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Weekend Event Planner

Lion King roars into the 15 best things to do in Dallas this weekend

Alex Bentley
Jun 5, 2025 | 6:00 am

This weekend in and around Dallas is a bit unusual, in that every event on the list will either take place or start before the traditional weekend days of Saturday and Sunday. Choices include eight separate theater productions (including a huge Broadway tour), three concerts, a music festival, an opera production, a dance production, and symphony concerts in the great outdoors.

Below are the best ways to spend your free time this weekend. If you want more options, check out the calendar for an even longer list of the city's best events.

Thursday, June 5

Broadway Dallas presents The Lion King
In The Lion King, giraffes strut, birds swoop, gazelles leap, and the entire Serengeti comes to life as never before. And as the music soars, Pride Rock slowly emerges from the mist. Still running on Broadway after almost 30 years, The Lion King is a spectacular production renowned for its visual artistry, music, and uniquely theatrical storytelling. It will run through July 3 at the Music Hall at Fair Park.

Lil Baby in concert
Lil Baby may not be as widely known as other big rappers, but you can't argue with the success he's had. After a series of well-received mixtapes, including one that charted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200, he released his debut album in 2018, which went to No. 3. Each of his next three albums including the new WHAM, have gone to No. 1 on both the Billboard 200 and R&B/Hip Hop charts. He'll perform at American Airlines Center, joined by BigXthaPlug and Loe Shimmy.

The Righteous Brothers in concert
Bill Medley has been keeping the music of The Righteous Brothers alive since the death of original duo partner Bobby Hatfield in 2003, but the 84-year-old singer has finally decided to hang it up for good. With the help of singer Bucky Heard, Medley will entertain fans one last time with Righteous Brothers' hits like "You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin’," "Soul & Inspiration," "Unchained Melody," "Rock and Roll Heaven," Medley’s Grammy-winning Dirty Dancing theme "The Time of My Life," and more. The concert will be at Majestic Theatre.

Soul Rep Theatre Company presents Ain't No Mo'
Soul Rep Theatre Company will present the North Texas premiere of the Tony-nominated play by Fort Worth native and celebrated playwright Jordan E. Cooper. Through a blend of sketch, satire, avant-garde theatre, and a dose of drag, Ain’t No Mo’ answers the incendiary question: What if the United States government offered Black Americans one-way plane tickets to Africa? The unpredictable comedy speeds through the turbulent skies of being Black in today's America. The production will have five performances through Sunday at Kalita Humphreys Theater.

Rover Dramawerks presents 10-Minute Comedies
For the seventh year, Rover Dramawerks will present a festival of nine separate 10-minute comedies, featuring the winners of their annual 10-minute comedy contest. Winners came from all over the U.S. and Canada, including Bibbidi Bobbidi Boot Camp by Clinton Festa (Greensboro, NC), Love Thy Neighbor by Sinan Beskok (Plano, TX), Stay Golden by Jessica Moss (Toronto Ontario, Canada), and What is Due by Deirdre Girard (Newbury, MA). The festival will run through June 21 at Cox Playhouse in Plano.

Theatre Three presents Xanadu
Xanadu is a high-energy, roller-skating extravaganza that brings the 1980 cult film to life on stage. Set in Venice Beach, California, the musical follows Sonny Malone, a struggling artist who encounters Kira, a beautiful Greek muse. With Kira's guidance and a touch of divine inspiration, they embark on a mission to revive a rundown roller disco and reignite Sonny's artistic passion. The production runs through July 6 at Theatre Three.

Friday, June 6

KHYI 95.3 The Range Radio presents Texas Music Revolution
The 29th annual Texas Music Revolution is a two-day event featuring over 75 bands on 15 stages. Performers will include Flatland Cavalry, Dawes, The Wilder Blue, Silverada, Lola Kirke, Jamie Richards, Bri Bagwell, Jonathan Tyler & The Northern Lights, and more. The festival takes place on Friday and Saturday in Historic Downtown McKinney.

Pizza Chapel Theatre Company presents Girls Talking
Girls Talking is an original piece about connection, healing, and grown-up girlhood. Although this theatrical piece witnesses two women attempting to stage a production of Macbeth, the real heart of the work lies in the story of connection and the healing power of feminine friendships. Using comedy, pastiche, and a touch of absurdism, the work reminds audiences that no (wo)man is an island. There will be performances on Friday and Saturday at Arts Mission Oak Cliff.

Opera Arlington presents Don Giovanni
This production of Don Giovanni, Mozart’s most electrifying opera, is reimagined at the glittering, scandal-fueled center of a 1980s soap opera. In a world where power is seductive and fame comes at a price, one man plays everyone. As Giovanni’s web of seduction begins to unravel, past lovers resurface, revenge plots ignite, and the line between performance and reality begins to blur. Is Giovanni in control of his fate, or is he headed for a fall worthy of the tabloids? The production will have performances on Friday and Saturday at Trinity United Methodist Church in Arlington.

Echo Theatre presents Open
Open is a one-woman show that asks the audience to believe in the magic of love. The Magician must perform the impossible to save the life of her partner, Jenny. The clock is ticking, the show must go on, and this magician’s act may offer the last hope against a world filled with intolerance and hate. The production runs through June 21 at Bath House Cultural Center.

