Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth
Audio By Carbonatix
You don’t need us to tell you that everything is more expensive these days: Groceries. Housing. Even the State Fair of Texas. And because this is a city known for being business-minded, opulent and doing everything bigger (or at least pretending to — they don’t call them $30k millionaires for nothing), it’s not surprising that Dallasites are concerned more about rising costs than the average American.
There’s never a shortage of things to do around here, but sometimes your wallet needs a break. Besides, we’d never judge you (in this economy?!) for scoping out all of the ways to have fun while staying fiscally responsible. So, we’ve put together a list of ways to spend your weekend without having to spend a dime:
Friday, Jan. 16
Silhouettes, A New Musical at Bath House Cultural Center
521 E Lawther Dr.
Two women meet in the waiting room at a women’s health clinic in this musical written by Jordan Ealey and Ari Afsar. In the chairs of the office, they explore motherhood, abortion and the right to choose. The production is supported by partnerships with the Texas Equal Access Fund and Planned Parenthood of Greater Texas. There are only two renditions of this free show on Jan. 16 and 17 at 7:30 p.m. Go before it’s gone.
Free Fridays at the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth
3200 Darnell St., Fort Worth
Two childish heads emerging from the same thick neck, rosy colored, swollen bodies in distorted positions, canvases that consume the wall in bruise-colored swashes; that’s what makes up Jenny Salville: The Anatomy of Painting exhibit at the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth. Salville’s collection comprises 50 massive paintings exploring the human anatomy, often in slightly disturbing, muted depictions. The exhibit is the first major museum installation dedicated to the artist’s work, and after several months, it will leave the Modern on the 18th. Don’t miss your final opportunity to see the breath-taking works before they’re gone, and you might as well do it on the one day each week that entry to the museum is free. Plus, what you save on a ticket you can spend on a mimosa at the museum cafe.
2025 Virgen de Guadalupe Art Exhibition at the Latino Cultural Center
2600 Live Oak St.
Each year, Jose Vargas curated an exhibit dedicated to the Virgen de Guadelupe. This year’s installment features works from more than 70 artists across several mediums depicting the Virgin Mary as she appeared to Saint Juan Diego on Tepeyac Hill in Mexico in 1531, as the story goes. The show is free, and Friday is the last day to see the work before it closes for the year.
2026 MLK Jr. Oratory Competition at the AT&T Performing Arts Center
2403 Flora St.
The Dallas Independent School District’s annual MLK Jr. Oratory Competition is back again for the 34th time. The district’s brightest 4th-and-5th-graders will give public speeches inspired by Martin Luther King Jr. on Friday morning. The remaining eight finalists will present on the center stage from 11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Students are judged on their delivery, stage presence, decorum, content interpretation and memorization. Who knows, you might just catch one of the first public speeches from the next world-changer.
Saturday, Jan. 17
Dolly Day at the Truck Yard
5624 Sears St.
Saturday is a national holiday, depending on who you ask, certainly if that person happens to be a bartender at the Truck Yard. Dolly Day, in celebration of the patron saint of rhine stones, Dolly Parton’s birthday. Instead of working 9-5, try sipping on Dolly’s Dirt Road Martini from 11 a.m. – midnight. Costumes are not required, but certainly encouraged, and in the words of Dolly, the higher the hair, the closer to God.
MLK Fest 2026 at the MLK Jr. Community Center
2922 MLK Jr. Blvd.
Give back this weekend at a community cleanup in honor of MLK Jr. This event will also feature a large-scale live mural painting in remembrance of Juanita Craft, a local civil rights activist and the first black woman to vote in a Dallas public election. There will be music, food and plentiful good karma to go around.
Sunday, Jan. 18
Sunset Sessions at Green Light Social
2625 Floyd St.
It’s a holiday weekend, so no need to feel guilty about a late night Sunday party that stretches into an early Monday morning. Rotating DJs at the Ruby Room at Green Light Social play this Sunday, free with an RSVP, with music running from 4 p.m. to 2 a.m. Save your scarries for Monday this week, and let the party roll on through the night.
