Diners can choose from fixed-price brunch, lunch and dinner menus, including higher-end Signature Experience meals. A portion of each purchase supports either the North Texas Food Bank or Fort Worth-based children and family nonprofit Lena Pope.
Where: Participating restaurants across Dallas, Tarrant, Collin and Denton counties
When: August 10 - September 7
Cost: $29-$99, depending on the restaurant and menu
One of the Metroplex’s true Labor Day traditions celebrates its 80th year Monday morning. The parade travels from Central Park through downtown Garland with high school bands, cheerleaders, drill teams, youth organizations, police, firefighters and community groups.
Where: Begins near Central Park, 1310 W. Avenue F, and travels through downtown Garland
When: Monday, September 7 from 9-11 a.m.
Cost: Free
African American Museum Dallas - Mandela: The Official Exhibition
Mandela: The Official Exhibition is a major international exhibition produced in collaboration with Round Room Live the Royal House of Mandela and authenticated by the Mandela family. It traces Mandela’s remarkable life through four immersive gallery environments, filled with personal artifacts, multimedia installations, archival photographs, and interactive experiences.
When: Daily through November 1 (Open: 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM Tuesday through Saturday)
Where: African American Museum Dallas, Fair Park, 3536 Grand Avenue, Dallas
Cost: Free
UTA Libraries celebrates the World Cup with “Atlas of Champions,” an exhibition exploring the countries competing in the tournament through historic maps, photographs and artifacts. The collection includes more than 60 maps spanning six centuries, along with items connected to the 1994 World Cup.
When: Tuesdays through Saturdays through September 26
Where: UT Arlington Central Library, sixth floor, Arlington
Cost: Free
Bedford throws a huge free Labor Day weekend party with a remarkably deep concert lineup. Former Eagles guitarist Don Felder now headlines after Bret Michaels had to cancel, joining country hitmakers Parmalee, Le Freak, Traveller and Milagro. There are also food trucks, vendors, alcohol and a kids zone.
Where: Generations Park at Boys Ranch, 2801 Forest Ridge Dr., Bedford
When: Saturday, September 5 from 2-11 p.m.; Parmalee at 7:35 p.m. and Don Felder at 9:30 p.m.
Cost: Free admission and free parking.
Billy Bob's Concerts (Thursday: Danielle Nicole / Friday: Jamey Johnson / Saturday: Joe Nichols)
When: Thursday at 9 p.m. / Friday at 10 p.m. / Saturday at 10 p.m.
Where: Billy Bob’s Texas, Fort Worth
Cost: $15 and up
Brandi Carlile: The Human Tour
Eleven-time Grammy winner Brandi Carlile brings The Human Tour to Fort Worth for a Saturday night arena show. The Head and the Heart joins Carlile as the special guest.
Where: Dickies Arena, 1911 Montgomery St., Fort Worth
When: Saturday, September 5 at 7 p.m.; doors at 6 p.m.
Cost: $84 and up
Celia Álvarez Muñoz: El Límite
Fort Worth artist Celia Álvarez Muñoz examines how borders, railroads and languages can connect communities while also dividing them. The site-specific installation combines video, sculpture, sound and other media, drawing from the artist’s experiences along the Texas-Mexico border and incorporating references to Mexican printmaker José Guadalupe Posada.
Where: Amon Carter Museum of American Art, 3501 Camp Bowie Blvd., Fort Worth
When: Exhibition continues through October 18
Cost: Free
Dallas Arboretum: Bunnies, Birds & Butterflies
Hunt Slonem: Bunnies, Birds & Butterflies turns the Dallas Arboretum into an open-air art exhibition from April 20 through September 30, featuring 28 large-scale installations and more than 100 works by the internationally recognized neo-expressionist artist. Known for his bold color, layered texture, and recurring images from the natural world, Slonem places monumental sculptures of rabbits, birds, and butterflies throughout the garden, with additional pieces displayed inside the Historic Camp House. The exhibition is included with regular garden admission or membership, and select evenings from May 1 through September 27 will also feature Twilight Nights, offering a different view of the artwork as the garden shifts into dusk.
