Fun things to do in July in Dallas-Fort Worth — online, outdoors and more

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A visitor photographs roses during a 2019 visit to the Fort Worth Botanic Garden. The venue reopened June 1 with coronavirus precautions in place.(Tom Fox / Staff Photographer)

Find places to go and things to stream this month.

Animal encounters, shows and more at the Dallas Zoo

Meet the newest lion, Kijani, giraffe calf Kendi, toddling gorilla half-siblings Mbani and Saambili, African penguin chicks and other new friends at the Dallas Zoo, which reopened to visitors in late May. Due to coronavirus precautions, the Lacerte Family Children’s Zoo, the herpetarium, indoor viewing areas and some other spots are closed, and the carousel, mini train and monorail are not in operation. Ongoing activities include more than 10 daily keeper chats, the Wonders of the Wild wildlife show, the macaw-in-flight experience, pop-up animal encounters in ZooNorth and hourly animal presentations at the Wild Encounters Stage.  As part of its safety modifications,  the zoo requires advance purchases of timed tickets and parking. Tickets are available up to one week prior to your visit. Protective face coverings are required for visitors 10 or older, and they’re encouraged for visitors 2-9. Snack bars, walk-up food stalls and the craft beer garden will be open, and hand sanitizing stations will be scattered throughout the park.

Open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 650 S. R.L. Thornton Freeway, Dallas. $17 for adults, $14 for ages 3-11 and 65 and older, free for ages 2 and younger. Parking is $10. dallaszoo.com.

A talk with Hector Rodriguez, the founder of Rio Bravo Comics, creator of El Peso Hero and co-founder of Texas Latino Comic Con, will close out the convention.
A talk with Hector Rodriguez, the founder of Rio Bravo Comics, creator of El Peso Hero and co-founder of Texas Latino Comic Con, will close out the convention.(Kye R. Lee / Staff Photographer)

FanCentral at Dallas Public Library

FREE This virtual celebration of authors, actors, comics, cosplay, gaming and more ends July 18 with a full day of programming. Chat with author Mary Robinette Kowal of the Lady Astronaut and the Glamourist Histories series; find out how to become a voice actor with Stephanie Nadolny (Goku from the Dragon Ball anime franchise), Mark Whitten from Final Fantasy VII and others; talk costuming with cosplay contest winners and judges; play trivia with six rounds covering anime, video games and more; and take part in Ultimate Werewolf, a role-playing game. The online convention ends with a talk with Hector Rodriguez, the founder of Rio Bravo Comics, creator of El Peso Hero and co-founder of Texas Latino Comic Con. Rodriguez’s El Peso Hero comic books star an injustice-fighting superhero who battles a narcotics cartel and human traffickers. His stories are inspired by the Texas-Mexico border where he grew up and are a chance to provide Latino heroes for Latino children. He’ll be interviewed by a Dallas librarian.

July 18 from 1 to 7 p.m. Free, but registration required. bit.ly/DPLFanCentral.

The Native Butterfly House & Garden at the Heard Museum features chances to view the winged creatures.
The Native Butterfly House & Garden at the Heard Museum features chances to view the winged creatures.

Native Texas Butterfly House and Garden at the Heard

Stroll through an enclosure of free-flying butterflies and pollinators such as honey bees at the Heard Natural Science Museum and Wildlife Sanctuary. The winged beauties flitter among their favorite native plants and delight spectators by lighting upon them. The butterfly house is open through Oct. 4 and is included in general admission. The garden, which is open all year, includes North Texas native plants that naturally attract free-roaming butterflies with their colorful blossoms. Kids will enjoy spying the gliding insects indoors and outside and learning about their origins as caterpillars and chrysalises, and adults may pick up some ideas for adding butterfly-friendly plants to their home gardens.

Through Oct. 4 at 1 Nature Place, McKinney. Open Tuesdays through Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sundays from 1 to 5 p.m., plus July 20 and 27 from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. On the second Saturday of each month, the grounds open at 7:30 a.m. $10-$12 for adults, $7-$9 for children 3-12 and seniors 60 and up, free for children 2 and under. heardmuseum.org.

