Find places to go and things to stream this month.
Quinceañera Fashion Show
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Just before Hispanic Heritage Month, which begins Sept. 15, the Dallas Arboretum will celebrate Hispanic culture with pretty flowers and girls in lovely dresses. On Sept. 12 at 10 a.m., 15- and 16-year-old girls in their quinceañera dresses will walk the runway and the gardens. At noon, Dallas tamaleria Casa Masa will demonstrate how to make tamales in the Test Pavilion at A Tasteful Place. Party band Havana NRG will perform from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Martin Rutchik Concert Stage. Local Latino-owned small businesses will sell their party supplies, crafts and food during the events. Vendors include Empanada Cookhouse and Earthy Melina.
Sept. 12 starting at 10 a.m. at the Dallas Arboretum, 8525 Garland Road, Dallas. Free with garden admission: $15 for adults, $12 for seniors 65 and older, $10 for children 2-12, free for children under 2. Parking is $10 in advance, $15 on-site. dallasarboretum.org.
Memorias Flamencas
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AT&T Performing Arts Center’s series of outdoor performances at Strauss Square kicks off with Flamenco Fever’s Memorias Flamencas. The program of flamenco- jazz fusion will be performed in front of a reduced, socially distanced audience. Strauss Square normally holds about 2,000 people, but the audience will be capped at 300 or 350. Squares will be painted on the grass to designate seating areas, and patrons will be required to wear masks while arriving, leaving and moving around the venue.
Sept. 11 at 8 p.m. at Strauss Square, 2389 Flora St., Dallas. See the website for more information. flamencofever.org.
Friday Night Movie Series
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FREE Irving’s Parks and Recreation Department is turning its rec center parking lots into drive-in movie sites on Fridays at dusk through Oct. 9. Admission is free, but registration is required because of the limited number of parking spots. Moviegoers can take their own snacks and drinks, but alcohol and smoking are prohibited. Restrooms will be available inside the recreation centers, but masks are required wheninside. Parking lots will be open one hour before showtime, and attendees must remain in their vehicles. The Sept. 11 movie is Mr. Peabody and Sherman, and the rest of the weekly lineup includes Jumanji: The Next Level, Remember the Titans, Toy Story 4 and The Good Dinosaur.
This week’s movie is Sept. 11 at 8:30 p.m. at Lee Park Recreation Center, 3000 Pamela Drive, Irving. Free admission; registration required. cityofirving.org/3708/movie-series. facebook.com/IrvingParksandRec.
Asleep at the Wheel: Celebrating 50 Years
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The Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra begins its 2020-21 season with a series of performances by Grammy-winning country band Asleep at the Wheel. The Austin-based band, fronted by vocalist-guitarist Ray Benson, played its first shows in 1970. This show and the others in the FWSO’s pop series will be held at Will Rogers Memorial Auditorium. The symphonic series, which begins Sept. 18-20, will also move to Will Rogers Memorial Auditorium through at least December. All concerts will be at reduced capacity, and someclassical programs will include Saturday matinees. Ticketholders’ temperatures will be taken at entry, and masks will be required.
Sept. 11-12 at 7:30 p.m., Sept. 13 at 2 p.m. at Will Rogers Memorial Center, 3401 W. Lancaster Ave., Fort Worth. $35-$99. $10 for parking. fwsymphony.org.
Fall Gallery Night
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FREE The Fort Worth Art Dealers Association’s gallery night actually begins at noon, when you can start taking in exhibitions at dozens of galleries, museums, studios and pop-up art spaces. (Some open even earlier.) Select places will also have demonstrations, music or other features. All will require masks and promote social distancing. Fall Gallery Night marks the start of Fall Gallery Week, which extends the exhibitions through Sept. 19, allowing for even more social distancing.
Sept. 12, with many places open from noon to 9 p.m. A brochure with participating locations is available on the website. Most places have free admission; some special exhibits have a fee. Reservations are required at some venues. fwada.com.
An Evening with the Old Grey Wolf: Mike Rhyner
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In December, Mike Rhyner, aka the Old Grey Wolf, left sports radio station “The Ticket” KTCK-AM (1310) and KTCK-FM (96.7), which he helped create. He had co-hosted The Hardline since the station went on the air on Jan. 24, 1994. Dedicated P1s (loyal listeners of “The Ticket”) can catch up with the Texas Radio Hall of Famer when Crystal Vasquez premieres her documentary about him. Called Not in This Town: The Improbable Rise of the Old Grey Wolf, the film will be shown two nights at the Granada Theater, and Rhyner will participate in Q-and-A sessions after both screenings.
