There is no parent – (alive, at least) that is not looking for Things To Do This Weekend – Here’s why
Because we are ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS on the hunt… I didn’t say ‘on the prowl’ people…
With your kids running in circles and you climbing the walls – at least that’s the snapshot in my house – I know families are always looking for the ‘Newest and Coolest’ for their kiddos and their family — so, I’ve taken a snapshot or sorts, of Things To Do For Families…
Check It Out~
Dallas’ Fly-By Food Park Grand Opening
A new “fly-by” food truck park will have its grand opening this weekend at the concrete slab of 2500 W. Mockingbird Lane near Dallas Love Field Airport. At least 10 different food trucks (four to five at one time) will rotate in and out of the park this weekend during operating hours, 5 to 9 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. Entrance and the live music is free, and dinner, sweet treats, beer and wine will be sold.The park offers no grass and little shade, but customers can eat at picnic tables, inside a renovated building on the property with air conditioning or take their meals to go.See more at Fly By
Texas Dream Cruise
Saturday, Jun 29 12:00p to 5:00p
Frisco, TX
Hey there car enthusiasts! On June 29th, 2013, the Texas Dream Cruise is gearing up to become the largest one Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
day car show and cruise held annually in the Southwest. If it has wheels it’s time to DUST IT OFF and SHOW IT OFF!! $20 to show or cruise your car. FC Dallas stadium, Frisco, TX. The Rumble Kings band plus many family activities too – all free to the general public. Find us at Texas Dream Cruise
Clik here to view.
day car show and cruise held annually in the Southwest. If it has wheels it’s time to DUST IT OFF and SHOW IT OFF!! $20 to show or cruise your car. FC Dallas stadium, Frisco, TX. The Rumble Kings band plus many family activities too – all free to the general public. Find us at Texas Dream CruiseAllen USA Early Fourth of July Celebration
Saturday, Jun 29 4:00p to 10:00p
Allen, TX
The city of Allen’s early Independence Day event features a 20- to 25-minute fireworks show choreographed and produced by Pyrotechnico. The fun also includes music by Emerald City Band, Dennis DeYoung performing the music of Styx, Heidi Zetti Band, the Indecision, the Kassy Levels Band and blues artist Joey Love. There’ll also be a guest appearance by Radio Disney Live’s Dylan Riley Snyder. Food, inflatables, crafts and games round out the day’s attractions. Admission is FREE
Harbor Freedom Fest 2013
Sunday, Jun 30 4:00p to 10:00p
Rockwall, TX
Come celebrate Independence Day at The Harbor Rockwall! Freedom Fest is an annual event filled with live music, entertainment, lots of fun activities for the kids (including Freedom Train rides!) great shopping and of course gorgeous fireworks and festivities! This is a free event for the entire family
Dirk Nowitzki’s 2013 Celebrity Baseball Game
Saturday, Jun 29 6:30p
Frisco, TX
For the 12th year, two baseball teams, each made up of celebrity players and amateurs, will slug it out for nine Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.![dnowitzki]()
innings of hard-charging, umpires-umpping, trash-talking, uniform-wearing, base-stealing, home run-hitting, authentic baseball! See Dallas Mavs Dirk Nowitzki, Vince Carter and owner Mark Cuban, Dallas Cowboys Dez Bryant and Brandon Carr, NFL All-Pro Drew Pearson, NBA players Jason Terry, Vince Carter, J.J. Barea, Devin Harris and other famous faces play hard-core (and often hilarious) baseball! MLB Hall of Famer Goose Gossage and former MLB All-Star David Justice will be team managers. Enjoy family-fun entertainment and a fireworks finale. Proceeds benefit the Dirk Nowitzki Foundation and the Heroes Foundation. You can buy tickets for $8, $10, $14 and $17 at Ticketmaster . Tickets are also avaiable at the Dr Pepper Ballpark Box Office during office hours. Will call will open at 10 a.m. June 29. Tickets also will be available at the door.
