Weekend Event Planner

State Fair of Texas headlines the best weekend events in Dallas

The greatness that is the three-week long State Fair of Texas kicks off this weekend, threatening to obliterate every other event in its path. While none of the other happenings quite match the power of the State Fair, there is still a lot of other great stuff going on, including two big comedy events, music and film festivals, and national theater tours.

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, September 24
John Wayne Film Festival
For the second straight year, Dallas will host the annual John Wayne Film Festival, now in its fifth edition. Celebrating John Wayne's heritage and legacy and featuring question and answer sessions with Wayne family members, the four-day festival will screen films like The Shootist, True Grit, The Searchers, Red River, and How the West Was Won at three locations: Highland Park Village Theatre, LOOK Cinemas, and Klyde Warren Park.

Bill Burr in concert
Comedian Bill Burr is a regular of the late night shows who's also a familiar face in movies and on TV shows like Breaking Bad. He also has a hit comedy podcast that's amongst the most downloaded on iTunes. He'll bring his raucous stand-up act to the Majestic Theatre for one night only.

AT&T Performing Arts Center presents Matilda the Musical
A winner of four Tony Awards, including best book, Matilda The Musical is the story of an extraordinary girl who, armed with a vivid imagination and a sharp mind, dares to take a stand and change her own destiny. The national tour will be at Winspear Opera House through October 4.

Off Broadway on Flora Series: Murder for Two
To kick off the second year of its Off Broadway on Flora Series, AT&T Performing Arts Center will welcome in Murder for Two. The play, running at Dallas City Performance Hall through Saturday, reinvents the classic murder mystery with the story of the untimely demise of a novelist that sparks a ribald investigation, with a variety of suspects who are each more entertaining than the last.

Friday, September 25

2015 State Fair of Texas
If you can't find something to do at the 24-day State Fair of Texas, there's something wrong with you, as there's literally something for everybody. With the famous fried food, Midway rides and games, music, exhibits, shopping, and more, it's easy to spend the whole day — and a lot of money — at Fair Park. Make sure to take advantage of the discounts available; only a fool pays full price to get into the fair.

Oaktopia Fest
The Downtown Denton Square will be entertainment central Friday through Sunday when it hosts Oaktopia Fest. Big name acts and local favorites, including Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros, The Polyphonic Spree, Minus The Bear, Sarah Jaffe, and Thundercat, will perform on 11 stages, and there will also be skaters on a half pipe, street performers, art installations, and more.

The Comedy Get Down with Cedric The Entertainer, Eddie Griffin, D.L. Hughley, George Lopez, and Charlie Murphy
The only thing better than getting to see one big name comedian is getting to see five in one sitting. That's the opportunity you'll have at American Airlines Center when Cedric the Entertainer, Eddie Griffin, D.L. Hughley, George Lopez, and Charlie Murphy join forces for the Comedy Get Down tour, one of the most hilarious nights you could ever imagine.

Saturday, September 26

2015 Red Bull Air Race World Championship
Texas Motor Speedway usually plays host to fast-paced car races, but for the second straight year it'll welcome the Red Bull Air Race World Championship. The world’s best pilots will battle in the air, navigating 82-foot-high pylons at speeds of up to 230 mph. The race in Fort Worth, taking place on Saturday and Sunday, is the first stop in the United States.

Mark Knopfler in concert
If you're a child of the '80s, you know Mark Knopfler best as the lead singer of Dire Straits, which had hit songs like "Money for Nothing" and "Walk of Life." But that band broke up way back in 1995, and Knopfler has now spent more time as a solo artist than he did fronting that group. He'll play at Majestic Theatre in support of his eighth solo album, Tracker.

The State Fair of Texas, running at Fair Park through October 18, is a guaranteed good time no matter what your interests may be.

Man eating french fries at State Fair of Texas

Photo by Kevin Brown/State Fair of Texas

The State Fair of Texas, running at Fair Park through October 18, is a guaranteed good time no matter what your interests may be.

races comedy movies state-fair theater concerts

Adventure Park News

One-of-a-kind adventure park with secret tunnels dives into The Colony

Fritz's

Fritz's Adventure, coming to Texas.

A one-of-a-kind adventure park founded in Branson, Missouri is making its Texas debut: Called Fritz’s Adventure, it'll open in The Colony, at 5651 Nebraska Furniture Mart Dr. inside Grandscape. According to a spokesperson, it’ll open in late 2024.

Fritz’s Adventure is an entertainment venue for kids and adults who love climbing on all kinds of things. It was founded by owner-CEO Matt Engram, who previously worked in the construction trade and used his know-how to build a facility that would be durable, safe, and creative. Grandscape will be only its second location.

He opened the first location in Branson in 2016, debuting over-the-top features like water tower climbing, mazes, underground tunnels, and hidden passageways. There are 19 high-stakes activities, including a ropes course, 48-foot brick climbing wall, zipline, scavenger hunt, and extreme slides.

Their approach is highly imaginative. One activity is called Cement Mixer — a partially buried concrete mixer drum you can crawl down into, and "find the small emergency access to gain entry to Fritz’s underground." Who does not love a hidden chamber.

There’s nothing else like it, says Fritz’s Adventure Director of Marketing Grace Frankowski.

“The intricacies of our attractions – from underground tunnels and aerial cages to scaling a real city building and ziplining inside to outside – Fritz’s Adventure is where you can do things you never have before,” Frankowski says.

The Colony was selected as the second location for the brand due to its growth and proximity to other family attractions, according to Frankowski. It's an area brimming with entertainment concepts, like Andretti’s and Cosm.

“We saw a fantastic opportunity to join a community that appreciates innovation and memorable experiences,” Frankowski says.

The Branson location is 80,000 square feet, while the Grandscape space is projected to be even bigger at 100,000 square feet. It's currently under construction, with tunnels, an airplane, and warped walls already taking shape. There will also be a cafe on site serving sandwiches, pizzas, snacks, and kids meals, plus alcoholic beverages, such as beer and wine.

There’s a waitlist available for when tickets go live on the site.

The company name comes from The Swiss Family Robinson by Johann Wyss, a story about Fritz, the oldest child in the story and a "natural-born explorer.”

“At Fritz's Adventure, we believe everyone is either in search of their next adventure or they need to find their inner Fritz to face fears and conquer challenge,” Frankowski says.

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