10 Best Festivals in Dallas You Shouldn't Miss
Dallas Celebrations You Won’t Find Anywhere Else
When it comes to tourism, Dallas is on the rise, with many great festivals highlighting its booming food and music scenes. While this Southern city is steeped in oil industry bravura, sporting machismo, and old-school cowboy lore, its cultural festivals repeatedly steal the spotlight.
Year-round, festivals in Dallas draw visitors with their affordable ticket prices, cutting-edge offerings, and family-friendly settings. No matter the season, there are plenty of celebrations to keep you amused. Come with an open mind and a willingness to party.
1. State Fair of Texas
An epic celebration of all things Lone Star
Good for: Families, Food
First launched in 1886, the annual State Fair of Texas is held in Dallas’ scenic Fair Park, a sprawling recreation complex east of bustling Downtown. Spanning 24 consecutive days, this iconic event is the longest-running fair in all of America, drawing punters with its mass celebration of music, sports, and agriculture.
Take in the festival’s atmospheric livestock shows, rodeo contests, and clay shooting classics before heading to the Bud Light Stage to catch local country music acts. When you’ve worked up an appetite, tuck into hearty Texan treats like corn dogs, turkey legs, and Frito pies before finishing up with a stick of cotton candy and a can of ice-cold Budweiser.
Location: Fair Park, 3809 Grand Ave, Dallas, TX 75210, USA
Open: September–October
Phone: +1 469-945-3247
State Fair of Texas
2. Deep Ellum Community Arts Fair
Civic pride on full display
Good for: Families, Food, Photo
Deep Ellum Community Arts Fair dates back to the 1990s, but the neighborhood itself has been Dallas’s cultural epicenter for over 150 years. Opening the city’s Arts Month, this annual celebration features over 200 stands manned by visual artists, as well as blistering live performances from a wealth of local bands.
Shop art prints, leather goods, jewelry, and textiles before hitting up the food trucks for finger-licking cooking. Kids will adore the roving costumed stilt walkers and the vendors selling soft-serve ice cream. There are even live poetry recitals and spoken-word performances.
Location: 216 N Crowdus Street, Dallas, TX 75210, USA
Open: April
Deep Ellum Community Arts Fair
3. Dallas Pride
Loud, proud, and totally Dallas
Good for: Couples, Families
One weekend every June, Dallas Pride throws an unashamedly glorious party unlike any other in Texas. Spray yourself in body glitter, don a flamboyant costume, and proudly fly those rainbow colors as you celebrate equality with the LGBTQ+ community.
Take in live music and dance performances across a multitude of stages before browsing over 200 vendors selling all kinds of wares. Folks with kids will love the Family Pride Zone with its bouncy castles and animal face painting. Don’t forget to watch the float-filled parade.
Location: Fair Park, 3809 Grand Ave, Dallas, TX 75210, USA
Open: June
Dallas Pride
4. North Texas Irish Festival
An homage to the Emerald Isle
Good for: Food, Shoppers
Taking place in Dallas’ picturesque Fair Park between the end of February and the start of March, the North Texas Irish Festival is one of America’s biggest Celtic celebrations. Attracting tens of thousands of revelers, it’s a great place to gather with family and friends for a fun day out (think music, drinks, and a touch of sheepherding).
Enjoy powerhouse performances from kilted pipe and drum bands and traditional Irish step dancers, as well as top-shelf whisky tastings, Guinness, and folksy Irish storytelling. There’s also plenty of live tunes from national and global acts like Eileen Ivers, Alasdair Fraser, Natalie Haas, and Beyond the Pale.
Location: Fair Park, 3809 Grand Ave, Dallas, TX 75210, USA
Open: February–March
Phone: +1 214 823-4370
North Texas Irish Festival
5. Chefs for Farmers
Premium produce meets culinary talent
Good for: Food, Shoppers
An adults-only festival for foodies aged 21 years and over, Chefs for Farmers is a highlight of Dallas’ gastro scene with a history spanning 15 years. Rooted in community, this gourmet celebration unites Lone Star agriculturists with the city’s culinary talent over a long weekend.
Bag yourself a ticket to an exclusive event like the Italian Social (presented by Peroni), which features high-end bites and “dolce vita” bevvies, or the Marie Gabrielle Garden Party, which promises an indulgent al fresco dinner made by James Beard finalist Jeremiah Langhorne. Alternatively, splash out on a Main Event VIP Pass to enjoy unlimited tastings from artisan cooks who’ll spotlight regional Texan ingredients in their farm-to-table offerings.
