World-renowned violinist Leonidas Kavakos interprets Shostakovich's Concerto, whose sonorities range from quiet contemplation to the most spectacular cadenza you're ever likely to witness to a frenzied finale, guaranteed to leave you amazed. Then, from two out-of-the-blue chords to exhilarating finale, the "Eroica's" majesty and grandeur, extraordinary scope, and bold harmonies rise to a triumphant climax and proclaim that a new era in music has begun. Dallas-based composer Kyle Gann "tinkered" with one of his favorite Charles Ives pieces (which he lamented as being too brief) and "stretched it out," as he says, resulting in his Serenity Meditation (after Ives).
Where: Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center, Dallas
When: Thursday, May 22 at 7:30p, Friday, May 23 at 7:30p and Sat, May 24 at 7:30p
Cost: $39 and up
The Dallas Symphony Orchestra's beloved Parks Concert Series returns this summer with five free, family-friendly performances across Dallas. Assistant Conductor Shira Samuels-Shragg leads all concerts, including the annual Memorial Day event at Flag Pole Hill, featuring patriotic and classical favorites. Later shows highlight selections from West Side Story, Star Wars: The Mandalorian, and E.T.
2025 DSO Parks Concert Schedule:
Mon, May 26 – 8:15 p.m. | Flag Pole Hill, 8015 Doran Circle (Fireworks at 9:15 p.m.; Pre-show at 6:40 p.m. with The Rob Holbert Band. Rain site: Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center; no fireworks if moved.)
Fri, June 6 – 8:15 p.m. | Exall Park, 3501 Live Oak St. (Canceled if it rains)
Sat, June 7 – 8:15 p.m. | Kidd Springs Park, 1003 Cedar Hill Ave. (Canceled if it rains)
Tue, June 10 – 8:15 p.m. | Fretz Park, 6950 Belt Line Rd. (Canceled if it rains)
Thu, June 12 – 8:15 p.m. | Paul Quinn College, 3837 Simpson Stuart Rd. (Rain site: Tiger's Den Gymnasium)
Where: Flag Pole Hill, 8015 Doran Circle
When: Mon, May 26 – 8:15 p.m.
Cost: Free
America's Diamond: The Neil Diamond Legacy Concert Tribute
America's Diamond - The Neil Diamond Legacy Concert Tribute stars Jay White. Jay and his dynamic band have performed more than 10,000 concerts around the world, authentically recreating the sound, power and passion of the Diamond classics you love. Cherry Cherry, Sweet Caroline, America and many more.
Where: Eisemann Center, Richardson
When: Sunday, May 25 at 3 p.m.
Cost: $45 and up
Billy Bob's: Creed Fisher (Friday), Reckless Kelly (Saturday)
Where: Billy Bob's Fort Worth
When: Friday at 10 p.m., Saturday at 10 p.m.
Cost: $18 - $45
BloomFest Music and Arts Festival
Celebrate spring and community at BloomFest Music & Arts Festival in the heart of Duncanville! This free, family-friendly event brings together local music, art, food, shopping, and hands-on fun for all ages. Whether you're a neighbor or just passing through, BloomFest is your chance to enjoy a day full of creativity, connection, and good vibes.
Where: Armstrong Park Cultural District, Duncanville
When: Friday, May 23 from 4p.m. - 10 p.m.
Cost: Free
A fascinating new exhibition of giant spiders, beetles, and butterflies is taking over the Heard's nature trails—and these larger-than-life creatures aren't just for show. They're animatronic, meaning you'll see them come to life, moving their limbs and fluttering their wings! The exhibit is included with general admission.
Where: Heard Natural Science Museum and Wildlife Sanctuary, McKinney
When: March 15 - June 29
Cost: Adults - $15 / Child (3-12) - $11 / Seniors - $11
Join the folks that bring you Meat Fight…for Burger Fight. It's a festival of sliders for days and ridiculous partying for a cause (Fighting M.S.). Admission gets you access to all 11 sliders from DFW restaurants plus beer and ice cream…and all the ridiculous fun and games you have come to expect from Meat Fight, Inc. Event is 21 and up only.
Where: Dallas Youth Sports, 2524 W Ledbetter Dr, Dallas
When: Sunday, May 25 at 12:30 p.m.
