The lazy days of summer are coming to a close. But not to worry. There鈥檚 still time to do some cool stuff and make memories while you鈥檙e at it. Check out our end-of-summer list. It鈥檚 chock-full of events perfect for these waning days of summer. There are even a few that will help make the kids鈥� 鈥淲hat I Did Over Summer Vacation鈥� composition a bit more interesting.
Remember to check the websites or social media for each event for any last-minute changes. You can find more events at .
1.
Stay up late and watch the annual Perseid meteor shower at Lewisville Lake Environmental Learning Area鈥檚 Star Watch Party. Bring a blanket or lawn chair and enjoy the Perseid show, which produces up to 60 meteors per hour at its peak.
Aug. 10 from 10:30 p.m. to 1 a.m. at Lewisville Lake Environmental Learning Area. $25, registration is required. llela.org.
2.
Enjoy one of the last staycations of the summer with super savings at the Arboretum and its Rory Meyers Children鈥檚 Adventure Garden for the entire month of August. Splash in Toad Corners, picnic in the shade of the Pecan Grove or cool off in the mist of the Palmer Fern dell. Families can cool off even more when they explore the Rory Meyers Children鈥檚 Adventure Garden, which has more than 8,000 square feet of misters. Bonus: Warmer temperatures mean lighter than usual crowds at the garden.
Through Aug. 31 at Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden. $3 discounted admission to the Garden. $3 admission to the Garden and Rory Meyers Children's Adventure Garden for ages 2 and older. Parking $6.
3.
It鈥檚 not too late to get creative this summer. Join graffiti artist at Henry鈥�s Majestic for a free graffiti art class. Create your own original piece of art while you enjoy Ilegal Mezcal cocktails.
Aug. 18 at 2 p.m. at Henry鈥檚 Majestic Restaurant. Free admission but you must RSVP to attend.
4.
Round up your little dogies and head to Denton for the North Texas Fair and Rodeo. The nine-day event features country music on multiple stages, professional-level rodeos, livestock shows, kid and fun zones, carnival rides, food, games, vendors and more.
Aug. 16-25 at the North Texas Fairgrounds in Denton. $5-$25.
5.
Looking for a cool date night idea (with the emphasis on the word cool)? Check out this adults-only dive-in movie event hosted by Heights Family Aquatic Center in Richardson. Relax poolside or float down the lazy river while you enjoy the 2004 rom-com 50 First Dates.
If you鈥檙e looking for a bigger body of water, check out our list of area lakes.
Aug. 23 at 8:30 p.m. at the Heights Family Aquatic Center in Richardson. $4 in advance, $7 at the door.
6.
Head to the Nasher Sculpture Center music under the stars at its 鈥橳il Midnight event. The evening kicks off with performances from country artists Matt Tedder and Chaz Marie, followed by headliner Parker Ryan, who鈥檒l perform a blend of country, Americana and alternative country. After the concert, stick around for an outdoor screening of the 1964 Disney classic Mary Poppins. You鈥檒l also have the opportunity to see the special exhibitions Sarah Sze and Haas Brothers: Moonlight currently on view at the Nasher.
After school starts, you can still enjoy outdoor concerts. The city of Garland holds its at the Garland Downtown Square through November. On the bill for the first Friday in September are the bluesy riffs and soulful rhythms of Jimmy Wallace and the Mighty Mikes.
Details:
- Aug. 16 from 6 p.m. to midnight at the . Free.
- Sept. 6 at 7 p.m. at the . Free.
7. GO RETRO WITH A DRIVE-IN MOVIE
If you want a different and fun movie experience, there鈥檚 no better time than summer to try out a drive-in movie. The North Texas area has several drive-in theaters. There's the and the, but if you really want to go old school, givea whirl. The cute, old-fashioned snack bar with a banging screen door and metal chairs will make you feel like you鈥檙e sitting on the porch at Grandma鈥檚 house. Load up the car and see a first-run double feature at bargain prices.
Details:
- in Ennis has seven screens and is open every day. $8 for ages 12 and up, $4 for kids.
