Having fun doesn’t have to cost tons of money, especially in Dallas. Parents are always looking for ways to cut costs while still offering kiddos a chance to experience fun, free and educational activities throughout their city! Luckily, D-town has no shortage of free playgrounds, museums with discounted admission, and cultural happenings that will entertain both you and your pint-sized crew. Grab the kids, press pause on your to-do list and put your wallet away—here are 20 free activities to do in Dallas with your family.
1. Play, explore or just relax at Klyde Warren Park
Visit Dallas
2012 Woodall Rodgers Fwy
Dallas, TX
Klyde Warren Park is an urban green space situated between Uptown and the Dallas Arts District. With hundreds of free activities open to the public, from yoga and recreational games to outdoor concerts and crafts, you can spend an entire day here and not spend a thing. See a calendar of upcoming events and activities on the park’s website.
When: Year round.
2. Visit the oldest art museum in Texas
Where: 3200 Darnell St, Fort Worth, TX
The Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth, which opened in 1892, has a 3,000-object collection of post-WWII paintings, sculptures, videos, photographs and prints that are sure to wow you. Admission is free every Sunday and half-price on Wednesdays. Kids under 12 are always free, though!
When: Sundays year round.
3. Browse seasonal produce
Visit Dallas
Where: Farmers Market Way, Dallas, TX
Located in the heart of downtown, the Dallas Farmers Market is an open-air pavilion where you can browse farmers’ seasonal produce, ranchers’ naturally raised meats, cheese, eggs and honey, and artisans’ breads and canned foods. There are plenty of samples to be had!
When: Friday-Sunday.
4. Take a tour through the history of Denton firefighters
Where: 332 E Hickory St, Denton, TX
At the always-free Denton’s Firefighters’ Museum, you can see a hose cart from the 1800s, equipment from a 1935 ladder truck, and original helmets and uniforms. Kids can dress like a real firefighter and pick up an authentic fire hose, too!
When: Weekdays year round.
5. Ride the McKinney Avenue Trolley
Visit Dallas
Take a ride through Dallas’ most vibrant districts in the M-Line’s air-conditioned and heated restored vintage streetcars. Hop on board at the Uptown Station (2700 Cityplace West Blvd.) or at any M-Line Trolley stops (look for the round maroon signs!). If you really enjoy your ride, you can donate to help fund the trolley system.
When: Year round.
6. Be the “I”
Look for the six-feet tall, bright blue B&G signs at various locations around Dallas, and be the “I” in BIG. Don’t forget to snap a photo!
When: Year round.
7. Witness a real(ish) cattle drive
Visit Dallas
Adjacent to the Dallas Convention Center sits Pioneer Plaza: bronze sculptures of longhorn steers being driven by three cowboys on horses, surrounded by native plants and trees and a flowing stream. Walk through the life-size art installation to experience the trails that brought settlers to Dallas.
When: Year round.
8. See a silly show
Where: 13350 Dallas Parkway, Dallas, TX
Every Saturday, the Galleria Dallas and Slappy’s Puppet Playhouse provide free entertainment for children and families, including magic, comedy and music. Check out their event calendar for show times and scheduled acts.
When: Saturdays year round.
9. Learn about the history of Dallas
Visit Dallas
Founders Plaza is an open park area in the center of downtown Dallas where you can see the Old Red Courthouse, John Neely Bryan Cabin, Kennedy Memorial and a terrazzo map of Dallas County in the 1800s. It’s full of Dallas history and doesn’t cost a dime.
When: Year round.
10. Get outside
Where: 7171 Mountain Creek Pkwy, Dallas, TX
Twenty minutes from downtown Dallas is Cedar Ridge Preserve. A 600-acre nature preserve with nine miles of hiking trails, native trees, grasses and wildflowers, wild animals, butterfly gardens and picnic areas. It’s free to go, though a donation of $3 is appreciated.
When: Year round, closed Mondays.
11. Browse art at the Dallas Museum of Art
Visit Dallas
Where: 1717 N Harwood St, Dallas, TX
The DMA features more than 24,000 works of art from all cultures and time periods—that’s 5,000 years of human creativity to explore for free whenever you’d like.
When: Daily from 11am-5pm, closed Mondays. General admission is free; special exhibition admission is $16 for adults but free for kids 11 and under.
12. Explore the Trinity River
Hike or bike down the 4.6-mile Trinity Skyline Trail, play on the Ronald Kirk Pedestrian Bridge and see the beautiful Dallas skyline from Trinity Overlook Park.
When: Year round.
13. Get festive
Check out Dallas’ many free arts festivals in different neighborhoods around town, like Deep Ellum Arts Festival, Cottonwood Art Festival, Arts in the Square and Main Street Fort Worth Arts Festival.
When: Spring.
14. Play at White Rock Lake
Visit Dallas
Where: Dallas, Dallas, TX
Get outdoors and get active at White Rock Lake, where you can bike, run, walk, kayak, canoe, paddle board, fish and play (there are five playgrounds!). And when the crew gets hungry, go to one of the lake’s three official picnic spots or lay down a blanket wherever you are for a snack break.
When: Year round.
15. Listen to live music
Where: 2301 FLORA ST, Dallas, TX
The Dallas Symphony Orchestra, “everyone’s orchestra,” is committed to spreading the joy of music to its community, which is exactly why they present the Parks Concerts—free outdoor performances, hosted throughout Dallas.
When: Check out the concert schedule at mydso.com.
16. Enjoy a movie under the stars.
Bring your own blankets and chairs for live entertainment and a movie screening in the streets of West Village. Flicks often include family favorites like Jurassic Park, E.T., Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Art, and La La Land.
When: The third Wednesday of the month, June through October.
17. Head to Target First Saturdays
Visit Dallas
Where: 2001 Flora Street, Dallas, TX
Target First Saturdays at the Nasher Sculpture Center is a monthly family day designed to help your kids tap into their artistic side. With a lineup of creative activities like crafts, scavenger hunts and story time, your kids are sure to leave with a renewed love for art.
When: The first Saturday of every month from 10am-5pm.
18. Take a stroll on Katy Trail.
Jog, walk, bike or skate down the Katy Trail’s pedestrian and bike trails; start at Airline Road (north), American Airlines Center (south), or at any access point or entrance plaza in between (check out the map at katytraildallas.org).
When: Year round.
19. Grab some binoculars and go birding.
Where: 6500 Great Trinity Forest Way, Dallas, TX
At the Trinity River Audubon Center, you can enjoy five miles of nature-viewing trails through bottomland hardwood forests, wetland and prairie ecosystems, and along the Trinity River. Bring your binoculars (or borrow theirs) because the center is a reclaimed sanctuary (it used to be an illegal dump site!) for birds and other wildlife. Don’t forget to check out the butterfly garden and hands-on exhibits, too.
When: The third Thursday of every month from 9am-4pm.
20. Visit some steers
City of Fort Worth
Where: Stockyards Blvd, Fort Worth, TX
Make your way to Fort Worth’s Stockyards National Historic District to see a genuine cattle drive. Twice a day every day, real cowhands drive a herd of Texas longhorns down Exchange Avenue, and you can watch from the sidewalks and restaurants near the Visitor Center. You can even go visit the steers in their pens between drives.
When: Daily at 11:30am and 4pm (weather permitting).
