8 Actually Fun Things to Do in Dallas This Weekend
From all-you-can-eat BBQ to the booziest birthday bash in town.
Everybody’s got Olympics fever right now! But as hypnotizing as it can be to sit in front of the television for hours watching synchronized-this and rhythmic-that while soft-spoken commentators detail what’s at stake, it’s best to get out of the house and enjoy everything the city has to offer from time to time—especially because we don’t know how things are going to shake out with this whole Delta variant thing. We could be back to a virtual greetings-from-our-sofa life soon enough, so let’s not let this moment pass us by. BBQ, bubbly, and box-office bombs are on the docket for another action-packed weekend in Dallas.
Binge on BBQ, brews, bocce, and bowling
Friday, July 30
Fort Worth
Head to the patio for Pinstripes Fort Worth’s Summer BBQ & Brews series for an all-you-can-eat-and-drink extravaganza featuring beer from a local brewery, along with mini cheeseburgers, pesto chicken, BBQ ribs, a variety of side dishes, cold watermelon, cookies, and brownies. Stick around for bowling and bocce and make a night of it.
Cost: Tickets run $40 per person
Get your groove on 470 feet above downtown
Friday, July 30
Downtown Dallas
Spinning in the clouds used to be our state of mind while drinking on a plane, but this time it’s the name of the Friday night summer DJ series at the GeO-Deck high atop Reunion Tower. Admission to the party is included with any general admission ticket to the observation deck. Get there pre-sunset so you can enjoy the best views of the city by day and night.
Cost: Tickets run $18 per person; cocktail prices vary
Make advance reservations to dine in the dark
Friday, July 30 - Sunday, August 1
Online
Dates keep getting added for the Thursday night Dining in the Dark series at the Fairmont Dallas. Choose from a secret vegan, meat, or seafood meal, then settle into a dark, candlelit room wearing a blindfold so that all your other senses will be heightened for a unique dining experience. Tickets sell out quickly for these 18+ dinners, so book in advance to ensure you don’t miss the opportunity.
Cost: Tickets run $80 per person (alcohol not included)
Sit back and listen to somebody talk dirty to you
Friday, July 30
Bishop Arts District
The art of storytelling is alive and well at The Wild Detectives, and things might just get a little steamy at this Friday’s Talking Dirty After Dark presentation, complete with musical accompaniment by DJ Eternos. And even though the stories at times might sound unbelievable, they’re all completely true.
Cost: Admission runs $5 per person
Laugh and cringe while watching one of the worst movies ever made
Friday, July 30
Mockingbird Station
If you’ve never seen The Room on the big screen, now’s your chance to become transfixed at the terribleness of Tommy Wiseau’s masterpiece of terrible acting and soft-core sex. It’s a cult classic for a reason, but drinks will definitely help elevate the experience.
Cost: Tickets run $13 per person
Walk with mimosas and explore The Village
Saturday, July 31
The Village
One of the city’s largest collections of apartment complexes—The Village—has undergone an extreme makeover and eight of the new shops and eateries within its borders are hosting a mimosa-fueled crawl this Saturday. Enjoy nine full-sized mimosas spanning different flavors at each stop. If you don’t live in The Village, you’re going to need to have your ride-share apps handy to get home after this one.
Cost: Tickets start at $30 for the public ($25 for residents)
Cheer on riders and ropers at the 32nd Annual Texas Black Invitational Rodeo
Saturday, July 31
Fair Park
Fair Park welcomes more than 300 rodeo competitors to its colosseum for an evening of bull riding, barrel racing, a Pony Express relay race, calf and steer roping, and other events for cash prizes. Saddle up, cowboy.
Cost: Tickets start at $10 per person
Celebrate a distillery’s 5th birthday with a fortune teller and live jazz
Saturday, July 31
Lewisville
Don’t worry—even though Bendt Distillery’s Wingding V has a Prohibition theme, there’ll be plenty of whiskey on hand. Live jazz from Stephanie Pepping & the Sassafras Swing Set, fortune-telling, and a caricature artist will enhance the experience at this adults-only event.
Cost: Tickets start at $15 per person; drink prices vary