Dallas Area Entertainment

Every year Dallas throws its biggest party on the final day of the year. Big D NYE is one of the biggest and most dynamic New Year's Eve celebrations in Texas and, best of all, it's free.

Dallas is among the most popular cities in the United States. Fittingly, the Big D offers up some of the most popular festivals in Texas. From a bevy of Oktoberfests to holiday parades to the venerable State Fair of Texas, Dallas and the surrounding communities stage lively and fun festivals throughout the year.

Running for 24 days through late-September and early-October, the State Fair of Texas is the largest fair and stock show in the state. During the nearly month long event, everything from live music to carnival rides and good eats to art shows are offered. Of course, the highlight of the Fair is the annual Texas-Oklahoma football game.

Held on the Southlake Town Square, Oktoberfest is a family oriented event with plenty of activities for adults and kids alike, including the crowd pleasing Weiner Dog Race.

Held each year in downtown Fort Worth, the Sundance Square Parade of Lights features over 100 illuminated entries and climaxes with the lighting of the Fort Worth Holiday Tree.

A Dallas holiday tradition for over 20 years, the Neiman-Marcus/Adolphus Children’s Parade not only kicks off the holiday season in the Big D, it is a major fundraiser for the Children’s Medical Center in Dallas. You can get reserved seating, general admission tickets, or bring a lawn chair and sleeping bag and huddle up along the parade’s downtown route.

Held on New Year's Day, the Cotton Bowl Parade features bands and drill teams from across the United States, as well as floats and performers, all making their way through Downtown Dallas.

Claiming the title of "Largest Celtic Event in the Southwest," the North Texas Irish Festival is a three-day celebration featuring music, folk dancers, storytelling and educational programs.

Fort Worth's Mainstreet Arts Festival features over 200 artists displaying and selling their wares. The festival also features live music, street performers, food vendors and family activities.

Held in Denton on an annual basis for over seven decades, the North Texas State Fair features a rodeo, live music, games, carnival, barbecue cook-off and more.

Held over Memorial Day weekend each year for over three decades, the Dallas Art Fest features a "run for the arts," live music, children's activities and fine artists from across the country.

Held in Cottonwood Park in Richardson, just outside of Dallas, the Cottonwood Art Festival is an outdoor art festival featuring over 200 artists from across the United States, England, and Canada, as well as live music, including country, rock, jazz, blues, swing and folk.

Held at Maverick Stadium on the campus of UT-Arlington, the Texas Scottish Festival and Highland Games features dancing, athletic competitions, bagpipe band contests, dog show, fiddle and harp competitions, ethnic foods, Celtic art and more.

Held at Capernaum Village, a first century-style village in Weatherford, the Star of Bethlehem Experience is a living history style production that tells the story of origin of the Christmas season.

Held just north of Hillsboro, the Middlefaire Renaissance Festival celebrates 17th century life with a full array of English villagers, including gypsies, pirates, merchants, and tradesman. Spectators are able to tour the grounds and take part in a variety of festival activities. Primitive camping is also available onsite.

Featuring Chanel, Anne Fontaine, Hermes and other, Highland Park Village offers an upscale shopping experience for Dallas area residents and visitors.

Held annually for nearly 20 years, Richardson's Wildflower! Arts & Music Festival has developed a reputation for providing high-caliber live music. The event also boasts a songwriter school, arts & crafts sale, food court, kids corner and more.

Looking for some light-hearted laughs while in Dallas? Head over to the West End Comedy Club for an evening of live comedic entertainment.

For over 100 years, the Dallas Symphony Orchestra has brought world-class performances to the Dallas area.

Located just outside Dallas in Grapevine, Grapevine Mills Mall is chocked full of specialty shops, restaurants, a 30-screen theater and more.

The Kalita Humphreys Theater, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, presents contemporary American works. DTC also operates the Arts District Theater in downtown Dallas.

Dallas' premier shopping experience, with over 200 of the nation's finest retailers, plus an ice rink and Westin hotel.

Fort Worth's Bass Performance Hall serves as a permanent home for area performing art organizations, as well as hosting a variety of touring artists.

Trader's Village offers shoppers a blend of vendors and concessionaires blended with entertainment and attractions, so they can get "good deals in a state fair atmosphere."

Held in the Will Rogers Memorial Complex in Ft. Worth, the International Zesty Foods Show showcases a wide variety of "zesty foods."

Although natural snow is a rarity in most of Texas, each November, cities around the state receive a man-made blizzard. Austin, Dallas and Houston are among the cities have a "snow day" as part of the Texas Snowfest.