- in Fort Worth, has four screens and a full restaurant and bar. It鈥檚 open every day. $9.29 for adults and $6.62 for children.
- is open Thursdays through Saturdays. $10 for individual admission, $20 for a car with two or more occupants.
8.
Root, root, root for the home team 鈥� the Frisco Roughriders, that is, at Riders Field in Frisco. The minor league team is a double-A affiliate of the Texas Rangers and has home games through September. For a unique baseball viewing experience, purchase a ticket to the Lazy River, located in left field, where you can float in a 3,000-square-foot river and enjoy a view of the entire ballpark. Be sure to stay after the game to watch fireworks.
: Check the website for dates. Single-game tickets are $11 to $37; Lazy River tickets are available for individuals on Thursdays and Sundays for $25 to $41.
9.
Avoid the heat of the day but still enjoy nature when you get up early for a guided nature hike at the Trinity River Audubon Center in Dallas. Learn about the center鈥檚 surrounding habitat and history while you enjoy your hike. Entry to the grounds is included in the ticket price, and the hike is open to all ages. The center is home to a variety of wildlife and birds, so don't forget to bring your binoculars.
Aug. 10 from 8:30 to 10 a.m. at Trinity River Audubon Center in Dallas. Tickets are $10 per person, registration is required.
10. CHECK OUT THE ART AT AREA GALLERIES AND MUSEUMS
Catch the exhibition Explore the latest research and discoveries and learn about the iconic dinosaur through life-size models, fossil casts and interactive stations.
Stop by the Dallas gallery PDNB (Photographs Do Not Bend) for the exhibition 鈥� It features photographs of the celebrated painter Frida Kahlo by artists Lucienne Bloch and Nickolas Muray. Both photographers had close relationships with Frida and captured iconic images of her.
is on view at the Amon Carter Museum of American Art. The exhibition celebrates his storied career and influence on American cinematography during Hollywood鈥檚 Golden Age with archival materials, films and more than 100 photographs.
The artwork of 51 artists from across Texas are showcased in the The pieces were selected by Maggie Adler, curator at the Amon Carter Museum of American Art.
The Haggerty Gallery at the University of Dallas hosts the exhibition 鈥�.鈥� The show focuses on the decade from 1910 to 1920, a time of violence and upheaval along the Texas-Mexico border. It examines the causes and effects of state-sanctioned racial violence against ethnic Mexicans and explores the actions that Mexican Americans took to advance the cause of justice and civil rights.
To celebrate its 40th anniversary, Conduit Gallery in Dallas presents the special group exhibition 鈥溾�� featuring the work of 27 guest artists. Each artist was selected by one of Conduit鈥檚 artists to curate a show in honor of the gallery鈥檚 founding.
Details:
- 鈥淭.rex: The Ultimate Predator'' is on view at the in Dallas through Sept. 22. perotmuseum.org.
- 鈥淧ortraits of Frida鈥� is on view at in Dallas through Aug. 17.
- 鈥淢oving Pictures: Karl Struss and the Rise of Hollywood鈥� at in Fort Worth is on view through Aug. 25.
- 11th Annual Texas Juried Exhibition at in Fort Worth is on view through Aug. 24.
- 鈥淟ife and Death on the Border: 1910-1920鈥� is on view at the through Oct.13.
- 鈥淐onduit at 40: Forte!鈥� is on view at the in Dallas through Aug. 24.
The is a partnership between 四虎影院 and The Dallas Morning News.
Got a tip? Email Therese Powell at tpowell@kera.org.
Arts Access is an arts journalism collaboration powered by The Dallas Morning News and 四虎影院.
This community-funded journalism initiative is funded by the Better Together Fund, Carol and Don Glendenning, City of Dallas OAC, The University of Texas at Dallas, Communities Foundation of Texas, The Dallas Foundation, Eugene McDermott Foundation, James and Gayle Halperin Foundation, Jennifer and Peter Altabef and The Meadows Foundation. The News and 四虎影院 retain full editorial control of Arts Access鈥� journalism.