Clik here to view.
innings of hard-charging, umpires-umpping, trash-talking, uniform-wearing, base-stealing, home run-hitting, authentic baseball! See Dallas Mavs Dirk Nowitzki, Vince Carter and owner Mark Cuban, Dallas Cowboys Dez Bryant and Brandon Carr, NFL All-Pro Drew Pearson, NBA players Jason Terry, Vince Carter, J.J. Barea, Devin Harris and other famous faces play hard-core (and often hilarious) baseball! MLB Hall of Famer Goose Gossage and former MLB All-Star David Justice will be team managers. Enjoy family-fun entertainment and a fireworks finale. Proceeds benefit the Dirk Nowitzki Foundation and the Heroes Foundation. You can buy tickets for $8, $10, $14 and $17 at Ticketmaster . Tickets are also avaiable at the Dr Pepper Ballpark Box Office during office hours. Will call will open at 10 a.m. June 29. Tickets also will be available at the door.Superman Day Celebration
Saturday, Jun 29 2:00p to 3:00p
Dallas, TX
Superman – The Man of Steel is back!! By now you have seen all the ads for the latest Superman movie, Man of Steel. The Johnson Central library gets in on the action this weekend with a fun Super hero event of their own. Join them on Saturday for a celebration of all things Superman! Stories, crafts, classic cartoons, plus free bookmarks, buttons, and posters, and Super Refreshments! And then go see the movie!!!!
Saturday LEGOs
Saturday, Jun 29 10:30 a.m
Plano, TX
Saturday LEGOs – What can you build with LEGOs? An airplane, an elephant, a vehicle suited for Star Wars? Come as a family and let your imagination run wild! FREE All Ages
LEGO Travel Adventure – Where will YOU go?
Sunday, Jun 30 1:00p to 5:00p
Fort Worth, TX
The CR Smith Museum presents LEGO Travel Adventure that asks “What Will You Build?” This exciting exhibit invites you to use LEGO® bricks to create your own imaginary dream machines. Build a machine that flies, drives, floats or all three.“What will you build?” Age-appropriate build tables featuring parts and pieces from LEGO sets are available in the exhibit. Think creatively, plan, and build vehicles to move through all kinds of terrain.
Looking for LIVE Concerts that qualify as KID FRIENDLY this weekend? Here are a couple
New Kids On the Block with 98 Degrees and Boyz II Men
Friday, Jun 28 7:00p
Dallas, TX
The boy bands have grown up – but this weekend you get a taste of all the great boy bands of the last decade here in Dallas. Very special guests multi-platinum selling artists 98 Degrees and Grammy Award winning Boyz II Men, the best-selling R&B group of all time, will be opening for NKOTB on their tour, aptly titled THE PACKAGE TOUR. This is the first tour for 98 Degrees in over 12 years!
Barry Manilow
Friday, Jun 28 8:00p
Grand Prairie, TX
The consummate singer, songwriter, pianist and entertainer brings his “Direct From Broadway” show to the Metroplex. (Manilow had to reschedule his May 17 show due to bronchitis.) On a stage, Manilow is totally old-school. He comes from the era when you treated your audience as if they were guests in your living room. It sounds obvio
us, but these days it’s definitely a lost art. Manilow always pays exquisite attention to details, from the musicians in his top-notch band to the song selection. Expect to hear enduring hits “Mandy,” “Looks Like We Made It,” “Weekend In New England,” “(At the Copa),” “I Write the Songs” and the stunning “Could It Be Magic,”
Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Gardens –
Here is your chance for a great family weekend event and save money. Click the link to get a Groupon coupon that gets you in for half price
$6 for General Admission with Visit to Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland Flower Village (Up to $15 Value
Here is your chance to save money and see all that the Dallas Arboretum has to offer. Get in for less than half price this weekend! Spread across 66 acres, Dallas Arboretum’s 14 themed gardens showcase the broad biodiversity of Texas’ unique climate. The gardens’ lush plantings and eye-catching vistas have earned the arboretum numerous accolades. Topiary houses and colorful gardens bring Lewis Carroll’s tale to life, with costumed actors adding an extra dimension on Fridays.
expires Jul 31, 2013 - Parking not included. Valid from 9 am – 5 pm for daytime admission only.
There you have it – 10 great, fun things to do in Dallas this weekend. Let us know if you like this column. Somehow it feels very empowering for us to find fun, family events like these.
Next are the obvious, big tourist attractions that are always available to do each weekend in Dallas. This is by no means all of them. But this is a good start. And we will add to this list each week. Feel free to send us locations or events you would like to see us post here.
The Definitive List
LEGOLAND Discovery Center
Grapevine, TX
LEGOLAND Discovery Center is teaming up with Sunny Delight to present summer camps for kids age’s six to 11. Three different camp sessions will be offered beginning June 17. Activities include team builds also free play and team games, Sunny Delight snack break and special goody bag.
$125 per camper, per session
Camp 1: June 17–20; 8-11 a.m.
Camp 2: June 24–27; 8-11 a.m.
Camp 3: August 5–8; 8-11 a.m.
To register & pay: www.legolanddiscoverycenter.com/dallasfw. Space is limited.