When: April 20 – September 30
Where: Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden, Dallas
Cost: Garden admission (around $26)
Dallas launches a new film festival devoted to Latino storytelling during a two-day celebration at the Latino Cultural Center. The inaugural event includes screenings, filmmaker Q&As, networking opportunities, workshops and industry conversations.
Where: Latino Cultural Center, 2600 Live Oak St., Dallas
When: Friday, September 4 beginning at 6 p.m.; Saturday, September 5 beginning at noon
Cost: Some programming is free; ticket prices vary for ticketed events.
Dallas Trinity FC vs. Brooklyn FC
North Texas’ professional women’s soccer team returns to the Cotton Bowl for a Saturday night matchup with Brooklyn FC. Dallas Trinity is beginning its third season in the Gainbridge Super League.
Where: Cotton Bowl Stadium, Fair Park, Dallas
When: Saturday, September 5 at 7:30 p.m.
Cost: $24 and up
Dinosaurs take over the Perot for a special weekend of fossil digs, paleontology activities and opportunities to meet members of the museum’s paleontology team. Guests can also add the giant-screen “T. REX 3D” film to the visit.
Where: Perot Museum of Nature and Science, 2201 N. Field St., Dallas
When: Saturday, September 5 from 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sunday, September 6 from 11 a.m.-5 p.m.
Cost: Dino Days activities are included with museum admission: $27 adults and $17 for children ages 2-12; film admission costs extra
FC Dallas vs. Sporting Kansas City
After an unusual summer spent away from Frisco during the World Cup period, FC Dallas finally returns to Toyota Stadium. The Saturday night matchup against Sporting Kansas City will be FCD’s first home match since May.
Where: Toyota Stadium, Frisco
When: Saturday, September 5 at 7:30 p.m.
Cost: $45 and up
The Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth turns its free-Friday admission into an evening event with live music from the First Friday House Band, gallery activities, drink specials and a docent-led spotlight tour.
Where: Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth, 3200 Darnell St., Fort Worth
When: Friday, September 4 from 5-8 p.m.
Cost: Free gallery admission; food and drinks cost extra
Fort Worth Botanic Garden: Sean Kenney’s Nature POP!
The Fort Worth Botanic Garden opens Sean Kenney’s Nature POP!, featuring more than 40 bright, oversized nature-inspired sculptures made with LEGO bricks.
When: Continues daily through Sept. 7
Where: Fort Worth Botanic Garden
Cost: Included with garden admission; admission is $12 adults, $6 children, and free for children under 2.
Fort Worth Runners Club Labor Day Run
Labor Day starts early along the Trinity River with the Fort Worth Runners Club’s annual holiday race. The event includes a competitive 5K along with a free kids 1K fun run.
Where: Trinity Park Pavilion No. 1, 2400 W. 7th St., Fort Worth
When: Monday, September 7; race-day packet pickup begins at 7 a.m.
Cost: Kids 1K is free; 5K registration is $35 through September 6 and $40 on race day
FWSO: Infinity Rising – The Music of Journey
The Fort Worth Symphony turns Bass Performance Hall into a classic-rock venue with an orchestral celebration of Journey. Expect symphonic versions of the band’s biggest hits from the catalog that produced “Don’t Stop Believin’,” “Separate Ways” and “Open Arms.”
Where: Bass Performance Hall, 525 Commerce St., Fort Worth
When: Friday-Saturday, September 4-5 at 7:30 p.m.
Cost: $45 and up
Gaylord Texan All-American SummerFest
Gaylord Texan launches a summer-long celebration with resort activities inspired by America’s 250th birthday. Guests can find live entertainment, pool parties, scavenger hunts, light shows, silent discos, dive-in movies and other seasonal experiences across the Grapevine resort.
