The second weekend in July around the Dallas area is all about music, comedy, and movies. You can see two big-name comedians playing distinctly different types of venues, travel to the suburbs for not one but two concerts from up-and-coming musicians, and see a classic movie after hearing an independent filmmaker talk about her craft.
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, July 7
Jim Gaffigan: Fully Dressed
Comedian Jim Gaffigan is as relatable a celebrity as you'll ever find. His popularity has stemmed from bits involving his struggles as the father of five kids, marriage in general, and, most notably, his love/hate relationship with Hot Pockets. Now star of his own TV Land sitcom, The Jim Gaffigan Show, he's bringing his stand-up tour, Fully Dressed, to Gexa Energy Pavilion.
Improv Addison presents Craig Robinson
If you're a comedy fan, it's been nearly impossible to avoid Craig Robinson in the past decade. He's arguably best known for his role on NBC’s The Office, but he has also starred in films such as Knocked Up, Pineapple Express, the Hot Tub Time Machine series, and This Is the End. He's performing six times through Sunday at Improv Addison.
Friday, July 8
Twenty One Pilots in concert
It's been a bit of a slow rise for the rock/hip-hop duo Twenty One Pilots, who released three albums before hitting it big with 2015's Blurryface and its inescapable hit, "Stressed Out." With a song on the upcoming Suicide Squad soundtrack, they look like they're heading for only bigger and better things. They are playing at Allen Event Center in Allen.
AT&T Performing Arts Center presents #hearhere: Miranda July
As part of the summer speaker series #hearhere, the AT&T Performing Arts Center is presenting filmmaker, artist, and writer Miranda July. July's videos, performances, and web-based projects have been presented at major art museums, and July has written, directed, and starred in two feature-length films: 2005's Me and You and Everyone We Know and 2011's The Future. She is speaking at Winspear Opera House.
2016 Festival of Independent Theatres
The Festival of Independent Theatres returns with six new companies and two festival founders joining forces for a four-week run of summertime entertainment. Presented at Bath House Cultural Center on the shores of White Rock Lake, FIT offers eight different one-acts, presented in rotating pairs, from companies like Cry Havoc Theater Company, Echo Theatre, and WingSpan Theatre Company. The festival runs through July 30.
Saturday, July 9
Dallas Chamber Symphony in concert
As part of its series of community concerts, DCS Live!, the Dallas Chamber Symphony is presenting an outdoor concert at Encore Park, featuring light classical and jazz music from DCS' wind trio: Margaret Shin Fischer (flute), Jonathan Jones (clarinet), and Leslie Massenberg (bassoon), accompanied by Eduardo Rojas (piano).
2nd Annual Dallas Start of Summer Water Gun Fight
It's hot out there. Like, really hot, with temperatures predicted to top 100 degrees for the foreseeable future. If you're desperate for any sort of relief from the heat, you can participate in the 2nd Annual Dallas Start of Summer Water Gun Fight at Klyde Warren Park. This is for water guns only — no water balloons — and none of the guns should look like real guns.
Sunday, July 10
Texas Theatre and Majestic Theatre present Rock 'N' Roll Summer Series
Music and movies have always had a symbiotic relationship, but never more so than in the four classic movies that are part of this special series. The Beatles' A Hard Day's Night will kick things off at the Majestic Theatre, and it will be followed every week by another great music movie, with the Majestic and Texas Theatre alternating weeks hosting screenings. Gimme Shelter and The Last Waltz are also on tap.
Halsey in concert
Unlike Twenty One Pilots, electro-pop singer Halsey has had a relatively rapid rise. After putting out an acclaimed EP in 2014, she toured with Imagine Dragons and others. She quickly followed that up with her 2015 debut album, Badlands, which made it to No. 2 on the Billboard charts. She's also playing at Allen Event Center.
Halsey plays at Allen Event Center on June 10.
Guy Fieri and Oren Salomon Courtesy photo 
Tom Cruise in Dallas Tribal Cafe 
The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be played at AT&T Stadium in Arlington and other venues in the U.S., Mexico, and Canada. Photo courtesy of CONCACAF 
Hammering Men, 1982 NorthPark Center 