Free things to do this weekend in and around Dallas

Dallas's Top Picks for FREE family-friendly fun Friday, August 7, 2026 to Sunday, August 9, 2026

(Scroll down for full, detailed list of free weekend activities.)

• Texas America250 Reading Challenge - Texas State Library and Archives Commission - 1201 Brazos St, Austin, TX 78701, United States, August 7-9, 2026, all day

• 250 Years of Us: Amazing Race for Independence - Dallas Public Library - 1515 Young Street, Dallas, TX 75201, United States, August 7-9, 2026, all day

• Summer Clubhouse - The Colony Recreation Center - North Colony Boulevard, The Colony, TX, USA, August 7, 2026, 9 am seating, 10 am show begins

• Summer Cinema - Pleasant Grove Branch Library - 7310 Lake June Road, Dallas, TX 75217, United States, August 7, 2026, 1-3 pm

• Story Time at the Interurban Railway Museum - Interurban Railway Museum - 901 E 15th St, Plano, TX 75074, United States, August 7, 2026, 11 am

• Fan Fest - Featuring the Allen High School Escadrille Marching Band and Color Guard - Watters Creek Village - 970 Garden Park Dr, Allen, TX 75013, United States, August 7, 2026, 6:30-8 pm

• Storybook Trail: Harold the Iceberg Melts Down - Allen Public Library - 300 N Allen Dr, Allen, TX 75013, United States, August 7-9, 2026, daily

• Dallas Mayor's 30th Annual Back to School Fair - Fair Park - Dallas, TX, USA, August 7, 2026, 8 am-2 pm

• Free Movie Nights on Pegasus Lawn - Omni Dallas Hotel - 555 South Lamar Street, Dallas, TX 75202, United States, August 7, 2026, Gates open 8:00 pm, approximate start time 8:45 pm

• Summer Nights Concert Series - J.K. Sachse Park - Ranch Road, Sachse, TX, USA, August 7, 2026, 7:30 pm

• Summer Funshine Carnival - 14050 Heartside Pl, Farmers Branch, TX, USA, August 7, 2026, 2-4 pm

• Tax- Free Shopping Spree - Hillside Village Shopping Center - Farm to Market Road 1382, Cedar Hill, TX, USA, August 7-9, 2026, 10:00 am

• Stranger Things Fan Celebration Weekend - Netflix House Dallas, Galleria Dallas - Dallas Parkway, Dallas, TX, USA, August 7-9, 2026, 8:00 pm, 10:00 pm, 12:00 pm, 7:00 pm

• Angel Swim- Rowlett Wet Zone - Rowlett Wet Zone - 5304 Main Street, Rowlett, TX 75088, United States, August 8, 2026, see website

• Downtown Denison Farmers Market - 701 West Main Street, Denison, TX, USA, August 8, 2026, 9 am-Noon

• 2026 MLK Back to School Festival - Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Center - 2922 Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, Dallas, TX 75215, United States, August 8, 2026, 9 am

• Concerts by the Creek - Watters Creek Village - 970 Garden Park Dr, Allen, TX 75013, United States, August 8, 2026, 8-10 pm

• Back 2 School Giveaway and Expo - Friendship-West Baptist Church - 2020 W Wheatland Rd, Dallas, TX 75232, United States, August 8, 2026, 10 am-2 pm

• Second Saturdays at IAM - Irving Archives and Museum - 801 W Irving Blvd, Irving, TX 75060, United States, August 8, 2026, 10 am-4 pm

• Meet the Garland Fire Department - Farmers market at firewheel - 701 Horseshoe Dr, Garland, TX 75040, United States, August 8, 2026, 10 am-4 pm

• Back to School Event - Wynnewood Village - 655 W Illinois Ave, Dallas, TX 75224, United States, August 8, 2026, 10 am-2 pm

• Animal Encounter in the Nature Nook - Dogwood Canyon Audubon Center - Farm to Market Road 1382, Cedar Hill, TX 75104, United States, August 8, 2026, 11 am

• Adoption Event with Operation Kindness Humane Society - 3427 East Trinity Mills Road, Dallas, TX, USA, August 8, 2026, 11 am-2 pm

• Second Sunday Funday - Irving Arts Center - 3333 N MacArthur Blvd, Irving, TX 75062, United States, August 9, 2026, 1-4 pm

• Open Studio for Teens - Irving Arts Center - 3333 N MacArthur Blvd, Irving, TX 75062, United States, August 9, 2026, 1-4 pm

• Free Sundays at IAM - Irving Archives and Museum - 801 W Irving Blvd, Irving, TX 75060, United States, August 9, 2026, 12-4 pm