Dallas’ Ultimate Labor Day Weekend Guide — Festivals, Concerts and Food Truck Rallies You Need to Know

Dallas weekends are packed full of events, but how many of them are truly worthy of your time? PaperCity‘s new events calendar offers a curated look at all of the best things to do in North Texas. But everyone can still use an expert.

PaperCity‘s Weekend Expert Megan Ziots culls our calendar for your must dos in this regular weekly series. This holiday weekend, catch a concert or music festival, zen out with yoga, or try all of the food trucks at Klyde Warren Park.

Consider this your guide to Dallas’ Best Labor Day Weekend events:

Rascal Flatts

Start your Labor Day weekend off with some country tunes at Dos Equis Pavilion on Friday, August 30 at 7:30 pm. Rascal Flatts are performing on their Summer Playlist Tour with special guests Jordan Davis and Morgan Evans. Although the group hasn’t made a new album since 2017, they’re sure to perform classic hits such as “Life is a Highway,” “What Hurts the Most,” and “Bless the Broken Road.”

Tickets start at $25 and can be purchased here.

Go to the full PaperCity events calendar listing. 

Star Wars V: The Empire Strikes Back Movie in Concert

This Friday through Sunday, the Dallas Symphony Orchestra is doing a special performance of John Williams’ score from Star Wars V: The Empire Strikes Back with the full screening of the film in the background. Showings will take place at Meyerson Symphony Center at 7:30 pm on Friday and Saturday, and 2:30 pm on Sunday.

Starting at $44, tickets are available here.

Go to the full PaperCity events calendar listing. 

Riverfront Jazz Festival

The 3rd annual Riverfront Jazz Festival takes place this Friday through Sunday at The Black Academy of Arts and Letters Complex. Founded by Curtis King more than 40 years ago, TBAAL has entertained millions of people from around the world at its downtown location. Attendees of the 2019 festival can expect great music, vendor booths and diverse foods.

This year’s musical performers include Erykah Badu, Louis Gossett, Raheem DeVaughn, Jennifer Holliday, Tito Puente, Jr., and members of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra.

Tickets can be purchased online.

Go to the full PaperCity events calendar listing. 

Dallas Yoga Festival

For all of the yogis out there, the 13th Annual Dallas Yoga Festival is happening at Main Street Garden Park this Saturday. From 8 am to 3 pm, there will be vendors, giveaways, food, music and yoga classes. The event is completely free, but the Free Day of Yoga nonprofit organization is taking donations. You can also pre-register online for an early bird goodie bag.

Go to the full PaperCity events calendar listing. 

Dallas Reggae Festival

The first-ever Dallas Reggae Festival is coming to the historic Longhorn Ballroom this Saturday through Sunday. A family friendly event, the festival will feature music from across the world. Inspired by the genre’s global impact, the event will feature live performances from Busy Signal, Culture Feat. Kenyatta Hill, Etana, Everton Blender. Dallas acts Watusi, D’ras and The Sharac Band and Poly Hwy, and more will also be there.

Fifteen percent of ticket sales will be donated to the North Texas Food Bank.

Go to the full PaperCity events calendar listing. 

Texas International Pop Festival

Texas Pop is turning 50 this year. The international pop festival will be at Lake Park in Lewisville this Saturday through Sunday. ZZ Top and Chicago are headlining and local singer-songwriter Sarah Jaffe will also be there. The festival began in Lewisville on Labor Day weekend in 1969, just two weeks after Woodstock.

It was one of the largest music events Texas had ever seen and its still going strong. Other performers include Grand Funk Railroad, Edgar Winter, Animotion, and more.

Tickets are available here.

Go to the full PaperCity events calendar listing. 

Labor Day Food Truck Rally

On Labor Day Sunday, Klyde Warren Park and Visit Dallas are hosting a Labor Day Food Truck Rally from 4 pm to 9 pm. It’s free to attend. All sorts of food trucks from Coolhaus and The Butcher’s Son to Nammi and The Taste of Cuba will be there, as well as food carts like Yummy Elotes and Steel City Pops.

A DJ will be playing tunes until 7 pm, and then Downtown Fever Band will go on after.

Go to the full PaperCity events calendar listing. 

Labor of Love Homebrew Festival

Returning for its 8th year, the Labor of Love Homebrew Festival is happening this Sunday from 5 pm to 10 pm at Deep Ellum Brewing Co. The event celebrates homebrews and the creative teams behind them.

For $20, you’ll get a Labor of Love Membership which includes entrance into the competition and festival, as well as a custom tasting glass, unlimited beer samples and access to food trucks, yard games, and live music. The event is dog and kid friendly, but you must be 21 years old to sample.

Go to the full PaperCity events calendar listing. 

Backstreet Boys

The Backstreet Boys are back and they’re stopping in Dallas for their DNA World Tour. This marks the band’s largest arena tour in 18 years and will feature the classic hits like “I Want It That Way” and “Everybody,” as well as those from their newest DNA album.

Baylee Littrell, Brian’s 16 year old son, will be opening for the Boys. The new country artist will perform his very first single “Don’t Knock It” and “We Run This Beach” on tour. The show starts at 8 pm at American Airlines Center and tickets start at $90.

Go to the full PaperCity events calendar listing. 

Labor Day Weekend at Dallas Arboretum

Head to the Dallas Arboretum Saturday through Monday for Labor Day festivities. The weekend-long event includes live music at the Martin Rutchick Concert Stage and Lawn, $2 hot dogs and root beer floats, and free beer samples. Bring the entire family and have a picnic in Pecan Grove and splash around in Toad Corners. And on Monday only, the Dallas Zoo will be bringing over a few animals to hang out in the Rory Meyers Children’s Adventure Garden.

Tickets are free for any active or retired military with photo ID.

Go to the full PaperCity events calendar listing. 

For PaperCity Dallas’ full events calendar, packed with all the best events in the city and beyond, click here.