Skate or Die

New Dallas festival brings together skateboarding and music

The inaugural Skate or Die Fest will take place at Gas Monkey Live on October 22.

Photo courtesy of Skate or Die Fest

Plans for the inaugural Skate Or Die Fest, a single day, all-ages skateboarding and music experience, have been announced, scheduled to take place at Gas Monkey Live on Sunday, October 22. The festival will make use of the entire indoor footprint of Gas Monkey Live, as well as part of the parking lot in front of the venue.

Headlining the music portion of the event will the Denton-based pop punk band Bowling for Soup and New York indie rocker Frankie Cosmos. Other performers will include national acts Surf Curse, The Greeting Committee, Summer Salt, Guantanamo Baywatch, and Okey Dokey, as well as local bands Not Half Bad, Hall Johnson, Loafers, and Pearl Earl.

The festival will also feature skateboarding competitions, a puppy petting zoo, and live art installations. Skate programming is headlined by the world’s largest Game of S.K.A.T.E. Tournament (think H.O.R.S.E., but with skateboarders), which will have 200 participants. A single-elimination tournament with nine rounds of head-to-head competition will take place over four hours, with a $3,000 cash purse at stake.

The top 16 competitors from the tournament earn a spot in the best trick contest. Skaters will also compete in a highest ollie contest. Skaters can apply to compete at skateordiefest.com/skate.

Tickets are on sale now at skateordiefest.com. General admission tickets range from $20 to $35 in advance, and $40 at the door. VIP tickets are $70 in advance, and $80 at the door. VIP perks include priority entry into the festival, and a private indoor VIP area with exclusive bar, seating, and excellent main stage viewing.

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Lantern News

Immersive DC comics attraction is coming to Grapevine resort

Courtesy rendering

Universe of Light in Grapevine

There's an immersive entertainment experience from Warner Bros. Discovery Global Experiences coming to Gaylord Texan Resort in Grapevine this summer: Called Universe of Light, it's a walk-through attraction celebrating DC Comics, with DC super heroes and villains crafted into glowing lanterns, which will run from May 23–September 1, 2025.

The attraction will create a DC Universe with 1,000 crafted lanterns, some up to 24 feet tall, bringing iconic DC locations and beloved characters from the comic book pages — from Batman’s Gotham City and Wonder Woman’s home of Themyscira to Superman’s Metropolis — on a larger-than-life scale.

Photo ops for fans will include:

a chance to sit inside the Batmobile
an aerial confrontation between Superman and Lex Luthor high above Metropolis
an epic battle between the Justice League and an intergalactic foe
meet-and-greet opportunities with real-life DC Super Heroes

The lanterns
Hailing from Zigong, China, widely known as the "Lantern Capital of the World,” the artistry behind Universe of Light is rooted in a 1,000-year-old tradition of craftsmanship. Dating back to the Tang and Song dynasties, Zigong artisans have perfected the intricate process of lantern-making, blending heritage with innovation.

Artisans begin with sketches before building hand-shaped frames, draping them in colorful silk, and illuminating them with thousands of LED lights. Every cape, emblem, and expression has been carefully crafted to create a truly immersive experience unlike any other.

The numbers
The scale of this attraction includes:

30 miles of silk – The amount of fabric used to bring the superhero characters and scenes to life
160 artisans – The number of highly skilled Chinese craftsmen who created the immersive display
1,000 glowing lanterns – The number of DC Super Heroes, Super-Villains, and props created
7,911 miles – The distance the master artisans traveled to Gaylord Texan from Zigong, China to build this display
17,500 square feet – The size of the Universe of Light walkthrough superhero attraction including state-of-the-art insulation

Tickets
This event will be available to overnight resort guests and local daytime visitors. Tickets to Universe of Light start at $25 and are on sale at www.gaylordtexantickets.com.

Warner Bros. Discovery Global Experiences does location-based entertainment based on franchises, stories, and characters from Warner Bros.’ film, television, animation, and games studios, HBO, Discovery, Cartoon Network and more.

Universe of Light joins Gaylord Resort’s lineup of original leisure experiences, including Lone Star Christmas, ICE!, Paradise Springs Water Park, and SummerFest.

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