Weekend Event Planner

Edgefest and USA Film Festival top best weekend events in Dallas-Fort Worth

It's the last weekend in April, which means that there are more movies to see at another film festival. There are also two huge music festivals, shopping for a cause, great theater, a hilarious comedian and more, so your choices are most certainly not lacking

Below are the best options for your precious free time Thursday through Sunday. Don't like what you see? Lucky for you, we have a much longer list of the city's best events.

Thursday, April 23

Thrift Studio
The annual Thrift Studio is no ordinary thrift store. For one, it features a series of specially designed vignettes full of designer goods for sale. And the whole thing is for charity, with proceeds going to Dwell with Dignity, which helps families escape poverty and homelessness. Thursday's preview party is followed by the actual pop-up shop at Dallas Design Center, which is open through May 23.

USA Film Festival
April is the month that movie lovers in Dallas-Fort Worth always look forward to, as it contains not only the just-finished Dallas International Film Festival, but also the USA Film Festival. The 45th annual event, taking place at Angelika Film Center through Sunday, presents more than 20 feature films and short film programs, including sneak peeks at films like Mr. Holmes and Welcome to Me.

Dallas Theater Center presents Sense and Sensibility
The last show of the 2014-2015 Dallas Theater Center season has the company returning to its roots at Kalita Humphreys Theater once again. This time they take on an adaptation the classic Jane Austen novel, a romantic comedy about the marital hopes, unpredictable misadventures and sincere sisterly bonds of Elinor and Marianne Dashwood. The play runs through May 24.

Friday, April 24

Earth Day Texas
Although the actual Earth Day was on April 22, Dallas extends the celebration a few days with this festival at Fair Park, taking place through Sunday. The annual event seeks to elevate environmental awareness and influence the way Texans think, live and work through exhibits, presentations, entertainment and more. And if you missed it, Texans could stand to be a lot more eco-friendly.

Denton Arts & Jazz Festival
The golden triangle of spring arts festivals is complete with the annual Denton Arts & Jazz Festival, taking place at Quakertown Park through Sunday. Featuring more than 2,000 professional and amateur performers in a variety of musical genres on six stages and artists of all types hawking their wares, it's an arts lover's paradise.

Saturday, April 25

2015 Prairie Fest
Getting out and enjoying the splendor of nature is part of what makes spring in Texas so fun, which is pretty much what the annual Prairie Fest at Tandy Hills Natural Area in Fort Worth is all about. The one-day event features music, storytelling and dancing on solar-powered stages, along with wildflower tours, arts and crafts, games, and more.

2015 Edgefest
The annual Edgefest from 102.1 KDGE, taking place once again at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, is a reliably entertaining affair that includes bands and singers both big and small. Among the headliners at this year's festival are The Offspring, Modest Mouse, Death Cab for Cutie, Hozier, Vance Joy and a special DJ set from Girl Talk.

DADA Spring Gallery Walk
More than 35 art spaces throughout Dallas and North Texas — including Arlington, Irving and Denton — open their doors from noon-8 pm for this all-day affair for art lovers. Presented by Dallas Art Dealers Association (DADA), the tour is a chance for ambitious enthusiasts to see the full spectrum of galleries and special exhibitions in one day — for free. You can download a complete guide with all the details.

Sunday, April 26

Toadies in concert
A month after helping to reopen the Bomb Factory in Deep Ellum, the Toadies introduce their new beer from Martin House Brewing Company with a special concert at the brewery. Everyone attending the event gets a souvenir pint glass, three beers and the first chance to try this year's Toadies beer, Bockslider.

Marc Maron in concert
It's taken comedian Marc Maron longer than some to get to the top of his profession, but he's enjoying the ride now. He has a top-rated podcast, WTF with Marc Maron, a sitcom called Maron on IFC and he continues to be an in-demand stand-up comic. He brings his Maronation tour to Dallas with this stop at the South Side Music Hall in the Gilley's complex.

Tandy Hills Natural Area hosts the annual Prairie Fest, a celebration of the beauty that spring brings to Texas, on April 25.

Tandy Hills Natural Area/Facebook

Tandy Hills Natural Area hosts the annual Prairie Fest, a celebration of the beauty that spring brings to Texas, on April 25.

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Pickleball News

Indoor pickleball concept from Georgia bounces into Frisco

Ace

Pickleball paddles face off.

There's a new indoor pickleball concept coming to Dallas: Called Ace Pickleball Club, it's a growing chain from Georgia, making its Texas debut in Frisco in an old BuyBuy Baby space at at 2930 Preston Rd. #600. According to a release, it opens July 12.

Ace Pickleball was founded in Roswell, Georgia in 2023, and calls itself the only facility of its kind, delivering a member-focused approach and all-inclusive pricing.

Professional-grade cushioned courts and a welcoming community create the optimal playing experience for all skill levels. The chain currently has 15 locations across the U.S. including Colorado, Oklahoma, and Illinois.

They emphasize an inclusive community with unlimited open play, and offer clinics, tournaments, social events, and ball machine reservations. They also offer paddle demos so that members can test out the newest technology from a variety of brands to find their favorite.

When they open, they'll offer free introductory pickleball clinics for beginners to go over the rules of the sport and feel more comfortable as they learn about the game.

Ace Pickleball ClubAce Pickleball Club

Indoor facilities have an advantage in that they're impervious to weather so players can play year-round.

The Frisco location is a nearly 33,000-square-foot facility with 11 full-size courts and one dinking court designed to welcome players of all skill levels. Memberships are $129 monthly with the first month free.

Bringing the concept to Frisco is Juan Menchaca, a former corporate worker who is a pickleball player himself. When he and his wife relocated to the DFW area in May 2023, he brought with him a lifelong dream of opening a sports facility.

Introduced to pickleball by his brother-in-law, who is now training to go pro in pickleball, Menchaca was instantly hooked by the game’s fast pace, simple rules, and strong sense of community.

Opening a dedicated pickleball facility felt like the ideal first serve into the world of sports.

“I saw the demand I knew Ace Pickleball Club was the right fit,” Menchaca says. “The model is perfect for all skill levels across the Frisco community. I’ve always wanted to create something people could rally around, and this not only provides that, but helps in bringing our community closer.”

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