Things to do, Sept. 4 and beyond: Downtown Dallas Arts and Music Festival; Westfest; Hispanic Heritage Festival
- Westfest in West, Texas, celebrates Czech heritage with food, family activities, and polka performances.
'Dolly Parton Tribute: Karen as Dolly'
Few celebrities have been as universally beloved as Dolly Parton, whose Aug. 25 death triggered an outpouring of tributes from the entertainment industry and beyond. The singer's music, charm and unmistakable style will take center stage in this tribute show, as the performer known as Karen as Dolly will aim to capture the spirit of the country music icon with a mix of live vocals, storytelling and her take on Parton's larger-than-life personality. Audience members at the all-ages show can expect beloved songs from throughout Parton's career, from classic hits such as "Jolene" and "9 to 5" to lesser-known fan favorites.
Sept. 4 at 9 p.m. (doors open at 7 p.m.) at Legacy Hall in Plano. General admission tickets start at $17.96. prekindle.com .
Westfest
Westfest is returning to West, Texas, for its 50th anniversary, celebrating the community's Czech heritage with food, family activities and plenty of polka. The annual festival, founded in 1976, features Czech specialties including kolaches, a parade, carnival rides, arts and crafts, a Kolache 5K, the crowning of Miss Westfest and a traditional Polka Mass. More than a dozen polka bands are scheduled to perform, along with country acts including Shane Smith and the Saints, who will play at a Friday night preview party on Sept. 4 at 7 p.m. The festival also serves to boost the community, having raised more than $1 million over the years for local athletic, civic and cultural projects.
Sept. 4 from 5:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m., Sept. 5 from 11 a.m. to 12:30 a.m. and Sept. 6 from 11 a.m. to midnight at the Fair and Rodeo Grounds in West. Adult tickets are $30 on Sept. 4 (or two for $50) or $18 on Sept. 5-6. Tickets for ages 6-12 are $5 each day. Free for younger kids. Three-day passes are $65 for adults and $15 for kids. westfest.com .
BooMont Hotel
Just in time for the Halloween season, the BooMont Hotel is returning to Galleria Dallas. Billed as a spooky but not scary attraction, the BooMont has been upgraded with two brand-new rooms, more square footage and bigger thrills. New attractions include a ghost pool, a haunted mirror maze and a master key scavenger hunt with 13 stops. The lore behind the BooMont says that it reopened last year after being shut down for a century following a mysterious lightning storm in 1925 that led to the disappearance of several guests, including proprietor Rupert B. BooMont. The hotel is filled with mysterious rooms, interactive spaces and photo ops — along with RFID technology that can send photos straight to guests' smartphones. There are no jump scares, blood or gore at this attraction, just a spooky good time.
Sept. 4-27 from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and noon to 6 p.m. Sundays, then open daily from Oct. 2-Nov. 1, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays and noon to 6 p.m. Sundays, with some extended hours the week of Halloween, on Level 3 of Galleria Dallas in Dallas. Tickets are $24.95-$49.95. theboomont.com .
San Jacinto Plaza Music Series
FREERockwall's popular San Jacinto Plaza Music Series is bringing free live music to the downtown plaza every Friday and Saturday in September. The city, which bills itself as the "Free Live Music Capital of North Texas," hosts more than 50 live performances annually. Kirk House will kick off the month on Sept. 4, performing a mix of Americana, soul and Texas country music. Country, pop and rock artist T.J. Chesshire is next up on Sept. 5, followed by country rocker Tyler Bond on Sept. 11 and folk-Americana artist David Byboth on Sept. 12. Guests are welcome to bring lawn chairs. Check the series' Facebook page for a full schedule of performers.
Fridays and Saturdays in September from 7 to 9:30 p.m. at San Jacinto Plaza in Rockwall. Free. facebook.com/sanjacintoplazamusic .
Hispanic Heritage Festival
FREECelebrate the traditions and flavors of Hispanic culture at Kaleidoscope Park in Frisco. Attendees will find games, food, a parade of nations and more. A concert by Latin party band Havana NRG will close out the evening.
Sept. 5 from 3 to 6 p.m. at Kaleidoscope Park in Frisco. Free. Reserve a spot at eventbrite.com .
Exotic Car Show
FREECar enthusiasts are in for a treat as Grapevine's Peace Plaza at Harvest Hall hosts a bevy of high-end vehicles. Organizers from local automotive club Hoctane Rally say all the major exotic car brands will be represented: Ferrari, Lamborghini, McLaren, Porsche, Audi, Aston Martin, Rolls Royce and more. High-end BMWs, Dodge Vipers and Chevrolet Corvettes will also be there to get vehicle fans' engines revving. While you're in the area, grab a bite or a drink at one of Harvest Hall's eight chef-driven restaurants or two bars.
Sept. 5 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Peace Plaza at Harvest Hall in Grapevine. Free. RSVP at eventbrite.com .
Saturday Make and Take Crafts
FREEGet your kids' creative juices flowing with this craft-making activity at the Coppell Arts Center. Children will get a do-it-yourself craft kit that they can assemble and customize at art stations in the center. The free event, which takes place the first Saturday of every month, is aimed at children ages 3-12. Attendees can stop by anytime between 9 a.m. and noon to work on their project, and they must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
Sept. 6 from 9 a.m. to noon at the Coppell Arts Center in Coppell. Free. coppellartscenter.org .
