Free Things To Do & See In Dallas

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Designed by architect Philip Johnson and dedicated in 1970. The “open tomb” style symbolizes the freedom of JFK’s spirit, and gives visitors a space for reflection and remembrance. Within walking distance is Dealey Plaza, the site of John F. Kennedy’s assassination on Nov. 22, 1963. 

John F. Kennedy Memorial and Dealey Plaza 

Dealey Plaza | 411 Elm St.

John F. Kennedy Memorial | 646 Main St.     

214-747-6600 

www.jfk.org/the-assassination/history-of-john-f-kennedy-memorial-plaza/

The mission of the DFACP is to enrich and enhance the quality of life for North Texas area residents, especially families and children, through FREE concerts of classical music and educational activities.

Dallas Fine Arts Chamber Players

3630 Harry Hines Boulevard | Dallas

214-520-2219 | www.fineartschamberplayers.org

Featuring 70 bronze steers and three bronze trail riders by artist Robert Summers, this larger-than-life cattle drive sculpture is situated on the actual Shawnee Trail drive of the 1850s, located in front of the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center.

Pioneer Plaza Cattle Drive

Downtown, Young & Griffin Streets

 1428 Young Street | Dallas | 214-953-1184

www.texastrees.org/resources/pioneer-plaza/

Visitors can spot this square easily in downtown by the beautiful, white spiral Chapel that breaks up the angular lines of the office buildings around it. Attracting thousands of visitors each year, the Thanks-Giving Foundation promotes the unifying spirit of giving thanks to communities near and far, and welcomes people of all nations, cultures and religions.

Thanks-Giving Square

1627 Pacific Avenue | Dallas

214-969-1977 | www.thanksgiving.org

Dallas City Hall is one of the most distinctive and iconic structures in town. Designed by Pritzker Prize-winning architect I.M. Pei, the inverted wedge shape is a site to see and also features a 7-acre plaza with sculptures by Henry Moore.

City Hall

1500 Marilla Street | Dallas

214-670-3011 |  www.dallasparks.org/ 

This free, self-guided tour is a 3.3-mile route highlighting 30 pieces of art and architecture in the Arts District and downtown. See classic architecture, contemporary sculptures, Dallas icons and everything in between.

Public Artwalk Dallas

2001 Flora Street | Dallas

 https://maps.roadtrippers.com/us/dallas-tx/points-of-interest/public-artwalk-dallas 

On the bottom floor of the free Crow Collection of Asian Art in the Arts District sits a shaded sculpture garden with a serene atmosphere, featuring 15 historical and contemporary Asian sculptures as well as vegetation, manicured trees and more.

Sculpture Garden - Crow Collection

2001 Flora Street | Dallas

214-979-6440 | http://www.crowmuseum.org/ 

At The Ann & Gabriel Barbier-Mueller Museum—Nestled in a unique location on the second floor of the Saint Ann restaurant and bar, this collection includes Japanese armor, artwork, helmets, masks, horse armor, weaponry and accessories. It’s one of the largest collections of its type in the world. Then afterward, pull up to the bar downstairs for craft beer and charcuterie.

The Ann & Gabriel Barbier-Mueller Museum

2501 North Harwood Street | Dallas 

214-965-1032 http://samuraicollection.org/index_web.html 

This nationally ranked private university is situated in the heart of central Dallas. Opened in 1915, the school is rich in Dallas history and architecture, and the campus is gorgeous. Stroll the tree-lined boulevard and beautifully manicured landscape, and visit the school’s libraries or the classic Dallas Hall—built in 1915 with a three-story rotunda.

Southern Methodist University 

6425 Boaz Lane | Dallas

 214-768-2000 | www.smu.edu

Tour the Symphony Center—Located in the Arts District, the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center was designed by Pritzker Prize winning architect, I. M. Pei, and it has impressive architectural features, open spaces, unsurpassed acoustics and is surrounded by stunning sculptures and works of art. It’s visually spectacular, and seeing it with your own two eyes does not require a concert ticket.

Meyerson Symphony Center

2301 Flora Street | Dallas

 214-670-3600 |  http://meyerson.dallasculture.org/ 

Dallas’ first public library opened in 1901 with help from Andrew Carnegie. The current locale, named after a former mayor, opened in 1982. Visitors can view not only the extensive book collection, but an original print of the Declaration of Independence (July 4, 1776), and William Shakespeare’s first folio, compiled in 1623.