O’Reilly Auto Parts 500 at Texas Motor Speedway

O’Reilly Auto Parts 500

Jul 18, 2020 until Jul 19, 2020 ·  – 

NASCAR’s O’Reilly Auto Parts 500 on July 19 will be the first major league sporting event in Texas to allow fans since the COVID-19 pandemic started. Seats will be assigned to ensure social distancing, and the speedway will be open at up to 50% of the listed seating capacity of 135,000, including suites. The weekend will also include two races on July 18 that will be run as nonspectator events: the My Bariatric Solutions 300, a NASCAR Xfinity Series race, and the Vankor 350, a NASCAR pickup truck series race. Those two races will be broadcast.

July 19 at 2 p.m. at Texas Motor Speedway, 3545 Lone Star Circle, Fort Worth. Gates open at noon. $69 to $135, $10 for children. texasmotorspeedway.com.

Urban Artist Market

Urban Artist Market

Jul 17, 2020 until Jul 18, 2020 ·  – 

Starting at $10

This indoor curated art sale will feature about 50 local and regional artisans working in dozens of media. Shop Navajo jewelry and knives, Mexican embroidery, stained glass, wooden toys, kaleidoscopes, ceramics, Japanese-style wrapped plants, jewelry, paintings, photographs, metalwork, painted silk clothing, glass and more. Coronavirus safety precautions include one-way traffic, sanitation stations and masks required for shoppers and vendors.

July 17 from 1 to 8 p.m. and July 18 from noon to 6 p.m. at the Irving Convention Center, 500 W. Las Colinas Blvd., Irving. Open July 18 from 10 a.m. to noon for seniors and people with suppressed immune systems. $10, free for children 11 and younger. $5 for parking. urbanartistmarket.com.

Addison Weekend Drive-In

Addison Weekend Drive-In

Jul 17, 2020 until Aug 15, 2020 ·  – 

FREE Addison’s summer events, including live music and salsa dancing in Vitruvian Park, have been canceled, but this weekend the town is debuting a new event series. Addison Weekend Drive-In is a stay-in-your-car concert series being held south of Addison Circle Park in a grass field. Local bands will perform onstage, and the show will be displayed on a large video screen with the audio played over a deluxe sound system, as well as transmitted via FM radio. Tailgating is not allowed and food and drinks will not be sold, but restrooms will be available on the north side of Addison Circle Park. Pedestrians can watch the shows from inside the park. The schedule includes All Funk Radio Show on July 17, D City Rock on July 18, Extended Play on Aug. 14, Joseph Veazie on Aug. 15, Shot of Benatar on Aug. 28 and Even It Up on Aug. 29.

July 17-18 and Aug. 14-15 and 28-29 from 8:30 to 10 p.m. at 15499 Julian St., Addison. Gates open at 7:30 p.m. Free admission. visitaddison.com/tourism/addison-weekend-drive.

Tribeca Drive-In at AT&T Stadium

AT&T Stadium typically hosts Dallas Cowboys games and other big sporting events and concerts, but July marks its first stint as a drive-in theater. Movies will be shown in Parking Lot 10 as part of the Tribeca Drive-In series, an event that partners Tribeca Enterprises with AT&T, Imax and others. Through July 26, moviegoers can drive in to watch films such as Mean GirlsSuperbadThe GooniesStraight Outta ComptonFriday Night LightsWonder WomanMeet the ParentsMeet the Fockers and more. Masks are required upon entry and any time guests leave their vehicles.

Through July 26, Thursdays through Sundays at various times, in Parking Lot 10 at AT&T Stadium, 1 AT&T Way, Arlington. $35 per car for most movies and some double features. Tickets must be purchased in advance online. tribecafilm.com/drive-in/ATT-Stadium.

Summer Drive-In Concert Series

Drive-In Concert Series

Jul 18, 2020 until Sep 4, 2020 ·  – 

Starting at $38

The McKinney Performing Arts Center will present three country music concerts at Tupps Brewery at the historic McKinney Cotton Mill. For $45 per vehicle, get a 20-by-20-foot space for parking and tailgating. Food and drink will be for sale. And the concerts’ sound will be played over a speaker system and available via a radio station. The lineup is Farewell Angelina on July 18, Hill Country on Aug. 21 and Cody Canada and the Departed on Sept. 4. Get admission for all three concerts for $120.

