Weekend Event Planner

These are the 12 best things to do in Dallas this weekend

Def Leppard is one of four big '80s bands playing at Globe Life Field in Arlington on August 22.

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No matter what kind of music you like, this weekend around Dallas is guaranteed to offer something for you. It features nine separate concerts, several of them with huge stars, with genres including rap, rock, country, jazz, and more. If you prefer something more low-key, two new local theater productions are starting their runs, and a big-name comedian is making a rare appearance.

Below are the best ways to spend your precious free time this weekend. Want more options? Lucky for you, we have a much longer list of the city's best events.

Thursday, August 18

Kevin Gates in concert
Rapper Kevin Gates is a rising star in the hip hop genre. After years of self-releasing mixtapes, the Louisiana native finally started getting some nationwide attention in 2012, leading to a record deal with Atlantic Records. It was a wise investment, as each of his first three albums have reached the top 10 on the Billboard 200 charts. Gates will play at The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory in Irving in support of his new album, Khaza.

Dallas Symphony Orchestra presents Madeleine Peyroux
Jazz singer-songwriter Madeleine Peyroux has had a compelling journey in the music industry. Eight albums and 22 years since her debut, Dreamland, Peyroux continues to challenge the confines of jazz, venturing into the fertile fields of contemporary music with unfading curiosity. She'll play a special one-night-only concert at the Meyerson Symphony Center.

Friday, August 19

Echo & The Bunnymen in concert
The English band Echo & The Bunnymen may have a funny name, but they've had a long and interesting history. Debuting in 1980, they did well in the UK and developed a cult following in the United States. The departure of lead singer Ian McCulloch and death of drummer Pete de Freitas led to their breakup, but they reformed in 1996 and have gone on to release seven more albums. They'll play at House of Blues Dallas as part of their 40th anniversary tour.

The Lumineers in concert
Folk rock group the Lumineers came to prominence in 2012 on the heels of the success of Mumford & Sons, gaining tons of fans with songs like "Ho Hey." They've released three more albums since their debut, including the recently-released Brightside, all of which reached the top 10 on the Billboard 200. They'll play at American Airlines Center with support from opening act James Bay.

Jason Aldean in concert
You can't get any bigger than Jason Aldean in country music. He had six straight albums reach No. 1 on the Billboard Country charts, and either No. 1 or No. 2 on the Billboard 200 charts, throughout the 2010s. He's also a three-time winner of Entertainer of the Year at the ACM Awards, and he was given the ACM Dick Clark Artist of the Decade Award at the 2019 ACM Awards. He'll play at Dos Equis Pavilion in support of his new album, Georgia.

Improv Arlington presents Rob Schneider
Rob Schneider is an accomplished actor, comedian, screenwriter and director. A stand-up comic and veteran of the award-winning NBC sketch comedy series Saturday Night Live, Schneider has gone on to a successful career in films and television, and continues to hone his stand-up comedy craft. Schneider’s first Netflix comedy special, Asian Momma, Mexican Kids, premiered in 2020. He'll perform five times through Sunday at Improv Arlington.

Theatre Arlington presents Biloxi Blues
Theatre Arlington presents Biloxi Blues, the second in Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Neil Simon’s trilogy. When we meet Eugene Jerome, he is coping with adolescence in 1930s Brooklyn. He goes on to become a young army recruit during WWII, going through basic training and learning about life and love along with some harsher lessons, while stationed at boot camp in Biloxi, Mississippi in 1943. The production runs through September 4.

Uptown Players presents The Little Dog Laughed
The Uptown Players 2022 season will close with Douglas Carter Beane’s 2006 heartfelt drama, The Little Dog Laughed. Mitchell, an up-and-coming actor, and Diane, his agent/producer, pretend to be a couple to avoid negative press about Mitchell’s homosexuality. The plan works until Mitchell falls for Alex, a young male prostitute, who changes Mitchell’s views about relationships and convinces him to love, much to the dismay of Diane, who tries desperately to avoid a scandal. The production runs through August 28 at Kalita Humphreys Theater.

Saturday, August 20

Whataburger Fest featuring Flatland Cavalry
Whataburger Fest will feature headlining performances from country music bands Flatland Cavalry, American Aquarium, and William Beckman. Fans can also attend a non-ticketed pre-party at the Texas Lottery Plaza Stage, featuring Aaron Copeland, and a post-event show featuring Alex Aguilar. The main concert takes place at The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory in Irving.

Odesza in concert
It is a true rarity for any act to play two nights in a row at Dos Equis Pavilion, but electronic duo Odesza is breaking that particular mold. The group made up of Harrison Mills and Clayton Knight has been at the top of the Billboard Dance charts since 2014, and their last two albums, including the new The Last Goodbye, have also gone high on the Billboard 200 charts. They'll perform on both Saturday and Sunday.

Dallas Symphony Orchestra presents An Evening with Lucia Micarelli
Best known for her collaborations with Josh Groban, Chris Botti, and classic rock band Jethro Tull, and for her role as Annie Talarico in the critically acclaimed HBO series Treme, Lucia Micarelli will present a performance that will flip from the likes of bluegrass to Led Zeppelin to Ravel to Tom Waits. She'll put on a one-night-only concert at Meyerson Symphony Center.

Monday, August 22

Mötley Crüe in concert with Def Leppard, Poison, and Joan Jett and the Blackhearts
Okay, technically Monday is no longer the weekend, especially since it's not even a holiday, but when you have a concert with as many big bands as this one, you have to include it. Hair metal was a dominant force in the 1980s thanks to bands like Mötley Crüe, Def Leppard, and Poison, and the fact that they're all still playing is a minor miracle. Throw in Rock and Roll Hall of Famers Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, and you have a festival-style event that's guaranteed to rock hard. They'll all play at Globe Life Field in Arlington.

