From arts and culture to sporting events and everything in between, there’s something special to do all the time in Downtown Arlington, including these upcoming events. Visitors like you help us Light Up Arlington on the daily. (See what we did there?) Join us in July, won’t you?
Austin-based singer-songwriter Bob Schneider, former frontman of The Ugly Americans and The Scabs, has become one of the most celebrated musicians in the state. His catalog is both uplifting and sober, unafraid to tackle powerful subjects like alienation, drug addiction, and lost romance, in addition to celebrating life’s joys. He has released more than a dozen albums, written over 1,000 songs, and is a published author who doesn’t plan on slowing down anytime soon. In fact, he’s doing a free show at Levitt Pavilion (100 W Abram St, 817-543-4308) on Sunday. For more info, visit DowntownArlington.org/do/free-concert-bob-schneider.
Join us for an evening of free family fun at Light Up Arlington at 6pm. This year’s celebration includes some of the top musical acts in the North Texas region, food trucks, vendors, and more. Bands will play on four stages starting at 6pm outside the Arlington Music Hall (224 N Center St) and Grease Monkey (200 N Mesquite St), 6:30pm outside of City Tower (101 S Mesquite St), and 7pm at Levitt Pavilion (100 W Abram St). Then, a 20-minute fireworks display will begin at 9:50pm set to music on 95.9 The Ranch FM.
Light Up Arlington isn’t the only way to celebrate Independence Day. Head on back to Downtown on Tuesday morning for the beloved Arlington Independence Day Parade! Started in 1965, it is one of the largest 4th of July parades in Texas, so be sure to arrive early. The parade kicks off at 9 am. Line up to see colorful floats, antique cars, marching bands, unicyclists, and other parade entries wind through Downtown. For more info about Monday night and Tuesday morning
activities, visit DowntownArlington.org/ events/light-up-arlington.
Actor Major Attaway of New York’s famed New Amsterdam Theatre is back for two nights. See The Genie’s Jukebox 8pm Fri-Sat, Jul 7-8 at Theatre Arlington (305 W Main St, 817275-7661). Attaway is here to grant all your musical wishes, “My quest to Agrabah has been nothing short of extraordinary, I’ll be posting the most magical moment!” Tickets are $25 at TheatreArlington.org.
Join Arlington Yoga Center, The Sanford House Inn & Spa, and Restaurant506 for a morning that promises to feel and taste good! At the Brunch x Yoga event from 9am to 11am, you will enjoy an outdoor practice with plenty of room to social distance in the lush and green Grand Courtyard of the Sanford House Inn (506 N Center St, 817861-2129). It starts with an all-level, outdoor practice followed by delicious brunch noms from Restaurant506. Tickets are $20 on Eventbrite.com and include an hour of yoga, a free mimosa, and 10% off brunch at the Sanford House. BYOM (Bring your own mat) and water. Be sure to call in for a reservation at Restaurant 506 to ensure a table right after yoga. Tickets are limited, so pre-registration IS required.
The absolute best trivia on Wednesdays is held by Pub Guys Trivia at Division Brewing (506 E Main St, 682-276-1276). Come compete against and meet some of the smartest people in North Texas in a friendly, welcoming environment with some of the best beer made in Texas.
Born and raised in Kentucky farm country, country artist John Conlee grew up plowing fields, slopping hogs, harvesting grain, raising tobacco and tending cattle. He began his crusade to save the family farm system several years ago, performing a concert in Omaha, Nebraska in June 1985 as a benefit for the National Farmers Organization. So naturally, when Willie Nelson announced his plans for the Farm Aid concerts, Conlee offered his services and over the course of nine different Farm Aid events has helped raise 13 million dollars to aid the family farmer. He is
a gifted entertainer, but would rather spend his “off the road” time working on his 32 acre farm outside of Nashville. But lucky for us, he’s touring and his show is headed to Arlington Music Hall (224 N Center St, 817-226-4400) at 8pm. Tickets are $20-$80 on Eventbrite.com.
Tylor Swift made a major impact during her three-night concert series in Arlington this spring. Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour Collection at the Arlington Museum of Art (201 W Main St, 817-275-4600) explores Swift as an evolving, boundary-pushing artist. The exhibition will feature original costumes, photographs, videos, and more representing several of her creative periods, or “eras.” The exhibit can be seen 10am-5pm daily thru Sun, Sept 24. Tickets are $20 at ArlingtonMuseum.org.