Jonsson Central Library

1515 Young Street | Dallas

214-670-1400  

http://dallaslibrary2.org/central/index.php 

Take a walk through history and experience a dream that began more than four decades ago, when Mary Kay Ash set out to build a company that would give women unlimited opportunity. The cosmetics headquarters offers a free museum that showcases the accomplishments and business ideas of Mary Kay Ash, and includes a theater and Hall of Honor. Hours: Mon-Fri, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.

Mary Kay Cosmetics

16251 Dallas Parkway | Addison

972-687-5720 |  http://www.marykaymuseum.com/ 

Inspired by Italy’s famous Galleria Vittorio Emanuele, Galleria Dallas is touted by USA Today as one of the “Top 10 Places to Shop.” Featuring an impressive international collection of more than 200 shops and boutiques, Galleria Dallas sets the standard for world-class shopping. It even has a full-sized ice-skating rink, and during the holiday season it boasts the largest indoor Christmas tree in the United States.

Galleria Dallas

13350 Dallas Parkway | Dallas 

972-702-7100 | www.galleriadallas.com

At Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport—From the observation area known as Founders Plaza, visitors will see some of the 2,300 daily takeoffs and landings of the world’s fourth busiest airport. The area features long-distance binoculars, parking, a graph board to help identify different aircrafts, speaker systems featuring audio straight from the Control Tower and four picnic areas.

Founders Plaza Observation Station 

1700 Airfield Drive | DFW Airport

972-973-5270 | www.dfwairport.com/founders/

Housed in the lobby of the hospital, this is the largest permanent model train display in the country. Eight trains run simultaneously at the free exhibit that’s open 6 a.m.-10 p.m. daily.

Children’s Medical Center of Dallas

1935 Medical District Drive | Dallas

This playground seamlessly incorporates kid- and handicap-friendly structures, and earned an A” on Dallas Child's Safety Report Card. The slides are vented, there are customized ramps, tennis courts and pull-tunnels with bars for children in wheelchairs. Brightly colored brick paths help visually impaired children find their way through the play area.

Kiest Park

3080 S Hampton Road | Dallas

214-670-1918 

http://www.dallasparks.org/Facilities/

Facility/Details/Kiest-552

Seven days a week, from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., local farmers display and sell a mouth-watering selection of fresh fruit and vegetables, herbs, locally purveyed honey and nuts, and plants at the Dallas Farmers Market. It’s a perfect place for a leisurely stroll. Also check out Shed 2, where specialty products are offered, or watch a cooking demonstration.

Dallas Farmers Market

920 S Harwood Street | Dallas
https://dallasfarmersmarket.org/ 

This 5.2-acre urban deck-park is a popular, lush green space in the heart of downtown that connects Uptown with the Arts District and is a favorite among locals. Built over the Woodall Rodgers Freeway in 2012, the park features a large children’s playground area, a concert stage, free lawn games, an outdoor library, free Wi-Fi, footpaths, a dog park, free exercise classes, water fountains, food trucks and two restaurants. The area teems with people when the weather is nice, and block parties and events happen frequently.

Klyde Warren Park

2012 Woodall Rodgers Freeway | Dallas

214-716-4500 |  https://www.klydewarrenpark.org/ 

Located in the middle of central Dallas off Mockingbird Lane, White Rock Lake is a man-made water and park area built in 1911. It’s a popular destination for locals and visitors alike, and features several points of interest including Winfrey Point, Bath House Cultural Center, Big Thicket, White Rock Boat Club, White Rock Dog Park and more. A 9.3-mile paved path around the lake is perfect for running and biking, and scenic views lend themselves to picturesque picnics. For those looking to get onto the water, paddle boarding, canoeing, rowing and sailing are great options for a fun day at the lake.

White Rock Lake

8300 East Lawther Drive

Every city has supposed haunted places, and armed with a little historical knowledge and a good camera, visitors may just find something unexpected at these places around town (please note: these venues are only allegedly haunted, and may not be free admission to enter), including: Sons of Hermann Hall in Deep Ellum, Historic West End, Millermore Mansion at Old City Park, The Adolphus Hotel, Majestic Theatre, White Rock Lake, Lizard Lounge and Hotel Lawrence.

