Southwest's Free Concert Celebrating the End of Wright!

Planning your weekend? Southwest Airlines is celebrating the end of the Wright Amendment and the Freedom to Fly with a FREE Sunday concert starting at 2 p.m. featuring Robert Early Keen, Jack Ingram and more at Klyde Warren Park. Get all the deets here.

Checking Out the Best State Fair of Texas Discounts

Supposedly some people still pay full price admission to the State Fair of Texas ($17 for GA and $13 for seniors and kids under 48 inches). That means a family of four is easily looking at $60 just for entry(not including parking, but we recommend taking DART). The good news is there are plenty of discounts you can get for admission. Here are the best discounts available for the State Fair of Texas:

·         Buy your tickets in advance

o   Online - Meh, you’ll only save $2 for GA and $1 for seniors/kids when you buy them at BigTex.com, but then you’ll pay almost $9 in shipping. Nevermind.

o   Kroger – You can buy GA tickets there for $15.50, but they don’t offer the senior or kids ones.

·         Season Passes – If you plan going to the State Fair at least three times (and we assume your cardiologist has given you a refill of your Lipitor), buy a season pass. For just $39.95 you’ll get your season pass, plus a one-day free guest ticket and free rides on the Texas Sky Way and Top o’ Texas Tower during special season pass event. Buy this one at Kroger to save $5.

·         North Texas Food Bank Deals – This one is always good for a great deal that helps people in our community. All food and drinks will be donated to the North Texas Food Bank.

o   Opening Day – Bring a full 20-ounce Dasani or Coca-Cola product and get in for $6. Everyone in your party needs to bring their own.

o   Wednesdays – Bring at least three cans of food on a Wednesday and you’ll get in for $3. Again, everybody needs to bring their own three cans.

·         Senior Deals – Ah, the luxury of getting older – Seniors get into the Fair for $4 off every day. AND, every Thursday is Senior Day, so those folks get in for FREE!

·         Dr Pepper Deals – Each person who brings and empty Dr Pepper can gets $5 admission on Tuesdays or $8 admission after 5 p.m. any day.

·         Coca-Cola Thursday – Bring an empty 20-ounce bottle any Thursday and get it for $6.

·         McDonald’s Coupons – Check your tray liner or bag for State Fair coupons. They’ve got ones that can save $3 off GA admission and $7 discounts for kids.

·         KISS-FM Fridays – Visit the KISS-FM site to print a coupon for each member of your group to get $5 off GA tickets.

·         Group Tickets – If you’ve got at least 20 people, you’ll start seeing the discounts rack up. But going to the fair with 20 other people in the group is going to make it hard to decide which ride to go on next.

***BONUS***

Discount on Midway rides – Tuesdays are a great day to go to the fair. You can get your $5 Dr Pepper ticket, plus all rides (except thrill rides and the Texas Star) are only six coupons! If you like going for the rides, this can be a big saver for you.

Dallas Arboretum Dollar Days Start Thursday!

The Dallas Arboretum is offering up the chance to explore its grounds for just $1 next month. The August Dollar Days program allows guests of all ages to enter the Arboretum in exchange for pocket change from 9 am to 5 pm. The $1 admission excludes parking. Sounds like a great time to take the kids, visiting guests, or even your Sig-O to the Arboretum.

It's Like One of Those Mud Runs, But Better. You Don't Have to Run.

From the genius minds that brought the first Tomato Battle to Dallas, comes the next installment in the long history of epic battles, the Dirty Battle. If you've ever wondered what would happen if you placed thousands of Texans in a massive mud pit and removed all their inhibitions, find out on Sunday, November 13 at the Dirty Battle. Featuring plenty of live entertainment, contests and, like any good mud-slinging event, plenty of booze, Dallas' first Dirty Battle is shaping up to be the most intense yet. Channel your inner child and have fun with mud again with today's deal of a $50 admission ticket to the Dirty Battle for just $25. Check out all the deals and get your deal here.

