Sports Meets Comedy

Savannah Bananas to bring their wacky baseball tour to Arlington

The Savannah Bananas will play in Arlington in September 2026.

Photo by Ashley Smithson

Baseball fans are in for a bizarro version of the sport when the Savannah Bananas make their debut at Globe Life Field in Arlington on September 25-27, 2026.

The Bananas are a professional baseball team that has become a worldwide sensation for their entertaining style of play that's far removed from what can be found in Major League Baseball.

The team plays a fan-involved and fast-paced style of baseball called “Banana Ball,” which features unique rules such as no bunting or walks, fans catching foul balls for outs, and a two-hour time limit.

They are also known for spontaneously breaking out into choreographed dances, putting on epic scoring celebrations, and swinging flaming bats, among an array of other antics.

The visit to Arlington will include three games against the Texas Tailgaters, one of six teams in the Banana Ball league that has grown to include teams with names like Party Animals, Loco Beach Coconuts, and Indianapolis Clowns.

The visit to Globe Life Field (taking place while the Texas Rangers are on the road playing the Minnesota Twins) is part of a large 2026 Banana Ball World Tour.

While this will be the only stop by the Bananas in Dallas-Fort Worth, fans can also see the Texas Tailgaters play the Loco Beach Coconuts at Riders Field in Frisco on March 7 and 8.

The Tailgaters will also play the Indianapolis Clowns at Dell Diamond in the Austin suburb of Round Rock on March 14 and 15; against the Coconuts at Nelson W. Wolff Municipal Stadium in San Antonio on June 26 and 27; and against the Party Animals at Constellation Field in Sugar Land on August 28 and 29.

Tickets for the Savannah Bananas and the league in general have become so popular that fans must enter a lottery just for the chance to buy them. The lottery form will be open through October 31 at bananaballticketlottery.fansfirsttickets.com.

Globe Life Field will also offer a limited number of premium lower concourse tickets for each of the three games. This allotment of tickets will go on sale to the public on Tuesday, October 21 at 10 am CT at GlobeLifeField.com/bananas.

Fans interested in presale access have two options:

Priority Presale – Available on Monday, October 20, from 10 am to 4 pm CT. Fans who place a deposit on a Rangers 2026 season ticket package by October 15, 2025, will receive access to this exclusive presale window.
Regular Presale – Available on Monday, October 20, from 4 to 10 pm CT. Fans can sign up for Globe Life Field and Texas Rangers email alerts or text “RANGERS” to 76432 to receive presale notifications via text.

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On display

Iconic Marilyn Monroe 'Happy Birthday, Mr. President' dress comes to Dallas

Photo by Eric Kayne, AP Images for Ripley’s Believe It or Not!

Marilyn Monroe's iconic 'Happy Birthday, Mr. President' dress is going on display at Ripley's in Grand Prairie.

The dress worn for the most famous (or, infamous) rendition of "Happy Birthday" in American history is going on display in Dallas-Fort Worth. Marilyn Monroe's iconic "Happy Birthday, Mr. President" gown will be showcased at Ripley's Believe It or Not! in Grand Prairie for a limited time, beginning Friday, June 5.

The display coincides with what would have been the legendary actress and pop culture icon's 100th birthday. Monroe was born June 1, 1926 as Norma Jeane Mortenson.

The sparkling gown became part of entertainment lore on May 19, 1962, when Monroe wore it while singing "Happy Birthday" to U.S. President John F. Kennedy at his 45th birthday gala and fundraiser at Madison Square Garden. She shimmied onstage, shed a white fur coat to reveal the sparkly skin-tight dress, and delivered a sultry, breathy "Happy Birthday."

Afterwards, JFK said to the crowd, "I can now retire from politics after having had Happy Birthday sung to me in such a sweet, wholesome way."

Many historians believe Kennedy and Monroe had a romantic relationship.

Notably, Ripley's in Grand Prairie is just about 12.5 miles from the JFK Memorial and Sixth Street Museum in downtown Dallas.

Designed by French-born costume designer Jean Louis, the sheer dress was embellished with more than 6,000 hand-sewn rhinestones and created the illusion that Monroe was wearing almost nothing at all — a daring fashion statement that helped cement the "Happy Birthday" moment in pop culture history.

The dress is considered one of the most famous garments ever worn. In 2016, Ripley's purchased it for $4.8 million, a price that at the time made it the most expensive dress ever sold at auction.

In 2022, they loaned it to Kim Kardashian to wear to the Met Gala. It was reportedly returned with some missing crystals and stretched seams.

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A post shared by Kim Kardashian (@kimkardashian)

Visitors to the Grand Prairie museum will be able to see the gown up close, along with additional memorabilia tied to Monroe's life, career, and legacy, an an exhibition called "Happy 100th Birthday, Marilyn Monroe."

"Marilyn Monroe remains one of the most recognizable icons in pop culture history," Ripley Entertainment regional manager Rachel Rotella said in a statement. "With visitors looking for unique experiences across North Texas this summer, this is a rare opportunity to see Marilyn Monroe's dress that represents one of the most unforgettable moments in Hollywood history."

The Monroe display is included with regular admission to Ripley's, which features hundreds of oddities, artifacts, and interactive exhibits. The exhibit opens June 5 and will be on display for a limited time.

pop culture history celebrities fashion museums