Cost: $50 - $75
Fresh off his PGA Championship win, world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler headlines a stacked field at this week's Charles Schwab Challenge in Fort Worth. The PGA Tour's annual stop at Colonial will also feature defending champ Davis Riley, No. 7 Hideki Matsuyama, fan favorite Jordan Spieth, Tommy Fleetwood, and more of golf's top stars.
Where: Colonial Country Club, Fort Worth
When: May 22-25
Cost: $50 and up
CityLine Live Music Series in Richardson
Enjoy a selection of free concerts on Fridays and Saturdays in April and May. This weekend it's Andrea Venezio on Friday and Mike Tuck on Saturday.
Where: CityLine, 1415 State St, Richardson
When: Friday, May 23 and Saturday, May 24 at 6 p.m.
Cost: Free
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time
15-year-old Christopher has an extraordinary brain: He is exceptional at mathematics but ill-equipped to interpret everyday life. He has never ventured alone beyond the end of his road, he detests being touched, and he distrusts strangers. Now it is 7 minutes after midnight, and Christopher stands beside his neighbor's dead dog, Wellington, who has been speared with a garden fork. Finding himself under suspicion, Christopher is determined to solve the mystery, but his detective work, forbidden by his father, takes him on a thrilling journey that upturns his world.
Where: Theatre Arlington, 305 W Main St, Arlington
When: May 22-25
Cost: $35
Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders On Tour
Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders On Tour brings the iconic squad to the stage for a high-energy, 100-minute show packed with electrifying dance routines—including fan favorite "Thunderstruck." The all-ages event also features a behind-the-scenes Q&A with DCC leaders Kelli Finglass and Judy Trammell, plus live solo auditions where the audience helps decide who advances to the final round of 2025 team tryouts at The Star in Frisco.
Where: Music Hall at Fair Park, Dallas
When: Sunday, May 24 at 7 p.m.
Cost: $20 and up
Discover the magic of spring at the Dallas Zoo's newest attraction, I Spy Butterflies—a walk-through garden filled with fluttering wings, blooming wildflowers, and hands-on fun. Nestled in the newly transformed Wildflower Ridge, this colorful exhibit lets you wander through a lush, pollinator-friendly landscape where hundreds of live butterflies take flight around you. It's a feast for the senses and a chance to learn about these vital creatures from on-site experts. You'll also find a new nature-inspired play area and the charming Monarch Express mini-train nearby—all included with your zoo admission.
Where: Dallas Zoo, 650 South R.L. Thornton Freeway, Dallas
When: Daily through October 26
Cost: Included with general admission
Darkfield: Séance, Flight, and Coma
The AT&T Performing Arts Center & Realscape Productions bring Darkfield, an immersive audio experience that blurs the line between reality and imagination. Staged inside custom-built shipping containers, Darkfield uses 360-degree binaural sound and sensory effects to transport audiences into unsettling, pitch-black worlds. Three experiences—Séance, Flight, and Coma—challenge perception in different ways. Séance places audiences inside a Victorian séance room where the unknown may be summoned. Flight replicates an airline cabin, exploring the Many-Worlds Interpretation of quantum mechanics, where two realities unfold simultaneously. Coma invites participants to lie down together in a mass experiment, blurring the line between waking and dreaming.
Where: Sammons Park, 2403 Flora St, Dallas
When: March 21 - June 22
Cost: $25 - $60
DreamHack Dallas 2025 returns May 23–25 at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center for three days of nonstop gaming, esports, cosplay, and tech culture. Highlights include major tournaments like the $50,000 Brawl Stars Cup and IEM Dallas for Counter-Strike, plus the Road to EWC: StarCraft event. Fans can enjoy cosplay competitions, tabletop games, workshops, creator meetups, and a BYOC (Bring Your Own Computer) area for personal gaming setups—all in an immersive, community-driven atmosphere.
Where: Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center, Dallas
When: May 23-25
Cost: $55 and up
Epic Waters - Epic Waves Summer Bash
Make a splash this Memorial Day weekend at Epic Waters' Summer Bash, May 23–26. Alongside 12 epic water attractions—including Texas' longest indoor lazy river and an outdoor wave pool—you'll find live music from DJ Pancho Pistolas, face painting, craft stations, and meet-and-greets with Mystical Mermaids. Adults can unwind at the full-service bar while the whole family soaks up the fun inside Texas' largest indoor waterpark.