Sept. 16-17 at 8 p.m. at the Granada Theater, 3524 Greenville Ave., Dallas. $66.50-$75 per seat. All seats at a table must be purchased together to maintain social distancing. Tables have four to six seats. granadatheater.com.
Sara Hickman
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FREE Poor David’s Pub will stream a concert by Texas singer-songwriter Sara Hickman — her first since retiring from public performances in March 2017. The show, which will be livestreamed at facebook.com/poordavidspub, is a benefit for the music venue, which remains closed until Texas bars are allowed to reopen. Hickman played her first public performance in 1984 during an open mic night at Poor David’s previous location, and her final show before retiring was at the club’s 40th anniversary party.
Sept. 17 at 7 p.m. Free; donations accepted. poordavidspub.com.
Curated: A Modern Pop-Up Market
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FREE Support local small businesses with an afternoon of socially distanced shopping presented by the Iman Project. More than 30 North Texas makers, artisans, designers and other vendors will sell their wares at booths throughout the Legacy West shopping complex. Expect to browse and buy jewelry, home decor, skin care, accessories and other unique items.
Sept. 13 from noon to 5 p.m. at Legacy West, 5908 Headquarters Drive, Plano. Free admission; register at eventbrite.com (search “Iman”). theimanproject.com/modernpopup.
Addison Weekend Drive-In
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FREE It’s the final weekend for Addison’s stay-in- your-car concert series. Local country artists will perform on a stage in a grass field south of Addison Circle Park. 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. See Raised Right Men on Sept. 11 and the Redwine Band on Sept. 12. 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.
Sept. 11-12 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.
The Drive-In at the Central
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Rooftop Cinema Club’s drive-in-style event at Central Expressway and Carroll Avenue shows one to two popular movies nightly. See The Lion King (2019 version) and Friday on Sept. 4, Jurassic Park and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre on Sept. 5, The Sandlot on Sept. 6, The Parent Trap (1998) on Sept. 7, Legally Blonde on Sept. 8, Night at the Museum on Sept. 9 and Up on Sept. 10. Viewers must watch the 52-foot screen from inside their vehicles (truck beds and hatchbacks count). Audio can be heard via FM radio (take a portable one if your vehicle doesn’t have a radio tuner or if you want to preserve the battery). Moviegoers are required to wear masks when outside. Visitors can take their own food and drinks, but concessions will be available for purchase. Restrooms are also available. Pricing is by the vehicle, and most films cost $22 to $35, with the higher prices for the parking spaces closest to the screen. For The Parent Trap on Sept. 7, tickets are $5, which will benefit a food bank and Black Lives Matter charities.
Nightly at 2999 N. Carroll Ave., Dallas. rooftopcinemaclub.com/dallas.
The Dallas Symphony Orchestra
The DSO is returning to in-person performances with fewer musicians and smaller audiences. On Sept. 10-13, Fabio Luisi will conduct Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 2 and Symphony No. 8 featuring pianist Yefim Bronfman. Musicians will be socially distanced onstage, and fewer than 75 ticketholders will be admitted for each concert. Tickets will be offered first to subscribers; remaining tickets will be sold to the public.
Sept. 10 and 12 at 7:30 p.m. and Sept. 13 at 2:30 p.m. at the Meyerson Symphony Center, 2301 Flora St., Dallas. mydso.com.
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Heritage Farmstead Museum reopens in Plano
This family-friendly, 4-acre landmark in central Plano has reopened to the public. Times, days and capacity are limited to encourage safe distancing. A few other changes: The chickens are now free-roaming, and there are 10 new lambs and a new pig to visit.
On Wednesdays and Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., admission is $5 (free for children 2 and younger). Families can tour the grounds, feed the chickens and check out the educational displays around the farmstead such as the working blacksmith shop. Picnics and play time are welcome on this Blackland Prairie historic site.
On Fridays, folks can enjoy all of those activities, plus tours of the farm’s buildings followed by a hayride through the property. The Ammie Wilson House, a Victorian home, has a current exhibit showcasing Roaring ’20s fashion and decor. The Young House, which was built in 1880, depicts a rural home without electricity or plumbing. Admission on Fridays is $10 (free for children 2 and younger). Tours, which take about 75 minutes, begin at 10 a.m., 10:45 a.m. and 11:30 a.m.
Tickets can be purchased in advance. Masks are required inside all buildings and anytime visitors are interacting with people not in their group. Hand sanitizer stations will be available.
