It’s June and that can only mean one thing– the gateway to summer is here! Memorial Day Weekend has come and gone, giving Dallas its first taste of summer festivities. There’s plenty more where that came from.
From exhilarating interactive experiences to aquatic adventures, there is endless fun and plenty of ways to keep yourself busy all month long.
Here are some of the best things to do this June in the Big D.
1. Visit the Rainbow Vomit Art Exhibition
Dive into a colorful, immersive art experience at one of Dallas’s top-rated museums! Built by over 15 artists, Rainbow Vomit is an interactive photography exhibit that will transport you to an incredible world of art, light, and sound.
From becoming the hero of your own comic to riding a hot air balloon, the possibilities are endless at this amazing gallery. So call your friends and get ready to add some rainbow to your Instagram feed.
Grab tickets to the Rainbow Vomit Art Exhibition here.
2. Send your senses soaring with a Dining in the Dark experience
Eminent psychologists have been advocating dining in the dark as the ultimate taste experience for many years. Studies show that 80 percent of people eat with their eyes; with that sense eliminated, the theory is that the other senses—namely taste and smell—take over to elevate your meal to a whole new level.
After donning your blindfold in the darkened, candlelit room, you’ll soon realize that focusing on taste and smell alone can be a truly enlightening experience—provided you’re not afraid of the dark!
Take your date night to the next level or enjoy a surreal experience with friends, tempting your senses with dark surroundings to focus on more important things like exquisite food and wine pairings.
Diners can choose vegan, seafood, or red meat options, enjoying a starter, main entree, and dessert.
Tickets and more information can be found here.
3. Head down to this top-grossing restaurant
Talking of top-tier dining experiences, the 2022 top-grossing restaurant in the United States, Komodo, has branched out to Dallas offering a lavish new dining experience in Deep Ellum.
The new restaurant from Groot Hospitality is 5,500 square feet bigger than the original Miami location measuring a whopping 22,500-square-foot.
Situated in the Epic Development, the two-story Southeast Asian-inspired restaurant offers a surefire unforgettable dining experience this June.
4. Enter a 2D cartoon-like world at Dallas’ newest Japanese restaurant
Another place you’ll find a dining experience that you won’t forget anytime soon is Temakaria in Trinity Groves.
Having opened its doors in mid-May 2022, Temakeria is now welcoming guests to a 2D-themed cafe that has been decorated with monochromatic comic book art creating a cartoon-like setting straight out of an artist’s sketch pad.
7. Dine with divas at Hamburger Mary’s
Described as “an open-air bar and grille for open-minded people” Hamburger Mary’s is known for its flamboyant dining experience and range of tasty food.
Founded over 50 years ago in San Francisco in 1972, the vibrant bar and grille has built a reputation for its frequent events and entertainment such as “Dining with the Divas” drag shows and charity “HamBingo Mary’s” as well as karaoke, trivia nights, and more.
Now all of that can be enjoyed in Dallas’s Oak Lawn neighborhood!
8. Board the largest party barge in Texas
One of the best ways of enjoying the warming weather is, of course, by spending as long as you can on or next to any lake you can find.
Luckily down at Lynn Creek Marina there is one lake plan that will surely stir up excitement in any Dallasites down for an adventurous day on the water.
Enjoy the ultimate lake day on the largest party barge in the state complete with slides, lounge chairs, giant coolers, and a BBQ just 30 minutes south of Dallas
9. Watch the playoffs at the best Sports Bars in Dallas
Both the Dallas Stars and Dallas Mavericks have advanced to the next round of the playoffs, and at least as of this article, both look like they might make it to the championships! Get in on all the excitement of Dallas playoff sports at the best Dallas sports bars in town!
Read the full article here.
10. Marvel at the magic of a Candlelight Concert
With better weather comes new events and experiences that we’ve not been able to enjoy for several months. One of these is open-air concerts which offer an enchanting combination of flickering candles and melodic sounds.
