Unbelievably, it's already August, which means that the beginning of the new school year is just a few short weeks away. But there are plenty of events to distract from that fact, including a trio of outdoor concerts, the bombast of the circus, and the return of a punk princess.
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, August 1
Treasures of the Hard Rock
As you would expect given the chain's name, every Hard Rock Cafe has its own stash of memorabilia to honor the history of rock 'n' roll. But for the next week, the Dallas branch will play host to this traveling exhibit, which showcases iconic outfits from either those who died before their time or those who have helped Hard Rock give back to the global community.
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey presents Dragons
There are some shows that fail to use American Airlines Center to the fullest, but the circus from Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey is not one of them. The newest show, Dragons, promises to entertain not only with its usual array of animals and acrobatics, but also with its story, one that delves into mythology. The show runs through August 11.
Friday, August 2
2013 Vans Warped Tour
The Vans Warped Tour, which stops by Gexa Energy Pavilion on Friday, is unique in that attendees never know what bands are playing until they get to the venue. The day-long event features many, but not necessarily all, bands from a list of almost 100. Among the bands that could be playing are Bowling for Soup, Motion City Soundtrack and Forever the Sickest Kids.
The Monkees in concert
Because they got their start as part of a TV show, The Monkees have always had to fight the notion that they're a "fake" band. But they've persevered in one form or another for almost 50 years, showing that they have as much ability to craft a catchy pop song as anybody else. The remaining members — Micky Dolenz, Peter Tork and Michael Nesmith — play at Verizon Theatre at Grand Prairie.
Saturday, August 3
Train in concert with Gavin Degraw and The Script
Getting someone to admit an affinity for Train is almost as hard as finding a Nickelback fan. But the band has made a habit of coming through with an earworm or two every few years, including "Meet Virginia," "Drops of Jupiter" and one of their latest, "Drive By." Joined by Gavin Degraw and The Script, the group shows why it's so inescapable at Gexa Energy Pavilion.
Uptown Players presents Kiss of the Spider Woman
Kiss of the Spider Woman is a classic in all its forms, from the original 1976 novel to the Oscar-winning film to the Tony Award-winning musical version. The latter, written by the legendary John Kander and Fred Ebb, is celebrating the 20th anniversary of its debut on Broadway, so what better time for Uptown Players to bring it back to forefront? It plays at Kalita Humphreys Theater through August 8.
Sunday, August 4
Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival 2013
Gexa Energy Pavilion is the end of the line for the 2013 version of the Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival, so attendees will either find the bands going all out one last time or exhausted from the month-long tour. The festival is headlined by Rob Zombie, Five Finger Death Punch and Mastodon, and it features more than 20 bands on four different stages.
Courtney Love in concert with Starred
Courtney Love has certainly lived an interesting life, as the wife of the late Kurt Cobain, as an actress in enough films to prove it wasn't just a lark, or, most prominently, as the lead singer of the band Hole. Though she's left Hole behind again — for now — she's still making music, with a second solo album reportedly coming soon. You can get a taste of Love when she performs at House of Blues Dallas.
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey's latest circus, Dragons, takes over American Airlines Center through August 11.
