It's an eclectic week event-wise in and around Dallas, with all kinds of fun happenings occurring. Among your choices are two opportunities to get up close and personal with local sports stars, theater events offering unique perspectives, concerts featuring three different but equally popular genres, and an early Independence Day festival.
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, June 22
Dallas Mavericks Official NBA Draft Party
The Dallas Mavericks are hosting an Official NBA Draft Party at Henderson Tap House featuring the Mavs ManiAACs, the Mavs Dancers, and a special appearance by Dallas Maverick Seth Curry. ESPN 103.3’s Mike Peasley, Mark Elfenbein, and Jean-Jacques Taylor will be on hand to host a Q&A with Curry and fans in attendance. Henderson Tap House is providing food and drink specials for $9 — including pizzas, wings, and pitchers of Bud Light — in honor of the ninth draft pick.
Shakespeare Dallas presents Quixote
Adapted by nationally recognized playwright Octavio Solis and directed by Spanish director Gustavo Tambascio, this play celebrates the shared legacy anniversary of William Shakespeare and Spanish writer Miguel de Cervantes. The performance is part of an effort to reach North Texas’ Spanish speaking community, with 30 percent of the performance spoken in Spanish. Set in present day West Texas, this Spanish classic receives a Texas makeover designed to celebrate our rich cultural landscape. The production plays at Samuell-Grand Amphitheatre through July 22.
Friday, June 23
Dallas Symphony Pops Series: The Best of John Williams
With five Academy Awards, four Golden Globe Awards, and 22 Grammy Awards, composer John Williams is the most decorated, and most memorable, film composer around. The Dallas Symphony Orchestra, under the direction of Jeff Tyzik, pays tribute to his scores, including Star Wars, Jurassic Park, and more, with this concert, playing nightly at Meyerson Symphony Center through Sunday.
Iron Maiden in concert with Ghost
One of the early heavy metal bands, Iron Maiden has been about as consistent as they come since their debut album in 1980, releasing 16 albums over 35 years. They seem to be more popular than ever, with their past three albums, including 2015's The Book of Souls, going higher on the Billboard charts than of their other albums. They play at American Airlines Center with opening act Ghost.
Saturday, June 24
Crow Collection of Asian Art presents Sopheap Pich: "Hidden Nature" opening day
The Crow Collection of Asian Art presents a solo exhibition of the work of Sopheap Pich, recognized today as Cambodia’s most internationally prominent contemporary artist. The exhibition features his large-scale sculpture, Rang Phnom Flower (2015), his most ambitious single-form sculpture to date. Twenty-five feet in length, its complex construction is composed of hundreds of strands of rattan and bamboo. The exhibition is on display through January 7, 2018.
2017 Market Street Allen USA Celebration
The Fourth of July is still 10 days away, but you can celebrate early with the city of Allen's annual party. Taking place at, appropriately, Celebration Park, the event features performances by Jon Christopher Davis & Lone Star Attitude, Le Freak, and Emerald City; a special Dallas Cowboys-themed agility course; a kids zone; food; and more. The evening ends with a spectacular fireworks display.
Reunion Tower presents Reunion Lawn Party
The first event of the monthly Reunion Lawn Party Summer Series returns to Reunion Park, featuring live music from the High Definition Band; food trucks like Ruthie’s Rolling Cafe, Parrot Icce, Butcher’s Son, and What’s Da Scoop; lawn games; and a special Lawn Takeover by FC Dallas. There's also a beer garden hosted by Nodding Donkey, serving up a variety of beer and wine.
Dirk Nowitzki’s 2017 Heroes Celebrity Baseball Game
With the basketball season behind him, Dirk Nowitzki is shifting his focus to baseball, as he hosts Dirk Nowitzki’s 2017 Heroes Celebrity Baseball Game at Dr Pepper Ballpark in Frisco. Two baseball teams made up of celebrity players slug it out for nine innings. Scheduled to appear are Dallas Cowboys Dak Prescott, Dez Bryant, and Ezekiel Elliott; tennis legend Andy Roddick; Dallas Mavericks J.J. Barea, Seth Curry, and Devin Harris; former Texas Rangers great Michael Young; and more.
Sunday, June 25
Kitchen Dog Theater presents A Community Long Table Conversation
A Community Long Table Conversation is a forum for conversation on community, racial equity, and racial healing following the matinee performance of Kitchen Dog Theater's Br'er Cotton. This community gathering is meant to appropriate a dinner-table atmosphere as a public forum and encourage genuine conversation about the complicated issues of racism and racial identity addressed in the play.
Jermaine Dupri presents SoSoSummer 2017
Grammy-winning producer, songwriter, recording artist, and reality-TV star Jermaine Dupri has been at the forefront of hip-hop for 25 years, starting when he introduced to the world two 12-year-olds who wore their pants backwards and answered to the name Kris Kross. This concert at the Music Hall at Fair Park features the kids and cast from Lifetime's The Rap Game, including Miss Mulatto, Mani, Nova, Deetranada, Supa Peach, Prince of NY, Lil Key, King Roscoe, Nia Kay, and more.
Producer Jermaine Dupri brings cast members of The Rap Game to the Music Hall at Fair Park on June 25.