July 18, Aug. 21 and Sept. 4 at 9 p.m. at Tupps Brewery, 721 Anderson St., McKinney. Entry begins at 7:30 p.m. $45 per vehicle. tickets.mckinneyperformingartscenter.org.

Summer Drive-In Movie Series

Coppell Parks and Recreation has joined the recently opened Coppell Arts Center to host a drive-in movie series in the arts center’s west side parking lot. The schedule is Back to the Future on July 18, Coco on July 25, Grease on Aug. 1, Pokémon: Detective Pikachu on Aug. 8, Annie on Aug. 15 and the Indiana Jones film Raiders of the Lost Ark on Aug. 22. Prepackaged popcorn and water will be available for purchase. And some Coppell restaurants will be selling to-go meals designed for picking up and taking to the drive-in.

Through Aug. 22, Saturdays at 8:30 p.m. at Coppell Arts Center, 505 Travis St., Coppell. Entry begins at 7:30 p.m. $10 per vehicle. coppellartscenter.org/summer-drive-in-movie-series.

Prism Movement Theater: ‘Everything Will Be Fine’

Prism Movement Theater will host drive-in performances of its pandemic-era love story in Pleasant Oaks Recreation Center’s parking lot. The production uses dance choreographed to electronic and rock music to tell the story of a woman learning to accept loss and embrace her circumstances.

July 17-18 and 24-25 at 8:30 p.m. at the Pleasant Oaks Recreation Center, 8701 Greenmound Ave., Dallas. $32 per car, $16 for a solo ticket. prismco.org.

WaterTower Theatre: ‘I Am My Own Wife’

A wave of local streaming shows this summer includes a new production of Dallas native Doug Wright’s Pulitzer Prize-winning I Am My Own Wife by Addison’s WaterTower Theatre. The one-man show is based on the true story of Charlotte von Mahlsdorf, a German transgender woman and collector of antique household objects who survived both the Nazis and the Communists. Bob Hess, last seen in Stage West’s filmed production of The Children, plays von Mahlsdorf and more than 30 other characters.

Through Aug. 2. $41. watertowertheatre.org.

Cry Havoc Theater Company: ‘Dark Was the Night, Cold Was the Ground’

This new locally produced audio play is “a kind of mockumentary,” according to Dallas actor-writer Ruben Carrazana, who led the teens of Cry Havoc Theater Company in creating Dark Was the Night, Cold Was the Ground. It imagines what aliens find when they crash on Earth in the year 4040. Conceived as a live show with an audience — remember those? — it has been adapted as a recorded piece for ears only.

Through July 19. $15. cryhavoctheater.org.

Movies in the Park at Klyde Warren Park

FREE Lay out a blanket on the Ginsburg Family Great Lawn to enjoy a free family-friendly movie series at downtown Dallas’ Klyde Warren Park. The 5.2-acre deck park that sits atop Woodall Rodgers Freeway will host film fun days most Saturdays in July and August and twice monthly in October and November. The series ends with Elf on Dec. 19. The summer lineup includes animated film Smallfoot on July 11, aquatic adventure Dolphin Tale on July 25, romantic comedy Crazy Rich Asians on Aug. 8 and football film The Blind Side on Aug. 15. The Aug. 22 film will be Selena, starring Jennifer Lopez as the Queen of Tejano music, Texas’ own Selena Quintanilla-Pérez. Klyde Warren Park has plenty to do even when there’s not a movie, including interactive water features, a dog park, walking trails, game and reading areas, and food trucks selling drinks and dishes from 5 to 9:30 p.m.

Starting July 11 at 8:45 p.m. at Klyde Warren Park, 2012 Woodall Rodgers Freeway, Dallas. Free admission. klydewarrenpark.org.

Crayola Experience reopens

This Plano attraction inspired by colorful crayons has reopened. Kids can see how Crayola’s products are made and check out about two dozen other activities such as designing and naming a crayon to take home. Some parts of the play space have been modified, including having fewer stations per activity to ensure social distancing. Playground spaces are closed for now, and costumed characters will not be making appearances.

But the gift shop and cafe are open. Other coronavirus precautions include requiring masks for ages 3 and older and checking temperatures of employees and visitors. Personal belongings must be in clear bags to allow contactless security checks. Capacity is limited to 50%, so entry is via timed tickets and reservations are encouraged. There will be hand sanitizer stations, and the attraction has implemented additional cleaning and sanitation protocols.