Heard Natural Museum
Bessie Heard dedicated years of her life to philanthropic efforts throughout the McKinney area, helping plant hackberry trees along downtown streets and establishing an American Red Cross chapter during World War I. However, she accomplished her greatest feat in 1967 when the Heard Natural Science Museum & Wildlife Sanctuary opened to the public. With 289 acres of rolling space, the sanctuary functions as a testament to the diversity of local flora and fauna, educating visitors and urging them to protect those species for future generations.
More than 6.5 miles of unpaved hiking trails wind throughout the sanctuary, allowing visitors to immerse themselves in habitats that range from tall-grass prairie to limestone slopes. The grounds shelter more than 150 varieties of wildflowers and plants, as well as more than 240 species of birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, and carnivorous shrubs. In addition to the trails, the sanctuary also features an extensive garden of native trees, grasses, and perennials, as well as a treetop ropes course (reservation required; additional fees apply). Indoors, interactive exhibits and collections impart valuable information on north-Texan geology, marine life, and venomous snakes.
SummerFest at Gaylord Texan Resort
Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays 9:00a
Grapevine, TX
Gaylord Texan Resort invites visitors to experience an unforgettable summer vacation minus the travel expenses at the grandest resort destination in the Lone Star State. Running May 24th- September 2nd visitors will delight in the 10-acre outdoor pool and lazy river playground, Paradise Springs. This year, there will be new and unique activities for adults and children, making it an unforgettable experience for everyone in the family! Get ready to eat, drink and make one-of-a-kind memories!
Top Golf
Top Golf is a revolutionary sports entertainment complex combining games with great food and an environment you can enjoy year-round with friends and family of all skill levels. Top Golf features computerized microchips in every golf ball that track your shots’ accuracy and distance while awarding points for hitting targets ranging from 20 – 250 yards away. The food isn’t half bad either.
Dallas Museum of Art
Located in the vibrant Arts District of Downtown Dallas, Texas, the Dallas Museum of Art (DMA) ranks among the leading art institutions in the country and is distinguished by its innovative exhibitions and groundbreaking educational programs.
Perot Museum -
Dallas’ newest science and natural history center is perfect for kids of all ages, including the kid at heart. With dinosaurs, an interactive space exploring the human mind and body, a sports hall and a special children’s area for the little ones, it has a little something for everyone. Web
Six Flags Over Texas
Get your thrills at DFW’s biggest theme park, with roller coasters, rides and events that suit all ages, from kiddie to the kid at heart.
Six Flags Hurricane Harbor
Get your splashes in at DFW’s largest water park. If it has been awhile, you may remember it by its former name Wet N’ Wild. Six Flags bought the water park in 1995 and eventually renamed it. This water wonderland has had its classic attractions like the Lazy River, the Black Hole, Surf Lagoon, and Der Stuka (which can be seen from the highway), and adds new attractions almost yearly. Web
Fair Park
In addition to the year-round activities at Fair Park (like the swan paddle boats and Texas Discovery Gardens), Fair Park has started opening up the Midway over the summer with rides, games, and a variety of entertainment They are calling it Summer Adventures in Fair Park and it looks like a great deal with some new rides appropriate for summer. Web
Dallas Zoo
In addition to the zoo’s typical year-round programs, they have concerts in the park every Saturday during June and July. Web
White Rock Lake
White Rock Lake offers numerous park and lake activities without leaving the city (although sorry kids, no swimming). There is a 10 mile loop for cycling and walking, a dog park, the Bath House Cultural Center right on the lake has seasonal plays and art exhibits, and you can rent kayaks, take rowing lessons, and even get free advice on Sunday afternoons. Web
Dallas World Aquarium
The aquarium has both underwater and avian worlds to explore, as well as Grupo Pakal dance performances to native music every Saturday and Sunday. Check their schedule for feeding times! Web
Galleria Ice Skating Center
Cool off at North Texas’ favorite ice skating rink. Web
Grapevine Mills Mall
There’s something about summertime and hanging out at the mall. From the Rainforest Cafe to Legoland, Grapevine Mills is one of the most kid-tastic malls in the Metroplex.Web
Great Wolf Lodge
Great Wolf Lodge is the place to go when you want a water park experience, but don’t want your face to melt off in the process. It has 80,000 square feet of slides, North America’s largest family of indoor waterpark resorts. All water is kept at a cool 84 degrees. Web
Medieval Times
Get served by a wench, not a waitress, eat without utensils, and then sit back and enjoy a show of jousting that’s so kitschy it’s fun times, as long as you roll with it. The knights WILL take back their flowers if mocked.