'Comedy Bang! Bang! Ground Beefing Tour'
Fans of the long-running Comedy Bang! Bang! podcast can expect plenty of absurdity when the show's "Ground Beefing Tour" rolls through North Texas. Hosted by Scott Aukerman with comedian Paul F. Tompkins and a rotating lineup of Comedy Bang! Bang! all-stars, the live show brings the podcast's signature brand of improvised comedy to the stage. Rather than following a tightly scripted routine, the performers create characters, scenes and increasingly ridiculous scenarios on the spot. The result is an unpredictable show where just about anything can happen — making each stop a unique experience for longtime fans and newcomers alike. Fans who shell out for VIP tickets can attend a post-show meet-and-greet session
Sept. 9 at 8 p.m. at the Majestic Theatre in Dallas. $53-$196.50. ticketmaster.com .
Downtown Dallas Arts and Music Festival
FREECelebrate Dallas' creative spirit as this family- and pet-friendly festival returns for its fourth year. Artists, musicians, creators and entrepreneurs will come together with thousands of local residents for a weekend of immersive experiences to celebrate the power of art, music, culture and community. Attendees are invited to explore original works of art, discover the work of emerging and established artists, watch live mural painting, and enjoy performances across multiple stages. A marketplace will offer handcrafted goods, and plenty of local culinary offerings will be available for purchase. A launch event will kick things off on Sept. 10 at SPACE at Adolphus Tower, followed on Sept. 12-13 by the festival at Main Street Garden.
Sept. 10 from 6 to 10 p.m. at SPACE at Adolphus Tower in downtown Dallas, Sept. 12 from noon to 10 p.m. at Main Street Garden in downtown Dallas and Sept. 13 from noon to 6 p.m. at Main Street Garden. Free. ddamf.com .
Craig Robinson
Craig Robinson is bringing his energetic brand of stand-up comedy to the stage in Addison, drawing on a career that has made him a familiar face on both television and film. Fans may know him best as Darryl Philbin on The Office , but Robinson has also played Doug Judy on Brooklyn Nine-Nine and starred in shows including Killing It and Mr. Robinson . His movie credits include Hot Tub Time Machine , Pineapple Express and This Is the End . A comedian and musician as well as an actor, Robinson often incorporates music and keyboards into his live act, promising a performance that goes beyond traditional stand-up. He'll be at the Improv for four evenings of 18-and-up shows.
Sept. 10 at 7:30 p.m., Sept. 11 at 7:30 and 9:45 p.m., Sept. 12 at 7 and 9:30 p.m. and Sept. 13 at 7 p.m. at the Addison Improv in Addison. Tickets start at $56.12. improvtx.com/addison .
'Stranger Things: Face The Dark'
LAST CHANCEFans of the popular Netflix series Stranger Things can step into their own episode of the show and explore iconic locations in Hawkins, the fictional Indiana town where the series takes place. Your search for three missing townspeople will even take you into the creepy Upside Down, and to a face-off with the evil Vecna. The hourlong interactive experience is nearing the end of its run, with the final day scheduled for Sept. 7. Because of graphic content, parental supervision is required for guests younger than 14.
Through Sept. 7 at Netflix House at Galleria Dallas in Dallas. Open 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday-Saturday and 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Sundays. Tickets start at $39. netflix.com/house/dallas .
DFW Restaurant Week
LAST CHANCEMore than 160 local restaurants are taking part in this 30th annual event, which despite the name lasts nearly a full month at many participating eateries. The restaurants are serving exclusive prix-fixe meals, with about 20% of the proceeds benefiting the North Texas Food Bank and Lena Pope, a nonprofit that has served children and families in Fort Worth for nearly a century. Participating restaurants offer at least one of the following dining options: a three-course dinner for either $49 or $59, a signature-experience dinner that's meant to be especially memorable for $99, a two-course lunch for $29 and a two-course weekend brunch for $29. Visit the website for a full list of restaurants and menus.
Through Sept. 7 at participating North Texas restaurants. Prices vary. DFWRestaurantWeek.com .
'Sean Kenney's Nature Pop! Made With Lego Bricks'
LAST CHANCEThe Fort Worth Botanic Garden has unveiled a series of larger-than-life nature sculptures made from more than 800,000 Lego bricks. Scattered throughout the garden are more than 40 animal and plant sculptures, including a panther poised to pounce, a curious fox on the prowl and a mama bear carrying her cub. Made by Sean Kenney, an acclaimed New York City-based artist whose Lego creations have been exhibited internationally, the sculptures are paired with facts about the subjects they depict, making the exhibition educational as well as eye-catching. Kenney, whose work has been featured on ABC's Good Morning America and other shows, has written several children's books on creating Lego sculptures.
Through Sept. 7 at the Fort Worth Botanic Garden. Open daily from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Free with garden admission. General admission is $14 for ages 16 and up, $12 for seniors ages 65 and up, $8 for children ages 3-15 and free for younger kids. fwbg.org .
'Hunt Slonem: Bunnies, Birds And Butterflies'
The Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden is hosting the largest outdoor gallery of artist Hunt Slonem's work ever produced, with 37 installations and more than 100 works of art displayed throughout the garden and inside the historic Alex Camp House. Monumental sculptures of bunnies, birds and butterflies are placed throughout the landscape, with mirrored surfaces and bold color that respond to shifting light throughout the day. Slonem is a neo-expressionist artist known for his distinctive visual language of repetition, vivid color and animal imagery, and his work has been exhibited in more than 80 museum collections worldwide. The exhibition is included with daytime admission to the arboretum.
Through Sept. 30 at the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden. $21.95-$25.95 for ages 13 and up, $17.95-$21.95 for children ages 3-12 and free for younger kids. dallasarboretum.org .
Compiled by Travis Pinson, Special Contributor
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This article originally published at Things to do, Sept. 4 and beyond: Downtown Dallas Arts and Music Festival; Westfest; Hispanic Heritage Festival .
