A Month and More

Fall fitness stretches into September and beyond in Dallas-Fort Worth

FAME Fest is happening October 1.

Photo courtesy of Omni Dallas

This month's round-up of health and fitness-focused events is far-reaching and extra-long — many of the concepts last all month long, and a few stretch into October.

We're covering them all, since we'd hate for you to miss out on the many cool concepts that are happening that first weekend of fall.

Caulfield's Dance Fitness Bring-a-Friend, all September long
Been wanting to try this hot and heavy spot for dance cardio? For the month of September, all first-time visitors are free. Follow on Instagram @caulfieldsdancefit for class schedules.

Watch & Play at The Golf Suite, all September long
Celebrate college football kick-off while playing indoor golf with a September membership at The Golf Suite. They're live-streaming all the games, and if you sign up during September you get three free guest passes to watch and play with your friends.

Yoga Awareness Month at Retreat in the Pines, all September long
Retreat in the Pines is a women’s retreat center located outside of Dallas that's designed to cultivate community, connection, and mind-body healing in a serene, inclusive sanctuary. Beginners classes are offered, making this an approachable way to introduce people to yoga.

Awakening Yoga at Soul Dimension, Wednesdays and Saturdays
Awaken your mind and body to a new level and learn how to practice meditation in motion in this 90-minute class, which is held online.

Women's Bouldering Night at Movement, September 14
Ladies, now's the time to reach for the (indoor) stars with a female-focused evening of climbing.

Fort Worth Oktoberfest Run und Ride, September 24
Hold on to your lederhosen — this event features an urban bike ride, a 10K, and a 5K. Cyclists will enjoy scenic views of Cultural District, Magnolia, Downtown, The Trinity River, and a beer stop along the way. The 10K and 5K courses run along the Trinity Trail with fairly flat routes and great views. All participants receive an Oktoberfest beer stein and a free three-day pass into the Fort Worth Oktoberfest festival, in addition to awesome swag. Costumes are encouraged!

Oaktoberfest, September 25
Oak Cliff's take on the traditional German celebration includes a 1.128-mile fun run around Tyler Station, with beer samples for each lap completed. Stay for more beer, brats, and live polka music.

FAME Fest, October 1
An abbreviation for “fitness + arts + music + experience,” FAME Fest is Dallas’ first experiential fitness festival, bringing together the hottest fitness trends, local artists, and musicians, for a weekend of movement and arts. This festival includes pop up fitness classes from the hottest studios, an interactive vendor market to discover new wellness companies, live art, and music, plus culinary creations from Omni Dallas’ Restaurants on Lamar collection.

Frisco Arts Walk & Run, October 1
Bring the whole fam to Hall Park for a run route that takes you through the scenic Texas Sculpture Garden with pop-up musicians, dancers, vocalists, actors, visual artists, and more along the way. Funds raised will go toward artist resiliency grants, Ladies Who Launch grants, minority artist grants, and youth scholarships.

Cowboys Fit East Dallas, coming fall 2022
The fifth Texas development of this state-of-the-art health and fitness center franchise is coming soon to 411 N. Washington Ave., Unit 1900. Cowboys Fit features the same cutting-edge equipment used in the Cowboys’ own training facility and the same “train like one of us” experience central to the original Cowboys Fit location at The Star in Frisco.

health promoted fitness

beyond the stacks

Texas public libraries deliver billions in economic impact, study says

dallaslibrary.org/

Dallas shines a lot brighter with its public library system.

A new statewide study examining the economic impacts of public libraries has revealed they have generated over $3.8 billion in value to local communities — a return of $4.74 for every $1 invested.

The report, "Beyond the Stacks: Measuring the Economic and Community Value of Texas Public Libraries" was conducted by third-party consultancy JBK Economics Group in partnership with the Texas Library Association. About 300 of the total 513 public libraries in Texas participated in a survey for the report.

A major finding from the survey revealed that public libraries create billions in economic value for the communities they serve at a fraction of what it costs to pay employee wages and benefits, operating expenditures, and capital expenditures. About 11,200 jobs were directly and indirectly supported by public libraries, the report found.

The report found its $4.74 to $1 ratio by adding up the total value of the services provided by these institutions (an estimated $2.48 billion), and comparing it to total expenditures ($808.6 million).

"Public libraries had about the same economic footprint as the Texas motion picture and sound recording industry ($2.9 billion in Gross Domestic Product in 2024) or the Texas paper manufacturing industry ($4.0 billion in Gross Domestic Product in 2024)," the report said.

Many Dallasites are already familiar with Dallas Public Library's expansive catalog and programming, but there are many more services the library provides that might fly under the radar. A few examples include access to subscription-based research databases and news outlets, free notary services, free admission to local arts and culture events through Culture Pass Dallas, seed libraries, and maker spaces for creative endeavors. Individual branches also provide free Wi-Fi, computer access, meeting spaces, tax assistance, and job help.

Residents outside Dallas also have access to services at several other local libraries, depending on their address. For instance, Plano Public Library offers free cards to residents and for residents in reciprocal cities like Allen, The Colony, Frisco, Garland, McKinney, Richardson, and Wylie.

These are additional services and partnerships that Texas public libraries commonly provide, per the survey results:

93 percent provide voter registration and/or serve as voting locations
84 percent provide partnerships with local social services agencies
82 percent provide job application assistance
68 percent facilitate applications for government benefits
38 percent provide on-site social services
30 percent provide telehealth rooms and/or resources

"Public libraries are practical, welcoming and rooted in the communities they serve — they are unmistakably Texan," said Texas Library Association executive director Shirley Robinson in a press release. "This study puts a dollar value on the opportunities libraries create every day. Whether someone visits a library to apply for a job, access the internet, learn a new skill or simply find a new favorite book, those services create real value for Texans and their communities."

libraries city life dallas dallas public library

A Month and More

Fall fitness stretches into September and beyond in Dallas-Fort Worth

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beyond the stacks

Texas public libraries deliver billions in economic impact, study says