The various events this weekend allow you to spread your wings — in one case, literally — and explore multiple areas in Dallas and beyond. Among the offerings are a major golf tournament, two big theater productions, an arts and music festival, comedy from one of the best, a concert from a big-time band, and dancing from stars of reality TV.
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 18
2017 AT&T Byron Nelson Championship
After 35 years at the Four Seasons Las Colinas Country Club, this is the final AT&T Byron Nelson Championship to take place in Irving. Next year, the tournament moves to Dallas' new Trinity Forest Golf Club. A high-powered group of golfers have come to say goodbye to the course, including defending champion — and newly-crowned Masters champion — Sergio Garcia, Jordan Spieth, Dustin Johnson, Jason Day, and more. The tournament goes on through Sunday.
Commemorative Air Force presents AirPower History Tour
FIFI, the Commemorative Air Force’s iconic Boeing B‐29 Superfortress, flies into Dallas Executive Airport for a four-day barn-storming aviation event. The B-29 and other vintage military aircraft are on display for the tour, which features hands-on, interactive exhibits and activities, like flight simulators inside an authentic C-47 cockpit and trainer airplane. The event takes place through Sunday.
Dallas Theater Center presents Inherit the Wind
When a public school teacher is arrested for teaching Darwin’s Theory of Evolution to his sophomore students, two powerhouse lawyers face off in a court of law. The nation watches as science and faith collide, bringing a small southern town to its knees. Dallas Theater Center presents the play, inspired by the infamous Scopes Monkey Trial, through June 18 at Kalita Humphreys Theater.
AT&T Performing Arts Center presents Into the Woods
Into the Woods, the Tony Award-winning musical classic by Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine, is a mixture of multiple different fairy-tales you knew and loved as kids, with an adult twist. The show, which had a big-screen adaptation in 2014, includes dazzling songs like “Children Will Listen” and “No One Is Alone.” The production runs at Winspear Opera House through May 28.
Friday, May 19
2017 Wildflower! Arts and Music Festival
Celebrating 25 years in 2017, the Wildflower! Arts and Music Festival is an eclectic event that includes four main performance stages featuring national, regional, and local bands, including headliners Lynyrd Skynyrd and The B-52's. The festival, taking place through Sunday, also features a Singer/Songwriter contest, a Battle of the Bands contest, kids area, marketplace, and more.
AT&T Performing Arts Center presents Paula Poundstone
Heralded as one of the United States' foremost comics, Paula Poundstone’s quick-thinking, unscripted approach to comedy makes for a perfect fit as a regular panelist on NPR’s No. 1 show, the screwball weekly news quiz show Wait Wait… Don’t Tell Me!, where she holds the record for game losses. Poundstone showcases her skills at this special concert at Majestic Theatre.
Saturday, May 20
Nasher Sculpture Center presents Roni Horn
The Nasher Sculpture Center presents its 2017 summer show "Roni Horn," featuring large-scale, cast glass works by the American artist. For her Nasher show, eight large-scale cylindrical cast glass sculptures of varying colors occupy the museum’s main gallery. It's the artist’s first U.S. museum presentation of her work since 2010 and the first to focus specifically on her cast glass sculpture. Horn also participates in the museum's speaker series on Saturday. The exhibit is on display through August 20.
Sunday, May 21
Train in concert with O.A.R. and Natasha Bedingfield
Train is one of those bands that manages to release just enough hits to stay relevant. They made their mark with "Drops of Jupiter" in 2001, then faded for a few years before rising back up with "Hey Soul Sister" in 2009, then faded again until 2012's "Drive By." They haven't had a hit recently, but they're obviously due. They play at Starplex Pavilion in support of their 10th studio album, A Girl, A Bottle, A Boat, alongside opening acts O.A.R. and Natasha Bedingfield.
Julianne and Derek Hough: Move - Beyond - Live on Tour
Brother and sister dancing duo Julianne and Derek Hough made their names on Dancing with the Stars, and after multiple championships for each (two for her, six for him), they've taken their personal show on the road. The siblings' show at Verizon Theatre at Grand Prairie features brand-new stage production inspired by the elements — earth, wind, fire, and water — as well as the Move Company Dancers for group performances.
Dallas native Jordan Spieth leads the field at the 2017 AT&T Byron Nelson Championship, taking place May 18-21 at Four Seasons Las Colinas Country Club.
Figure skater Mariah Bell. Getty Images 