Open daily from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 6121 W. Park Blvd., Plano. $24.99, which includes unlimited visits for the rest of 2020; discounted single-day tickets available online. Free for children 2 and younger. crayolaexperience.com/plano.

Shayla and her sister Kaylin Herron play on tubes at Panther Island Pavilion in Fort Worth. If you’d like to do the same, you’ll need to take your own tube while coronavirus precautions are in place.
Shayla and her sister Kaylin Herron play on tubes at Panther Island Pavilion in Fort Worth. If you’d like to do the same, you’ll need to take your own tube while coronavirus precautions are in place.(Tailyr Irvine / Staff Photographer)

Panther Island Pavilion daily activities

FREE Enjoy a beach staycation along the Trinity River in Fort Worth. Splash around near the shore, relax on the sand, take your own tubes and rafts, or rent kayaks, paddleboards and canoes. The Panther Island Pavilion Beach venue is open Tuesdays through Sundays with concessions such as soda and ice cream, pedal boat rentals and loaner life vests. On weekdays, outside coolers and food are allowed. On Saturdays and Sundays, there will be food trucks, beer and wine sales, live music and lifeguards. Panther Island Pavilion’s pandemic safety precautions include requiring that purchases be made via credit card; no cash accepted. Groups of 10 or fewer people can gather at least 6 feet away from others for social distancing. Tube rentals will not be available.

The Panther Island Pavilion Beach venue is open Tuesdays through Sundays from noon to 6 p.m. at 395 Purcey St., Fort Worth. The beach is open Mondays without amenities such as pedal boat rentals and concessions. Free admission and parking. pantherislandpavilion.com. Rentals of kayaks, paddleboards and canoes are available daily from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. $18 per hour. backwoodspaddlesports.com.

Jubilee Theatre: ‘How I Got Over’

Performances of this musical honoring gospel great Mahalia Jackson were initially held in person in Jubilee’s black-box theater, with a maximum of 70 ticketholders allowed per show and plexiglass dividers between the audience and the actors. However, Jubilee Theatre has now moved the production online and extended its run. Stream the show via Vimeo on Demand.

Through July 26 at vimeo.com/ondemand/jubileetheatre. $20.

Basically Beethoven Festival-in-Place

FREE The Fine Arts Chamber Players’ Basically Beethoven Festival, a summer fixture in Dallas since 1981, will take place online this year. Musicians will record performances that will be shared on the FACP’s YouTube channel on three Sunday afternoons in July. The July 12 program mainly focuses on composers leading up to Beethoven, July 19 will exclusively feature Beethoven, and July 26 will mostly showcase composers after him. As in past years, all concerts will open with performances by pre-collegiate musicians. This is an important season for the festival, with 2020 marking the 250th anniversary of Beethoven’s birth.

July 12, 19 and 26 at 2:30 p.m. at fineartschamberplayers.org. Free; donations accepted.

Amphibian Stage Productions: ‘Julia Pastrana’

Fort Worth’s Amphibian Stage Productions hosted the American premiere of The True History of the Tragic Life and Triumphant Death of Julia Pastrana, the Ugliest Woman in the World, in 2003, then it produced the play again in 2012. Based on a true story, the play is about a Mexican woman with excessive body hair and enlarged facial features who was sold to a freak show. It was previously staged in a dark theater to focus attention on Pastrana’s story, not her appearance. This year’s production will be an audio-only streaming event. The theater is using Dolby Atmos, which provides a surround sound experience for listeners using headphones.

Streaming July 16-30 at amphibianstage.com for $13.

Dallas CASA Parade of Playhouses

Dallas CASA Parade of Playhouses

Jul 15, 2020 until Jul 27, 2020 ·  – 

FREE For 17 days, see imaginative children’s playhouses created by architects, builders and organizations to benefit abused and neglected children. For the 25th year, the Dallas CASA Parade of Playhouses seeks to raise funds to provide volunteer advocates to help abused children find safe, permanent homes. Enter a raffle to win one of the playhouses showcased during the event. Playhouses are free to view; raffle tickets are $5 each or five for $20. This year’s exhibit includes playhouses inspired by the Dallas Mavericks, Parkland Memorial Hospital and SpaceX, plus one with a rock climbing wall and slide and another with a system to grow plants.