Fever Originals’ wildly popular Candlelight series concerts are taking place in extraordinary indoor and outdoor venues all over the city this June so rain or shine there is always an option whatever the weather.
Can’t decide? Gift a loved one a Candlelight Concert with a Candlelight gift car.
Choose from concerts featuring jazz, rock, pop, classical music, and even movie soundtracks in spectacular venues around Dallas or any other city in the U.S. throughout the year.
See the full list of candlelight concerts taking place in Dallas here.
11. Geek out at Dallas Fan Expo
The Comic Con of Dallas returns this June from June 7 – June 9. The annual Dallas Fan Expo is set to feature a litany of A-list actors, musicians, anime creators and more. Scheduled appearances include Danny Elfman, Mads Mikkelsen, Marisa Tomei, Henry Winker, Geena Davis, and much much more. The convention will also feature panels, workshops, shopping, and more!
12. Escape to the Beach
The start of summer in Texas coincides with triple-digit temperatures. Cool down this June with a trip out to one or more of the best beaches in Texas!
Read the full list here.13. Get Medieval at Medieval Times
Experience the long, long-standing tradition of hand-to-hand combat, horsemanship, jousting and more at Medieval Times in Dallas. The 11th-century dinner and entertainment venue, housed in a replica castle, features a wondrous amount of excitement for the whole family!
Read the full article here!12-18. Get your Game On
Once the heat completely engulfs the DFW area in unbearable temperatures, it comes the time for seeking indoor, air-conditioned fun. Here in the DFW area, you can enjoy an assortment of amazing indoor entertainment venues.
Whether you want to try your hand-eye at iCompete’s batting, golf, and axe-throwing simulators; take a spin at Round One’s Japanese-inspired interactive bowling alley; rip up go-karts on a three-story neon track at Andretti Indoor Karting & Games; or take part in all the inventive activities at Bowl Games – you can find your game in Dallas.
18. Go Big at Mini Golf
Revel in the nostalgic experience of mini-golf in Dallas at one of the area’s wonderful putt-putt venues. Drive out to Grandscape for a shot at 37 holes of mini-golf – as well as a beer garden, restaurant, and ice cream parlor – at Tiger Woods’ Popstroke, or work on your short game at Puttshack’s boozy new 28,000-square-foot putt-putt facility in Addison.
19. Go Dancing at the World’s Largest Honky Tonk
Dust off those boots for a little do-si-do at Billy Bob’s in Fort Worth, the largest honky tonk in the world. Here, the venue features a Texas-sized dancing floor, finger-licking barbecue, as well as billiards, bull riding, a live music venue, and 30 bars.
Read the article here.20. Cuddle up at East Dallas’ cat café
If you like kicking back with some four-legged friends, you’ll be happy to hear that East Dallas now has an adorable new cat café.
As both a casual café and a place for potential parents looking to adopt, Whiskers and Soda is the perfect place for any feline fanatics wanting to kick back with a cup of coffee and mingle with some furry friends.
Operating in partnership with animal rescue and adoption agency A Voice for All Paws (AVAP), where Caroline is president, Whiskers and Soda ensures the cats are fully vetted and in the most relaxed environment to hang out with humans.
Read more about Whiskers and Soda here.
21. Enjoy paella & wine on an outdoor patio
Enjoy a glass of Sugar Ridge Wine while enjoying paella without leaving Dallas. Observe how Ryan Fussell Chef-Owner, Gnocchi Dokie prepares this delicious Spanish specialty dish while sipping on a glass of wine produced on the Dallas property.
Get your tickets now to Paella & Wine on the Patio at Sugar Ridge Winery in Dallas!22. Taste premium whiskeys learn to make the perfect jarcuterie
Learn more about the tricks of the trade in the world of whiskey with a talk-through with experts this month. Taste an array of whiskeys, including premium whiskeys from around the world to limited edition craft whiskeys that you can’t find at your local liquor store.
During the tasting, indulge in making a jarcuterie (charcuterie but in a jar) with premium meats, cheeses, and vegetables. The best will be in with the chance of winning a prize!
