Weekend Event Planner

These are the 8 best things to do in Dallas this weekend

While many events in and around Dallas have either been postponed or canceled during the coronavirus pandemic, organizations have pivoted to virtual or socially distanced events to continue offering the masses some entertainment while we need it the most.

Below are the best ways to spend your free time this weekend. While not every event is out of the house, they all promise to provide a nice distraction from the everyday life.

Thursday, March 25

Thin Line Fest — A Virtual Pop-up Experience
Thin Line Fest, the biggest documentary film festival in Texas, returns, virtual pop-up style. The festival will feature world-class cinema and music delivered directly to viewers, including 27 features, 44 shorts, and 17 musical performers, all livestreaming for free. Going on through Sunday, the fest’s virtual platform offers attendees the chance to mingle with filmmakers, musicians, and other attendees in virtual venues between screenings and performances.

Texas Ballet Theater presents "The Poetry of Expression: Part I "
Texas Ballet Theater will present new works created specifically for a digital format in its first all-digital mixed repertoire production. The production features The Story of You by Carl Coomer, in which viewers can follow the dancers on a journey of self-discovery and expression, through the concrete and the abstract; and VREC by Riley Moyano, in which viewers can take an adventure through dimensions, experiencing different sites and styles of dance. The production will be available to stream through April 9.

Friday, March 26

AURORA presents Daniel Iregu: Antibodies
AURORA will present Antibodies, a new interactive artwork by Montreal-based artist Daniel Iregui, at West End Square, the first public green space in Dallas’s West End Historic District. Iregui’s interactive digital sculpture reacts to the movement of park visitors via motion sensor and will be installed as the inaugural project within West End Square’s Innovation Arcade, a section of the park designed to showcase a rotation of temporary digital installations. The sculpture, which will be on view at the east side of the park through April 4, is accompanied by a web-based version of the artwork that can be viewed at aurora.antibodies.webcam.

Dallas Symphony Orchestra presents "Lush Life"
Vocalist Bernard Holcomb joins conductor Jeff Tyzik to bring the music of Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn to life in this tribute to one of the most iconic collaborations in the history of American music. The concert will have three performances through Sunday at Meyerson Symphony Center.

Avant Chamber Ballet presents "Together We Dance"
Avant Chamber Ballet presents "Together We Dance," an inspiring program bringing together three of Dallas’ premier dance companies — Avant Chamber Ballet, Bruce Wood Dance, and Dallas Black Dance Theatre. Avant Chamber Ballet will present a trio of ballet choreographed by director and founder Katie Puder, all performed with live music by Cezanne Quartet. There will be one performance on Friday and one Saturday at Annette Strauss Square.

Saturday, March 27

Eisemann Center for the Performing Arts presents An Evening with C.S. Lewis
The year is 1963 and C.S. Lewis, the famous British author, is hosting a group of American writers at his home near Oxford. They are about to experience a captivating evening with a man whose engaging conversation and spontaneous humor made him one of the great raconteurs of his day. In this production, running at Eisemann Center for the Performing Arts in Richardson on Saturday and Sunday, Lewis recalls the people and events that inspired his thought and shaped his life; his friendship with J.R.R. Tolkien; the American woman who turned his life upside down; and more.

Monster Jam
Monster Jam fans will witness a fierce battle for the event championship, with each skilled Monster Jam athlete tearing up the dirt with gravity-defying feats in 12,000-pound Monster Jam trucks going head-to-head for points in Freestyle, the Skills Challenge, and Racing competitions. The all-star truck lineup at AT&T Stadium on Saturday and Sunday marks the first time in regular competition that the three Anderson siblings will battle against each other in the same Monster Jam event.

Casting Crowns in concert
Christian rock band Casting Crowns has been at the top of the Christian music scene for the past 20 years. Each of their eight studio albums, including 2018's Only Jesus, made it to at least No. 2 on the Billboard Christian charts, and six of the eight made the top 10 on the Billboard 200. They'll play a special outdoor concert in the parking lot outside of Globe Life Field in Arlington.

AURORA presents Daniel Iregu: Antibodies at West End Square, March 26-April 4.

Photo courtesy of Daniel Iregu

AURORA presents Daniel Iregu: Antibodies at West End Square, March 26-April 4.

theater concerts parks dance event-planner

Rolling a strike

High 5 Exchange bowling and entertainment mega-center rolls into Allen

Facebook/High 5 Exchange Austin

The High 5 Exchange in Austin has bowling galore.

A new family entertainment destination is rolling into Allen, bringing bowling, laser tag, miniature golf, virtual reality, and more. Called High 5 Exchange, the venue has broken ground at 2361 Quail Covey Rd. in The Farm in Allen.

It is expected to open in 2027, according to a release.

High 5 Exchange comes from a family entertainment company founded by husband-and-wife team Scott and Jenny Emley. They opened the first location in the Lakeway area of Austin more than a decade ago; a second Austin location followed a few years later.

Their roots are in Austin - Scott Emley played football for UT Austin - but the couple recently relocated to McKinney. There's also a location under construction in Mansfield.

The entertainment mega-center in Allen will combine indoor and outdoor attractions, dining, and rooms for parties and other group events.

Tasty-looking tacos at High 5 in Austin.Facebook/High 5 Exchange Austin

Bowling will be the major draw, with 24 lanes supplied by QubicaAMF. The lineup will include 16 traditional tenpin lanes equipped with EDGE String pinspotters, HyperBowling, and Neoverse, along with eight Fly'n Ducks duckpin lanes, the release says. The combination will give guests the choice between traditional full-length bowling and duckpin bowling, which uses a smaller ball.

"Bowling has a unique ability to bring different generations, interests and skill levels together," said Jody Pastula, director of new business development, U.S., for QubicaAMF, in a statement. "By offering both tenpin and Fly'n Ducks duckpin bowling, High 5 Allen is creating more ways for guests to participate and share the experience. We are pleased to be part of a project designed around connection, variety and repeat visits."

Beyond bowling, High 5 Allen will feature laser tag, a virtual reality arena, an arcade gaming floor, escape rooms, an immersive experience from Creative Works called "Limitless," and outdoor miniature golf. The venue will also have dedicated spaces for birthday parties, corporate gatherings, and private events, along with food and beverage service.

While details on the food and beverage program have not yet been announced, the Austin locations feature a full-service bar and a menu of "American classics with a gourmet twist."

High 5 Exchange Allen Rendering of High 5 Exchange at The Farm in Allen.Rendering courtesy of High 5 Exchange

High 5 Exchange will be part of The Farm in Allen, a 135-acre mixed-use development at the southeast corner of the Sam Rayburn Tollway and Alma Drive. Developed by Allen-based JaRyCo Development in partnership with the Johnson family, The Farm combines residential, office, dining, retail, and entertainment components.

"Allen and the surrounding communities have been part of our vision for this project from the beginning," said Scott Emley, co-founder and CEO of High 5 Exchange, in a statement. "The Farm brings together homes, workplaces, parks, dining and entertainment in a way that fits how people want to connect.

"We are excited to create a place where a family can spend an afternoon, coworkers can gather after work, and friends can celebrate the moments that matter."

entertainment and dining bowling allen