Theatre Arlington presents A Chorus Line
A Chorus Line is a celebration of those unsung heroes of the American Musical Theatre: the chorus dancers. Set on the bare stage of a Broadway theater, the musical is centered on 17 dancers auditioning for spots on a chorus line. The musical provides a glimpse into the personalities of the performers and the choreographer as they describe the events that have shaped their lives and their decisions to become dancers. The production runs through June 22 at Theatre Arlington.

Stray Kids in concert
The K-Pop group Stray Kids came out of the same-named 2017 reality TV series in South Korea. Releasing their debut album in 2020, the band quickly became one of the most popular groups in both their home country and Japan. To date, they have released three albums in Korean and two in Japanese, including their latest, 2024's Giant. They'll perform at Globe Life Field in Arlington on both Friday and Saturday as part of their second U.S. tour.

Richardson Theatre Centre presents Angel Street aka Gaslight
Mysterious things have been happening in the Manningham household: items go missing, their dog is injured, and Mrs. Manningham hears footsteps coming from the locked, uninhabited top floor. She fears that she is going mad; that is certainly what Mr. Manningham believes. But when Detective Rough arrives one night to visit Mrs. Manningham while she is alone, questions arise and secrets are revealed about her husband. The production runs through June 29 at Richardson Theatre Centre.

Bruce Wood Dance presents Echoes
Echoes brings Bruce Wood Dance's Season 15 to a close with the return of Bruce Wood’s landmark all-male, multigenerational work, I’m My Brother’s Keeper; a reprise of Concerto Six Twenty-Two by Lar Lubovitch; and the world premiere of Love Songs, a choreographic collaboration between Kimi Nikaidoh, Nycole Ray and Jennifer Mabus. There will be three performances through Sunday at Moody Performance Hall.

Dallas Symphony Orchestra presents Parks Concert series
The Dallas Symphony Orchestra will present two more free concerts in parks this weekend. Both the Friday concert at Exall Park and Saturday concert at Kidd Springs Park will feature a program of light classics, patriotic tunes and other popular fare, led by Assistant Conductor Shira Samuels-Shragg. The concerts will be canceled in the event of inclement weather.

Broadway Dallas presents The Lion King
Photo by Deen van Meer

Broadway Dallas presents The Lion King at the Music Hall at Fair Park through July 3.

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Big Tex Wrap-Up

State Fair of Texas bounces back with 2.1 million attendees in 2026

Alex Bentley
Oct 19, 2026 | 1:04 pm
Crowds around Big Tex at 2026 State Fair of Texas
Photo courtesy of State Fair of Texas
Almost 2.1 people attended the 2026 State Fair of Texas, up from 2025.

After experiencing its lowest total attendance numbers in seven years in 2025, the State Fair of Texas bounced back in 2026, welcoming nearly 2.1 million visitors, according to an official release.

That represents a slight bump up from the 2,020,064 that came through the gates in 2025. Both numbers are still down significantly from the highs of 2019 and 2022, when more than 2.5 million people attended the State Fair.

The uptick in attendance could be attributed to the concerted effort to make the Fair more affordable this year, including lowering ticket prices, making games and rides cheaper, expanding days for free student tickets, and offering a free day of parking.

As usual, the busiest day of the State Fair was Saturday, October 10, the date of the annual Texas-Oklahoma football game, with more than 203,000 fairgoers in attendance, including the 92,100 fans in the Cotton Bowl.

The average attendance for the other 23 days of the fair was around 82,500.

“We are grateful to every fairgoer who joined us this year, as well as the team members, vendors, and volunteers who worked tirelessly to make this season possible," said State Fair of Texas President Mitchell Glieber in a statement. "As a nonprofit organization, a successful Fair helps fuel our work throughout the year, and we are proud of the impact we continue to make through agriculture, education, and community.”

Other notable numbers from the 2026 State Fair of Texas include:

  • An all-new look for Big Tex, standing 55 feet tall, sporting a 95-gallon Resistol cowboy hat, a Cavender’s shirt measuring 245 by 192 inches, Levi’s 501 jeans measuring 380 inches wide by 290 inches long, size 96 Lucchese boots, and a Shiner belt buckle.
  • The unveiling of an official State of Texas Historical Marker from the Texas Historical Commission for Big Tex, honoring his enduring legacy as a beloved Texas icon and symbol of State Fair tradition.
  • An estimated 110,655 pounds of food were collected and donated to the North Texas Food Bank.
  • More than 28,600 members of the military and their families visited the Fair over 24 days, utilizing the special discount offer in gratitude for their service.
  • Approximately 500,000 prizes, valued at an estimated $1.8 million, were won at the State Fair Midway, enough stuffed animals and prizes to fill approximately 90 semi-trucks.
  • Approximately 450,000 Fletcher’s Original Corny Dogs were enjoyed by fairgoers.
  • The State Fair of Texas is estimated to generate more than $600 million in economic activity each year, serving as one of the most impactful annual events in the Dallas-Fort Worth region.
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