Read more about it here.23. Let loose at Bolder Adventure Park
Time to come back to the real world, and wake that body up with a real taste of the action at the new Bolder Adventure Park.
A short drive down to Grand Prairie, thrill-seekers of all kinds can find an array of activities across a 66,000-square-foot air-supported dome.
Rain or shine, two via ferrata courses, rock climbing, zip lines, tubing slides, synthetic ice skating, bumper cars, paintballing, a six-story free fall experience, and much more promise an exhilarating day out for friends or family with different levels of adventure for all.
More information can be found here.
24. Check out the new Activate Games experience in Plano
If physical challenges float your boat you might also be interested in Activate Games. The indoor, interactive gaming experience, recently opened a new location in the Dallas-Fort Worth area offering an exciting new futuristic form of entertainment and competition.
Fusing technology and physical activity, the Winnipeg-based company has a wide range of high-tech, real-life games. Hundreds of combinations of live-action challenges have been designed to test physical and mental agility pitting teams against each other in one to three-minute face-offs.
Those interested in a casual night out or a fierce competition against friends can now head down to Plano for a live-action gaming experience like no other.
25. Check out the world’s biggest esports arena
Swap that blindfold for a VR set and reignite your reactions with a trip down to the biggest virtual reality esports arena on the planet.
Located 30 minutes north of Dallas, the new Esports Virtual Arenas (EVA) outpost in Flower Mound is their first in the United States and offers a groundbreaking new form of esports that transports gamers into massive arenas to face off against other players in epic battles.
More information can be found here.
26. Kick back in an AMC movie theatre
All those running through flowers might make you just want to kick back for a couple of hours and why not do that in a state-of-the-art AMC movie theatre?
With awards season having just highlighted so many fantastic movies of all kinds from all around the world, picking something to see shouldn’t be a hard task.
Whether it’s a rainy afternoon or a special date night, all the best critically-acclaimed creations, comedies, action flicks, and everything in between can be enjoyed at a discount in Dallas, and nationally, with an AMC black ticket.
Grab discounted tickets to a movie showing here.
27. Head out to Frisco to one of the biggest libraries in the state
An enormous new state-of-the-art library has just opened in Frisco after two years of construction. Located inside a warehouse built in 1998 for rocket construction, the $62 million project offers a 157,000 square feet space that is now one of the biggest in the state.
With 40-foot floor-to-ceiling glass windows, the new library is swamped with natural light and boasts a terrace, a second-floor mezzanine, a community event room, quiet reading rooms, and plenty of other gathering spaces for different ages and purposes.
One of the library’s most exciting new features is its striking centerpiece “Rexy”, a full-size model of a Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton that greets kids in the children’s area.
28. Cozy up in the nooks of this bookish coffee shop
For all the people out there who have ever been shushed at a library – this place is for you. At the Funny Library Coffee Shop, guests are encouraged to crack up as much as they are to crack open one of its many books.
For all the people out there who have ever been shushed at a library – this place is for you. At the Funny Library Coffee Shop, guests are encouraged to crack up as much as they are to crack open one of its many books.
Shelved inside the ground floor at the Virgin Hotels Dallas lies the Funny Library. Part coffee shop, part library, part Kubrick set a la A Clockwork Orange, Funny Library offers Dallasites a hyper-stylized escape from the hustle and bustle.
29. Put your problem-solving skills to the test with an escape game
Located in Grapevine Mills Mall, The Escape Room Dallas offers a one-of-a-kind, premium adventure experience. Once you arrive, a dedicated game guide will take you on your adventure and help you as needed.
You will have exactly 60 minutes to escape. Follow the clues and solve puzzles with your team to complete your mission together. Choose to play one of four uniquely immersive games such as Gold Rush, Prison Break, The Heist, or Playground. You may or may not escape… but you’ll definitely have fun!
Get tickets to The Escape Game Dallas: Epic 60-Minute Adventures here!
