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20 Things to Do This Summer in Dallas

The best way to stay cool during a Dallas summer is to stay busy. And by busy, we mean relaxing with a cocktail in a glorious lazy river or rocking out in an air-conditioned concert hall (hi, Ed Sheeran) or devouring the freshest bowl of poké you’ve ever had. Here’s to your super-packed, super-busy summer.

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stellar dallas summer events activities
Hollywood T./Yelp

1. Kick off your summer with a cocktail on the patio at Henderson Avenue’s new hot spot Stellar. The “Pinky’s Out of Jail” is basically summer in a glass.

2. Get your tan on. Well, your fake one, with the one and only Kari Lord of Simply Glowing, who operates out of ERA Salon when she’s in Dallas.

3. The 31st Annual Taste of Dallas, benefiting the North Texas Food Bank, will give you your foodie fix. We’re talking more than 200 exhibitors and over 20 craft beer setups. June 10 and 11

4. Dallas’s most beloved professional athlete is back at bat for his foundation in the annual Dirk Nowitzki Heroes Celebrity Baseball Game. Yep, Dirk always hits a homer with his celeb-packed lineup. Last year it sold out, so don’t wait on buying tickets. June 24

5. When things get hot, indulge in a Vietnamese iced coffee at Halcyon on Greenville Avenue. We dare you not to Instagram the dreamy decor and interiors

fredricksburg dallas summer events activities
FREDERICKSBURG HERB FARM/FACEBOOK

6. Take the drive Fredericksburg for the weekend—everyone else is doing it.

7. Hit up the Commerce Street Night Market at the Pike West Commerce pavilion the last Friday of the monthNot only can you sing, paint or pop in for a class, but you can also sell your own goods for a $50 fee.

8. Dallas’s best chefs create menus based off of local farm ingredients at the Farm Shed Dinner series at the Dallas Farmers Market. These one-night-only events will happen the last Thursday of each month.

9. Get in on the poké phenomenon that has washed into Dallas. In just the past couple of months, Freshfin Poké Co., Poké Bop and Pōk The Raw Bar have opened their doors, promising fresh and healthy fish selections to rock your taste buds.

lone star park dallas summer events activities
Lone Star Park/facebook

10. Fireworks are obligatory. And Lone Star Park’s fireworks celebration has some of the best, along with horse races and live music. July 3

11. Any Nashville fans out there? Make sure you see the cast in concert at the Verizon Theatre in Grand Prairie. Cowboy hats welcome. July 28

12. Because sometimes humor is the only thing that keeps moms sane, the witty chicks from the IMOMSOHARD podcast are hosting a Mom’s Night Out to make you laugh. A lot. July 28

13. Whether it’s girls’ night or date night, try one of the three newest spots to pop up in the Design District: Sassetta, Wheelhouse or Town Hearth.

thetotplayhouse streetview
the tot

14. Stroll through your charming dream home, aka the brand-new Tot Playhouse, and shop for all the luxe parenting products you didn’t know you needed.

15. Baby, baby, baby, ohhhhhh. Don’t act like you don’t want to see Justin Bieber in concert at Jerry’s World. We are all about living your truth here. July 29

16. Not a Justin fan? Well, we are just “thinking out loud” here, but guessing that Ed Sheeran might make you “happier.” (See what we did there?) August 18

17. The Women Texas Film Festival is perfect for film fanatics who just can’t get enough girl power (which is essentially all of us). Pass the popcorn! August 17 to 20

la la land screening dallas summer events activities
Summit Entertainment

18. The Dallas Symphony Orchestra is screening La La Land with a live orchestra—a don’t-miss experience if you love beautiful things. September 1 and 2 

19. The first Riverfront Jazz Festival is happening at the Texas Horse Park, and since hometown sweetheart Erykah Badu has signed up to perform, we’ll be there. September 1 to 3

20. When it’s too hot to function, get yourself to a body of water, preferably the lazy river (in the shape of Texas, no less) on the Marriott Marquis Houston rooftop.



diana oates

Dallas Editor

Diana Oates is a freelance writer living in Dallas with her husband and three kids. When she’s not telling you about the best new restaurant in town or the hottest hotel to escape to for the weekend, she’s cheering on her beloved North Carolina Tar Heels.