Fort Worth Stockyards
In addition to cool, saloon style boutiques and various “old west” activities, the Fort Worth Stockyards does a daily cattle drive at 11:30 am and 4 pm. Following the cattle drives during the summer weekends they also put on a gunfight show. Check their calendar for special events and holiday celebrations. Web
Fort Worth Museum of Science and History
Romp around in the Dino Labs or gaze at the stars in the Noble Planetarium at the FWMSH. They also have a children’s museum, a cattle raisers museum and rotating special exhibitions.
Lonestar Park
Bet on a hot stud. Now I know nothing about horses, but Lonestar Park is a guaranteed guy friendly venue. Stuff him with some country cookin, give him a fifty and let him have the time of his life while you watch some of Texas’ hottest country acts coming this summer.
Speedzone
SpeedZone Dallas is the place for racing, games and more.
Dallas Children’s Theater
Dallas Children’s Theater is a professional theater serving a youth and family audience and was named, “one of the top 5 theaters for children in the country” by Time Magazine. Dallas Children’s Theater is an outstanding venue for collaboration with local artists, designers, playwrights, and educators. Our directors and administrators are proud to contribute to the growing body of theater for youth with the commission and development of new plays. Familiar stories, literary works, histories, and biographies are also a part of our programming. Each season is thoughtfully chosen to produce plays that are engaging, enriching, and educational. Our productions promote social values, moral integrity, and reflect the cultural diversity of our community through casting and themes.
Dallas Farmers Market
One of the largest open-air markets in the country, the Dallas Farmers market was established in 1941 and is recognized nationally as a true farmer’s market where farmers sell their crops directly to the customers. Open 7 days a week 7:00am-6:00pm.
The Katy Trail
The Katy Trail is linking the people and places of Dallas in a powerful new way. The Katy Trail runs through the densest part of our city – more than 300,000 people live or work within a mile of its route. Every day, the Trail offers an ideal thoroughfare for kids and adults from home to work, school and entertainment. The Katy Trail runs from the West End and the American Airlines Center in the south, through the heart of urban Dallas past Knox Street, up to SMU and Mockingbird DART Station in the north.
Nasher Sculpture Center
2001 Flora Street
Dallas, TX 75201
(214) 242-5150
Open since October 2003, the Nasher Sculpture Center is home to one of the finest collections of modern and contemporary sculptures in the world. The Center, which was designed by Prizker Prize-winning architect Renzo Piano, is located on a 2-acre in the heart of the Dallas Arts District. The museum was a long-held dream of the late Raymond and Patsy Nasher, who together formed a comprehensive collection of masterpieces by Calder, de Kooning, di Suvero, Giacometti, Hepworth, Kelly, Matisse, Miro, Moore, Picasso, Rodin, and Serra, among others, which continues to grow and evolve. On display in the Galleries and Garden are rotating exhibitions of works from the Nasher Collection as well as special exhibitions drawn from other museums and private collections.
SIXTH FLOOR MUSEUM AT DEALEY PLAZA
411 Elm Street
Dallas, TX 75202
(214) 747-6660
The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza is located in the former Texas School Book Depository where significant evidence of a sniper was found following the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. The Museum presents the social and political landscape of the early 1960s, chronicles President Kennedy’s assassination and its aftermath, and reflects upon his lasting impact on our country and world. Open 7 days a week 10 AM-6 PM Tuesday-Sunday and Noon-6 PM Monday; closed Thanksgiving and Christmas. Admission includes audio guide, available in several languages: $16 for adults; $14 for seniors (65+); $13 for youth (6-18); children five and under are free or $4 with audio guide. The Museum Store + Café, located at 501 Elm Street, is open to the public daily, 9:30 AM-6 PM.
TAKE A TRIP TO FOSSIL RIM
Fossil Rim Wildlife Center is a drive-through animal park that features giraffes, antelope, bison, birds and more. It’s in Glen Rose, about 75 miles from Dallas. At the entrance, you can buy a bag of feed for the animals and get a brochure to help you identify them. There’s also a cafe, gift shop and Children’s Animal Center halfway through the drive where you can hop out to stretch your legs and visit the petting zoo. If you want to go for less and are free in the middle of the week, the center offers reduced-price admission Tuesdays through Thursdays through October.
Through Sept. 30, admissions run from 8:30 a.m. to 5:29 p.m. (the park closes at 7:30 p.m.), 2299 County Road 2008, Glen Rose. Regular pricing: $20.95 for adults, $17.95 for seniors 62 and up, $14.95 for ages 3-11. Tuesdays through Thursdays (except for holidays): $17.95 for adults, $14.95 for seniors, $11.95 for ages 3-11. 254-897-2960. fossilrim.org.
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