What: Jim Gaffigan: Fully Dressed
When: Thursday, July 7th @ 8:00PM
Where: Gexa Energy Pavilion
1818 1st Ave., Dallas, TX 75210
Why: Comedian/actor Jim Gaffigan will bring his Fully Dressed tour to Dallas.
What: Shakespeare in the Park
When: Thursday, July 7th @ 8:15PM
Where: Samuell-Grand Amphitheatre
1500 Tenison Pkwy., Dallas, TX 75223
Why: This summer’s selection of Shakespeare plays includes: Richard III, She Stoops to Conquer, and The Taming of the Shrew (Junior Players). Continuing Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays from June 29-July 31, 2016
What: Rover Dramawerks presents 10 Minute Play Festival
When: Thursday, July 7th – Saturday, July 9th @ 8:00PM (& 3PM Sun)
Where: Rover Dramawerks
221 W. Parker Rd., #580, Plano, TX 75023
Why: For the second year, Rover Dramawerks will be presenting a festival of 10-minute comedies. Selected from over 300 plays submitted blind from playwrights all over the world, nine short plays will be presented. All nine plays are considered the winners of Rover’s play contest and, in addition to full production in the festival, receive prize money.
What: Austin Airstream Summer Tour
When: Friday, July 8th @ 4:30PM-10:30PM
Where: Klyde Warren Park
2012 Woodall Rodgers Fwy., Dallas, TX 75201
Why: The Austin Airstream is coming to Klyde Warren Park for yoga and live music. Bring water and a mat for yoga in the park with We Yogis, while DJ Andrew Thaggard spins some tunes starting at 6:30 p.m. Austin artists, the Peterson Brothers, take the stage at 7:30 p.m. with a modern blend of blues, soul and funk. Bring the kiddos out for an evening of music and movies. We’ll end the night with a screening of School of Rock, by Austin filmmaker Richard Linklater and brought to you by Alamo Drafthouse. The Austin Convention & Visitors Bureau’s vintage 30-foot trailer is cruising across the state, dishing out swag and ATX insights. We will have Cuvee coffee, photo ops, live music, giveaways, curated records from Waterloo Records and a chance to win a trip to Austin. Make sure to take a photo in front of our Airstream or our photo booth including props sure to create a lasting souvenir. The Airstream will be in Ft. Worth @ Panther Island Pavilion: July 7, & Lockhart Smokehouse in Oak Cliff: July 10.
What: Friday on the Green
When: Friday, July 8th @ 6:00PM-10:00PM
Where: Magnolia Green Park
1100 Lipscomb St., Ft. Worth, TX 76104
Why: Monthly concert series features local bands from 6-9 p.m., followed by short films curated by the Lone Star Film Society. Plus the Green handicrafts market, and food and drink from Near Southside vendors. This is a great evening for groups of families and friends. Blankets, chairs and pets are welcome. Free parking garage is located at 1201 Alston Ave.
What: Big Sexy Weekend of Improv
When: Friday, July 8th – Saturday, July 9th @ 7:00PM-Midnight (5PM Family Show Sat Only)
Where: Addison Center Theater
15650 Addison Rd., Addison, TX 75001
Why: Alternative Comedy Theater hosts the 8th annual Big Sexy fest featuring improv acts of all kinds from a clowning duo to silent films and a festival-ending Humor Games competition. Saturday’s 5 p.m. show is family friendly but other performances may include material unsuitable for children.
What: #hearhere Miranda July
When: Friday, July 8th @ 7:30PM
Where: Margot and Bill Winspear Opera House
2403 Flora St., Dallas, TX 75201
Why: As part of the summer speaker series #hearhere, the AT&T Performing Arts Center will present Miranda July. #hearhere (formerly known as #thinkspeak) will feature dynamic discussions from leaders in radio, TV, journalism, art and filmmaking. The series removes the barrier between audiences and some of the most interesting minds of our time. Miranda July is a filmmaker, artist, and writer. Her videos, performances, and web-based projects have been presented at sites such as the Museum of Modern Art, the Guggenheim Museum, and in two Whitney Biennials. July wrote, directed and starred in her first feature-length film, Me and You and Everyone We Know (2005), which won a special jury prize at the Sundance Film Festival and four prizes at the Cannes Film Festival, including the Camera d’Or. Miranda July wrote, directed and starred in The Future (2011).
What: Friday Palooza
When: Friday, July 8th – Friday, July 29th @ 8:00PM-10:00PM (Fridays Only)
Where: Hawaiian Falls Waterpark (Garland)
4550 N. Garland Ave., Garland, TX 75040
Why: Hawaiian Falls hosts after-dark, family-friendly fun every Friday in July. Free with general admission. Schedule: July 8: DJ Glow Night, July 15: Screening of Star Wars: The Force Awakens, July 22: DJ Glow Night, July 29: Screening of Inside Out
What: The Laugh Supper presents: One Time at Band Camp
When: Friday, July 8th @ 8:30PM
Where: Contemporary Theatre of Dallas
5601 Sears St., Dallas, TX 75206
Why: The Laugh Supper will bring its popular short-form, game-based improvisational comedy back with a new show, One Time at Band Camp. Through a series of lively, improvised scenes, the troupe will lead the audience through a set heavy on energy, laughter, audience suggestions and participation. One Time at Band Camp is The Laugh Supper’s improvised, riotous take on everyone’s favorite geeky summer staple, sleep-away band camp. Suggestions, prompts and scenes will incorporate music and camp themes into the evening’s proceedings.
