Weekend Event Planner

These are the 8 best things to do in Dallas this weekend

With the 4th of July falling on a Tuesday this year, you can enjoy a long weekend full of patriotic events. But there's far more than just that going on, including the world premiere of a new family-friendly musical and no fewer than four concerts featuring huge music stars.

Below are the best options for your precious free time Thursday through Monday. Don't like what you see? Lucky for you, we have a much longer list of the city's best events.

Thursday, June 29

Dallas Theater Center presents Hood: The Robin Hood Musical Adventure
Dallas Theater Center will present the world premiere of Hood: The Robin Hood Musical Adventure, a new musical comedy written and directed by five-time Tony-nominated playwright Douglas Carter Beane, with music and lyrics by Lewis Flinn, who collaborated on Give it Up/Lysistrata Jones. Here they tell the real story of the disgraced nobleman Robin Hood, who is forced into the wilderness, seeks revenge, and reclaims his great love. The musical will run at Wyly Theatre through August 6.

Improv Addison presents D.L. Hughley
Comedian D.L. Hughley has had quite the ride in his 25 years or so in show business. He rose up relatively quickly in the stand-up ranks, earning his own sitcom, The Hughleys, which ran from 1998-2002. Since then, he's remained a presence on TV, in the movies, as an author, and, of course, as a stand-up. He gets back to his first love with six sets through Sunday at Improv Addison.

Melissa Etheridge in concert
Known for her confessional lyrics and raspy, smoky vocals, Melissa Etheridge has remained one of America’s favorite female singer-songwriters for almost three decades. Best known for the multi-platinum 1993 album Yes I Am, she has released 17 albums in her career, including Memphis Rock & Soul in 2016. She plays at the Majestic Theatre.

Friday, June 30

Boston in concert with Joan Jett & The Blackhearts
It'll be a throwback kind of night at Starplex Pavilion when Boston and Joan Jett & The Blackhearts join forces. Boston was one of the biggest bands of the 1970s, with their first two albums selling almost 25 million copies combined. Joan Jett & The Blackhearts have been rocking together since the early 1980s, releasing 12 albums, including 2013's Unvarnished.

Saturday, July 1

The Rustic presents Picnic Party
The Uptown hot spot The Rustic celebrates the 4th of July weekend by hosting a Picnic Party with live music by pop/folk sibling trio Castro, featuring American Idol alumni Jason and Michael Castro, and their sister, Jackie. The Dallas trio released their debut EP Diamond Dreams in 2016. The event also includes a performance by acoustic duo D and Chi.

Dallas Wings vs. Seattle Storm
After a rocky first season in Arlington, the Dallas Wings are having a nice rebound season, sitting at 8-8 after a recent four-game winning streak. Led by star Skylar Diggins-Smith, who's averaging almost 18 points per game, the Wings are currently in sixth place in the WNBA standings. They take on the Seattle Storm, featuring stars Sue Bird and Breanna Stewart, at College Park Center on the UT Arlington campus.

Sunday, July 2

Outlaw Music Festival featuring Willie Nelson, the Avett Brothers, Sheryl Crow, and more
Willie Nelson holds his annual 4th of July Picnic down in Austin on Tuesday, but Dallas gets an abridged preview of that event courtesy of the Outlaw Music Festival at Starplex Pavilion. It features performances by Willie Nelson & Family, the Avett Brothers, Sheryl Crow, Margo Price, Hayes Carll, and Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real. There will also be local cuisine, craft beers, and crafts by local artisans.

Monday, July 3

Roger Waters in concert
There's a rule that whenever Pink Floyd's Roger Waters comes to town on a long holiday weekend, he must be included. Part of his US + Them tour, the concert at American Airlines Center features classic Pink Floyd, some new songs, and solo work. Waters' legendary live performances are renowned as immersive sensory experiences featuring high class, state-of-the-art audio visual production and breathtaking quad sound.

Melissa Etheridge plays at Majestic Theatre on June 29.

Courtesy of melissaetheridge.com

Melissa Etheridge plays at Majestic Theatre on June 29.

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Rivers wild

Ethan Hawke narrates new documentary that deep-dives into Texas rivers

Cropped still from Deep in the Heart 2: Texas Rivers

The Rio Grande is one of the stunning subjects of Deep in the Heart 2: Texas Rivers.

One Texas film icon passes the torch to another for a deep dive on Texas' river ecosystems in the upcoming documentary Deep in the Heart 2: Texas Rivers. Matthew McConaughey narrated the original 2022 film, Deep in the Heart: A Texas Wildlife Story. Now Ethan Hawke narrates the follow-up, which will be in theaters September 25.

Deep in the Heart 2 is directed by Ben Masters, a nature-obsessed Texan who was born and raised in Amarillo and has followed wildlife around the state and beyond. Working with his crew at Fin & Fur Films, Masters explores the Rio Grande, the Sabine River, and the Neches River, a press release says, coming across otters, turkeys, alligator snapping turtles, and more.

This underwater shot was taken in San Marcos.Still from Deep in the Heart 2: Texas Rivers

The original Deep in the Heart took a broad view of Texas — both its landscapes and their inhabitants — while the "sequel," as the release calls it, specifically highlights water. Conservation is an important angle, and viewers will get a chance to consider how they could connect with and protect the ecosystems on their screens.

"Most of my favorite memories are on Texas Rivers," said Masters in the release. "I grew up on the Canadian, fell in love on the Brazos, got married on the Guadalupe, found adventure on the Rio Grande, and am raising my kids on the Colorado."

The filmmaker says that spending three years filming his natural subjects gave him "a newfound appreciation" for rivers and how distinct they are from one another.

Amazing cinematography was a hallmark of the original film, and the sequel offers more beautiful shots.Still from Deep in the Heart 2: Texas Rivers

"We spent months filming mountain lions on the Pecos, snapping turtles on the Neches, otters on the Sabine, fatmuckets on the Llano, and whooping cranes in the Guadalupe's Estuary," Masters said. "Editing the majesty of Texas Rivers into 80 minutes was a huge challenge, and I'm just incredibly grateful to work with such a talented team of cinematographers, editors, producers, and musicians."

Hawke, born in Austin and raised in Fort Worth, is known for acting in the Dead Poets Society, Gattaca, the Richard Linklater films Boyhood and Blue Moon, and more. He has taken up causes in environmental advocacy for years and appeared in other ecology-focused films, including the intense fictional First Reformed (2018) and a goofy anti-littering PSA with TxDOT (2023).

Some unexpected guests in the Rio Grande.Still from Deep in the Heart 2: Texas Rivers

The film was made in association with H-E-B, a regular supporter of ecological documentaries and initiatives, and conservation organization Texan by Nature. Other collaborators include producer Josh Winkler, editor Sam Klatt, assistant editor Chet Stefan, and composer Noah Sorota. The musical score is performed by Dallas Chamber Symphony.

animals documentaries ecology ethan hawke film matthew mcconaughey movies nature texas wildlife