Open Wednesdays through Fridays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. 1900 W. 15th St., Plano. heritagefarmstead.org.
Southfork Ranch Fall Concert Series
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Concertgoers will drive into Southfork Ranch, but they’ll take their seats on the lawn in 13-by-25-foot pods marked like parking spaces. Each pod holds up to six people from one party, and each person’s ticket costs $20. Or pay $30 per person to get a pod with table seating, a meet-and- greet and photo with the band, a $5 coupon to the Southfork Ranch gift shop and a coupon toward a future tour of Southfork Ranch. Beatlemania ’64: A Tribute to the Beatles will open the series on Sept. 4, followed by Stevie Ray Vaughan tribute band Texas Flood on Sept. 18, Shameless: A Tribute to Garth Brooks on Sept. 25 and Texas Bluesmen: Texas’ Ultimate Blues Brothers Experience on Oct. 2. Restrooms and concessions will be available. Masks are required except when seated in pods.
Sept. 4, 18 and 25 and Oct. 2 at 8 p.m. at Southfork Ranch, 3700 Hogge Drive, Parker. $20-$30. southforkranch.com.
Rowlett Movies on Main
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FREE Drive into Community Park for family-friendly movies every Friday night in September. The series kicks off Sept. 4 with E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, followed by Pokémon: Detective Pikachu, The Goonies and A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood in upcoming weeks. Viewers must watch from inside their vehicles or truck beds. Tickets are free but must be reserved online. Parking spots will be first-come, first-served. Audio can be heard via FM radio. Families can take their own food and drinks, but alcohol is prohibited. Masks are required when leaving vehicles. Restrooms will be available.
Sept. 4-25 on Fridays at Rowlett Community Park, 8700 St. Andrews, Rowlett. Gates open at 7 p.m.; movies begin at dusk. rowlett.com.
‘Dinosaurs Live!’ at the Heard
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Walk the half-mile nature trail at the Heard Natural Science Museum and Wildlife Sanctuary in McKinney to visit 10 life-size animatronic dinosaurs. The 15th annual display includes a 46-foot-tall Tyrannosaurus rex and nine other moving, roaring prehistoric creatures. An outdoor fossil dig, a play area and photo op are also featured. The trail is jogging-stroller-friendly but is not paved. The 289-acre wildlife sanctuary is also home to hundreds of birds, reptiles and other wild critters. In addition, the Native Texas Butterfly House and Garden is open through Oct. 4. Stroll through an enclosure of free-flying butterflies and pollinators such as honey bees. Coronavirus safety precautions include the ability to purchase tickets online in advance to minimize contact. Masks are required for visitors and employees. (For more on the Heard, see listing on Page 19.)
Through Feb. 15, Tuesdays through Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sundays from 1 to 5 p.m. at the Heard Natural Science Museum and Wildlife Sanctuary, 1 Nature Place, McKinney. $12, $9 for seniors 60 and up and children 3-12, free for children 2 and under. heardmuseum.org.
Mesquite Arts Center’s Family Activities
FREE While the Mesquite Arts Center’s gallery and theater remain closed, families can learn new art skills and make crafts with the center’s virtual and take-home programs. On the first and third Thursday of each month at noon, a new MAC Doodles video is posted on YouTube showing how to create a new drawing. Sept. 3′s doodle is about pizza. Every Monday at 10 a.m., families can pick up free Tote-and-Go kits that contain craft projects to complete at home. On Aug. 31, the kit contains a color-in canvas craft with a hero theme. Every other Wednesday at noon, children 12 and older and adults can watch workshops on YouTube. The next one, on rock art, is Sept. 2.
Visit mesquiteartscenter.org for links to online programming. Pick up Tote-and-Go kits Mondays at 10 a.m. at the Mesquite Arts Center, 1527 N. Galloway Ave., Mesquite, while supplies last.
Dwell with Dignity’s Thrift Studio
FREE Spruce up your space while helping families in need furnish theirs. Dwell with Dignity helps folks get settled into new homes by providing donated furnishings and design services. And Thrift Studio is one of the group’s fundraisers. At a 12,000-square-foot space in the Dallas Design District, local interior designers created eight rooms using merchandise donated by home decor brands, manufacturer showrooms, show homes and artists. Shoppers can purchase items from the rooms, which are restocked throughout the exhibition. The items available at this home decor sale are priced starting at 60 percent off retail prices.
