Make summer in Dallas last by taking part in all the wonderful things to do around the city.
From beachside pop-ups to rockin’ bars, and psychedelic experiences, Dallas is truly popping off this July. Read on to discover 22 splendid things to do this July in Dallas.
1. Head to Dallas Zoo for $1 this month
Dallas Zoo, the oldest and largest zoo in Texas, has announced the return of its annual Dollar Days ticket specials.
Tickets are already being snapped up for the incredibly popular discounted days which will take place on Thursday, July 18, and Tuesday, August 6 so grab them while they last!
More information can be found here.
2. Behold SENSAS
Step into the unexpected at SENSAS, an outrageous sensory playground where curiosity rules and laughter is guaranteed. For two unforgettable hours, your group will navigate complete darkness and vibrant sensory zones, tackling bizarre, hilarious tasks designed to flip your five senses upside down. With the mischievous Master of Senses as your unpredictable guide, each challenge pushes boundaries, sparks teamwork, and delivers nonstop surprises.
3. Edgar Allen Poe Speakeasy: Chapter Two – Sulphur Springs
The Edgar Allan Poe Speakeasy creeps back into Sulphur Springs with a chilling new chapter, plunging even further into the depths of Poe’s twisted genius. This eerie encore introduces four freshly unearthed tales from the master of the macabre, each artfully paired with a handcrafted classic cocktail. Guided by the enigmatic Poe Historians, guests can expect an evening steeped in gothic atmosphere, literary intrigue, and spirited indulgence.
4. Sip on Piña Coladas at Tipsy Beach
A beach has open smack dab in the middle of Dallas! And while you might not find much in the way of waves, you will find sandy beaches, palm trees, Miami Vice vibes, palapas, and beach shacks. Running through this endless summer, Tipsy Beach features a variety of themed areas and pop-up bars on top of programmed events and other island-style festivities.
5. Malibu Jacks
The largest indoor amusement park in North Texas is now open in North Richland Hills. At Malibu Jacks, patrons can enjoy a plethora of games, go-karts, laser tag, and more. Furthermore, the newly minted theme park features roller coasters and other rides, a Bounce Beach, under-the-seas glow golf, bowling, and more!
6. Disco Wine Train
Shake your caboose this July at Grapevine’s Historic Railway’s Disco Wine Train. Embarking July 25, the Disco Wine Train is a groovy, two-hour experience befit with disco lights, music, and and flowing wine from Bingham. The Disco Wine Train is a 21+ experience.
7. Cool Down over Ice Cream
Discipline be damned in the summertime. If you have a sweet tooth like us, the blistering heat creates a no-holds-barred timeframe for consuming anything that’ll keep us cool. Whether you’re looking for gelato, froyo, all-natural ice cream, and/or everything in between, check out our list of the best ice cream parlors in DFW.
8. Fourth of July
This Independence Day is going to be a blast. Fireworks, hotdogs, carnival rides, and more – the DFW area has it all. Check out our list here of the best Fourth of July celebrations in DFW!
9. Explore Fritz Adventure Park
Opened earlier this spring, Fritz Adventure Park is a sprawling 100,000 square foot park filled with all sorts of climbing activities, treehouses, laser mazes, and more. Featured attractions include the venue’s authentic airplane – open for exploration as well as a 48-foot climbing wall, and repurposed, climbable oil solo.
10. Hit the Waterpark
Summer is all about making waves. If your idea is a private cabana with table service and flowing Bloody Marys, or if it’s bombing down towering slides before chowing down on hotdogs, the DFW area is home to all sorts of waterparks that have a bit of something for everyone. Check out our list here.
11. Go for a Round of Mini Golf at Popstroke
Grandscape is now home to Popstroke’s sprawling 37-hole indoor/outdoor mini-golf facility. In addition to holes complete with fairways, bunkers, and roughs, the venue features a beer garden, gourmet restaurant, bar, and ice cream parlor.
Read more here.12. Hit The Beach
While Texas is home to a wide array of destination-worthy beaches it’s fair to say that some are much further than others. For a wonderful beach experience in our own backyard, head to the shores of Little Elm! Located a short drive from Dallas, Little Elm is the largest beach in North Texas, and is home to sandy shores, a cable park, aqua playground, playground playground, as well as parks, trails, waterfront restaurants, and more!
13. Get Weird at the New Meow Wolf Bar
The weird wonderland known as Meow Wolf in Grapevine is a fantastic destination for all self-described space cadets. If its fantastical world of surreal art, secret passageways, and hidden secrets weren’t reason enough to visit, the venue is now home to its new Prime Materia bar. The in-exhibition bar inside Convergence Station, features a wide array of cosmic elixirs, snacks, as well as souvenirs for the inclined.
14. 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.
15. Outlaw Music Festival
Witness some of the most iconic musicians to ever grace the stage this July in Dallas at the Outlaw Music Festival. Celebrating its 10th anniversary, the Outlaw Music Festival in Dallas will features performances from the likes of Bob Dylan, Willie Nelson, Avett Brothers, and more at the Dos Equis Pavilion on July 5.
16. 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
17. 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 July 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.
18. AEW All-In Dallas
This July, Globe Life Field will host its first-ever professional wrestling event for All Elite Wrestling: All-In: Texas. Ahead of the star-studded matches, the Texas Rangers will also host a special AEW night on July 2nd during their game against the Baltimore Orioles. Tickets are still available to both events.
19. Attend a concert beneath the stars
Concerts Under the Stars is another terrific outdoor musical experience taking place on one special night this month.
On Wednesday, July 17, experience a Sinatra serenade at Sky Blu Rooftop Bar with renditions of the legendary crooner’s biggest hits.
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. 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.
22. Check out the Activate Games experience in Plano
If physical challenges float your boat you might also be interested in Activate Games. The indoor, interactive gaming experience, has just 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.