The arrival of May often signals the unofficial beginning of summer events. As the temperature rises, more and more weekends get stuffed to the brim with big-name concerts and other attractions you don't want to miss.
This weekend is heavy on music, but it also features one big festival going on in Cowtown. 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, May 2
Mayfest 2013
The 40th annual edition of Mayfest took place in 2012, but because the festival celebrating all things Fort Worth started in 1973, it's safe to call this the 40th anniversary. However you count it, the four-day event at Trinity Park has enough going on to please pretty much anybody, including seven stages of music and other entertainment, kids areas, rides, and more.
Lisa Loeb in concert with Jonny Polonsky
It's been said that everything old is new again, and that certainly applies to Lisa Loeb and her most famous song, "Stay (I Missed You)." The song that rocketed the Dallas native to fame in 1994 continues to be a pop cultural touchstone; it was featured in recent episodes of Workaholics and New Girl. Loeb stops by The Kessler in support of her latest album, No Fairy Tale.
Friday, May 3
Diana Krall in concert
When it come to great jazz musicians, many people automatically think of specialists in instruments like saxophone or trumpet. But Diana Krall has proven that the art of being a jazz singer is not a dead one, winning multiple Grammy Awards and selling millions of albums. The woman also known as Elvis Costello's wife stops by Verizon Theatre in Grand Prairie to sing songs from her latest album, Glad Rag Doll.
George Clinton & Parliament Funkadelic in concert
George Clinton wore colorful braids in his hair for decades, but he ditched the style a couple years ago in favor of an old-fashioned, dapper look. The 71-year-old soul/funk legend is no Samson, though, as he can still bring it musically even after all these years. He shows Dallas how it's done at the House of Blues.
Saturday, May 4
Dallas Symphony Orchestra presents Barbie at the Symphony
It's not that easy to get kids interested in the arts, so the Dallas Symphony Orchestra has brought in Barbie to help expose our youth to classical music. The DSO is the live accompaniment to a Barbie movie at two separate performances at Meyerson Symphony Center. Also enjoy pre-show activities in the lobby.
Jimmy Buffett & The Coral Reefer Band in concert with Jackson Browne & His Band
Many Parrotheads were up in arms when Jimmy Buffett's annual Dallas-area concert was moved to Gexa Energy Pavilion last year, even though it had been held there for years prior to its stint at FC Dallas Stadium in Frisco. But it's back north again this year, and you can be sure it'll be as wild and crazy as ever, with margaritas flowing in the streets.
Sunday, May 5
Dallas Summer Musicals presents Wicked
Yes, we featured Wicked when it first started a couple of weeks ago, but because this is your last chance to catch the Tony Award winner before it moves on to another city, it's definitely worth highlighting again. The musical plays at Music Hall at Fair Park every day this weekend and twice on Sunday.
Jewel in concert
Since one '90s flashback started the weekend, it's only appropriate that another one finishes it. Jewel has reinvented herself several times since her breakthrough album Pieces of You, dabbling in rock, country, children's and even dance music. She visits Verizon Theatre in support of her recently released Greatest Hits album, which features a new version of "Foolish Games" alongside Kelly Clarkson.
Jimmy Buffett plays FC Dallas Stadium May 4.