Through Sept. 26 (excluding Labor Day on Sept. 7), Mondays through Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the International on Turtle Creek, 150 Turtle Creek Blvd.,Dallas. Admission is free; merchandise prices vary. thriftstudio.com.
Dallas Chocolate Festival
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For its 11th anniversary, this celebration of artisan chocolate will be virtual — but with a sweet twist. As a substitute for the usual sampling sessions, boxes of chocolates can be ordered through Sept. 2 for delivery to accompany the online programming, which will be Sept. 12-13. The boxes will include treats from more than 30 local and international chocolate makers and chocolatiers. The virtual sessions will include guided tastings, factory tours, video chats and classes from chefs Susan Notter, Zach Townsend and Brian Donaghy; Carla D. Martin, the founder of the Fine Cacao and Chocolate Institute; and Ben Rasmussen of Potomac Chocolate.
Full-access tickets, which include the Sept. 12-13 virtual programming and a box of chocolates, must be purchased by Sept. 2. $50, plus $10 delivery fee. Event-only tickets are $5 and can be purchased until the event. dallaschocolate.org.
Dallas and Fort Worth Zoos
The Dallas and Fort Worth zoos are having a summer baby boom. Both have new giraffe calves: a girl named Tana in Dallas and a boy named Nakuru in Fort Worth. Dallas also has a zebra foal named Sukari, and Fort Worth has a young lesser kudu. Both zoos also have safety modifications, including masks for ages 10 and older, advance tickets required for timed entry, limited capacity and some indoor areas that are closed. The Dallas Zoo has recently reopened the giraffe feeding platform, the herpetarium, the gorilla viewing area, the carousel and the mini train. The zoo also announced last week that the Adventure Safari Monorail and the Children’s Aquarium at Fair Park will remain closed permanently. The Fort Worth Zoo was recently named the top zoo in USA Today’s 10 Best Zoos contest. A panel of judges selected the top 10, then popular vote determined the ranking. Visitors have access to most areas, including the outdoor penguin exhibit, the Toyota Children’s Ranch and Petting Corral, Stingray Cove, the train and the carousel. Safari Splash, a 14,000-square-foot water play area, is open with limited capacity from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The Dallas Zoo is 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.
The Fort Worth Zoo is open daily from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. through Aug. 30 and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. starting Aug. 31 at 1989 Colonial Parkway, Fort Worth. $16 for adults, $12 for ages 3-12 and 65 and older, free for ages 2 and younger. Admission is half-price on Wednesdays. $5 for Safari Splash tickets, $4 for Stingray Cove. Parking is $5. fortworthzoo.org.
FWO Green Room
FREE The Fort Worth Opera had to cancel its spring festival, and now for its 75th anniversary season, it has reimagined the fall programming to be online only. Called FWO Green Room, the project includes performances, discussions, seminars and masterclasses with Metropolitan Opera soprano Jennifer Rowley. There will be a premiere of a virtual choral piece featuring the Fort Worth Opera Chorus’ 42 singers and Frontiers featuring Pulitzer Prize- winning librettist Mark Campbell.
Visit fwopera.org/greenroom. Free.
National Videogame Museum reopens
Families who have spent the last few months exploring islands in Animal Crossing: New Horizons might enjoy learning about the history of video games and playing some, too. This attraction, which topped Buzzfeed’s list of 21 quirky museums, includes a 1980s-themed bedroom, living room and arcade with games like Asteroids and Donkey Kong that guests can play with tokens (four are included with admission; more can be purchased). You’ll also find the world’s largest Pong console, set up on a 15-foot TV replica from the 1970s, and the Head-to-Head Hall filled with gaming stations where attendees can compete against one another. The museum is open with coronavirus safety measures. Masks are required for ages 3 and older. Since many exhibits are hands-on, latex gloves are recommended and available upon request at the museum. Game controllers and other interactive elements are regularly sanitized. And some exhibits have been modified to encourage social distancing.
The National Videogame Museum is open Wednesdays through Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sundays from noon to 5 p.m. at 8004 Dallas Parkway, Frisco. $12 for adults, $10 for ages 4-10 and seniors, free for ages 3 and younger. Tickets must be purchased on-site. nvmusa.org.
Billy Bob’s Texas Reopens
To open, the Fort Worth Stockyards landmark had to be recertified as a restaurant — though it is one with a concert hall, a dance floor and a retail store. So instead of being the world’s largest honky-tonk, it’s the world’s largest honky-tonk-themed restaurant. Live music resumes Aug. 14 with the Bellamy Brothers. Flatland Cavalry takes the stage Aug. 15. Tickets are $16 to $32 and limited to 1,200 per show. Those who buy a ticket will have a seat inside the venue, but they won’t be required to sit in it. A $20,000 thermal camera will check guests’ temperatures when they walk into the venue. All have to wear masks and will be asked to socially distance.
