The Best Things to Do in Spring in Dallas

Can’t go to the Netherlands to see the tulips in bloom? No problem – head to Dallas! Every spring, the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden plants half a million bulbs throughout the park for visitors to enjoy, making for a spectacular spring floral festival. This year, the theme for these Dallas Blooms is “A World of Flowers.” Each week, the arboretum showcases a different country with a calendar of activities.

There are so many patios in Dallas, it’s almost odd to see a restaurant or bar without one. Spring brings the first wave of Dallas locals and visitors to these patios for coffee, lunch, dinner, day drinking and regular old drinking. Have a meal on the patio at Trinity Groves, home to numerous bars and restaurants, plus premium views of downtown Dallas. Get your drink on at Katy Trail Ice House, the rooftop bar at HG Suply Co., or the Cocktail Courtyard at Dot’s Hop House in Deep Ellum.

Dallas hasn’t had a close relationship with the Trinity River for a long time, but things are changing. Jump into spring by jumping into a kayak and navigating the Trinity River with the Trinity River Audubon Center. Two-hour kayak trips with tour guides are available on Saturdays throughout spring, offering a chance to see wildlife of all kinds. If kayaking isn’t your thing, you can also enjoy a tour of the river on horseback with Texas Horse Park, an equestrian facility.

Though the Farmer’s Market is open year-round, there’s something about spring that seems to make a trip here even better. Slightly south of downtown, the Farmer’s Market has transformed in the last few years to offer visitors more to see and do. Start with The Shed, which is the open-air pavilion that hosts regional farmers, artisans, and vendors of all sorts. The Market Shops is an indoor facility with artisanal vendors and a food court. Friday evenings at the Farmer’s Market include live music and exclusive specials and deals. You can often find other activities like yoga available at the Farmer’s Market, too.

Here’s something that will surprise you – the Dallas Zoo has been a staple in Dallas since 1888, making it the oldest zoo in all of Texas. It also happens to be the largest zoo in Texas, comprising 106 acres and 2,000 animals. The “Giants of the Savanna” is one of the most notable exhibits. There are so many family-friendly activities at the zoo that it might take more than one visit to experience it all, keeping you busy throughout the spring.

The saying “April showers bring May flowers” is quite true for Texas, and in Dallas, spring is lovingly referred to as “tornado season.” The chances of it raining is significant enough during spring that you’ll want some indoor activities planned. Enter: The Escape Game. Located in the Grapevine Mills Mall, The Escape Game is a thrilling interactive game that challenges players to escape a room in one hour. Games here offer different experiences and are often indicative of their puzzle names, such as Prison Break, The Heist, and Gold Rush. Dallas is also the only place where you can find the newest game, Playground.

Spring isn’t complete without catching a game at the Texas Rangers Globe Life Park. Opening Day is generally around the end of March or early April. It is a big to-do with all-day tailgating, a riveting game, and fireworks at the end. If you can’t catch Opening Day, hit up one of the many other games, which aren’t quite as expensive. Be sure to try some of the weird and wacky concession foods like a 24-inch (61-cm) teriyaki sandwich, a two-foot long hot dog, or a giant turkey leg.

The best time to visit Six Flags Over Texas is during spring, when standing in line for some of the biggest and fastest roller coasters is bearable. Most people don’t know that the Six Flags theme park in Arlington, a 20-minute drive outside of Dallas, is the original Six Flags theme park that opened in 1961, offering six themed areas that represented the six nation’s flags that flew over Texas throughout its history. These themed areas can be experienced today, as well as a few not-so-Texas themes like Batman’s Gotham City. While the New Texas Giant is a classic, be sure to try the Titan, Superman, Joker, and Mr. Freeze for an adrenaline-pumping experience.

Springtime in Dallas could be better described as “event time.” It seems like there’s a festival or event every weekend, offering locals and visitors a chance to gather together and celebrate good air, good times, and good people. Such events include a Color Run in March, a St. Patrick’s Day Parade in the Lower Greenville area, the Deep Ellum Arts Festival in April, and the Cinco De Mayo festival in Oak Cliff in May. Most events and festivals are held in downtown, Klyde Warren Park, Oak Cliff, or Deep Ellum, but it’s best to keep up-to-date on Facebook or other event pages so you don’t miss a chance to party in the streets.