July 10-26, Mondays through Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sundays from noon to 6 p.m. at NorthPark Center, 8687 N. Central Expressway, Dallas. Free admission. dallascasa.org.

The sculpture Crossing Paths is part of Seward Johnson’s “Celebrating the Familiar” exhibit at the Dallas Arboretum.
The sculpture Crossing Paths is part of Seward Johnson’s “Celebrating the Familiar” exhibit at the Dallas Arboretum.(Ben Torres / Special Contributor)

Seward Johnson: ‘ Celebrating the Familiar’ at the Dallas Arboretum

Through July 31, 25 life-size cast bronze sculptures of ordinary people doing familiar things such as reading, knitting, gardening, mowing and birdwatching will be displayed at the Dallas Arboretum. The Seward Johnson exhibit features mariachis performing, a woman lounging in the grass, old friends chatting and a man reading The Dallas Morning News. They look right at home — except some are wearing clothing far too warm for the Texas summer. The arboretum is open daily with timed ticketing and other pandemic safety precautions. Reservations are accepted up to one week in advance. No walk-up tickets will be sold. Groups are limited to 10 people or fewer. Parking must be purchased in advance, and spots are assigned to maintain safe distancing, The arboretum encourages everyone 3 and older to wear face coverings when within 6 feet of others. The Rory Meyers Children’s Adventure Garden, A Tasteful Place Tasting Garden, the gift shop and other public buildings are closed.

Daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Thursdays till 8 p.m.) at 8525 Garland Road, Dallas. $15 for adults, $12 for seniors 65 and older, $10 for children 2-12, free for children under 2. Parking is $10. dallasarboretum.org.

Meadows Museum Reopens

The Southern Methodist University museum known for its world-renowned collection of Spanish art will reopen July 7 with regular hours but at no more than 25% capacity. Timed tickets, which are available for advance purchase through the Meadows’ website, will help manage the flow of visitors. When it reopens, the museum will display Madrid native Secundino Hernández’s painting Untitled (2019), which is on loan through the summer. The exhibit “Berruguete Through the Lens: Photographs From a Barcelona Archive” will also open July 7. The photography exhibit was planned as a companion to the special exhibition “Alonso Berruguete: First Sculptor of Renaissance Spain.” Both were supposed to open in March. “Alonso Berruguete” will now open in the fall.

The Meadows Museum reopens July 7 at 5900 Bishop Blvd., Dallas, on the SMU campus. Hours are Tuesdays through Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Thursdays till 9 p.m.) and Sundays from 1 to 5 p.m. $12, $10 for seniors 65 and older, $4 for non-SMU students, free for children 12 and younger and SMU students, faculty and staff. Free admission Thursdays after 5 p.m. meadowsmuseumdallas.org.

Mesquite Drive-In Concerts

FREE Despite the “drive-in” in the name, concertgoers do not have to stay in their cars during Mesquite’s weekly summer concert series. They can take lawn chairs and coolers and sit under the cedar trees on the Mesquite Arts Center’s front lawn. Groups of 10 or fewer people can gather at least 6 feet away from others for social distancing. The series begins July 9 and continues Thursdays through Aug. 27. July performers include local pop and rock cover bands Shot of Benatar, Grand Theft Auto and PriMadonna.

July 9-Aug. 27, Thursdays from 7:30 to 9 p.m., on the front lawn of the Mesquite Arts Center, 1527 N. Galloway Ave., Mesquite. Free admission. cityofmesquite.com/calendar.

Cinema Pop-Ups in Frisco and Mesquite

Two more North Texas cities are going retro in the search for entertainment options that are safe during the coronavirus pandemic. These pop-up drive-in movie experiences are coming to The Star in Frisco and Town East Mall. Tickets are $25, and parking spaces are at least 8 feet apart to allow for social distancing. Audio can be accessed over FM radio or by using a cellphone app that also allows for the modification of audio preferences and other options.

Frisco: At The Star in Frisco, 330 Gaylord Drive, Frisco. $25 per car. Tickets must be purchased in advance online. cinemapopups.com.