Billy Bob’s Texas is at 2520 Rodeo Plaza, Fort Worth. billybobstexas.com.
‘Women’s Suffrage in Texas’
FREE The Dallas Historical Society, which is housed in the Hall of State in Fair Park and has collected millions of items concerning Texas history, will have a one-month virtual exhibit to commemorate the 19th Amendment’s 100th anniversary. Texas was the ninth state to ratify the amendment giving women the right to vote. The exhibit includes a lecture by Melissa Prycer, executive director of Dallas Heritage Village at Old City Park, about the suffrage movement in Texas.
Through Sept. 18. Free. dallashistory.org.
National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame Reopens
The family-friendly Fort Worth museum has reopened, and the photography exhibit “Laura Wilson: Looking West” will remain on display through August. Masks are required for ages 11 and older, and some interactive stations will be closed. Check out “It’s Never Just a Horse” on the second floor. The exhibition looks at the bond between women and horses and at the women who shaped the American West.
Open Tuesdays through Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 1720 Gendy St., Fort Worth. $4-$10. Half-price admission ($2-$5) on Fridays and Saturdays. Free for ages 3 and younger. Parking is free. cowgirl.net.
KidZania Reopens
This Stonebriar Centre attraction for kids 6-14 is reopening July 31 with coronavirus precautions in place, including decreased hours and capacity to ensure proper social distancing. When visitors check in at the airport-like entrance, they will have their temperatures taken, must answer COVID-19 questions and are required to wear face coverings. Inside the museum, where kids try out jobs such as news anchor, optometrist and pilot, guests will be asked to use hand sanitizer before and after each activity.
Starting July 31, KidZania will be open Fridays and Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sundays from noon to 6 p.m. at 2601 Preston Road, Frisco. $39.95 for ages 6-14, $14.95 for ages 4-5 and 15 and older. usa.kidzania.com.
Epic Waters in Grand Prairie
Grand Prairie’s 800,000-square-foot, indoor-outdoor water park complex has a UV-protected retractable roof, a 600-foot lazy river, a FlowRider surfing simulator and Epic Waves, a 10,000-square-foot outdoor pool that surges 4-foot waves at 10-minute intervals throughout the day. Other attractions include the Lasso Loop body slide, the Aquanaut inner tube ride and Rascal’s Roundup, a special area for little ones. There’s also a cafe, a bar and lounge, and an arcade with classic and modern games. The park is open with a decreased capacity and signs to encourage safe social distancing, enhanced cleaning procedures and additional hand sanitizer stations. Visitors 10 and older are required to wear face coverings except when swimming, eating, drinking, changing clothes and showering.
Other changes this summer include a series of discounts. A twilight special features $20 tickets for ages 4 and older on Mondays through Thursdays from 4 to 7 p.m. and on Fridays and Sundays from 5 to 9 p.m. Additional discounts include $10-$22 admission for Monday Madness, buy-one-get-one free on Tuesdays through Sept. 1 and $17 tickets for Throwback Thursdays. Check the website for discount codes and package deals. Regular admission for ages 4 and older is $29-$34 on Sundays through Fridays and $39-$44 on Saturdays. There’s a $12 discount for Grand Prairie residents; ID is required when presenting tickets. Children 3 and younger are admitted free at all times.
Open Mondays through Thursdays from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Fridays through Sundays from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. at 2970 Epic Place, Grand Prairie. epicwatersgp.com.
Medieval Times Reopening
The replica 11th-century castle off Stemmons Freeway has reopened to visitors. The attraction north of downtown Dallas features two-hour shows with Queen Maria Isabella presiding over a jousting tournament, hand-to-hand combat and falconry demonstrations. Ticketholders get a knight to cheer on, paper crowns and a four-course dinner of roasted chicken and vegetables, tomato soup, garlic bread and dessert served with two drinks. (Vegetarian meals available.) Modern pandemic precautions include 50% capacity, extra space between seated parties and the requirement of masks and temperature checks before entry.
Medieval Times is open most days at 2021 N. Stemmons Freeway Dallas. $62.95, $36.95 for ages 12 and younger. Discounted admission available online. medievaltimes.com.
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.
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.
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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.
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.
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.com, studiomoviegrill.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
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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.
See the full Dallas News article