Top 16 Festivals In Dallas, Texas

festivals in dallas
Victor
Victor 
Updated
| 6 min read

Dallas is a well-rounded city with an abundance of nearly everything for all types of tourists. It boasts the largest arts district in North America and it is also the home to a plethora of museums, modern skyscrapers, public parks, restaurants, and a pulsating nightlife among others that makes it one of the most visited cities in the United States. If you are not attracted to Dallas by its range of touristic attractions, then you will most likely fall in love with its superfluity of festivals and events, especially if you are an art, history, or culture buff. Scroll down to discover some of the top festivals in Dallas, Texas.

1. Riverfront Jazz Festival

Gotta claim your spot before the show!

Posted by Riverfront Jazz Festival on Saturday, 11 August 2018

Riverfront Jazz Festival is a musical event that usually takes place during the Labour Day Weekend in three different venues around Dallas. It is always a jam-packed affair graced by some of the leading national and international jazz artists in nearly all genres of the music. If you are a jazz enthusiast, this is one of the events you need to mark in your calendar if you will be in Dallas around Labour Day.

Riverfront Jazz Festival

Address: Downtown Dallas, Texas

Website: Riverfront Jazz Festival

Takes place: September (Labor Day weekend)

Price: 55 USD

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2. State Fair of Texas

Texas State Fair rides 1
Source: Photo by user Photo: Andreas Pr... used under CC BY 3.0

The venue for the State Fair of Texas event has always been the historic Fair Park. This is one of the longest-running events not just in Texas, but in the entire United States of America. The event features 24 days of incredible family fun and entertainment, with lots of food, musical performances, and art displays. It is one of the best family festivals whose participants are not only residents but also families from the neighboring states.

State Fair of Texas

Address: Fair Park; 1300 Robert B Cullum Boulevard; Dallas, TX 75210

Website: State Fair of Texas

Takes place: September to October

Price: 18 USD

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3. Dallas Pride Parade

Dallas Pride Parade
Source: Photo by user EricMiller214 used under CC BY-SA 3.0

Dallas Pride Parade has been celebrated for the last 30 years and it keeps growing every year. The event is dedicated to celebrating the LGBT community, with the major activities of the day featuring the main parade and a festival held in the popular Oak Lawn neighborhood. It is a day to increase awareness about the LGBT community and debunk myths and misinformation that others might still be holding about LGBT.

Dallas Pride Parade

Address: Dallas, TX, USA

Website: Dallas Pride Parade

Takes place: June

Price: Free

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4. Dallas Blooms

Dallas Blooms is definitely upon us as the tulips are budded and ready. Daffodils, Taiwan cherry trees, pansies,...

Posted by Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden on Saturday, 24 February 2018

Dallas Arboretum is normally the venue for the Dallas Blooms event – one of the leading and the largest floral festivals in Southwest. This event is dedicated to celebrating the blooming of more than 500,000 flowers in the arboretums, featuring the beautiful sights of tulips, azaleas, and pansies amongst others. The festival is always accompanied by lots of events including poetry readings, musical performances, food fests, and history lessons among others.

Dallas Blooms

Address: 8525 Garland Rd, Dallas, TX 75218, United States

Website: Dallas Blooms

Takes place: February to April

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5. Homegrown Music and Arts Festival

6th Homegrown Arts and Music Festival 2018

Posted by Homegrown Arts and Music Festival on Monday, 8 October 2018

Homegrown Music and Arts Festival is exactly what it sounds – a local art and music festival expo designed to bring together some of the leading artists and musicians from Dallas. The venue is always Main Street Garden Park. Two local stages are erected where participants will be treated to eclectic musical performances as well as magnificent displays from various visual artists from around the region.

Homegrown Music and Arts Festival

Address: Main Street Garden Park, Dallas, Texas, United States

Website: Homegrown Music and Arts Festival

Takes place: July

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6. Mardi Gras Texas Style

Posted by Mardi Gras Texas Style on Thursday, 28 February 2019

Mardi Gras Texas Style Festival is a one-day event known to attract thousands of fanciers who come together to enjoy thrilling performances by some of the region’s best Red Dirt & Country music artists. In addition to enjoying performances in five different stages, participants will also enjoy a wide range of attractions accentuating the event, including lots of foods and art displays.

