Our friends at GuideLive put together this amazing list of FREE things to do around Dallas all summer long!
Mondays
Summer Sounds Get some extra pep on Monday nights in Allen with music at at the Joe Farmer Recreation Center Amphitheater. Catch concerts May 30-June 20.
Music in the Park Mesquite Art Center's outdoor series celebrates its 25th year with themed Mesquite Community Band shows June 6, 13, 20 and 27.
Brave Combo, which plays tons of local concert series, is one of the featured groups at Sounds of Lewisville.
Tuesdays
JazzBreaks Take blankets and lawn chairs for jazz sounds outdoors at the Mesquite Arts Center every Tuesday in June, June 7-28.
Sounds of Lewisville Tribute and party bands rule the roost at this free series in Wayne Ferguson Plaza. Concerts are on Tuesday nights, June 7-July 26.
Wednesdays
Children's Concerts and Family Movie Nights Levitt Pavilion in Arlington hosts morning performances by children's entertainers and evening family movie screenings on Wednesdays, June 8-June 29 (additional movie screening July 6).
Thursdays
Meadows Museum Admission to the museum is free on Thursdays after 5 p.m. This Southern Methodist University gem houses what's billed as one of the largest and most comprehensive collections of Spanish art outside Spain.
Levitt Pavilion Concert Series You can't help but find something you'll like in this series with concerts on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays from May 27-July 17(there's info on kids' programs and movies on select Wednesdays under Wednesdays). Acts range from Ruthie Foster to Bowling for Soup to Dale Watson.
Concert by the Lake This ongoing free Thursday-night series at the Harbor in Rockwall features an eclectic lineup, with acts playing everything from '80s music to rock to contemporary hits. Ongoing through July 21.
Vitruvian Nights Live It’s a free party in the outdoor amphitheater at Vitruvian Park in Addison featuring local bands and food. It runs on Thursdays June 2-Aug. 11.
Summer Fun Thursdays The Shops at Willow Bend hosts children's performers every weekJune 9-July 28. Installments range from the Amazing Bubble Man to clowns to recyled-instrument group Vocal Trash.
Rockin' the River Be sure to bring a bathing suit to this ever-popular concert series that takes place on the Trinity River in Fort Worth. Bands hit the Coors Waterfront Stage. You take in concerts from the shore at Panther Island Pavilion or pay to rent a tube. Oh, and there are fireworks. June 16-Aug. 11.
Free Third Thursdays It takes about 10 minutes to drive there from downtown Dallas, but the Trinity River Audubon Center feels worlds away. It is home to four miles of hiking trails, a wide variety of bird species and some indoor attractions. Check it all out for free during this event (free admission doesn't apply for groups of larger than 10).
Fridays
Levitt Pavilion Concert Series Take blankets and lawn chairs for this series with concerts on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays from May 27-July 17 (there's info on kids' programs and movies on select Wednesdays under Wednesdays). Acts range from Ruthie Foster to Bowling for Soup to Dale Watson.
Irving Concert Series Expect tribute bands June 3 (Fin City) and June 17 (Guns 4 Roses) at 7 p.m. at Whistlestop Plaza. The free series also features food vendors.
Movies in the Park Catch a movie on a huge outdoor screen at the Shops at Park Lane on Fridays June 3-24.
Music in the Square Friday night means tunes from North Texas acts on the Simpson Plaza lawn at Frisco Square during this series, which runs June 3-24.
Sounds at Sundown features the band Emerald City.
Anja Schlein/Special Contributor
Sounds at Sundown Take a blanket and picnic for this free party-and-tribute band series in Murphy at Murphy Central Park Amphitheater. It runs on Fridays, June 3-July 1.
Music in the Park Concert Series Kick back under the stars at Valley Ridge Amphitheater in Cedar Hill with musical groups: Random Axis on June 10, Hip Hop Hooray June 17 and Road Crew June 24.
Til' Midnight The Nasher Sculpture Center features local artists at this free monthly music-and-movies program in its charming garden. Installments are June 17, July 15, Aug. 19, Sept. 16 and Oct. 21. nashersculpturecenter.org.
