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arts entertainmentThings to Do

Free things to do every day of the week in Dallas-Fort Worth

From longhorn cattle to Samurais, budget-friendly fun is easy to find.

Editor’s note: We’ve updated this list for Winter 2022 because free fun is always in season.

We’ve rounded up some sure bets for fun that’ll cost you nothing (we’ve focused on repeating free events for this list, though we have plenty of other options for you to try).

Be sure to check ahead for weather-related cancellations, holiday closings or potential rescheduling due to COVID safety. And although admission is free, several venues require that visitors reserve timed tickets in advance. Check the websites for details before you hit the road.

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The historic Green Dragon trolley prepares to leave the Uptown Station. The McKinney Avenue...
The historic Green Dragon trolley prepares to leave the Uptown Station. The McKinney Avenue Trolley is a free jaunt that little kids might find particularly appealing.(Jeffrey McWhorter / Special Contributor)
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Every day

Fort Worth Herd Cattle Drive Check out what’s billed as the world’s only twice-daily municipal cattle drive at 11:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. It’s in the Fort Worth Stockyards (a good place to watch from is in front of the Stockyards Visitor Center).

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McKinney Avenue Trolley Take a free ride aboard the trolley for a charming, relaxing way to see Uptown and a bit of downtown Dallas. There are stops close to Klyde Warren Park and the Dallas Arts District, as well as the shopping and dining of Uptown.

Klyde Warren Park activities Sure, there are plenty of attractions at this popular 5.2-acre Dallas park, including the Children’s Park playground, a dog park and lots of green space. But this list is geared toward events, and the park has something scheduled every day of the week. Options include yoga classes, skyline tours, dancing in the park and much more.

Fort Worth Water Gardens Designed by Philip Johnson, this urban park features all sorts of cascading and falling water. It was featured in the movie Logan's Run.

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A bullfrog peers above the water in a display at the Trinity River Audubon Center, where...
A bullfrog peers above the water in a display at the Trinity River Audubon Center, where admission is free on the third Thursday of each month.(Michael Ainsworth / Staff Photographer)

Thursdays

Meadows Museum Admission to the museum is free on Thursdays after 5 p.m. This Southern Methodist University gem houses what’s billed as one of the largest and most comprehensive collections of Spanish art outside Spain.

JumpstArt Stories and Art Check out stories and related art projects for ages 2 and up on the first Thursday of each month at 10 a.m. at the Irving Arts Center.

Fridays

Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth The museum offers free admission each Friday. Japanese architect Tadao Ando designed the building, which houses post-World War II art in various media.

Saturdays

Showtime Saturdays Galleria Dallas hosts a colorful selection of children’s performers on Saturdays at 11:30 a.m., near the Children’s Play Place and Nordstrom.

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Nasher Sculpture Center The museum offers free admission on the first Saturday of each month, when it also hosts its free virtual family event called Free First Saturdays @ Home. The urban retreat, designed by Renzo Piano, is a repository of modern sculpture and houses the celebrated collection of Raymond and Patsy Nasher. Be sure to check out the tranquil garden.

Sundays

Second Sunday Funday Kids and adults can do art projects together at the Irving Arts Center's monthly program.

Third Sunday Open House Frisco Heritage Center hosts activities and an opportunity to tour its historic buildings on the third Sunday of most months.

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Various days

Art museum admissions General admission to the Dallas Museum of Art, the Crow Collection of Asian Art and the African American Museum in Dallas, as well as the Kimbell Art Museum and the Amon Carter Museum of American Art in Fort Worth, is always free (they’re all open every day except for Mondays).

The Samurai Collection features samurai armor on (fake) horses.
The Samurai Collection features samurai armor on (fake) horses.(Ron Baselice / The Dallas Morning News)

The Samurai Collection This small downtown Dallas site features masks, horse and warrior armor, weaponry and more, covering some 10 centuries of craftsmanship with objects dating from the 10th through 19th centuries. It’s open every day except for Mondays. (Pro tip: It’s on the second floor of the St. Ann building, which also contains a restaurant.)