42nd Annual KidFilm Family Festival at the Angelika Film Center and Cafe
5321 E Mockingbird Ln. #230
This film festival, specifically organized for children, is completely free. The weekend-long event will feature animated and live-action shorts and feature films for future film buffs. The Angelika Film Center recommends advanced free tickets be reserved, as shows are first-come, first-served, and likely to sell out.
Ongoing
Dealey Plaza Historic District
4000 Main St.
The 1963 assassination of President John F. Kennedy looms large over Dallas’ reputation, but at least the so-called City of Hate got a solid afternoon of things to do out of it. Despite its dark history, Dealey Plaza is a public area that many Dallasites drive through every day on the way to work. At all hours of the day, visitors can walk over the infamous “grassy knoll,” stand on the spot where Kennedy was shot, and observe the still-standing book depository where Lee Harvey Oswald pulled the trigger. We encourage visitors to stay mindful of both oncoming traffic and conspiracy theorists.
Karaoke at Round Up Saloon
3912 Cedar Springs Rd.
There’s a reason we named this Oak Lawn favorite among our 2025 Best of Dallas awards for Best Karaoke Spot: not only is it free, but it happens seven days a week. Heads up, though: Round Up Charges a cover from 10 p.m. to midnight Friday through Sunday, so get there early or make it your last stop of the night if you want to make it truly free. If you’re lucky, you might rub elbows with someone like Kacey Musgraves here.
Dallas Museum of Art
1717 N. Harwood St.
Dallas’ premier art museum is the perfect place to get lost with friends, family or a really cool date. Entry is free and includes access to several long-term exhibitions, such as the Keir Collection of Islamic Art and the postwar and contemporary art galleries. Access to some of the rotating exhibitions is ticketed, though the entire museum is open to the public on the first Sunday of every month. More information can be found on the DMA’s website.
Klyde Warren Park
2012 Woodall Rogers Freeway
In addition to being a pleasant green space in the city’s densest part, “The Town Square of Dallas” is always abuzz with activity. Live music, movies, parties and holiday programming give the 5.4-acre provide entertainment for Dallasites of all ages while year-round amenities like a dog park, playground, food trucks and interactive water feature make the park a vibrant, kinetic spot to spend any day. More information can be found on Klyde Warren Park’s website.
The Giant Eyeball
1601 Main St.
This fiberglass statue by artist Tony Tasset, officially titled “Eye,” is one of the most eye-catching and eye-conic spots in Dallas. Snap an Instagram photo in front of this ocular oddity and you can eye-ssentially guarantee that all eyes will be on you. Did we mention it’s an eye?
Katy Trail
Uptown
This scenic trail built on top of an old railway extends over three miles from Victory Park to the campus of Southern Methodist University. It’s shady, protected from traffic and passes by ample dining and shopping. Dallas is not known for being a particularly walkable city, so the Katy Trail is your best bet to see a large chunk of the city while getting your steps in.
The African American Museum
3536 Grand Ave.
This Fair Park museum houses one of the most expansive collections of African American art and artifacts in the country, ranging from African folk art to more contemporary pieces. There are also frequent events that include lectures, courses and live entertainment, many of which are also free of charge. More information and programming can be found on the African American Museum’s website.
Thanks-Giving Square
1627 Pacific Ave.
Here’s a community space we can all be thankful for. Featuring lush green spaces and a beautiful chapel adorned with stained glass, Thanks-Giving Square was founded and built on the principles of gratitude and community. Off the top of our heads, we’re grateful for architecture, stained glass and gardens. We suspect you might feel the same way.
John Neely Bryan Cabin
600 Elm St.
This wooden cabin, nestled in the heart of Downtown Dallas, is a recreation of the home of Dallas’ founder, John Neely Bryan. The original cabin was built around 1841, but was swept away in a flood in the 1930s. The version that stands today was built shortly after, which still makes it old enough to be haunted (according to legend). It’s a must-see for history buffs, and conveniently enough, it’s a short walk from Dealey Plaza.