Mardi Gras Texas Style

Address: Automobile Building, Dallas, Texas, United States

Website: Mardi Gras Texas Style

Takes place: February

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7. MetroPCS Dallas Marathon


The MetroPCS Dallas Marathon was formerly known as the Dallas White Rock Marathon. Having been around for more than four decades, it is the oldest marathon in Texas, and one of the largest spectator events in the state. It is normal for the event to attract nearly 6,000 participants who are cheered by more than 300,000 fans lined along the marathon tracks. If you love athletics or you have ever tried running a marathon, this is an event you shouldn’t miss, either as a participant or a spectator.

MetroPCS Dallas Marathon

Takes place: December

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8. Dallas Martin Luther King Jr. Day Parade

Posted by SMU on Monday, 18 January 2016

For more than four decades, Dallas has always honored the life and contributions of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. This is one of the largest commemorative events in the United States, and in Dallas, it features a parade graced by marching bands, blends of floats, dance troupes, drill teams, and other exciting performances. The venue is usually MLK Boulevard and the attendees who grace the occasion are always north of 250,000.

Dallas Martin Luther King Jr. Day Parade

Address: Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Center

Takes place: January

Price: Free

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9. JMBLYA [Last event in 2019]

Posted by JMBLYA on Friday, 3 May 2019

The JMBLYA Festival has been around for less than a decade but has since grown to become one of the leading music events in the state of Texas. It is considered one of the biggest multi-city hip hop music events in Texas. The venue has always been Fair Park, and past episodes have featured some of the top dogs in the hip hop industry, with names such as Kevin Gates, Lil Wayne, and Travis Scott forming part of the guests’ list.

JMBLYA

Address: Circuit of the Americas, Texas, United States, Fair Park

Website: JMBLYA

Takes place: May

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10. North Texas Irish Festival

Posted by North Texas Irish Festival (NTIF) on Sunday, 10 March 2019

The North Texas Irish Festival has been celebrated for more than three decades and it is one of the most popular events in the Southwest whose main focus is to celebrate the Irish culture in the state of Texas. The event brings together some of the top Irish musicians and dancers, and it also features a variety of Irish cultural presentations. The event will also be graced by loads of exhibitors, plays and cultural demonstrations, and workshops.

North Texas Irish Festival

Address: Fair Park, 75210 Dallas, Texas

Website: North Texas Irish Festival

Takes place: March

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11. Greenville Avenue St. Patrick’s Day Parade

Posted by Greenville Ave St Patrick's Day Parade on Wednesday, 28 November 2012

Greenville Avenue St. Patrick’s Day Parade is reputed to be the largest in Southwest. It is a day that usually sees more than 100,000 revelers gather at Greenville Avenue for celebrations. Highlights of the day include parades featuring more than 90 colorful floats riding along the avenue. The magnitude and the splendor that accompany these parades rivals the same day’s celebrations in New York, Chicago, and Boston.

Greenville Avenue St. Patrick's Day Parade

Address: Greenville Avenue, Dallas, Texas

Website: Greenville Avenue St. Patrick’s Day Parade

Takes place: March

Price: Free

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12. CityArts Festival

20061111 01 Fair Park, Dallas, Texas
Source: Photo by Flickr user David Wilson used under CC BY 2.0

CityArts Festival comes at the end of May with the venue being in the historic Fair Park. It is a family-friendly event that features a wide range of activities, entertainments, art aficionados, and lots of exhibitions. It brings together some of the finest and leading artists in various genres and it also features lots of incredible dance performances, live music, movie sessions, dance parties, culinary demonstrations, family fun shows, and a plethora of kid’s entertainment. It is one of the most popular family-friendly events in Southwest and a must-attend event if you will be in Dallas with your family in May.