The folks at Arlington Museum of Art are also presenting Girl in a Country Song: Women of Country Music, featuring rarely-seen photographs of country music legends, including Loretta Lynn, Dolly Parton, Faith Hill, Tanya Tucker, Patsy Cline, and LeAnn Rimes by award-winning celebrity photographer Raeanne Rubenstein. Also, check out the Hometown Harmonies exhibit, featuring personal memorabilia from celebrated musical artists Mickey Guyton, Maren Morris, and Kirstin Maldonado. Admission to Girl in a Country Song and Hometown Harmonies is included in your ticket to see Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour Collection. For more info, visit ArlingtonMuseum.org
PRESENTED BY
Have a Willie Great 4th of July!
BY JENNIFER BOVEE
Fort Worth’s Fourth, one of the largest fireworks shows in the area, will light up the Trinity River at Panther Island Pavilion (395 Purcey St, 817-698-0700) on Tue, Jul 4. General admission is free. For information about activities and times, check out FortWorthFourth.com. Beyond the Fort, there are tons of other things to do.
Arlington hosts its annual Light Up Arlington event on Mon, Jul 3. For a full rundown of everything, turn the page and check out this week’s center spread sponsored by Downtown Arlington Inc. or visit DowtownArlington.org.
For Flower Mound’s Independence Fest 2023 (5pm-10:30pm Tue, Jul 4), the Eli Young Band — famous for “Crazy Girl” and “Drunk Last Night” — will perform at Bakersfield
Park (1201 Duncan Ln, Flower Mound, 972-955-7328). Get there early as there are activities all day long, including a children’s parade, a vintage car show, a shopping area with local vendors, and fireworks at the end. This event is free to attend. For more info, visit Flower-Mound.com/Festival.
Weatherford also has Texas country on the agenda for the town’s annual Spark in the Park event. From 6pm to 10pm Tue, Jul 4, head to Heritage Park (317 Santa Fe Dr, 817598-4124) for a free concert by Pat Green followed by fireworks with choreographed music broadcast on KMQX/102.5 and 88.5 FM.
If you’re looking to get away from the heat — like far, far away — Visit Denver invites you to the Mile High City, where the weather is cooler, for a Fan Expo (comics, sci-fi, and more) FriSun, the Cherry Creek Arts Festival Sat-Sun, and Independence Eve on Mon, Jul 3, at Civic Center Park. For details, visit Denver.org.
And then there’s Willie Nelson
While Dallas does have free fireworks 4:30pm-10pm Tue, Jul 4, at Fair Park (3921 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd, 469-945-3247), you should start the party with a concert on Friday. The Outlaw Music Festival begins at 4:35pm at Dos Equis Pavilion (3839 S Fitzhugh Av, 214-421-1111) with Willie Nelson, Flatland Cavalry, Whiskey Myers, Brittney Spencer, and more. Tickets start at $35 at LiveNation.com.
You can also see Willie at the annual Willie Nelson & Family 4th of July Picnic in Austin at 2pm Tue, Jul 4, at Q2 Stadium (10414 Mc Kalla Pl, 512-572-8932). Along with the guest of honor, this 50th-anniversary celebration features special guests Tyler Childers and Dwight Yoakam with Asleep at the Wheel, Sierra Ferrell, Particle Kid, Shakey Graves, and Shane Smith & The Saints. Tickets start at $49 at SeatGeek.com.
If you’ve never seen Willie Nelson live, do it sooner than later. I hate to be the one to break it to you, but Willie just turned 90. We have only a few summers left to party with the Red Headed Stranger. Just this month, a concert film celebrating his 90th birthday came out in theaters. For more on that, visit WillieNelson90Experience.com.
With a potential four-day weekend at your disposal, why not be an adventurer? Get out there and explore all the food finds that July Fourth brings. Below are some great options.
