Film, Blues, Funk, and Art—It’s All About Festivals in Dallas This Weekend
You get a festival, you get a festival, and you get a festival.
There’s always something going down in the Big D. A look at the city’s offerings might leave you dizzy: record shops, vintage shops, museums, bar arcades, nerdy bookstores, restaurants, bars, brunches, sports aplenty, and a thriving music and arts scene.
Dallas, when you seek it out, has wonderful natural landscapes, too. Hiking, running paths, swimming—there’s a little something for everyone. And if you want to get out of town, there are plenty of beautiful places to explore.
With the sheer selection of things to do, we’re here to help guide you on your weekend adventures. This weekend guide will steer you in an always-fun direction, be it dancing to live music or cozying up for a film fest. Check back here each week for something new to explore (and subscribe to our newsletter for recommendations and the week’s top stories).
Festivals in Dallas
April 25–May 2
Multiple locations, $10 and up
Eight days of films, parties, red-carpet arrivals, and Q&As bring some a little Hollywood to Dallas venues. Short film collections, documentaries, and live table reads from this year’s DIFF Screenwriting Competition winners fill the calendar. Stars Anne Hathaway, Viggo Mortensen, Coleman Domingo, and Bruce Vilanch are all scheduled to appear.
April 26–28
Grand Prairie, FreeMark Chesnutt, Michael Salgado, and Parliament Funkadelic, Featuring George Clinton, headline the three-day live music festival, which also includes local and regional bands and internationally known artists. Food vendors, carnival rides, and a dedicated Kid Zone provide plenty of entertainment between musical acts.
Through April 28
Denton, Free (GA), $15 and up
The Thin Line Fest started as a documentary film festival but grew to include live music and photography. The arts-filled agenda takes over Denton’s quaint downtown area with dozens of documentary premieres, local bands, and hundreds of photographers.
April 26, 7 pm
Grand Prairie, $59 and up
For 19 years, the Dallas Blues Festival has gathered music greats on one stage for a one-of-a-kind concert event. This year’s fest stars King George, Pokey Bear, Lenny Williams, Lebrado, J-Wonn, and West Love.
April 27 & 28
White Rock Lake, $10 and up
For art lovers, the only thing better than an art festival is an art festival with a view of White Rock Lake. The Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden hosts more than 100 juried fine artists and makers from around the U.S., offering paintings, jewelry, photography prints, sculpture, and carved works for purchase.
April 27, 10 am
Klyde Warren Park, Free
Head outside for one of the most vividly colored days of the season during the Festival of Joy. In addition to re-enacting the famed Ratha Yatra (Festival of Chariots) Parade, enjoy a free vegetarian feast, live music and dance acts, henna tattoos, cultural activities, and vendors galore.
April 27, 9 am–2 pm
Fort Worth, $20
A day of cycling through Fort Worth features a variety of pedal-powered events, including group rides and multiple racing events. Your registration fee includes a limited edition t-shirt and a $20 voucher for area Trek Bicycle locations. Food vendors and demonstrations round out the bike-centric event for all ages and skill levels.