Through interactive exhibits and multimedia displays, learn about the Federal Reserve, money and the economy. Visitors will see exhibits about historical money, the founding of the FED, monetary policy, moving money and more.

Federal Reserve Bank 

2200 N Pearl Street | Dallas

214-922-6000 | https://www.dallasfed.org/

Promoting, preserving and developing Latino and Hispanic arts and culture, the Latino Cultural Center showcases local and national talent via live entertainment, film, performances, arts & crafts for kids, exhibitions and more. Most of the events are free. Please check its site for the latest happenings.

Latino Cultural Center

2600 Live Oak Street | Dallas
214-671-0050 | http://lcc.dallasculture.org/

Located on the shores of White Rock Lake, the Art Deco-style Bath House is a welcoming venue for visual and performing artists from an array of backgrounds, and houses a 116-seat black-box theater, three gallery spaces, the White Rock Lake Museum and a number of multipurpose spaces. 

Bath House Cultural Center

521 E Lawther Drive | Dallas
214-670-8749 | http://bathhouse.dallasculture.org/

For more than 20 years, the DSO has presented the Community Concerts Series throughout Dallas in the spring. These free outdoor performances include the popular Memorial Day Concert at Flagpole Hill, which is topped off by a stirring fireworks show. Other 

locations are selected on a rotating basis. 

Various locations

Dealey Plaza is a 3.1 acre special use city park in the West End district of downtown Dallas, established in 1935. It is sometimes called the "birthplace of Dallas". It also was the location of the assassination of U.S. President John F. Kennedy, on November 22, 1963.

Dealey Plaza
http://www.dallasparks.org/Facilities/Facility/Details/Dealey-Plaza-462 

At the corner of Cedar Springs Road and Hood Street, Dragon Park is privately-owned secret garden in Dallas’s Oak Lawn neighborhood, and offers a quiet reprieve from a city often mired in traffic. The entrance is shrouded in thick green trees that largely obscure it from the sidewalk and at a casual glance. Two Chinese guardian lions which sit watchfully greeting visitors with a fierce cordiality.

Dragon Park Garden
3520 Cedar Springs Road | Dallas   

214-727-9879   

Knox Henderson is one of the city’s most vibrant nightlife districts, packed with colorful Tex-Mex diners, upscale gastropubs and mellow, late-night cafes. The shopping scene centers on high-end home furnishings, both retro and contemporary, plus consignment stores for antiques and vintage fashion finds. The Katy Trail, a former railroad that’s now a popular jogging and cycling route, runs along the area’s west edge. 

Knox Henderson

Oak Lawn -Between Uptown, Lower Greenville Avenue and the town of Highland Park

Since its founding in 1966 by Mattie Caruth Byrd, The Museum of Biblical Art Dallas has greeted over 50,000 visitors annually as a beautiful space where Biblically-themed art is exhibited and boasts eleven galleries.

Museum of Biblical Art

7500 Park Lane | Dallas 

214-368-4622 |  https://www.biblicalarts.org/ 

Opened in 2003, the Nasher Sculpture Center houses the Patsy and Raymond Nasher collection of modern and contemporary sculpture. Experience one of the finest Collections of modern and contemporary sculpture in the world in a setting of unparalleled beauty. It is located on a 2.4-acre site in the Dallas Arts District.

Nasher Sculpture Center  

2001 Flora Street | Dallas |  214-242-5100

www.nashersculpturecenter.org/

The OCCC provides the residents of Oak Cliff with art and cultural experiences reflecting the diversity of the surrounding neighborhood. The renovated OCCC replaced the Ice House Cultural Center, which provided cultural services to the neighborhood for more than a decade. Participate in free theatre workshops, dance classes, art exhibits and receptions, and more.

Oak Cliff Cultural Center
223 W Jefferson Boulevard | Dallas
214-670-3777 | http://occc.dallasculture.org/

Dedicated to inspire and educate visitors about the rich and varied cultural, economic, political and social history of the Dallas County Area, it serves as a symbol of Dallas heritage. Built in 1892.

Old Red Museum of Dallas County History & Culture
100 S Houston Street | Dallas
214-757-1914 | https://www.oldred.org/