Where: Epic Waters, Grand Prairie
When: Friday, May 23 - Monday, May 26
Cost: $44
Cracking Art at the garden exhibit features 80 large animal sculptures made from regenerated plastic. Designed to captivate all ages, it blends creativity with a powerful message, inspiring joy and conversations about sustainability.
Where: Fort Worth Botanic Garden, 3220 Botanic Garden Blvd, Fort Worth
When: Now - September 1
Cost: Adult - $15 / Child (6-15) - $6 / 5 and under Free
Set in 1960s Texas, Fatherland is a gripping original drama that follows two estranged brothers as they reunite after their parents' brutal murder. As they dig into the mystery behind the crime, long-buried family secrets rise to the surface, pulling them into a web of betrayal, corruption, and vengeance.
Where: The Addison Performing Arts Centre, 15650 Addison Rd, Addison
When: May 22-24 / May 29-31 / June 5-7
Cost: $30
Based on the imaginative, beloved children's novel by Roald Dahl, young James Henry Trotter's resilience is tested when he is sent off to live with his mean aunts, Spiker and Sponge, after a chain of unfortunate incidents. Life is no fun there until he accidentally spills some tiny green things on a tree, and…voilà, a giant peach! When James and his new oversized friends - Grasshopper, Centipede, Ladybug, Earthworm, and Spider - snip the stem of the peach, the quest for happiness and great adventure lands them in New York City and at the center of attention!
Where: Dallas Children's Theater, 5938 Skillman St, Dallas
When: May 24
Cost: $20 and up
On Saturday May 24, start your day with Daytime Museum Access and activations from 9 AM – 3 PM. Then, come back in the evening for the signature ticketed evening, where guests will enjoy a relaxed but exclusive evening with the Wayne family for an exclusive VIP Experience from 4 PM – 7 PM.
Where: John Wayne: An American Experience, 2501 Rodeo Plaza, Fort Worth
When: Saturday, May 24 from 9a-3p
Cost: $23 for museum / $70 for VIP Experience
Immerse yourself in the mesmerizing world of classical ballet with the full-length story of La Bayadère, where athleticism, passion, and vengeance intertwine. Set against the backdrop of ancient India, this dramatic love story unfolds with breathtaking choreography and emotional depth. Prepare to be captivated by its timeless beauty—after witnessing this stunning performance, you'll wonder why you don't experience the magic of ballet more often!
Where: Coppell Arts Center
When: Saturday, May 24 at 7:30 p.m. / Sunday, May 25 at 2 p.m.
Cost: $28 and up
Memorial Day Pool Party at The Texas Pool
Kick off summer and pay tribute to America's fallen heroes this Memorial Day at the historic Texas Pool's opening day celebration. The family-friendly festivities include classic pool games, prize raffles, and a chance to relax with your own camp chairs, canopies, and coolers (non-alcoholic, of course). Grab a bite from the snack bar or an onsite food truck, and join in a special flag ceremony just before 3 p.m. as part of the National Moment of Remembrance.
Where: The Texas Pool, 901 Springbrook Dr., Plano
When: Monday, May 26 from noon to 6 p.m.
Cost: $10
MOVING CREATURES, written and directed by Matthew Posey, is a darkly satirical thriller set in a surreal Gilded Age world. It follows a tyrannical oligarch and the four vengeful women he once destroyed—now reborn as strange, powerful monsters seeking justice. With a moving mansion, talking portraits, and a twisted sense of humor, this bold production explores power, revenge, and the collapse of a corrupted empire.
Where: Ochre House Theater, 825 Exposition Ave, Dallas
When: May 21-24
Cost: $14 and up
Music has the power to crystallize a moment in time and evoke eras. In her new concert, Patti LuPone: A Life in Notes, the three-time Tony Award winner performs an array of songs which do just that—songs that are touchstones and reflections on her life growing up in America—from a young girl during the burgeoning rock and roll scene of the fifties, to coming of age in the politically and socially turbulent sixties, to eventually achieving success with both career and family.