When: Seasonal programming continues through Sept. 7
Where: Gaylord Texan Resort, Grapevine
Cost: Prices vary by activity and resort package. Some experiences are reserved for overnight guests
Georgia O’Keeffe and the Carter
The Amon Carter Museum explores Georgia O’Keeffe’s connections to Texas through paintings, drawings, photographs, letters and archival material. O’Keeffe spent time teaching in West Texas before becoming one of the most recognizable figures in American modernism, and the exhibition examines how those early experiences influenced her approach to landscape, color and form.
Where: Amon Carter Museum of American Art, 3501 Camp Bowie Blvd., Fort Worth
When: Exhibition continues through September 2027
Cost: Free
Giddy Up & Go! Labor Day Weekend in the Stockyards
The Fort Worth Stockyards packs the long weekend with Western entertainment. The schedule includes the PBR Stockyards Showcase Thursday, Stockyards Championship Rodeos Friday through Sunday, Domingos de Fiesta on Sunday and special Legacy of the Longhorn presentations Thursday and Labor Day Monday.
Where: Fort Worth Stockyards and Cowtown Coliseum, Fort Worth
When: Thursday-Monday, September 3-7; times vary by event
Cost: Many Stockyards activities are free; rodeos and other ticketed performances are sold separately.
Yes — an entire festival for pickles. Downtown Grand Prairie hosts pickle vendors, food and beer, live music, a kids zone and pop-up pickleball, along with pickle-eating and pickle-drinking contests for people whose commitment to pickles apparently knows no boundaries.
Where: Grand Prairie City Hall, 300 W. Main St., Grand Prairie
When: Saturday, September 5 from 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Cost: Free
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince in Concert
The Dallas Symphony Orchestra combines movie night and symphony night by performing the score to the sixth Harry Potter film live while the complete movie plays in HD above the orchestra. Lawrence Loh conducts three performances across the holiday weekend.
Where: Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center, 2301 Flora St., Dallas
When: Friday-Saturday, September 4-5 at 7:30 p.m.; Sunday, September 6 at 2 p.m.
Cost: Friday-Saturday tickets start at $75; Sunday starts at $58
Hispanic Heritage Festival at Kaleidoscope Park
Frisco celebrates Hispanic culture with an afternoon and evening of music, food, games and performances. The festival includes El Desfile de la Hispanidad parade and finishes with a two-hour performance by Latin band Havana NRG.
Where: Kaleidoscope Park, 6635 Warren Parkway, Frisco
When: Saturday, September 5 from 3-9 p.m.; Havana NRG performs from 7-9 p.m.
Cost: Free
Upright Theatre Co. continues its production of Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Tony Award-winning musical about life in New York City’s Washington Heights neighborhood. The story follows bodega owner Usnavi and a close-knit community balancing family, romance, dreams and cultural traditions as their neighborhood begins to change. Miranda’s Latin- and hip-hop-influenced score includes “96,000,” “When You’re Home” and the title song. The production continues through September 13.
Where: Upright Theatre Co., 2501 N. Main St., Suite 210, Euless
When: Friday-Saturday, September 4-5 at 7:30 p.m.; Sunday, September 6 at 3 p.m. (Through September 13)
Cost: $24 adults; $22 seniors, students, military and first responders, plus a $2 booking fee
Late Night at the Dallas Museum of Art
The DMA stays open late Friday for an evening combining art with live entertainment. Guests can explore exhibitions while taking part in artist demonstrations, tours and hands-on activities, with live music, drinks and food available throughout the night.
Where: Dallas Museum of Art, 1717 N. Harwood St., Dallas
When: Friday, September 4 from 7-11 p.m.
Cost: $25 general admission; free for DMA members. VIP options are also available
Myles Smith: My Mess, My Heart, My Life Tour
British singer-songwriter Myles Smith brings the tour behind his breakout success to Irving. The “Stargazing” singer is joined by Australian singer-songwriter Hazlett.
