Free Fun

How to have the most fun in Dallas-Fort Worth without spending a dime

With so much to do in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, it can be a drag on your wallet paying for all of it. It's easy to forget that there are a ton of free options available, many of them year-round.

So step away from the ATM and hold on to that credit card — here are some of the best ways to have a good time in Dallas-Fort Worth without paying a dime.

Museums
You would be shocked at how many people never think about museums as sources of free entertainment. This is what they're missing:

Just in the Dallas Arts District alone, the Dallas Museum of Art, which reverted to free admission in 2013, and the Crow Collection of Asian Art are both free every day. The Nasher Sculpture Center is free the first Saturday of every month.
For more art appreciation in downtown Dallas, download a map from PublicArtWalk Dallas and embark on a free self-guided tour of sites such as Thanks-Giving Square, Pioneer and Pegasus plazas, and Henry Moore's Dallas Piece.
Stepping out of downtown Dallas, you can go to NorthPark Center, which is really an art gallery disguised as a mall. Or head to Fort Worth, where the Amon Carter Museum of American Art is always free and the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth is free every Sunday in 2015.
If you dare to venture out to the suburbs, the free Texas Sculpture Garden in Frisco claims it has "the largest private collection of contemporary Texas sculpture ever assembled and made available to the public."

Festivals
Once spring hits Dallas-Fort Worth, festival organizers start being generous and offer all sorts of free fun:

In March, the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Dallas is your chance to dress in green, drink in public and see people celebrate all things Irish. If you can't get enough of the Irish, you can get into the North Texas Irish Festival for free if you show up before 7 pm on Friday night.
When April hits, Deep Ellum Arts Festival in Dallas and Main St. Fort Worth Arts Festival take over large sections of their respective cities to offer great art, music and food. The Denton Arts & Jazz Festival offers seven stages of continuous music over three days.
May brings the Cottonwood Art Festival in Richardson, an extravaganza of art as well as music. Trinity River Wind Festival takes advantage of the openness of the Trinity River Greenbelt for kite flying, paper airplane demonstrations and more.

Outdoors
Going to a public park or other free areas outside is always a good idea, but some places are better than others:

White Rock Lake is the crown jewel of Dallas, with great paths around the lake and unparalleled views.
Klyde Warren Park is an oasis in the concrete jungle of downtown Dallas (and it hosts hundreds of free events), while Main Street Garden offers slightly smaller-scale fun.
Reverchon Park is often called the "Central Park of Dallas," and it's not hard to see why, with its 46 acres and proximity to Katy Trail.
The Fort Worth Water Gardens don't offer much green, but it's always fun to get lost in the concrete and rushing water there.
Cedar Ridge Preserve is located just 20 minutes south of downtown Dallas, but it feels a world away with its miles of trails and wild animals.

History
History is all around us, although sometimes you have to look a little harder to find it:

Rightly or wrongly, Dallas is still known as the place where President John F. Kennedy was assassinated. You can indulge your curiosity or pay your respects at these two locations in downtown Dallas: Dealey Plaza and JFK Memorial Plaza. If you so choose, you can also track down the grave of Lee Harvey Oswald in Fort Worth.
Freedman’s Cemetery Memorial in Uptown Dallas pays tribute to the former residents of Freedman's town, an 1850s-era African-American section of Dallas.
A national historic landmark, Fair Park can be appreciated even if it's not hosting the State Fair of Texas, thanks to its art deco buildings and multiple venues, including the free African American Museum.

White Rock Lake is one of the best places to enjoy the great outdoors in Dallas.

Photo courtesy of Dave Perry-Miller & Associates

White Rock Lake is one of the best places to enjoy the great outdoors in Dallas.

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natural disaster prep

Texans can buy these emergency supplies tax-free this weekend

Generac portable generator, emergency preparation supplies

Generac/Facebook

Portable generators that cost less than $3,000 qualify for a tax break during the tax-free weekend.

Texans will be able to purchase critical emergency supplies tax-fee during the statewide Emergency Preparation Supplies Sales Tax Holiday from April 26-28. It's not only a good time to prepare for any natural disasters in 2025, but to stock up on household necessities like batteries, fire extinguishers, and carbon monoxide detectors.

Shoppers can purchase certain emergency supplies tax-free starting at 12:01 am on Saturday, April 26, and the "holiday" runs until midnight on Monday, April 28. There is no limit on the number of qualifying items that can be purchased during the weekend. Purchases can be made in store, online, through the mail, and via custom order as long as they take place April 26-28.

Qualifying emergency supplies
The list of qualifying tax-free items is available on The Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts' website, but they must be purchased under certain price brackets.

For example, portable generators that cost less than $3,000 qualify for a tax break, as well as ladders and hurricane shutters that cost less than $300.

Delivery, shipping, handling, and transportation charges are included in the sales price, according to the Comptroller. So if a shopper buys a $299 rescue ladder and is charged a $10 delivery fee, the total sales price for the purchase is $309, and tax would need to be paid for that sales price.

Additional items that qualify for a tax break as long as they cost less than $75 include:

Axes
Batteries – single or multipack (AAA cell, AA cell, C cell, D cell, 6 volt or 9 volt)
Carbon monoxide detectors
Fire extinguishers
First aid kits
Fuel containers
Ground anchor systems and tie-down kits
Hatchets
Ice products – including reusable and artificial ice
Light sources – including those that are battery operated or portable self-powered sources, as well as candles, flashlights, and lanterns
Mobile telephone batteries and mobile telephone chargers
Non-electric can openers
Non-electric coolers and ice chests for food storage
Radios – including portable self-powered radios, battery operated radios, two-way radios, and weather band radios
Smoke detectors
Tarps and other plastic sheeting

The Comptroller's website also reminds shoppers that over-the-counter items – like antibacterial hand sanitizer, soap, spray and wipes – are always exempt from sales tax if they are labeled with a "Drug Facts" panel in compliance with Food and Drug Administration regulations.

Non-qualifying items
Medical masks, face masks, and gloves of any kind do not qualify for a tax exemption. Other taxable items including toilet paper, cleaning supplies (such as disinfectants and bleach wipes), vehicle or boat batteries, chainsaws, plywood, extension ladders, and stepladders. Camping equipment and supplies, including stoves and tents, are also not eligible for a tax break.

Additionally, any repair or replacement parts for emergency preparation supplies do not qualify for tax exemptions, and neither do any services that are performed on or related to those supplies.

If customers buy a tax-exempt item between April 26-28 and are still taxed, they may request a refund from the seller on the tax paid for the item. The seller can grant the refund to the buyer, or provide them with Form 00-985, Assignment to Right to Refund, which would allow the customer to file a claim for their refund through the Comptroller's website.

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