Mesquite: In the Dillard’s lot at Town East Mall, 2063 Town East Mall, Mesquite. $25 per car. Tickets must be purchased in advance online. cinemapopups.com.

Fun Movie Grill’s Drive-In Theatre

Irving’s Fun Movie Grill has transformed its vast parking lot into an old-fashioned drive-in. There’s a 40-foot screen and space to accommodate about 250 cars. The regular cinema building will be open for access to restrooms and the concession stand. Carhops will deliver food and drinks, including pizza, hamburgers and Indian fusion dishes, to customers in their cars. If the drive-in proves popular, the theater may expand or make it a permanent fixture.

Open nightly at 9 at Fun Movie Grill, 8505 Walton Blvd., Irving. $20 per car. Tickets can be purchased online in advance. funmoviegrill.com.

Big Air Las Colinas

This new indoor adventure park in Irving is designed for all ages. It offers extreme trampoline dodgeball, a foam pit, a battle beam, a zip line, climbing walls, a ninja warrior obstacle course, a toddler area and a 2,000-square-foot parents-only mezzanine overlooking the park that serves adult beverages, coffee and small bites. Families can eat at the on-site Big Eats Cafe. This is the first Texas location for the California-based entertainment company. See the website for information on coronavirus precautions.

Big Air Las Colinas is open daily at 2000 Market Place Blvd., Irving. Admission starts at $16. bigairusa.com/lascolinas.

Fort Worth Museums Reopening

The city’s three big art museums — the Kimbell, the Modern and the Amon Carter — are set to welcome visitors back. The Carter is going first, reopening to the public on June 19 after allowing members only for three straight days. The Kimbell Art Museum will follow the Carter, reopening to the public June 20 after a member preview. And the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth will reopen on July 1. The Carter and the Kimbell will limit capacity to 50%, and employees and visitors 2 and older must wear masks. The Carter will display “The Perilous Texas Adventures of Mark Dion,” “Looking In: Photography From the Outside,” and “Eliot Porter’s Birds” through July 5. At the Kimbell, the special exhibition “Flesh and Blood: Italian Masterpieces From the Capodimonte Museum” has been extended through July.

  • The Amon Carter Museum of American Art opens June 19 at 3501 Camp Bowie Blvd., Fort Worth. Free admission. cartermuseum.org.
  • The Kimbell Art Museum opens June 20 at 3333 Camp Bowie Blvd., Fort Worth. Museum admission is free; “Flesh and Blood” is $18, $16 for seniors and students, $14 for kids 6-11, free for ages 5 and younger. kimbellart.org.
  • The Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth opens July 1 at 3200 Darnell St., Fort Worth. $16, $12 for seniors, $10 for students, free for those under 18. themodern.org

Dallas Heritage Village

The 20-acre outdoor history museum has reopened its grounds, but visitors won’t have access to the historic buildings’ interiors. However, there’s still plenty to do. The museum will have games, including horseshoes, bingo and hopscotch, plus there’ll be scavenger hunts, chalk for drawings, coloring sheets, word searches and more. Meet Waylon and Willie, a pair of mammoth jack donkeys who call the village home. There’s also a new walking tour of the park’s trees. Coronavirus precautions include contactless tickets, hand sanitizer stations and 6-foot markers to ensure social distancing.

Dallas Heritage Village at Old City Park is open daily from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. plus Thursdays from 6 to 9 p.m. at 1515 S. Harwood St., Dallas. $8, free for ages 12 and under. dallasheritagevillage.org.

Six Flags Over Texas and Hurricane Harbor reopen

After a roller coaster-like start to 2020 with quarantine, closure and stay-at-home orders, Six Flags Over Texas in Arlington and its accompanying water park, Hurricane Harbor, will reopen to the public on June 22. Both will initially operate at reduced attendance levels, gradually increasing crowd size throughout the month. The parks are open this weekend for loyalty program members only.

There have been several new changes to how people experience both parks. A new online reservation system for admission lets customers choose both a time and day to visit a park and requires advance payment for admission and parking. If all options for the requested date are taken, customers can be placed on a waitlist.

All employees and visitors will have their temperatures taken before entering the park, and everyone over the age of 2 will be required to wear a face mask while at either park. Masks won’t be required on waterslides, water attractions or in pools. Social distancing markers will be placed throughout the parks.