Where: The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory, Irving
When: Sunday, September 6 at 7:15 p.m.
Cost: $54 and up
Nasher Sculpture Center: Roy Lichtenstein: Drawing in Process
Take a closer look at one of pop art's biggest names through an exhibition that explores Roy Lichtenstein's creative process. Sketches, studies and finished works reveal how the iconic artist transformed simple ideas into bold, instantly recognizable pieces.
Where: Nasher Sculpture Center, Dallas
When: Daily through October 24
Cost: $18 adults; seniors $15; students $10; free for members and children 12 & under
Haggard Park fills with glowing lanterns during a two-night festival built around music, food, activities and a sunset lantern launch. Each admission includes a floating lantern guests can decorate before sending it onto the water.
Where: Haggard Park, 901 E. 15th St., Plano
When: Saturday-Sunday, September 5-6 from 5-9 p.m.; lantern launch follows sunset
Cost: $30.99 early bird; $34.99 regular; $57.99 at the event
The touring R&B ONLY party returns to North Texas for an afternoon devoted entirely to R&B. The show combines DJs, crowd singalongs and live-production elements built around hits and throwbacks from across multiple eras of the genre.
Where: The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory, Irving
When: Saturday, September 5 at 3 p.m.
Cost: $39 and up
The Drunk Shakespeare Society puts an unpredictable spin on Shakespeare’s tragic romance. One member of the five-actor cast takes five shots before the performance begins, leaving the ensemble to navigate the classic story through improvisation, audience interaction and plenty of unexpected detours. The show is for guests 21 and older.
Where: Deep Ellum Art Co., 3200 Commerce St., Dallas
When: Thursday-Sunday, September 3-6, with additional Wednesday-Sunday performances through September 20; showtimes vary
Cost: $34 and up
Samurai to the Imperial Court: Japanese Metalwork
The Dallas Museum of Art traces five centuries of Japanese metalwork through more than 90 pieces. The exhibition includes armor, sword fittings, decorative objects and intricate works created as Japan transitioned from the era of the samurai to the imperial court. The pieces show how craftspeople adapted military techniques to produce highly detailed art for new audiences.
Where: Dallas Museum of Art, 1717 N. Harwood St., Dallas
When: Exhibition continues through September 6
Cost: $20; free for museum members
The Perot Museum explores the science, technology and culture behind the world’s most popular sport through a 10,000-square-foot interactive exhibition. Visitors can enter through a stadium-style tunnel, test their skills through hands-on challenges and examine how engineering, physics, equipment design and data influence the modern game.
Where: Perot Museum of Nature and Science, 2201 N. Field St., Dallas
When: Daily through January 4, 2027
Cost: $39 total for adults and $27 total for children ages 2-12, including museum admission and the exhibition ticket
TBAAL Riverfront Jazz Festival
The Black Academy of Arts and Letters brings its ninth annual Riverfront Jazz Festival back to Fair Park for three days of jazz, R&B, soul and blues. This year’s lineup is especially strong, with Gladys Knight headlining Friday, plus artists including Samara Joy, Spyro Gyra, Keiko Matsui, Bilal, Rose Royce, Brian McKnight, Kim Waters and more throughout the weekend.
Where: Fair Park, Automobile and Centennial buildings, Dallas
When: Friday, September 4 beginning at 6 p.m.; Saturday-Sunday, September 5-6 beginning at 1 p.m.
Cost: $95 for single-day general admission; $190 for a three-day general admission pass, plus fees.
Two major Texas programs meet in Fort Worth when TCU hosts Texas in a Sunday night nonconference matchup. It is a rematch of last year’s dramatic meeting, which TCU won 3-2 with two goals in the final 10 minutes.
Where: Garvey-Rosenthal Soccer Stadium, Fort Worth
When: Sunday, September 6 at 7 p.m.
