Live Music Heaven

Here's your schedule for Toyota Music Factory's grand opening weekend

The day — or days, we should say — is finally here. Toyota Music Factory's grand opening weekend is set for April 13-15, and the line-up is packed with family friendly events and, of course, plenty of live music.

The entertainment and music mecca in Irving has already been feeding hungry fans at its restaurants and bars, which started opening last fall, and big names have begun appearing on its stages. But get ready to see Toyota Music Factory pull out all the stops for its official kick-off.

What should you be sure not to miss, besides strolling performances from the Dallas Rhythm & Blue dancers and drumline, the Dallas Maniaacs, magicians, face painters, and more that's enticing for everyone in the family? Here's a day-by-day breakdown of all the celebrations.

Friday, April 13
The party gets going nice and early, with live music in the Highway 61 courtyard starting at 7 am. At 11 am, the live music shifts over to Texas Lottery Plaza, where it'll continue until 7 pm, when a DJ takes over for a few hours while Brad Paisely takes the stage at The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory. A main stage concert featuring Steve Riley & the Mamou Playboys runs from 9 pm to midnight in Texas Lottery Plaza. Two big events to remember: the grand opening ribbon cutting at 11 am and the Texas Lottery "Kick Off" at 4:30.

Saturday, April 14
Live music is the theme of the day, as you can listen to some in Texas Lottery Plaza from basically 7 am to midnight. From 3-6 pm, 99.5 The Wolf takes over for a live remote show, while Keith Sweat featuring SWV, Tank, Stokley, and Vivian Green all perform at The Pavilion beginning at 6:45 pm. CJ Chenier and the Red Hot Louisiana Band is that evening's late-night entertainment, filling Texas Lottery Plaza's main stage with hot tunes starting at 9 pm.

Sunday, April 15
Where can you find Texas' largest Bloody Mary bar? In Texas Lottery Plaza, where a Sunday Jazz Brunch — with music courtesy of Kickin' Brass Band — is happening from 10 am to 2 pm. Live music continues throughout the rest of the day, with Chubby Carrier and The Bayou Swamp Band performing from 7 pm onward.

Basically, from Las Colinas Boulevard to Highway 114 you will be surrounded by live music and entertainment at every turn. All events are family-friendly, so be sure to bring the kids so they can enjoy balloon twisters, face painters, magicians, an aerialist, side show performers, and fire performers.

Many of Toyota Music Factory's tenants are getting in on the fun too, so pick up an opening weekend passport at the Toyota Tent and collect as many stamps as you can.

True to its logo, there is more than music to be had at Toyota Music Factory.

Photo courtesy of Toyota Music Factory

True to its logo, there is more than music to be had at Toyota Music Factory.

families celebrities music openings concerts brunch promoted

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Dallas has boomed in last decade in the 5 top stories this week

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Editor's note: It's time to look back at the top Dallas news of the week, beginning with news that's no secret: DFW's population is growing. That includes the city of Celina, getting its first Walmart Supercenter. Nine Dallas-area universities made a notable list, and the city's only underground subway station is getting a re-do. Get the details on our five most popular Dallas stories below, and then check out this guide for some weekend fun.

1. 11 Dallas suburbs soar as fastest-growing U.S. cities in last decade. It's no secret that Dallas-Fort Worth's population is growing faster than most other metros in the U.S., but now several surprising Dallas neighbors have been named among the top 10 fastest-growing suburb nationwide over the last decade.

2. Booming Celina hits the big time with its first Walmart Supercenter. The city of Celina is getting its first mega Walmart: It will be a Walmart Supercenter located at the northwest corner of Preston Road (Highway 289) and the West Outer Loop.

3. 9 Dallas-area universities make U.S. News' 2025 list of top grad schools. Nine prestigious Dallas-Fort Worth universities have climbed through the ranks in U.S. News & World Report’s recently released report of the best graduate schools nationwide for 2025.

4. Upscale Dallas taqueria Velvet Taco to open first McKinney location. Dallas taco chain Velvet Taco, which specializes in globally inspired tacos, opened its first location in McKinney at 8565 W. University Dr. #150, on Monday, April 14.

5. DART to replace escalators at their only underground Dallas station. Over the next three years, Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) is going to replace and refurbish six escalators and two elevators at the Cityplace/Uptown Station.

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