What: Craig Robinson
When: Friday, July 8th @ 10:30PM, Sat., July 9th @ 9:30PM and Sun., July 10th @ 7:30PM
Where: Improv Addison
4980 Belt Line Rd., #250, Addison, TX 75254
Why: Craig Robinson, born and raised in Chicago, is an American actor, stand-up comedian, and singer. Arguably best known for his role as acerbic Dunder-Mifflin employee Darryl Philbin on NBC’s Emmy-winning The Office, he has also starred in films such as Knocked Up, Pineapple Express, the Hot Tub Time Machineseries, and This Is the End.
What: North Texas Comic Book Show
When: Saturday, July 9th @ 9:30AM – 5:00PM
Where: Doubletree Hotel Dallas Market Center
2015 Market Center Blvd., Dallas, TX 75207
Why: The North Texas Comic Book Show is a quarterly event. If there’s a word to describe it, it’s “intimate,” according to artists James O’Barr and Arvell Jones, who’ve discussed how at this show, they’re able to really talk to fans and get to know them. Special guests like movie-monster master-painter Basil Gogos; former Marvel Comics editor and artist Carl Potts, who will participate in a panel on visual storytelling; artist Larry Stroman; former Marvel and DC inker Doug Hazelwood; Corcid Cosplay; and more. Cosplay also gets two dedicated panels as well as contests for adults and kiddos.
What: SPARK! Saturdays
When: Saturday, July 9th –Saturday, December, 31st @ 10:00AM (Saturdays Only)
Where: SPARK!
1409 S. Lamar St. #4, Dallas, TX 75215
Why: Enjoy creative fun for the whole family and explore Spark’s 6,000-ft. Climb, Crawl, Slide Sculpture, ideal for families with children in 2nd grade through high school. Pop-up activities include: Giant Light Bright, Recycled Art, Chalk Art, Legos, Poetry Magnets, Musical Dance Floor, Percussion, and more.
What: Curious World Tour
When: Saturday, July 9th @ 10:00AM – 6:00PM
Where: Klyde Warren Park
2012 Woodall Rodgers Fwy., Dallas, TX 75201
Why: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt’s Curious World Tour is here to help supplement your kids’ summer with an immersive learning experience that hits all the parenting high notes: It’s based in pedagogy, science and literacy. In other words, it’s fun but it has actual substance. for hands-on, interactive activities that encourage big questions and bigger ideas. Beloved kid-lit staples like The Little Blue Truck and Curious George will open doors to a learning environment that includes a story tent, a “community garden” with food learning activities, a space station with out-of-this world crafts and visual learning projects, and an open play area known as “The Jungle Jamboree.”
What: Dallas 2nd Annual Start of Summer Watergun Fight
When: Saturday, July 9th @ 6:30PM
Where: Klyde Warren Park
2012 Woodall Rodgers Fwy., Dallas, TX 75201
Why: It’s Texas. It’s hot. Let’s help each other cool down with an epic family friendly water gun fight.
What: 2016 Dub Splash
When: Sunday, July 10th @ 9:00AM-4:00PM
Where: Hawaiian Falls Waterpark (Garland)
4550 N. Garland Ave., Garland, TX 75040
Why: Der Luftkülers (DLK) and Lewisville Volkswagen present Düb Splash 2016. Come hang out with fellow Volkswagen enthusiasts and show off your Düb, both air-cooled and water-cooled VWs with the best trophies in Texas. Sandy Lake Amusement Park is the perfect venue for a hot summer car show with lots of shade, swimming in the wave pools, paddle boats, a live band and tons of vintage rides. Dub Splash features about 800 Volkswagens from “Rust Buckets” to customized show cars valued up to $100,000. Over 30 classes of air cooled, water cooled and VW buses will be featured. A swap meet and lots of activities for the whole family are included along with great food.
What: Texas Theatre and Majestic Theatre presents Rock ‘N’ Roll Summer Series
When: Sunday, July 10th – Sunday, July 31st @ 5:00PM (Sundays Only)
Where: Texas Theatre
231 W. Jefferson Blvd., Dallas, TX 75208
Majestic Theatre
1925 Elm St., Dallas, TX 75201
Why: The Texas Theatre and the Majestic Theatre are teaming up to present a four part Rock ‘N’ Roll Summer Series of classic music movies. Schedule: 10th: A Hard Day’s Night, 16th: Gimme Shelter, 24th: The Last Waltz, 31st: Don’t Look Back