Weekend Event Planner

Kelly Clarkson and Dierks Bentley headline best weekend events in Dallas

It's not often you get the perfect mixture of local and national events around Dallas, but this is such a week. The variety of big-name stars appearing in the area this weekend is complemented by several innately local happenings that feature fashion, music and ... water balloons?

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 27

Fashion Industry Gallery presents FIG Finale
FIG Finale is a sale at Fashion Industry Gallery open to the public where shoppers can find designer deals up to 75% off retail from top stores and brands. FIG Finale features women’s, men’s and children’s clothing, shoes and accessories. A VIP ticket gets you in on Thursday, while you can shop to your heart's delight for $5 on Friday or Saturday.

Yes and Toto in concert
The bands Yes and Toto have a combined 85 years of rock 'n' roll experience under the belts, but neither one of them are sitting back on their laurels. Both have put out new albums in the past year — Yes with 2014's Heaven & Earth and Toto with 2015's Toto XIV — so they have plenty of new material to perform along with their classic hits. They'll play at Verizon Theatre at Grand Prairie.

Leon Russell in concert
Leon Russell is a music legend who's had a resurgence in recent years thanks to his 2010 collaboration with Elton John, The Union. Russell comes back to Dallas to play at the Granada Theater in support of his 2014 album, Life Journey.

Friday, August 28

Uptown Players presents Hedwig and the Angry Inch
The Broadway production of Hedwig and the Angry Inch has been a smash since the revival opened with Neil Patrick Harris in the lead role in 2014. Just as that production is set to close, Uptown Players will present its own version of the story about a rock 'n' roll goddess who was the victim of a botched sex change operation. It will run at Kalita Humphreys Theater through September 13, the same night it closes on Broadway.

Parade of Flesh presents Kevin Smith
Writer/director Kevin Smith has had quite the career since becoming one of the independent film darlings in the mid-'90s. He's gone from the highs of Clerks and Chasing Amy to the lows of Dogma and Jersey Girl to his recent horror film work. He'll talk about all of that and more at this special event at the Texas Theatre.

Saturday, August 29

KXT Summer Cut 2015 with Belle & Sebastian
To close out the summer of 2015, independent music radio station KXT will showcase a variety of local and national indie acts. Those scheduled to perform at South Side Ballroom include Belle & Sebastian, Sarah Jaffe, Israel Nash, Fantastic Negrito, Doug Burr, Repel the Robot, Jessie Frye, Calhoun and Catamaran.

Dierks Bentley in concert with Kip Moore, Maddie & Tae and Canaan Smith
Aside from having a stellar last name, Dierks Bentley has been one of the more reliable country stars in recent years, hitting No. 1 with five of his last six albums, including 2014's Riser. He'll bring his Sounds of Summer Tour to Gexa Energy Pavilion, with help from opening acts Kip Moore, Maddie & Tae and Canaan Smith.

Sunday, August 30

Deep Ellum Water Balloon Wars
While the 100-degree days may be done for the year, it's still plenty hot out there, so this special event in Deep Ellum is just what the doctor ordered. Your ticket will give you access to the gated event and all the water balloons you can throw; food, drinks and alcohol will be available for purchase. And it's only for those 18 and over, so you don't have to worry about accidentally nailing a kid in the face.

Kelly Clarkson in concert with Pentatonix and Eric Hutchinson
It's been a great summer of concerts around Dallas, and it will appropriately be closed out by hometown girl Kelly Clarkson. The pop star, who recently announced she's pregnant with her second child, will play at Gexa Energy Pavilion in support of her 2015 album, Piece by Piece. She'll be joined by opening acts Pentatonix and Eric Hutchinson.

Dierks Bentley will play at Gexa Energy Pavilion on August 29.

Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo RodeoHouston entertainers January 2015 Dierks Bentley

Photo courtesy of Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo

Dierks Bentley will play at Gexa Energy Pavilion on August 29.

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park news

Dallas-area parks top the list for best Texas parks in 2025

Play Frisco - Parks & Recreation/Facebook

Frisco made its debut in the 2025 Parkscore Index report.

More bragging rights for Plano as a desirable place to live: The city has the No. 1 best park system in Texas this year, a new report says. Dallas and Frisco aren't far behind.

So says the Trust for Public Land's 2025 ParkScore report, which annually rates park systems in 100 of the largest American cities based on accessibility, equity, acreage, investment, and amenities.

Plano has maintained its place atop the rankings in Texas for several years. The city ranked 17th nationally after ranking 16th for the last two years, and earning No. 15 in 2021 and 2022.

Most Plano residents (81 percent) live within a 10-minute walk of a park in the city, which is more than the national median (76 percent). Within the city limits, 10.4 percent of the area is dedicated to parkland. The city spends $198 per resident on its acclaimed park system, compared to the national median $133 per resident.

Dallas' parks moved up four spots from last year to claim No. 34 nationally and No. 2 statewide. The report says this marks five years of improvement for Dallas, in part thanks to community efforts and organizations.

"Dallas’ recent rise in park access is due largely to initiatives like the Cool School Community Parks program, which opens school playgrounds and other school-based facilities to community use after school hours, and programs like the Dallas Greening Initiative to transform vacant lots into neighborhood greenspaces across the city," the report said.

The upcoming opening of the Judge Charles R. Rose Park on June 7 will also increase accessibility for other Dallas residents.

The Judge Charles R. Rose Community Park will span 40 acres of land.Photo courtesy of Trust For Public Land

Frisco makes its Parkscore Index debut this year, coming in at No. 3 in Texas and No. 37 nationwide. A majority (70 percent) of residents living within a 10-minute walk of a park in the city, the report says. About five percent of the entire Frisco area is reserved for parkland, and the city spends $258 per resident to maintain its park system.

"We’re seeing inspiring momentum across the Dallas metroplex, and it reflects what we at Trust for Public Land believe at our core: everyone deserves access to the healing, unifying power of the outdoors," said Molly Morgan, Texas State Director of the Trust for Public Land. "When we invest in parks — especially in neighborhoods that have long gone without — we’re investing in healthier families, stronger communities, and a deeper sense of belonging."

Elsewhere across the Metroplex, Fort Worth rose through the ranks to claim No. 72 nationally this year, previously landing in the No. 91 spot in 2024. The city has put a big focus on park investment, increasing funding by nearly 50 percent over the last five years, and the report says there are over 80 ongoing park construction projects.

Arlington moved up one spot as No. 46 nationwide, and Garland moved up seven spots as No. 67. Irving maintained its rank as No. 99 for the second year in a row.

Here's how other Texas parks ranked nationally in 2025 in comparison to 2024:

No. 54 – Austin, down from No. 44 last year
No. 57 – San Antonio, down from No. 53 last year
No. 66 – Houston, up from No. 68 last year

dallas frisco parks parkscore report plano bests lists