DOG DAYS AT THE DALLAS ZOO
The Dallas Zoo is hosting its first-ever Dog Days event, welcoming guests to bring their canine companions. The zoo has created a path through the grounds that’s meant to allow the dogs and their owners to see as much of the zoo as possible while maintaining a positive environment for the zoo animals. Those who plan to bring a dog are asked to sign a waiver ahead of the event. Guests are limited to one pet per human visitor, and tickets must be purchased online, in advance.
Feb. 27 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Dallas Zoo. General admission is $22 for ages 12-64, $19 for seniors 65 and up and youths ages 3-11, and free for ages 2 and under. $22 per dog. dallaszoo.com/dog-days.
Grace Horgan, 5, fed a giraffe at the Dallas Zoo on Jan. 21. The zoo is preparing to host its first-ever Dog Days event.
Shafkat Anowar / Staff Photographer
News Roundups
TULIPALOOZA
This tulip festival returns for its eighth year, with hundreds of thousands of tulip bulbs imported from the Netherlands. And this year, daffodils will be added to the mix as well. The colorful rows of flowers will make for an Instagram-ready photo backdrop, and guests can also pick flowers to take home. A portion of the proceeds will benefit local charities.
Feb. 27 to March 15 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily at Getzendaner Memorial Park in Waxahachie. $15 for ages 13 and up, $5 for ages 5-12 and free for younger kids. Seniors 65 and older get in for $10 on March 4. tulipalooza.org.
Tulipalooza runs Feb. 27 to March 15 at Getzendaner Memorial Park in Waxahachie.
Lauren Zoucha Photography
GRAND PRAIRIE BLACK FILM AND WRITERS FESTIVAL
Close out Black History Month at this festival, which celebrates Black storytellers in film and literature. Guests can attend movie screenings, meet authors and filmmakers, and join panel discussions on creative excellence. Those who purchase VIP tickets can attend a special reception.
Feb. 28 from 1 to 9 p.m. at Uptown Theater in Grand Prairie. Film workshops for teens and adults are free. Movie screenings are $7.07 for a single entry, $22.87 for a four-movie bundle, or $54.49 for VIP. eventbrite.com.
BANKHEAD FILM FESTIVAL
Celebrate and support student cinema at this second annual festival in downtown Garland. The Bankhead Film Festival will showcase student films from the Garland Independent School District. This year, the festival is divided into two sessions: one for elementary and middle school student films, and a second for high school student films. Students will have a chance to walk the red carpet from 5:15 to 5:45 p.m., before the high school screening. Audience members can vote on their favorite films, and awards will be handed out after the screenings.
Feb. 28 at 1 p.m. (elementary and middle school screening) and 6 p.m. (high school screening) at the Plaza Theatre in downtown Garland. $5. prekindle.com.
Viral internet sensation There I Ruined It has taken its tunes to the stage.
Jessica Waffles / There I Ruined It
‘THERE I RUINED IT LIVE’
Amid the depths of the COVID-19 pandemic, Dallas musician Dustin Ballard unleashed his inner mad scientist. Labeling his experiments There I Ruined It, he turned “Shallow,” by Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper, into a polka tune. He made an AI-powered Conway Twitty sing 50 Cent’s “In Da Club.” He gave Miley Cyrus a Soviet swagger for “Party in the USSR.” And somehow, it worked. Ballard’s songs went viral, racking up millions of views on social media. And then the 1999 Denton High School graduate decided to take those tunes to the stage, assembling a band versatile enough to play his warped creations live. Catch them in their latest show, as they “lovingly destroy your favorite songs.”
March 1 at 8 p.m. at AM/FM in Dallas. Tickets start at $38.66. eventim.us.
BUTTERFLIES IN THE GARDEN
Last week, we told you about Dallas Blooms returning to the Dallas Arboretum. This week, we have another sign of spring’s imminent arrival: Butterflies in the Garden is back at the Fort Worth Botanic Garden. The garden’s Rainforest Conservatory is being transformed into a habitat for thousands of butterflies from around the world, including the electric-blue Instagram star Blue Morpho and the massive Atlas Moth, whose wingspan can reach nearly a foot across. Venture into this living kaleidoscope of color and learn all about the importance of pollinating insects.
March 1 to April 30 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily at the Fort Worth Botanic Garden. $12 for ages 16-64, $10 for seniors 65 and older, $8 for children ages 3-15, and free for younger kids. For a combo ticket that includes access to the butterflies and the full garden, it’s $22 for adults, $20 for seniors and $12 for children. fwbg.org/events/butterflies-in-the-garden.