1.) See that glorious pie in the picture? If you act fast, you can get your hands on one for this weekend for $38. Preordering the Miss Fourth of July Pie is open thru the end of the day today (Wed, Jun 28) at Sweet Lucy’s Pies (3520 Bluebonnet Cr, Fort Worth, 817-727-6009). This Southern-red buttermilk pie is infused with TX Whiskey, layered with a mixed berry filling, baked in a traditional crust, then decorated with white frosting and blue sprinkles. Place your order at SweetLucysPies.com or call.
2.) The Cleburne Railroaders, an MLB minor league partner team, have six home games coming up at The Depot (1906 Brazzle Blvd, Cleburne, 817-945-8705). Every game has its own special flair. Tonight and Wed, Jul 5, are Dollar Hot Dog Nights. On Thursday, enjoy a $3 Hop & Sting Beer. Friday Night Fireworks happen next, sponsored by La Moderna. Sunday is Military Appreciation Night. Along with military personnel, kids also get in free. Then, there are the Fourth of July fireworks at the end of the game on Tuesday. Tickets start at $18 at ILoveBaseball.com.
3.) Don’t forget your #FurryFriends this weekend. Three Dog Bakery in Arlington (817 E Lamar Blvd, 817-795-3165) and Mansfield (3300 E Broad St, Ste 142, 817592-3531) have Inde-Paw-Dence Day Meals for dogs that have been taste-tested by a Corgi named Violet. For $17.76 per meal, your pup can enjoy a corndog, “pawtato” fries, a flag cookie, apple pie, and a personalized bone cookie. Call to order in advance. Pickup days will be Sat-Tue. For more details, follow Facebook.com/3DogArlington.
4.) The Stockyards are celebrating America’s birthday now thru Tuesday. On Mon, Jul 3, and Tue, Jul 4, enjoy free flags and $4 Shiners. Events include the PBR Stockyards Showcase 7:30pm Thu, Stockyards Championship Rodeo 7:30pm Fri and 1:30pm SatSun, and the Bullfighters Only Showdown II 8pm Sat at the Cowtown Coliseum (121 E Exchange Av, Fort Worth, 817-625-1025). There’s also music by Salt Creek, Proud
Country, Monty Dawson, and DJ Luv FriMon.
5.) Many Friday nights throughout the year, the Palace Theatre (300 S Main St, Grapevine, 817-410-3100), a restored 1940s-era cinema, shows a variety of classic films. The First Friday Film Series features blockbusters and fan favorites. Just in time to get out of the heat, the original Jurassic Park screens at 7:30pm Fri for $6. There is much to see and do near the theater, including eating at some great restaurants. If you bring a sameday receipt to the Palace from any Grapevine restaurant, you will receive complimentary popcorn at the concession stand. For more info on this and other July Fourth weekend festivities, visit GrapevineTexasUSA.com.
6.) Klyde Warren Park (2012 Woodall Rodgers Fwy, Dallas, 214-716-4500) is celebrating Independence Day 7pm-10pm Sat. Along with the family-fun games, live music from Angel White with Prophets & Outlaws, and citywide pyrotechnic display synced to a curated playlist by Dallas native DJ Lucy Wrubel, there will be a ton of food trucks. The event is free to attend, but bring some cash to try The Butcher’s Son, Cone Creamery, Fletcher’s Original Corny Dogs, Greek Lover, Halal Mother Truckers, Palmer’s Hot Chicken, Serious Salads, Sushi Dojo, Taste of Cuba, What’s the Flava, or Yummy Pizza. For more information, visit KlydeWarrenPark.org.
7.) On Sat, Jul 8, from 8am to 4pm, the 38th Annual Parker County Peach Festival sweetens up Historic Downtown Weatherford. Along with 200-plus activities, arts and crafts opportunities, and food-but-notpeaches vendors, there are tons of peaches to try. Get your fill of homemade peach cobbler, ice cream, pie, smoothies, and fresh peaches. Tickets are $10 at PeachFestivalTX.com.
8.) Above all else, spend the holiday with family and friends at the many local, independent businesses around North Texas. That’s what we Weeklyteers will be up to Mon-Tue. Not working. Nope. Not doing it. Like many of you, we will enjoy a four-day weekend, then tumble into the workweek early Wednesday. (Translation: The Weekly offices will be closed for the holiday. Next week’s paper will be put to bed a day late and
By Jennifer Bovee