Cost: $21 and up
Texas Pool Labor Day Party & Closing Day
Plano’s famous Texas-shaped swimming pool gives summer one final sendoff. The closing-day party includes pool games, a cannonball contest, picnic areas and grills — and one last chance to literally swim across Texas before the season ends.
Where: The Texas Pool, 901 Springbrook Dr., Plano
When: Monday, September 7 from noon-6 p.m.
Cost: $10 general admission
Texas Rangers vs. Tampa Bay Rays
The Rangers spend almost the entire Labor Day weekend at Globe Life Field with a four-game series against Tampa Bay. Thursday is Naruto Anime Night, Friday includes the Retro Windbreaker giveaway and inaugural Desi Heritage Night, and Saturday features OpTic Gaming Night.
Where: Globe Life Field, Arlington
When: Thursday-Friday, September 3-4 at 7:05 p.m.; Saturday, September 5 at 6:05 p.m.; Sunday, September 6 at 1:35 p.m.
Cost: Prices vary by game; current official listings include Friday tickets from $32 and Saturday from $30.
The Walt Disney Studios and World War II Exhibition
The Walt Disney Studios and World War II explores how the famous animation studio shifted into wartime service after the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941. The exhibition features more than 500 artifacts, film clips, and historical materials showing how Disney artists created training films, public information shorts, and military insignia while also producing artwork used in wartime campaigns at home. It also highlights the role Walt Disney and his staff played in supporting the Allied effort, using familiar characters and animation to inform the public, boost troop morale, and promote initiatives like rationing, recycling, and war bond drives.
When: March 13 - September 10
Where: Dallas Holocaust and Human Right Museum, Dallas
Cost: $12 and up (free for students)
UNDERTALE: The Determination Symphony
The acclaimed indie video game Undertale gets the full orchestral treatment at the Winspear. A 25-piece orchestra performs music from the game while synchronized gameplay footage and visuals play on a large screen.
Where: Winspear Opera House, 2403 Flora St., Dallas
When: Friday, September 4 at 8 p.m.; Sunday, September 6 at 8 p.m.
Cost: $70 and up
North Texas’ newest theme park is now open. Designed specifically for families with younger children, the Frisco resort includes seven lands featuring Shrek, SpongeBob SquarePants, the Minions, Trolls, Jurassic World, Puss in Boots and Gabby’s Dollhouse.
When: Open daily
Where: Universal Kids Resort, Frisco
Cost: One day admission - $54.99 and up / Two day - $73.99 and up
UTA Invitational Volleyball Tournament
College Park Center hosts six matches over two days as UT Arlington welcomes Army, Kent State and Sam Houston for its home tournament. UTA plays Kent State Friday night, then Army and Sam Houston on Saturday.
Where: College Park Center, 600 S. Center St., Arlington
When: Friday-Saturday, September 4-5; matches begin at 10 a.m. Friday and 11 a.m. Saturday
Cost: $10 single-match admission
WhoaZone at Grapevine offers a floating obstacle-course water park on Lake Grapevine, with climbing, sliding, jumping and splashing for active families. Meadowmere Park also has beach and lake access, so non-participants can still come along and enjoy the park.
When: Daily through September 7 / Mon - Fri: 12pm - 7pm / Sat & Sun: 11am - 7pm
Where: Meadowmere Park, Grapevine
Cost: $23 and up; Meadowmere Park entry is $10 per car, with higher holiday rates.
Plano’s Courtyard Theater follows the yellow brick road with a family production of the classic musical. Dorothy, Toto, the Scarecrow, Tin Man and Cowardly Lion make the familiar trip to Oz with six performances during the holiday weekend.
Where: Courtyard Theater, 1509 H Ave., Plano
When: Thursday-Sunday, September 3-6; multiple showtimes
Cost: $17 general admission after August 31; $27 front-row seating, plus fees
