Kylde Warren Park offers free yoga classes year round. Photo by Joi Louviere
When you hear the reasons why people love North Texas, residents and visitors alike will tell you that there’s so much to do in the area. Nightlife, parks, shopping, dining, the artsy activities, and a respectable live music scene—DFW has grown in popularity because it’s a fun place to be.
If you’re on a budget, or just going through the adjustments of a looming recession, a bustling metro can still leave you feeling locked out of the fun. So many of the best activities require a significant amount of money — and while a splurge might happen from time to time, North Texans need options for enjoying their cities without sacrificing bill money. Here are some activities that are a whole lotta fun and cost next to nothing.
Free concerts at Levitt Pavilion
Arlington’s Levitt Pavilion offers free concerts and events year-round thanks to sponsorships from local businesses and organizations. The venue’s mission is to offer culturally diverse concerts, and you’ll find a variety of big name artists and local acts. Better still, there’s free parking all around the pavilion. Check out their never-ending list of events here.
Tank and the Bangers performed at Levitt Pavilion in October of 2023. Photo by Joi Louviere
Dallas Museum of Art- First Sundays
The DMA is one of the most popular museums in the state, offering exhibits, live music, kids camps, and ticketed events. But on the first Sunday of every month, admission is free. You don’t need to reserve a ticket and you’ll have access to every exhibit. And let’s not forget the important fact that the museum has air conditioning—museum summers are highly recommended.
Free kids shows at Galleria Dallas
From art classes, hula dancing, and clown shows, Galleria Dallas has free events for children every single Saturday. All of them happen on the third floor, near the Play Place, and registration isn’t required.
Dollar Day at Lone Star Park
You’ll be off to the races without breaking the bank at Lone Star Park’s Dollar Days. Enjoy the horse races at the Grand Prairie track for a general admission ticket of just $1. Snacks and drinks are also $1 these days. The next Dollar Day is July 14.
Shop pay-by-donation art supply store
Used art supply store Pegus Creative Reuse in Oak Cliff, Dallas is a unique spot where the entire stock of supplies has been donated by community members. Scrapbook paper, yarn, fabric, and stamps, this store has a little bit of everything and at checkout, you choose how much you want to pay.
Free events at the AT&T Performing Arts Center
The AT&T Performing Arts Center is a reliable resource for free festivals, concerts, and community events surrounding heritage months, holidays, and music and arts appreciation. There are also often food trucks with bites for purchase, but attendance is completely free.
Kimbell Art Museum
Did you know that the Kimbell Art Museum in Fort Worth is free? The museum started as a place to display a local couple’s British and French portrait collection and now features 350 works of art from the third millennium B.C. to the mid-20th century. They also have free parking in all their lots.
Dallas Aquatics Spraygrounds
Spraygrounds, or outdoor mini waterparks, are all around the city of Dallas and they’re 100 percent free. They’re the perfect way to keep children entertained and cool on the hot, summer days. There are 17 different locations with slightly different hours, but they’re all open daily and until 8 p.m.
Pay-what-you-can yoga classes
Black Swan Yoga’s mission is to offer accessible, affordable yoga classes to the community and they’ve definitely achieved that with their donation-based pay system. They take cash or card or you can make your donation in advance online. They offer a membership that still feels like a steal, with unlimited classes at any studio across the country for $98 a month. But hey, if all you can afford to give that day is $5 —no one’s judging.
Free karaoke at Legacy Hall
On Thursday nights, head to Plano’s Legacy Hall for free karaoke with a live band in their courtyard. You can sign up to perform between 7-10 p.m. and if you don’t mind spending a few coins, the food hall inside is ready to serve you dinner.
The African American Museum
If you’ve never visited the African American Museum at Fair Park, you’re missing out on so much history about Black experience in Dallas and beyond. And to really make sure you have no excuse to miss this North Texas attraction, it’s free to enter, as long as you don’t have a group that’s larger than ten people.
Dallas Zoo Dollar Days
Dollar Days bless Dallas Zoo lovers twice every summer. Admission these days is $1 per person. There are $1, $2, and $3 food and drink options, but you’re also able to bring your own snacks to cut costs even further. This summer’s Dollar Days are July 17 and August 5. You’ll want to book online as soon as possible—these days sell out fast.
See flamingos at the Dallas Zoo. Photo by Joi Louviere
Kayak in McKinney for the low
Kayaking is made super accessible at Towne Lake Park in McKinney. It costs just $3 to access your own kayak to launch into the lake and then you’ll be charged $3 for every 30 minutes you’re using it. This rental process is all automated, so no human interaction required. Introverts, you’re welcome!
Third Tuesdays at the Dallas Arboretum
The gorgeous Dallas Arboretum does away with entry fees on the third Tuesday of every month, giving you full access to 66-acre manicured gardens. SNAP and EBT recipients are able to access the gardens for free every day of the year.
Strekoza2/ Getty Images
$2 Admission at the Stockyards Museum
If you’re in your cowboy era and want to know more about Fort Worth’s rich cattle history, it’ll only cost you two bucks. Step back in time at one of Cowtown’s landmark attractions and then walk right outside to watch the cattle drive reenactment. History buffs, be prepared to ascend!
Free everything at Klyde Warren Park
You may have never realized that Kylde Warren Park is a nonprofit, so the park is all about connecting locals in a beautifully designed green space in the heart of Dallas. Part of providing accessibility is offering free events to better engage people in the space and this park has a ton of opportunities you can take advantage of like live music, fitness classes, movies on the lawn, and so many interactive activities to engage children.
But what about transportation?
Now that your mind is spinning with ideas, here are a few more free finds to consider. We can’t pretend that driving and parking don’t impact our budgets, so to make these cheapskate days even better, consider free transportation options.
The McKinney Ave. Trolley
This trolley runs daily through Uptown and Downtown Dallas and you can jump on and off as much as you want. It has specific stops for Klyde Warren Park, the Dallas Museum of Art, and other popular attractions.
Getting around Fort Worth
Downtown Fort Worth’s Molly the Trolley was recently suspended, but it’s been replaced with a blue line bus that transports people to some of Fort Worth’s most iconic attractions for free. You can also use this bus to connect to an orange line bus that will take you to the Stockyards for no cost.
Looking for more free activities? See what your Dallas library card offers.