CityArts Festival

Address: 1300 Robert B Cullum Blvd, Dallas, TX 75210, United States

Takes place: May

Price: 2 USD

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13. Deep Ellum Arts Festival

In just about 13 hours, the 24th annual Deep Ellum Arts Festival will commence. This one's for you, Barry. Come one,...

Posted by Deep Ellum Arts Festival on Thursday, 5 April 2018

Deep Ellum is a three-day event usually slated for early April, and it is where you head to when you want to experience art at its most diverse, bohemian and relaxed state. For the three days, at least six blocks on Main Street Dallas will become the venue for an enormous street festival. The festival is usually graced by more than 200 visual and decorative artists, and hundreds of original bands, songwriters, and performing artists displaying their skills in the four different stages erected for the event. The attendees will have a unique chance to sample and admire the top-notch decorative arts, purchase various pieces of arts including sculptors, paintings, leather goods, woodcrafts, murals, and many other different types of fine arts. , April

Deep Ellum Arts Festival

Address: 2900-3400 Main Street, Dallas TX 75226

Website: Deep Ellum Arts Festival

Takes place: April

Price: Free

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14. Old 97’s Country Fair [Event has passed]

Posted by Old 97's County Fair on Friday, 20 April 2018

Country Music has very strong roots in Texas and it is only befitting that there be a concert to honor this cool genre of music. The Old 97’s Country Fair is one such festival. It is an annual alternative country music event usually held on Main Street Garden. If you love country music, then this is the event worth attending for quality country music by both legendary and upcoming artists. In addition to the great music, the other major highlights of the event include a giant Ferris wheel, midway games, and a plethora of vendor booths, food trucks, and plenty of kids’ activities.

Old 97's County Fair

Address: Main Street Garden Park, Dallas, Texas, United States

Website: Old 97’s County Fair

Takes place: April

Price: 65 USD

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15. Savor Dallas [Event has passed]

Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account


The Savor Dallas is a unique festival that usually takes place in early April every year. The festival brings together top chefs and restaurants from the Dallas region for a fine display of their culinary prowess. It is a week-long event that features nightly dinners, cocktail parties, and wine and food tasting events. The venue is always Fair Park and it is a must-attend event if you are in the hospitality industry or you are foodie keen to understand the full scope of Dallas’ culinary diversity.

Savor Dallas

Address: Centennial Hall at Fair Park

Takes place: April

Price: 95 USD

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16. Viva Dallas Hispanic Expo [Event has passed]

Viva Dallas Hispanic Expo 2013

Posted by NBC 5 Community Affairs on Saturday, 3 August 2013

Viva Dallas Hispanic Expo takes place in early August, with the venue being Dallas Market Hall. It is one of the best Hispanic expositions you will find in Southwest – a major crowd-puller known to attract at least 40,000 visitors every year. The exposition is to showcase a variety of popular Hispanic attractions designed to suit the needs of families. The major showcases include health services, free health screenings, lots of Hispanic entertainment, foods, and consumer goods. This is another interesting family-friendly festival you can’t miss.

Viva Dallas Hispanic Expo

Address: Dallas Market Hall, Dallas, Texas, USA

Takes place: August

Price: Free

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Dance, eat and make merry with the top festivals in Dallas

Permian High School, Texas (USA) - St. Patrick's Festival (Dublin)
Source: Photo by user William Murphy used under CC BY-SA 2.0

These are some of the leading events worth attending in Dallas. They are the best way to get a good grasp of the cultural diversity of Dallas, appreciate the art scenes, and also enjoy the region’s culinary diversity. If Texas is your next destination, therefore, check the above list for the dates of the top festivals in Dallas, Texas so that you know the ones you may attend and adjust your itinerary accordingly.

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Any must-sees we missed? Tell us about them in the comments section or write a post here to help out fellow travelers!
Disclosure: Trip101 selects the listings in our articles independently. Some of the listings in this article contain affiliate links.

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Victor firmly believes that writing is a skill anyone can develop, and he is a living testament to that philosophy. With a genuine love for writing, he finds it to be a powerful means of sharing...Read more

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