30. Try an indoor skydiving experience
With a new season comes new dreams, new objectives, and things to tick off our bucket lists. One thing that always finds itself on bucket lists worldwide is skydiving. Now, we’re not saying jump out of a plane in the winter skies above Dallas, but we are saying give it a go in a state-of-the-art indoor skydiving center to get a taste of what it is like and why it is such a popular ‘do before you die’ activity.
At iFLY Dallas, a premier indoor skydiving facility powered by a state-of-the-art vertical wind tunnel, you can experience free-fall conditions, feeling the adrenaline rush as you float at wind speeds reaching 130 to 175 mph (209 to 282 kph).
The stable wall-to-wall airflow keeps you from falling off the column of air, and your instructor will be on hand at all times to guide you. No experience is necessary, and afterward, you can take home a personalized flight certificate!
Grab tickets to an indoor skydiving experience here.
31. Check out the new Portillo’s
It’s very unlikely you’ve not heard of Chicago’s famed fast-casual restaurant Portillo’s. After opening in 1963 as a small hot dog stand, Portillo’s has since flourished into a Midwestern treasure of national recognition.
Locals and tourists alike now flock to locations around the Windy City to taste the all-beef Vienna hot dogs that have helped shoot the Chicago-style hot dog to fame.
If you’re a fan, or you’re eager to see what all the fuss is about, you’re in luck as Portillo’s has just opened its first Texas location.
Located in The Colony, the iconic Italian beef sandwiches and hot dogs are now obtainable just 30 minutes north of Dallas!
32. Travel back to the ’80s at FlashBack RetroPub
Some of us weren’t around in the ’80s, but that doesn’t stop us from the feeling of vivid nostalgia we have for new wave hits, technicolored-patterned jumpers, and all the zaniness the decade had to offer.
For those who were around in those simpler times, games that are today seen as extraordinarily plain and primitive compared to today’s digital depth were portals to unchartered territory.
Hours and hours were spent contesting those most competitive cutting-edge classics that were so beautifully basic.
In Dallas’ Bishops Arts District old gamers can take a trip down memory lane, or simply a journey back in time at Flash Back Retro Pub in Oak Cliff.
More information can be found here.
33. Sneak into a stylish speakeasy
There’s something special about speakeasies. The secretive, vicarious forbidden feel of transporting back to the prohibition or entering an establishment only known to the few in-the-know fellow attendees makes imbibing cocktails all the more tantalizing.
Here are a few of our favorite speakeasies in and around Dallas:
- Rare Books Bar is a bookish speakeasy that requires a password via phone booth to enter. Read more about it here.
- Atwater Alley is a dimly lit and old timely yet enchanting den hidden near some dumpsters behind Henry’s Majestic. Read more about it here.
- Room 520 at the SOVA Hotel is an intimate speakeasy adorned with Japanese-inspired decor selling six unique Kyoto-styled cocktails from the confounds of one secretive hotel room. Read more about it here.
34. Sink your teeth into the best cuts of meat in the city
Dallas is well-known for its unbeatable selection of steakhouses. Whether you’re in the mood for a succulent melt-in-your-mouth filet or a juicy ribeye, the city’s iconic steakhouses won’t disappoint.
From classic ambiance to modern interiors, each steak restaurant brings its own unique flavor to the table. Expect high-quality cuts of meat served up with signature sides, and perfectly paired fine wine to create an unforgettable culinary experience.
We’ve rounded up our best steakhouses in Dallas which you can find here.
35. Dine royally up in the clouds
Savor the high life this winter by escaping the city streets to the Monarch Restaurant high in the sky. Perched on the 49th floor of The National, Monarch is designed with floor-to-ceiling windows, giving restaurant-goers the chance to dine on their wood-fired Italian dishes with an epic view of the city.
36. Attend a Concert Under the Stars
Sky Blu Rooftop bar, Dallas’ largest open-air hotel bar, is hosting additional lively Concerts Under the Stars this June. With events paying homage to Amy Winehouse and ABBA, the starlit tribute concerts will bring you talented musicianship, classic cocktails, and panoramic views.
[Featured image from Shutterstock]