Downtown Garland Square has a new set of residents this fall — towering, wildly colorful fantastical creatures that aren't native to any zoo. The outdoor exhibition brings larger-than-life alebrijes and other Mexican folk art to the heart of the city, turning the public square into a free, open-air gallery through the end of March.
According to FOX 4 News Dallas-Fort Worth, the display runs from October 2026 through March 2027. The exhibition, titled Alebrijes: A Dreamworld in Downtown Garland, began October 8, 2026, and continues through March 29, 2027, with the larger-than-life alebrijes handcrafted by Mexican artists, according to Visit Garland.
The fantastical figures trace back to a lucid dream Pedro Linares had while convalescing from an illness. In 1936, papier-mâché artist Pedro Linares sculpted the first alebrijes out of cartonería after entering an unusual forest in that dream, a history documented on Wikipedia. Nearly nine decades later, larger-than-life fantastical creatures are on display in a North Texas town square.
A Square Built for This Moment
Downtown Garland Square reopened in October 2023 after a revitalization, the city notes on its newsflash page. The renovated square went on to receive a first-place award from D Magazine in 2024, and the city says it has drawn Garland residents inward, per the same city account.
The exhibit also sets the stage for Garland's annual Día de los Muertos Celebration on October 24, a free community event featuring altars, artisan markets, and live cumbia music, according to a City of Garland video.
Tours, Workshops, and a Map to Find Them All
For visitors who want more than a casual stroll past the sculptures, the Garland Visitor Center is running weekly guided walking tours called A Dreamworld Explained every Thursday evening in November, except Thanksgiving, to unpack the symbolism and craftsmanship behind each creature, per Prekindle. Self-guided visitors can also use location guides to find sculptures throughout downtown.
The city is extending the exhibit's reach beyond the square itself. Garland's Central Library is also hosting an indoor exhibit.
