Weekend Event Planner

Les Miserables and Asleep at the Wheel headline best weekend events in Dallas

Even though we've officially started summer, temperatures remain relatively bearable in Dallas-Fort Worth. By chance, many of the best events this weekend take place outside, although the inside options definitely take the cake.

Below are your 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, June 26

FC Dallas 2014 World Cup Tour: USA vs. Germany
Soccer fans and bandwagon jumpers, this is the big one. If the U.S. manages to beat or even tie Germany, they'll be moving on to the knockout round of the World Cup. There's still a chance of proceeding even if they lose, but let's not take chances, okay? FC Dallas will once again host a watch party, this time outside of American Airlines Center in AT&T Plaza.

Eddie Izzard: Force Majeure
British comedian Eddie Izzard has a long comic and acting resumé, but he's still way more popular in his native land than he is on this side of the pond. He's on tour in support of his 2013 comedy album, Force Majeure, a tour that will hit some 25 countries by its end. Izzard has actually taken over the Majestic Theatre this week, as this performance is the last of a three-day stint.

Friday, June 27

Dallas Theater Center presents Les Miserables
Dallas Theater Center closes out its 2013-2014 season with one of the classics of musical theater, Les Miserables. But even those who have seen multiple different productions of Les Mis may be surprised by what DTC has done, with a unique stage arrangement that promises to put the audience in the middle of the action. The musical will play at Wyly Theatre through August 17.

Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra presents Music of the Rolling Stones
Classical and rock music have a lot more in common than you might think, which is why this pairing of the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra and singer Brody Dolyniuk is being brought back for the second year in a row. Taking place outside at Fort Worth Botanic Garden, the concert will feature all of the Stones' hits like "Paint It Black," "Jumpin' Jack Flash" and "Satisfaction."

Saturday, June 28

2014 Celebrate Freedom Festival
While the title of this festival, coming just days before the Fourth of July, is patriotic, the theme is heavily bent toward Christian music. The all-day festival, taking place at Southfork Ranch and presented by 94.9 KLTY, features an all-Christian music lineup, including Michael W. Smith, Crowder, Britt Nicole, Jamie Grace and Group 1 Crew. The day will be finished off with fireworks.

Allen USA Celebration 2014
Most cities wait until the actual Fourth of July to put on their Independence Day celebrations, but Allen would rather have the day to themselves. This free event at Celebration Park includes a variety of musical acts, including headliners Pentatonix, family activities and, of course, fireworks to end the night.

The Fray in concert with Barcelona and Oh Honey
The popularity of The Fray stems largely from their hugely popular 2005 debut album, How to Save a Life, which featured massive hits like the titular song and "Over My Head (Cable Car)." They haven't hit those heights since then, but they're far from unpopular, as their 2014 album Helios still hit the top 10. They'll play at Verizon Theatre at Grand Prairie with Barcelona and Oh Honey.

Sunday, June 29

Resounding Harmony presents Heartfelt Paws, Tails of Love
Classical music aficionados and animal lovers will have a common cause on Sunday when Resounding Harmony presents the special concert, Heartfelt Paws, Tails of Love. Proceeds from the concert, taking place at Dallas City Performance Hall and narrated by former NBC5 anchor Scott Murray, will benefit Paws in the City, a charity that works to find homes for adoptable dogs and cats.

Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra presents Asleep at the Wheel
While the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra will be collaborators for the Rolling Stones concert on Friday, they'll be relegated to backup band on Sunday when country legends Asleep at the Wheel takes the stage. The group, last seen as one of many paying tribute to George Strait during his final tour stop at AT&T Stadium, will honor Bob Wills and the Western Swing genre with this concert at Fort Worth Botanic Garden.

Dallas Theater Center will present Les Miserables, featuring one of the biggest casts of the season, at Wyly Theatre through August 17.

Dallas Theater Center presents Les Miserables

Photo by Karen Almond

Dallas Theater Center will present Les Miserables, featuring one of the biggest casts of the season, at Wyly Theatre through August 17.

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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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