Weekend Event Planner

These are the 9 best things to do in Dallas this weekend

As April comes to a close, events in and around Dallas have an eccentric flair this weekend. You can cheer for soon-to-be rookie football players, catch under-the-radar movies, see a trio of bands/musicians whose reputations precede them, watch a musical from a legendary country musician, eat tacos while watching wrestling, or laugh at one of the funniest comedians in the country.

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, April 27

Dallas Cowboys presents 2017 NFL Draft Day Parties
The Dallas Cowboys host three days of official 2017 NFL Draft Parties at the Star in Frisco. The event provides football fans with the opportunity to see current Dallas Cowboys players, members of the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders, and the Dallas Cowboys mascot, Rowdy, while also enjoying entertainment by the Dallas Cowboys Rhythm and Blue Drumline and Dancers, among other activities.

2017 USA Film Festival
The 47th Annual USA Film Festival features 28 separate events and screenings, with a variety of big-name actors and filmmakers in attendance. Highlights of the festival, taking place at Angelika Film Center Dallas through Sunday, include appearances by Rene Auberjonois, Karen Allen, Sharon Lawrence, Brenda Strong, Nancy Cartwright, and more.

PJ Harvey in concert
English singer-songwriter PJ Harvey is a cult musician if ever there were one. Among a certain segment of music lovers, she's as revered as anybody, even though she's never had an album even reach the top 20 on the Billboard charts on this side of the Atlantic. You can expect this concert at the Bomb Factory to be packed, as she comes back to Dallas in support of her first new album in five years, The Hope Six Demolition Project.

Friday, April 28

Paul Anka in concert
Iconic singer-songwriter Paul Anka, known for hit songs like "Diana," "Lonely Boy," "Put Your Head on My Shoulder," and "(You're) Having My Baby," was named one of Billboard’s most successful artists of the 21st century, alongside music icons Elvis Presley and The Beatles. He plays at Verizon Theatre at Grand Prairie for a special retrospective of his long career.

Arts & Letters Live: David Sedaris
David Sedaris, one of America’s preeminent humor writers, returns to Dallas for his eighth consecutive year participating in the DMA's Arts & Letters Live series. He is reading new and unpublished material at Winspear Opera House as part of the 26th anniversary of the museum’s acclaimed literary and performing arts series.

Lyric Stage presents Quanah
Quanah is a world premiere musical written by Grammy Award-winning country music legend Larry Gatlin. Presented by Lyric Stage, it is the story of Quanah Parker, the last Comanche chief; his mother, Cynthia Ann Parker; and the Parker family settling in Texas and the survival and ascendancy of the great Comanche people. The production plays at Irving Arts Center through May 7.

Saturday, April 29

Taco Libre Dallas
Tacos from 24 taquerias from around the Dallas-Fort Worth area and beyond are the highlight at this festival at Main Street Garden. But there will be more than just tacos to enjoy, including performances by Jenny and the Mexicats, Los Skarnales, Piñata Protest, and Supersonic Lips, as well as multiple lucha libre wrestling matches.

Pixies in concert with Public Access TV
Pixies are another band whose reputation is outsized compared to their actual success. They had a few modest hits in the late '80s and early '90s, and since 2013 they've been forging ahead without the services of original bassist/vocalist Kim Deal. The group comes back to Dallas for the first time in three years in support of their 2016 album, Head Carrier. They are joined at the Bomb Factory by opening act Public Access TV.

Sunday, April 30

Bill Maher in concert
Bill Maher was supposed to appear at the Music Hall at Fair Park just after Inauguration Day, but plane issues foiled that plan. Now we get him just after President Trump's first 100 days in office, which will surely give the comedian plenty of ammunition. Maher has set the boundaries of where funny, political talk can go on American television for decades, first on Politically Incorrect, then, for the last 14 years, on HBO’s Real Time with Bill Maher.

PJ Harvey plays at the Bomb Factory on April 27.

Photo by Maria Mochnacz

PJ Harvey plays at the Bomb Factory on April 27.

event-planner

Big Tex Wrap-Up

State Fair of Texas bounces back with 2.1 million attendees in 2026

Crowds around Big Tex at 2026 State Fair of Texas

Photo courtesy of State Fair of Texas

Almost 2.1 people attended the 2026 State Fair of Texas, up from 2025.

After experiencing its lowest total attendance numbers in seven years in 2025, the State Fair of Texas bounced back in 2026, welcoming nearly 2.1 million visitors, according to an official release.

That represents a slight bump up from the 2,020,064 that came through the gates in 2025. Both numbers are still down significantly from the highs of 2019 and 2022, when more than 2.5 million people attended the State Fair.

The uptick in attendance could be attributed to the concerted effort to make the Fair more affordable this year, including lowering ticket prices, making games and rides cheaper, expanding days for free student tickets, and offering a free day of parking.

As usual, the busiest day of the State Fair was Saturday, October 10, the date of the annual Texas-Oklahoma football game, with more than 203,000 fairgoers in attendance, including the 92,100 fans in the Cotton Bowl.

The average attendance for the other 23 days of the fair was around 82,500.

“We are grateful to every fairgoer who joined us this year, as well as the team members, vendors, and volunteers who worked tirelessly to make this season possible," said State Fair of Texas President Mitchell Glieber in a statement. "As a nonprofit organization, a successful Fair helps fuel our work throughout the year, and we are proud of the impact we continue to make through agriculture, education, and community.”

Other notable numbers from the 2026 State Fair of Texas include:

An all-new look for Big Tex, standing 55 feet tall, sporting a 95-gallon Resistol cowboy hat, a Cavender’s shirt measuring 245 by 192 inches, Levi’s 501 jeans measuring 380 inches wide by 290 inches long, size 96 Lucchese boots, and a Shiner belt buckle.
The unveiling of an official State of Texas Historical Marker from the Texas Historical Commission for Big Tex, honoring his enduring legacy as a beloved Texas icon and symbol of State Fair tradition.
An estimated 110,655 pounds of food were collected and donated to the North Texas Food Bank.
More than 28,600 members of the military and their families visited the Fair over 24 days, utilizing the special discount offer in gratitude for their service.
Approximately 500,000 prizes, valued at an estimated $1.8 million, were won at the State Fair Midway, enough stuffed animals and prizes to fill approximately 90 semi-trucks.
Approximately 450,000 Fletcher’s Original Corny Dogs were enjoyed by fairgoers.
The State Fair of Texas is estimated to generate more than $600 million in economic activity each year, serving as one of the most impactful annual events in the Dallas-Fort Worth region.

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