Saturdays
Levitt Pavilion Concert Series Kick back under the stars at this series with concerts on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays from May 27-July 17 (there's info on kids' programs and movies on select Wednesdays under Wednesdays). Acts range from Ruthie Foster to Bowling for Soup to Dale Watson.
Nasher Sculpture Center The museum offers free admission on the first Saturday of each month, when it also hosts its free family event called Target First Saturdays. The urban retreat, designed by Renzo Piano, is a repository of modern sculpture and houses the celebrated collection of Raymond and Patsy Nasher. Be sure to check out the tranquil garden.
Concerts by the Creek Take a blanket and chill on the grass at Watters Creek in Allen on Saturdays during this series. The ongoing series continues through June 18, with an additional show on July 1.
Vitruvian Salsa Festival Dance the night away with live bands, DJs, professional salsa lessons and food trucks. Get moving for free June 4-25 and Aug. 6-27.
Addison Summer Series Enjoy free outdoor entertainment from local musicians and singer-songwriters June 4-25 and Aug. 6-27. Catch Christmas in July movie screenings featuring Christmas favorites July 9-30.
Reunion Lawn Party This series on Reunion Tower's lawn is back with the same promise of live music, local craft beer, food trucks and lawn games all for the affordable price of free. The events, which take place June 25, July 30 and Aug. 27.
Duncanville Summer Concert Series Local and regional performers rock Armstrong Park in Duncanville on June 25, July 16 and Aug. 20.
Sundays
Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth The museum offers free admission each Sunday. Japanese architect Tadao Ando designed the building, which houses post-World War II art in various media.
Sunday Funday Admission is free for Panther Island Pavilion's laid-back, family-friendly summer series that takes place along the banks of — and in — the Trinity River at Fort Worth's Panther Island Pavilion. Take blankets, chairs, games or anything else that would be fun in the sun. If you do feel like shelling out some cash, you might try tubing, playing paddle sports and disc golf and participating in stand-up paddle board yoga.June 12-Sept. 4.
Juan Reyna aerates a stack of $100 notes to help keep them from causing a paper jam in the U.S. Bureau of Engraving and Printing's inspection machinery. A lot of money is printed there, but it's free to tour the facility.
Vernon Bryant/The Dallas Morning News.
Various days
Art museum admissions General admission to the Dallas Museum of Art and theCrow Collection of Asian Art in Dallas, as well as the Kimbell Art Museum and theAmon Carter Museum of American Art in Fort Worth, is always free (they're all open every day except for Mondays).
Dallas Symphony Orchestra Parks Concerts The series kicks off with the big Memorial Day Concert and fireworks on May 30 (the concert has been moved indoors to the Meyerson Symphony Center), a Kidd Springs Park performance June 7, fireworks and a concert in Fair Park June 8 and a Paul Quinn College concert onJune 14.
The Mary Kay Museum This 5,000-square-foot museum is dedicated to all things related to late cosmetics doyenne Mary Kay Ash, who started her empire in 1963 in Dallas. The museum shows off many iterations of makeup and packaging, of course, as well as Mary Kay's ball gowns, replicas of her famous pink Cadillacs, Liz Taylor-worthy jewelry and much more. It's open Mondays through Fridays.
U.S. Bureau of Engraving and Printing Did you know that billions of dollars are printed in Fort Worth? You can learn a lot about U.S. currency and see the printing process from an enclosed walkway above the production floor during a self-guided tour of the Western Currency Facility. There are also exhibits, a film and a gift shop. Free tours are Tuesdays through Fridays at the Western Currency Facility in Fort Worth.
Every day
Fort Worth Herd Cattle Drive Check out what's billed as the world's only twice-daily municipal cattle drive at 11:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. It's in the Fort Worth Stockyards (a good place to watch from is in front of the Stockyards Visitor Center).
McKinney Avenue Trolley Take a free ride aboard the trolley for a charming, relaxing way to see Uptown and a bit of downtown Dallas. There are stops close to Klyde Warren Park and the Dallas Arts District, as well as the shopping and dining of Uptown.
Klyde Warren Park activities Sure, there are plenty of attractions at this popular 5.2-acre Dallas park, including the Children's Park playground, a dog park, and lots of green space. But this list is geared toward events, and the park has something scheduled every day of the week. Options include yoga classes, skyline tours, dancing in the park and much more.