Location: City Park, 1515 S Harwood St, Dallas, TX 75215, USA
Open: November
Chefs for Farmers
6. Dallas Blooms
Flower-filled festivities
Good for: Photo, Couples
Since 1984, the Dallas Blooms festival has been charming green thumbs with its ostentatious show of flowers at the city Arboretum and Botanical Garden. Named by Southern Living magazine as one of “The Best Places to See Stunning Spring Blooms,” this horticultural affair features over 500,000 flowering bulbs, including tulips, hyacinths, and daffodils.
Running February through April, Dallas Blooms also showcases ethereal Japanese cherry trees as well as giant topiary sculptures of flamboyant birds and animals. The botanical gardens are home to the Lula Mae Slaughter Dining Terrace, where you can enjoy a sandwich and a cup of coffee, and the beautiful DeGolyer Tea Room, which serves indulgent scones with jam.
Location: The Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden, 8525 Garland Rd, Dallas, TX 75218, USA
Open: February–April
Phone: +1 214-515-6615
Dallas Blooms
7. Dallas International Film Festival
A shmooze with the stars of the silver screen
Good for: Nightlife, Couples
Now in its 18th year, the Dallas International Film Festival woos cinema buffs from across the world with its jam-packed schedule and celebrity guests. Previous years have seen the likes of Robert DeNiro and Sarah Polley grace the red carpet. Screening documentaries, features, and shorts at various city venues, this multi-day event is one hot ticket.
Book yourself into premieres, filmmaking panels, and industry happy hours where you can mingle with cinephiles and clink drinks with the stars. By flashing your DIFF badge, you can gain generous discounts at participating restaurants. You might even score an autograph from your favorite Hollywood actor.
Open: April
Phone: +1 214-720-0555
Dallas International Film Festival
8. Big Texas Beer Fest
The state’s most brilliant brewers
Good for: Food, Couples
Hosted in the vast Automobile Building at Dallas’ Fair Park, the Big Texas Beer Festival is a mighty celebration of America’s favorite beverage. Featuring more than 70 breweries, including Martin House, Rahr & Sons, Saint Arnold, and Revolver, ticket holders can sample from more than 300 beers, seltzers, and ciders at this feel-good weekend gathering.
Come for specialist beverages that you can’t find in stores, watch electrifying live performances from local bands, play retro games in the old-school arcade, and pig out with bibs at the food truck pavilion. Sample dishes from Texas Holy Catering, Lindsey’s BBQ, Tony’s Tacos, and Fletcher’s Corny Dogs. Patrons must be aged 21 and over to gain entry to the venue.
Location: Fair Park, 3809 Grand Ave, Dallas, TX 75210, USA
Open: April
Big Texas Beer Fest
9. Riverfront Jazz Festival
A hip musical happening with a whole lotta heritage
Good for: Couples, Food, Nightlife
The Riverfront Jazz Festival is a proud celebration of jazz, R&B, soul, and blues music, in partnership with the Black Academy of Arts and Letters. Held on Labor Day Weekend in Dallas, this 3-day extravaganza features Erykah Badu as its Honorary Chair as well as an abundance of performances across a trio of stages.
Artists who have performed here include Anthony Hamilton, Blaque Dynamite, Rhonda Ross, and Lyfe Jennings. Food trucks are on standby for when revelers feel hungry, and there are bars on-site serving liquor and soft drinks.
Open: September
Phone: +1 214-743-2440
Riverfront Jazz Festival
10. Taste of Dallas
A formidable feast
Good for: Couples, Families, Food
Showcasing the city’s dynamic gastro scene, Taste of Dallas has been wowing foodies since the mid-1980s with its interactive encounters, tasty dishes from over 200 chefs, and live cooking demos. Held in Dallas Market Hall, this family-friendly event entices kids with plenty of activities, including photographs with their favorite Marvel heroes, like Black Panther and Spiderman.
Adults can book themselves onto the ticketed Taste Tour, an all-inclusive food and beverage experience, before heading to Tacophoria, a gourmet activation that serves the city’s best tacos. Don’t miss pairings from regional craft breweries, talks from celebrity chefs, and meals at Veggie Paradise (a haven for plant-based foods).
Location: Dallas Market Hall, 2200 N Stemmons Fwy, Dallas, TX 75207, USA
Open: June
Taste of Dallas
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