lounge is new in downtown Fort Worth. The Sterling Lounge/Facebook

It's the season for celebrating friendships, and there are opportunities to do just that this week with two Friendsgiving-themed dining events. But first, pair a Pilates class with a Paloma mixology session, enjoy new late-night hours at a favorite taco joint with a party, and indulge in Italian bites, wine, spirits, and live music during the biggest grocery-store fete of the year.

Fall foodie festival season is here and two of Fort Worth's most highly anticipated events (both hosted by the Fort Worth Food + Wine Foundation) happen this week. One boasts an after-hours street food market theme and the other is a brand new brunch featuring uplifting gospel music. Global flavors are also featured in a South Vietnam wine pairing dinner, a Thai sawaddee supper, and a British afternoon tea.

Indulgent fall flavors will be found at every single event on the list this week, from handmade pastas with cream sauces to spicy jambalaya, smoked turkey, and rich red wines.

Thanksgiving is still more than a week away but season's "eatings" have already begun. This week brings a holiday themed "giving" dinner for a good cause, an opulent truffle experience, and not one, but three bourbon whiskey pairing events. Looking for restaurants open on Thanksgiving? Find that list here.

Thanksgiving finally arrives this week, and we've provided plenty of notice for making reservations with our list of open restaurants here . But

A popular Louisiana-based wine festival will make its debut in Dallas this week. 3 Strands Wine Festival - Shreveport/Facebook