EXOTIC CAR SHOW
FREE See some of the world’s most sought-after automobiles at this show in Grapevine, presented by North Texas exotic car club Hoctane Rally. Whether you’re a diehard performance enthusiast or simply a casual observer who appreciates a nice-looking car, you’ll find plenty of jaw-dropping vehicles at this gathering of dozens of supercars. Highlights include a Lamborghini Aventador SVJ Roadster, a Ford GT, the new Ford Mustang GTD and the new Chevrolet Corvette ZR1X, along with crowd favorites like various Ferrari, McLaren, Porsche, Aston Martin, Mercedes-Benz, Audi and BMW models. While you’re there, grab lunch at one of Harvest Hall’s chef-driven restaurants.
March 1 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Peace Plaza at Harvest Hall in Grapevine. Free. eventbrite.com.
Grandscape in The Colony is celebrating Texas Independence Day on March 1.
Grandscape
TEXAS INDEPENDENCE DAY CELEBRATION
Country singer Kayley Green will perform at the Texas Independence Day celebration at Grandscape in The Colony.
Matthew Berinato
FREE Texas Independence Day is March 2, but why not get a jump on celebrating a day early at this family-friendly event in The Colony. Live music from Denton folk singer-songwriter Sarah Carrino and South Carolina country singer Kayley Green will keep things lively as guests enjoy a vendor market, face painting, mechanical bull riding, barbecue and other expressions of Lone Star State pride. A fireworks show will close out the evening.
March 1 from 4 to 8 p.m. at the Corona Stage and Lawn at Grandscape in The Colony. Free. grandscape.com.
KYM WHITLEY
Veteran comedian and actress Kym Whitley is bringing her sharp storytelling and larger-than-life personality to Arlington. Known for scene-stealing roles in TV shows like My Brother and Me, Sparks, The Parkers and The Boondocks, Whitley draws heavily on family life, Hollywood experiences and unapologetic self-reflection for her stand-up act. Her film credits include Next Friday, Deliver Us From Eva, Black Dynamite, Hubie Halloween and Happy Gilmore 2. Catch her mix of bold punchlines and relatable humor in a quintet of 18-and-up shows.
March 5 at 7:30 p.m., March 6 at 7:30 and 9:45 p.m., and March 7 at 7 and 9:30 p.m. at the Arlington Improv in Arlington. Tickets start at $31.40. improvtx.com/arlington.
The Dallas Arboretum’s popular Dallas Blooms festival runs through April 12.
Jasmine Anwer
DALLAS BLOOMS
The largest annual floral festival in the Southwest returns, with more than 500,000 blooming bulbs planted throughout the gardens of the Dallas Arboretum. Welcome spring with colorful tulips, daffodils, hyacinths and other seasonal favorites. In addition to expansive floral displays, Dallas Blooms offers a lineup of seasonal programming. Highlights include the annual Orchid Show through March 7, showcasing rare and exotic orchids in a climate-controlled indoor setting; the Garden Chef Series through April 5, where local chefs will share seasonal recipes on Fridays and Saturdays at 11 a.m., noon and 1 p.m.; and the Creative Arts Series through March 31, an arts-focused program featuring live performances and creative showcases. Check the arboretum website for a full schedule of events.
Through April 12 at the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden. Open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Adult admission is $21.95-$25.95, depending on the day. For children ages 2-12, admission is $17.95-$21.95. Free for younger kids. dallasarboretum.org.
FORT WORTH MUSIC FESTIVAL AND CONFERENCE
Enjoy a weekend of live music spread across multiple venues in the Fort Worth Stockyards at this fourth annual event. Dozens of artists will perform, including Josh Weathers, Stoney LaRue, Jack Ingram, Tracy Byrd, the Josh Abbott Band, Wade Bowen, Ray Wylie Hubbard and Larry Joe Taylor. The conference will cover a number of topics relevant to musical artists, venue operators, and festival and event promoters. Check the website for the full schedule of events.
Through March 1 at various venues in the Fort Worth Stockyards. General admission is $35 on Feb. 27-28 and $16 on March 1. A conference-only admission ticket is $50. Free for ages 12 and under. Multi-day and VIP tickets are also available. fortworthmusicfestival.com.
The Josh Abbott Band will perform at the Fort Worth Music Festival and Conference.
Joey Puterbaugh
HARRY POTTER: THE EXHIBITION
Potterheads should appreciate this immersive celebration of all things Harry Potter, which was recently extended into April. Visitors can see authentic movie props, actor-worn costumes and re-creations of iconic scenes and settings, and they can also hone their Quidditch skills, brew potions, cast spells and pot a Mandrake. An After Hours event for muggles ages 18 and up, running from 6 to 9 p.m., offers complimentary cocktails or mocktails.
Through April 12 at 14902 Preston Road in Dallas’ Pepper Square shopping center. Ticket prices vary by day, starting at $24 for ages 13 and up and $16 for ages 3-12, with discounts available for family or group purchases. Free for younger kids. dallas.harrypotterexhibition.com.