Jason Aldean will play at Dos Equis Pavilion on August 19.

Photo by © Michelle Watson CatchLightGroup.com

Jason Aldean will play at Dos Equis Pavilion on August 19.

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World Cup record

Lionel Messi sets World Cup scoring record as Argentina wins in Dallas

Photo by Charlotte Wilson/Getty Images

Lionel Messi #10 of Argentina celebrates after scoring his team's first goal during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group J match between Argentina and Austria at Dallas Stadium on June 22, 2026 in Arlington.

Scoring goals and breaking records is what Lionel Messi does, and it’s what he did again Monday, June 22 at the FIFA World Cup at Dallas Stadium in Arlington.

The Argentina captain, who many consider the greatest player of all time, scored two more World Cup goals on Monday in his team's 2-0 victory over Austria. That gave him a record total of 18 at the world's biggest tournament.

The Argentina-Austria group stage match at Dallas Stadium drew 70,649 spectators - an official sell-out crowd and the highest attendance yet for a World Cup match at the venue, officials said.

“Beyond anything I’m so happy for the win," Messi said. "It was huge, tough and difficult. It would allow us to be relaxed to what’s ahead. All matches in this World Cup are very even, very intense. I’m enjoying this moment and craving to enjoy with my teammates.”

The first goal against Austria came in the 38th minute and two days before Messi’s 39th birthday, and amid the concern of an ailing father back at home. It was the sixth consecutive World Cup game in which Messi has scored — joining France striker Just Fontaine and Brazil great Jairzinho as only players to do so.

Messi had equaled Germany striker Miroslav Klose for the most goals in the World Cup at 16 with his first hat trick at the tournament in Argentina’s 3-0 win over Algeria in the Group J opener last Tuesday night in Kansas City.

He first had a chance to set the record in the ninth minute against Austria on Monday, but he missed a penalty kick.

“There were moments when I was really angry about missing the penalty, but I was able to make up for it,” said Messi, who has won a record eight Ballon d'Or awards as the best player in Europe.

Argentina advanced to the knockout round by winning its first two group games, with Messi scoring all five of the team's goals so far in his sixth World Cup.

Messi added his 18th World Cup goal in stoppage time when he shot one through several defenders after the first attempt was turned away by goalkeeper Alexander Schlager.

Lionel Messi World Cup 2022 Lionel "Leo" Messi and Argentina came into the 2026 World Cup as defending champions. Leo Messi/Facebook

In the first half, the record became Messi's alone when he caught Schlager leaning the wrong way after Thiago Almada let Facuno Medina’s pass go by him and directly onto the Argentina captain’s left foot from about 20 yards.

As the ball went into the net, Messi ran toward a corner and thrust his right arm into the air to celebrate the mark with the decidedly pro-Argentina crowd among the 70,649 fans in Dallas Stadium (AT&T Stadium) in Arlington, the sold-out home of the NFL's Dallas Cowboys.

There had been a gasp from those same fans when Messi missed the penalty kick in the ninth minute.

His left-footed attempt went just wide of the right post. He is now 4 of 7 on penalty kicks in regulation play at the World Cup with misses in three consecutive tournaments.

Klose scored his 16 goals while playing in 24 World Cup matches for Germany, which wrapped up his fourth tournament by winning the 2014 final 1-0 in extra time over Messi and Argentina.

In an interview published on June 12, Klose said he expected Messi to break the scoring record.

“I expect my record to fall in this tournament,” Klose told German newspaper Sueddeutsche Zeitung. “With the larger field of competing teams there are more games and so more chances to score goals. And I assume Argentina and France will go far. That’s perfectly OK, the record will be broken eventually anyhow and Messi is welcome to be the one who does it. I’m a big fan of Messi, always have been. Messi is a genius.”

Messi’s hat trick in the previous game, in his 200th international appearance, came 20 years to the date of his World Cup debut in Germany, when he also scored. Monday was his FIFA-record 28th match in the tournament.

The penalty kick came after Lautaro Martinez was running free in the box and was tackled from behind by Xaver Schlager and Stefan Posch, the defender playing with a broken jaw. Schalger got a foot on the ball, but Posch drew the penalty because he did not touch the ball as Martinez tumbled to the ground.

Play continued for more than a minute with Martinez still on the ground near the goal. When the game was stopped for him, officials reviewed the play.

Messi’s father has been undergoing medical treatment for an undisclosed illness, the family said in a statement last week while not providing any specifics. The 68-year-old Jorge Messi has played a key role in his third son’s soccer career, acting as his agent and managing his business affairs off the field.

Lionel Messi was overcome with emotion after scoring his first goal against Algeria, and said after that match his tears came following some tough days not related to soccer.

"Messi Mania" took over Dallas-Fort Worth for days surrounding the match, with passionate Argentina fans filling the Arlington Entertainment District, Fort Worth's Sundance Square, Dallas' Klyde Warren Park, and FIFA Fan Festival at Fair Park in Dallas.

The Argentina-Austria game was the third of nine FIFA World Cup matches (more than in any other host city) to be played at AT&T Stadium in Arlington. They started with Netherlands vs. Japan on June 14, followed by England vs. Croatia on June 17, Argentina vs. Austria on June 22, Japan vs. Sweden on June 25, and Jordan vs. Argentina on June 27.

The stadium will also host two Round of 32 matches (June 30 and July 3), one Round of 16 match (July 6), and one Semi-Final match (July 14).

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