Plan It Out

Grab your calendar for this ultimate list of upcoming downtown Dallas events

Lovers of art, fashion, food, and music aren't strangers to downtown Dallas, since most of the city's major festivals and events are held there. Want to make sure you don't miss any of these fun happenings? Get out your calendar now.

Chefs for Farmers, November 3-5
With a mission to bring chefs, artisans, and culinary influencers together to celebrate supporting local and regional farmers, this three-day culinary blowout promises to be even bigger and better than years past. More than 30 nationally acclaimed chefs — most of whom are James Beard nominees and winners — are jetting to Dallas to cook alongside local culinary heroes and Texas farms. Attendees will also sip the best selections from select wineries, local breweries, and top-shelf distillers.

Dallas Bike Ride, November 4
This celebration of bicycling in Big D is the only day you can adventure around the city by bike with no cars. A fun, family-friendly event, the 20-mile ride offers beautiful skyline views and ends at City Plaza with the Finish Festival, hosted by Grammy Award-winner DJ Spinderella, of Salt-N-Pepa fame.

The Edge of Texas, November 10-11
A weekend-long exploration of people, ideas, and subjects shaping the future of Texas and the world, this series of immersive sessions presented by Texas Monthly and VisitDallas will feature artists, innovators, chefs, and musicians who are taking the Texas experience forward. From Friday's opening celebration at Fashion Industry Gallery to Saturday's programming at The Joule to Sunday's grand finale at the Longhorn Ballroom, expect to become engaged about our state's possibilities.

Dallas YMCA Turkey Trot, November 23
Start your Thanksgiving off right with this healthy tradition. There are two courses: a 5K and an 8-mile race, and you have the choice to be timed or not. Trotting is a family affair, with, and even your dog can participate with the right registration.

Reliant Lights your Holidays, December 2
"Oooh" and "aaah" at the thousands of dazzling LED lights that are placed around the AT&T Performing Arts Center's iconic venues and trees, then stay for a free concert and pictures with Santa Claus.

Celebrate the Holidays at Klyde Warren Park, presented by Nissan, December 2
Listen to Big Band classics, create some crafts, write letters to Santa, sample from the food trucks, watch the lighting of the Klyde Warren Park Christmas tree.

Dallas Holiday Parade, December 2
The 30th annual Dallas Holiday Parade will march down Commerce Street to ring in the holiday season, featuring marching bands, festive floats, and fun family activities. This year, the parade features a grand opening in front of The Adolphus Hotel and a grand finale in front of The Statler Hotel.

Shaken and Stirred, December 2
Shaken, stirred, muddled, and mixed — and everything in between — Savor Dallas’s popular event returns for a festive soiree. Seven of the city's best mixologists will sling their best drinks and battle it out to be The Official Cocktail of VisitDallas 2018. Enjoy a truly uncommon experience with cocktail tastings, a live band, and a sneak preview of the restaurants of The Statler, led by chef Graham Dodds and chef Angela Hernandez.

Candlelight at Dallas Heritage Village, December 9-10
With 13 acres of decorated buildings, flickering candles lining the paths, strolling carolers, carriage rides, and crafts for those young and young at heart, Candlelight captures the holiday spirit for all and has been a tradition for 46 years.

Downtown Wanderland, each weekend in December
The pop-up shop Unbranded is returning, this time in a new downtown location, along with a pop-up art gallery by Ro2 Art, movie nights, arts and crafts demos and classes, photo booths, and happy hours. Keep on eye on the website for announcements.

When 2018 hits, keep these major annual events in mind too:

Dallas International Film Festival, April 2018
Dallas Art Fair, April 2018
Deep Ellum Arts Festival, April 2018
Old 97’s County Fair, April 14, 2018
Dallas Arts District Block Parties, April and June 2018
Dallas Book Festival, April 2018
Festival of Ideas, April 2018
Taco Libre, April 2018
Architecture Tours, Saturdays throughout 2018
Homegrown, May 12, 2018
Soluna Dallas, May-June 2018
Reunion Lawn Parties, June-August 2018
DFW Restaurant Week, August 2018
PARK(ing) Day, September 21, 2018
Aurora, November 2018

Loosen your belt for Chefs for Farmers, held November 3-4.

Photo courtesy of Chefs for Farmers

Loosen your belt for Chefs for Farmers, held November 3-4.

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Festival News

North Texas Irish Festival leaves Dallas' Fair Park and heads north

Photo courtesy of North Texas Irish Festival

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The long-running North Texas Irish Festival has decided to pull up stakes from its home in Fair Park and relocate to Denton, starting with its 2027 edition.

According to a release, the 2027 event will be held at the North Texas Fairgrounds on March 13 and 14.

Produced by the Southwest Celtic Music Association, the festival has been in existence since 1983, growing into one of the largest Irish festivals in the United States.

The festival was the second-largest annual event at Fair Park, behind only the State Fair of Texas.

In a phone interview with CultureMap, North Texas Irish Festival entertainment director Sheri Bush, who has been with the event since 1997, said the impetus for the move was when Fair Park First took over management of Fair Park in 2019.

Prior to that year, Bush said, Fair Park allowed the North Texas Irish Festival to handle all of the logistics of the event, from ticketing to concessions to security. But that changed under Fair Park First, which - among other things - raised ticket prices to a degree that it was affecting attendance, she said.

Bush said the loss of control, combined with the deteriorating condition of Fair Park's buildings, attendees' perception that the area was unsafe, and what she described as a lack of promotion by the city of Dallas, ultimately made relocating a more appealing option than staying.

The city of Denton has shown an enthusiasm for the event that has been lacking from Dallas, and all logistics will once again be under the festival's control, Bush said.

The move to Denton will not change anything about what the festival has to offer, including including multiple stages of live Celtic music, Irish step dancing performances, cultural demonstrations, storytelling, shopping, authentic food and drink, and more.

"We’re honored that the North Texas Irish Festival has chosen Denton as its new home," said Denton Mayor Chris Watts in a statement. "This move reflects our city’s commitment and reputation as a premier destination for arts, culture and community events."

Festival organizers say in the release that Denton's renowned arts and music community makes it a natural fit for the North Texas Irish Festival.

"Denton is known for embracing music and creativity," Bush said in the release. "Those values align perfectly with what the North Texas Irish Festival has represented for more than four decades. We're excited to become part of the Denton community while continuing to welcome attendees from across Texas and beyond."

Additional details, including the performer lineup and ticket information will be announced in the coming months.

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