We’re ready to take summer 2021 by storm and do everything we couldn’t in 2020 — starting with visits to our favorite museums and cultural institutions.
Yes, digital experiences got us through last year. They gave us access to the shows and exhibitions we wouldn’t have been able to see otherwise (pandemic or not) — but we’re also ready to visit our favorite arts and culture institutions and live the in-person experience with fresh eyes.
Even as digital natives we can admit that there’s something magical about the live experience, especially when it comes to the arts. We’re grateful that our partners survived a tough year, and we’ll be lined up at their doors ready to support them the best way we know how. We hope you’ll join us!
Arts & Culture Institutions on Our Radar in Summer 2021:
The Perot Museum of Nature and Science
We were thrilled to hear that one of our all-time favorite museums in Dallas, The Perot Museum of Nature and Science, just announced they’ll be open 7 days a week this summer. We’re especially excited for the launch of Thursdays on Tap at the Perot, where visitors can peruse the museum after hours, accompanied by live music and a cold beverage. We’re also excited to finally see the museum’s current exhibition, The Science of Guinness World Records, which dives deep into the science behind how the Guinness World Record breakers came to be. +++ perotmuseum.org
The Dallas Zoo
Another favorite we’re happy to see up and running is the Dallas Zoo. They’re back with their “wildly” popular summer camps for kids in grades K-5, featuring tours, games, and hands-on activities, like the “Zoolympics” and “Beauties and Beasts.” If the weeklong camp doesn’t fit your kids’ schedule, we also highly recommend the Dallas Zoo’s Backstage Safari, a behind-the-scenes tour with the zoologists that happens every Saturday morning. +++ dallaszoo.com
The Margarita Mile by Visit Dallas
What’s summer in Texas without a margarita in hand on the patio? Luckily, we can now sip like we used to on the Margarita Mile, the definitive tour guide by Visit Dallas. Download the app to discover Dallas’ best margaritas, while earning deals and discounts in the city that created THE frozen margarita (hats off to Mariano Martinez). For even more things to do in Dallas, check out the Visit Dallas event calendar. +++ Margarita Mile
Dallas Arboretum
After all the sheltering-in-place of the past year, we have a new-found appreciation for fresh air and scenic landscapes. Enter the Dallas Arboretum and the Summer of Sculpture. This year’s festival features ZimSculpt, an outdoor exhibition with contemporary pieces by Zimbabwean sculptors, as well as live sculpting by artists Passmore Mupindiko and Brighton Layson. For the kiddos, there’s the Dallas Arboretum Summer Camp, a hybrid of in-person and online events. Choose a different theme each week, from DIY gardening tips, science experiments, cooking classes with local chefs, and STEM activities. +++ dallasarboretum.org
Klyde Warren Park
Another quintessential summer outing is a visit to Dallas’ Klyde Warren Park. Known for their numerous ongoing activities, pop-ups, and food trucks, the good folks at Klyde Warren Park are projecting family-friendly flicks on the lawn as part of Movies in the Park on select Saturdays this summer. Pack a blanket, grab a picnic dinner, and kick back with your loved ones. Scheduled showings include “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off,” “Dora and the Lost City of Gold,” and “Black Panther.” +++ klydewarrenpark.org
The Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra
For those of us traveling this summer, the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra’s summer series Symphony on the Prairie is on our itinerary. One of the leading orchestras in the nation, the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra is teaming up with multiple artists for a lively outdoor concert series featuring tributes to The Beatles, Queen, Elton John, and more. The concerts aren’t all tributes though — The Temptations will be performing live on August 6th and 7th. +++ indianapolissymphony.org
Country Music Hall of Fame
Dust off yer boots and head up to Nashville with us this summer. The iconic Country Music Hall of Fame has reopened for in-person visits. Granted, we loved seeing their digital exhibits, (check out Suiting the Sound: The Rodeo Tailors Who Made Country Stars Shine Brighter and Dylan, Cash, and the Nashville Cats if you haven’t already) but there’s something special about living the history in the actual place where country legends were made. While you’re there, make sure to tour Hatch Show Print, the museum and letterpress shop responsible for so many of the show posters that helped define “Americana,” along with the Kacey Musgraves: All of the Colors exhibit +++ countrymusichalloffame.org
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Our arts and culture institutions were dearly missed this past year. We know we felt the void. If you did, too, please consider supporting your local institutions with a membership.
