Free Stuff To Do in Dallas

Here's a smattering of free stuff to do in Dallas and the surrounding area for Jul 24-30:

Thu, Jul 24

• Arrive before 8 p.m. and get in free to the Glass Cactus (501 Gaylord Trail in Grapevine) to see Micky And The Motorcars with Gary Kyle. Self-parking in the Resort Garage is free with validation.

Fri, Jul 25

• 3 p.m.-7 p.m., everyone gets in free to the National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame in the Fort Worth Cultural District.
• 7 p.m.-9 p.m., Summer Nights in historic downtown Grapevine on Main Street offers live entertainment and giveaways, along with sidewalk sales and late shopping. Balloons, face painting, and more will be available for the kids.

Sat, Jul 26

• 10 a.m.-noon or 2 p.m.-4 p.m., learn how to geocache -- a GPS treasure hunt. Classes will be given by the Lewisville Parks and Rec Department at Memorial Park Recreation Center (1950 S. Valley Parkway in Lewisville, at the corner of Valley Parkway and Corporate Drive).
• 11 a.m.-4 p.m., the National Day of the American Cowboy is being celebrated in the Fort Worth Stockyards (130 East Exchange Avenue in Fort Worth) with gunfights, cowcamp, cattle drives, exhibits and presentations, and contests for artists, quick drawers, eaters, liars, singers, worn-out-boot-wearers, and the mustachioed.
• noon-4 p.m., celebrate the "Festival de la Familia" at Traders Village in Grand Prairie. Live music and entertainment will play and radio station 98.3 FM will provide games and prizes.
• 2 p.m., learn how to pack your backpack lightly without sacrificing comfort on the trail. The class is offered at the Dallas REI (4515 LBJ Freeway). Call (972) 490-5989 for more information, although registration is not required.

Sun, Jul 27

• 11 a.m., learn how to store fruits and vegetables and prepare them with delightful summer recipes at Williams-Sonoma.
• 11 a.m.-2 p.m., brunch in the urban oasis at Victory Park while listening to live jazz music. Bring a blanket and picnic brunch or order brunch at Medina Oven or Luna de Noche for $18.50 and sit on their patios. A cash bar for cocktails will be available in the park.
• 2:30 p.m., the Basically Beethoven Festival finishes this weekend at the Dallas Arboretum. Reservations are required to get in free, otherwise admission to the Dallas Arboretum will be charged. Call (214) 515-6500.

Mon, Jul 28

• 1 p.m.-2 p.m., kids from infants up to ten years old meet at the Starbucks near the Ice Rink at the Parks at Arlington mall for arts and crafts.

Tue, Jul 29

• 7 p.m., endurance sport coach Todd Codish teaches the hows and whys of sports nutrition at the Dallas REI (4515 LBJ Freeway).

Wed, Jul 30

• 10 a.m.-11 a.m., the Starbucks near the Ice Rink at the Parks at Arlington mall hosts a book reading for kids aged 0-10 years.

Jul 25-27, enjoy the Gran Fiesta at LaGrave Park. It's free to attend and free to park.

Summer concert series are still going on. Some are free. Free concerts this week are in Lewisville (Tuesday), Addison (Saturday), and Grapevine (Thursday). Free summer films are also still ongoing.