Where: Winspear Opera House, Dallas
When: Saturday, May 24, 8 pm
Cost: $38 and up
Perot Museum: Moody Family Children's Museum Reopening
Kick off a new era of early STEM learning at the reimagined Moody Family Children's Museum, May 24–26. Opening weekend brings hands-on discovery both inside and out, with engaging STEM activities led by the TECH Truck team and special experiences throughout the Museum's Lobby, Auditorium, and ChallENGe Lab from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Guests can also grab snacks outdoors or enjoy limited-time Café specials like BBQ Brisket Flatbread and Fire-Grilled Mac & Rib, available May 24–25. Be among the first to explore this exciting new chapter in playful, science-powered learning.
Where: Perot Museum of Nature and Science, Dallas
When: May 24-26
Cost: $15-$25 (exhibit included with museum admission)
Step into a vibrant blue world at The Smurf Experience, an interactive indoor adventure spanning 13,000 square feet of fun. This immersive playground invites guests to shrink down to Smurf size and take on a mission to stop the wicked Gargamel. As you journey through Smurf Village, the Enchanted Forest, and the villain's hideout, you'll tackle obstacle courses, join scavenger hunts, dive into virtual reality, and meet your favorite Smurf characters along the way.
Where: Esports Stadium Arlington, 1200 Ballpark Way, Arlington
When: Daily through August 11 / Mon - Sun: 10:00am - 8:30pm
Cost: $30 and up
Embark on an immersive, interactive tour of the Titanic with vast, jaw-dropping recreations of the ship's interior and exterior. Visit the dock from where the Titanic first sailed, explore the galleries and boiler room, take a look inside a millionaire's suite, stroll the exterior promenade deck under a starry night sky, and see the Grand Staircase with your own eyes.
Where: Pepper Square, 14856 Preston Rd, Dallas
When: Through Labor Day
Cost: $30 and up
Richard Rodgers' Two by Two brings a witty and heartfelt twist to the story of Noah. Building the ark is just the beginning—this musical comedy explores the bumpy, often hilarious road of a man chosen by God, juggling faith, family, and a flood. A spirited tale straight from the Good Book, Two by Two sails toward a hopeful, new beginning.
Where: Peace Lutheran Church, 941 W Bedford Euless Rd, Hurst
When: May 22-24 / May 29-31
Cost: $15 - $25
Gaylord Texan Resort and Warner Bros. Discovery present Universe of Light—a dazzling walkthrough attraction featuring over 1,000 glowing lanterns and 40 iconic DC Super Heroes and Villains. Created by artisans from Zigong, China, the display transforms the resort into larger-than-life scenes from Gotham City, Themyscira, and Metropolis. Guests can snap photos inside the Batmobile, witness Superman vs. Lex Luthor overhead, explore interactive areas, and meet DC characters—all open to resort guests and day visitors alike.
Where: Gaylord Texan, Grapevine
When: Daily through September 1
Cost: $25
Van Cliburn International Piano Competition
Widely considered one of the preeminent international music contests, the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition exists to share excellent classical music with the largest international audience possible and to launch the careers of its winners every four years. The world's top 18- to 30-year-old pianists compete for gold in front of a live audience in Fort Worth, Texas, as well as a global online viewership of over 5 million. Prelims at Van Cliburn Concert Hall at TCU from May 21-25. The 12 finalists start competition at Bass Hall on May 28.
Where: Van Cliburn Concert Hall at TCU / Bass Performance Hall, Fort Worth
When: May 21-25 / May 28-June 1 / June 3-7
Cost: $12 and up (more for later rounds)
The Wedding Singer takes us back to a time when hair was big, greed was good, collars were up and a wedding singer might just be the coolest guy in the room. Based on the hit Adam Sandler movie, The Wedding Singer's sparkling new score does for the '80s what Hairspray did for the '60s. Just say yes to the most romantic musical in twenty years.
Where: The Firehouse Theatre, 2535 Valley View Ln, Farmers Branch
When: May 22-25 / May 29-June 1
Cost: $35
Whiskey Riot at The Social Space
Whiskey Riot offers a chance to sample over 200 whiskies from around the globe—spanning local favorites to international labels. Guests can sip bold cocktails, chat with master distillers, and explore the wide world of whiskey, all in one spirited event.
Where: The Social Space, 205 S Calhoun St, Fort Worth
When: Saturday, May 24 at 3 p.m.
Cost: $90 and up
