If you love history, this is a good weekend to experience it in Dallas, as several events have it at the forefront. Among the offerings are two shows from a big Dallas band from the '90s, stand-up from two comics who've been around a long time, a festival featuring vintage airplanes, a tour of classic Dallas homes, and more.
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 11
Tripping Daisy in concert with Pearl Earl
Tripping Daisy was one of the biggest Dallas bands of the 1990s, dominating locally before scoring some national fame thanks to their hit "I Got a Girl." They're reuniting for the first time in 17 years at Saturday's Homegrown Music & Arts Festival, and they'll warm up for their headlining gig with this special VIP concert at Club Dada. They are joined by opening act Pearl Earl.
Friday, May 12
Improv Addison presents Tom Arnold
Tom Arnold has been a TV and movie actor for so long that it's easy to forget that he started out like many comedians — on the stand-up circuit. He returns to his roots to poke fun at his Midwest past and marital follies, and share absurd Hollywood stories. Arnold is a ball of chaos and charisma on stage, which he shows off at Improv Addison in five sets through Sunday.
Joe Rogan in concert
A stand-up comedian for more than 20 years, Joe Rogan has a unique and intense comedic style. He's also a versatile entertainer, having appeared as an actor in a variety of TV shows and movies, hosting Fear Factor, serving as color commentator for UFC fights, and hosting The Joe Rogan Experience, a popular comedy podcast. He performs at Verizon Theatre at Grand Prairie.
Saturday, May 13
Cavanaugh Flight Museum presents 2017 Warbirds Over Addison
North Texas aviation buffs have the chance to see, touch, and even fly in a variety of planes from Cavanaugh Flight Museum. During its biggest weekend of the year, the museum flies many of its treasured WWII, Korean War, and Vietnam-era airplanes, including the P‐51 Mustang, AD-5 Skyraider, FM2 Wildcat, and more. Guests can also enjoy aircraft on display, plus a Naval carrier aircraft operation demonstration and a Sherman tank demo. The event takes place on both Saturday and Sunday.
Swiss Avenue Historic District Mother's Day Home Tour
The 44th annual Swiss Avenue Historic District Mother’s Day Home Tour is a weekend-long tribute to Dallas’ historic past, featuring seven early 20th-century homes, an art fair, a vintage auto display, a children’s play area, live entertainment on the Avenue, free horse-drawn carriage rides, complimentary air-conditioned mini-coaches, food, drinks, and more. The tour takes place on both Saturday and Sunday.
Greater Dallas Asian American Chamber of Commerce presents Home Depot Asian Festival
The family-friendly Asian Festival, taking place at Fair Park, showcases Asian food trucks and cuisines from countries such as Sri Lanka, Philippines, Korea, and China. It also includes cultural performances like martial arts, acrobats, and lion dances; arts and crafts; a children's zone; and a cultural pavilion area for visitors to explore and learn about each culture.
Homegrown Music & Arts Festival
The annual Homegrown Music & Arts Festival is a great showcase for bands both local and national, headlined this year by the reunited Tripping Daisy. They are joined at Main Street Garden by Mutemath, White Denim, Porches, Lower Dens, Still Corners, Motorcade, RC and the Gritz, El Gato, Cure for Paranoia, Lizzie Boredom, and Greg Schroeder.
TITAS presents Command Performance Gala
The Command Performance Gala features 12 artists from leading companies who will light up the stage at Winspear Opera House. Among the performers during the program are Boston Ballet’s principals Dusty Button and Lasha Khozashvilli; Momix; aerial dance company Bandaloop; Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater’s Matthew Rushing, with Dallas Black Dance Theatre’s Claude Alexander III; Beijing Dance Theater’s Linshu Feng and Jie Zheng; and SMU Division of Dance alumnus and Bruce Wood Dance Project’s Albert Drake.
Sunday, May 14
Texas Rangers present Triple Play Game Show Spectacular
The Texas Rangers are off to a rough start on the field this year, but this event is a fun way to get up close and personal with players while raising money for a good cause. The evening at the Hilton Anatole features players competing in a series of games, a live and silent auction, and more, all to support the Texas Rangers Baseball Foundation's efforts to build the Texas Rangers MLB Youth Academy at Mercy Street Sports Complex in Dallas.
Tim DeLaughter, seen here with the Polyphonic Spree, fronts the reunited Tripping Daisy at two shows in Dallas on May 11 and 13.
Crystal Charity Ball 2024 chairman Cheryl Joyner and Richard Joyner.
Photo by Ashley Gongora