Rides, restraints and handrails will be cleaned throughout the day, and there will be hand-washing and hand sanitizer stations throughout the parks. Customers also will be separated by empty rows or seats on all roller coasters, rides and attractions. Water park patrons will be allowed to ride on a tube with their group members, but will not be allowed to share a tube with people not in their party.

  • Six Flags Over Texas will open to the public June 22; see website for hours. 2201 Road to Six Flags, Arlington. $64.99 for ages 3 and older. Fast passes are $45-$100. $27.78 for parking. sixflags.com/overtexas.
  • Hurricane Harbor will open to the public June 22; see website for hours. 1800 E. Lamar Blvd., Arlington. $34.99 for ages 3 and older. $30 for parking. sixflags.com/hurricaneharbortexas.

Movie Theaters Reopening

On June 19, Cinemark will open Cinemark 17 and Imax on Webb Chapel in Dallas, Cinemark West Plano and XD and Cinemark North McKinney and XD as the beginning of a four-phase reopening. They’ll be showing previously released films for $5 for adults and $3 for children 11 and younger and seniors 62 and older. Selections include 2020′s The Invisible Man, The Hunt and Sonic the Hedgehog. Concessions will also have welcome-back pricing. More theaters will reopen weekly, with all expected to be open in July. Also in July, Cinemark will transition to studio releases with regular pricing. Additionally, Studio Movie Grill will open its location in The Colony on June 19, and Strike+Reel in Garland is already open, offering $4 movies daily.

Visit cinemark.comstudiomoviegrill.com and strikeandreel.com for more information.

Fort Worth Botanic Garden

Wander more than 100 acres of grounds at the Fort Worth Botanic Garden, including French Renaissance-inspired vistas, the Rose Garden with its reflection pond and the Japanese Garden with its pagoda and koi. The landmark reopened June 1 with new admission guidelines to make sure visitors can maintain safe distances. Tickets must be purchased in advance, and entry will be in timed 60-minute blocks and limited to 300 people per hour. Most indoor spaces will be closed, except for restrooms and the Trellis Gift Shop. While the cafe is closed, concessions will be available throughout the garden. Guests can bring water bottles, and face coverings are encouraged for those older than 2. Those entering the garden will be subject to having their temperatures taken and being asked coronavirus-related questions.

Open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 3220 Botanic Garden Blvd., Fort Worth. Admission closes daily at 4 p.m. $12, $10 for seniors 65 and up, $6 for ages 6-15, free for children 5 and under. Free parking. fwbg.org.

Texas Discovery Gardens

The Fair Park attraction is getting ready to reopen on June 19 with limited admission to maintain social distancing recommendations. The first weekend, June 19-21, will be reserved for members. Starting June 22, everyone is welcome to explore 7 acres of native plants in the certified organic gardens. Or go inside to enjoy the two-story Rosine Smith Sammons Butterfly House and Insectarium, which contains hundreds of free-flying butterflies. Each day at noon, watch more butterflies being released. Additions include the “Water Dragons” exhibit, which features axolotl amphibians (aka walking fish), and renovations to the Snake Shack, which now also has reptiles other than snakes.

Starting June 22, Texas Discovery Gardens will be open to the public daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 3601 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Dallas. $10, $8 for ages 60 and older, $5 for children 3-11. txdg.org.

Mesquite Championship Rodeo

When the rodeo reopened last weekend, organizers say it may have been the first professional ticketed event in the United States since the coronavirus pandemic forced major sports leagues and events to shut down. Now rodeo events will happen each Saturday through Aug. 29 — with some changes. Capacity is limited to ensure social distancing in seating and in lines for tickets and concessions. Masks will be optional, and there will hand sanitizer stations. Two more changes: The public won’t be able to interact with cowboys before the show in the fan zone, and children will not be invited to win prizes by catching a calf during the calf scramble. However, each week will have a theme and promotion, with June 13 being Dollar Dog Night.

Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. through Aug. 29 at Mesquite Championship Resistol Arena, 1818 Rodeo Drive, Mesquite. Gates open at 6 p.m. $22-$40, $10 for children 3-12. mesquiterodeo.com.

Compiled by Shannon Sutlief, from staff reports

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