How to Save at the State Fair

The State Fair of Texas is always fun but if you’re not careful you can break the bank. Ticket prices rise each year and frankly, it’s a waste of money.  We’ve gathered ways for you to save at the fair. Don’t pay full retail for your ticket. Check out savings below:

Opening Day Savings: On opening day (September 30th) bring a bottle of Dasani water or any coke product to the fair admission gates for donation to the North Texas Food Bank and get in for $5 per donation, per person.

Advanced Ticket Sales Online: Why wait in line or wait til the last minute to purchase your ticket? Buy your ticket in advance online and save a few bucks. (You can even buy Food & Ride Coupons early!)

School Tickets: Every year, school districts in the area send children home with FREE admission tickets. Be sure to use and take advantage of them.

Dickie’s Day: On Thursday, October 6, wear and show your Dickies logo clothing item at the staffed tent outside the gate and receive a voucher for free admission (only valid on 10/06/11).

Museum of Nature and Science members: You should receive your free vouchers in the mail (mine came last week).  Your voucher is good for two free adult tickets and up to four children tickets.

McDonald’s Deals: McDonald’s offers $4 off general admission with their State Fair coupons (you can find these on tray liner or bag stuffers) any day of the fair. A free child ticket (with purchase of general admission) coupon is also distributed by McDonald’s.

Ride the Dart: Parking at the State Fair costs $15! Don’t waste your money on parking, that $15 could go towards some yummy fried food!

Dr. Pepper Tuesdays: Every Tuesday, bring an empty Dr Pepper can and enter for $4. Most rides on those Tuesdays (excluding the Thrillway, Texas Star, and selected other attractions) are just 5 coupons.

Canned Food Wednesday:  Make a quick trip to the store for some canned goods. Each visitor who brings 4 cans of food for the North Texas Food Bank will pay $2 admission.

Senior Citizen Discount: Grab your granny and take her to the State Fair on Thursday! Senior Citizens get in for FREE on every Thursday that the fair is open. (Oct. 6, Oct. 13 & Oct. 20)

Movie Theater Freebie: No, don’t throw away your movie stub! Save it and  Present a Cinemark movie theater ticket stub on Thursday and receive FREE admission.

Coca Cola Thursdays: Bring an empty 20 oz. bottle of a Coca-Cola product and enter the Fair for $5 admission on Thursdays.

Your Car, Like Nacar at TMS

You're the driver when Texas Motor Speedway opens the Speedway to the public for the last time this year. Experience the thrill of driving your car around the 1.5-mile superspeedway all to benefit the Speedway Children's Charities at Texas Motor Speedway.

Polish up your special vehicle and come on out to "The Great American Speedway!®" on Saturday, September 10, 2011 for Laps for Charity II. Take three laps on the 1.5 mile Super Speedway behind a pace vehicle for just a $30 and have your picture taken in Victory Lane for an additional $10. Once again our fan favorite VIP Laps Experience will be offered for $250. Laps will be conducted for Car Clubs (by reservation) from 5-7 p.m. and for the General Public from 7-10 p.m.  No reservation is needed for the General public time.

For more information please contact the Speedway Children’s Charities office at (817) 215-8421. Click here for more info. 

FC Dallas Ticket Deal - $20

For $20, dribble down to Pizza Hut Park in Frisco with a sideline ticket to cheer on our boys as they take on the Seattle Sounders on August 20 or Texas Derby rivals the Houston Dynamo on September 24, and enjoy a hot dog and soda while you watch (a $45 value). Check out Brek Shea, Kevin Hartman, and the rest of the team as they continue their quest for the MLS Cup. You may have wimped out on that soccer league you signed up for, but with this championship deal, everyone can feel like a winner. Click here to get yours.

Party Barges=Fun, So Cheap Party Barge=Funner

From the Cut and Paste via Groupon Department (and give me a break, it's the 1st day back at work after a vacation department):

Contrary to popular belief, boats are actually much safer than cars, which inexplicably sink every time you drive them on water. Take a proper water-road ride with today’s Groupon: for $30, you get one admission to a 2.5-hour sunset cruise, two drink tickets, and on-board appetizers from Making Waves Boat Club (a $60 value). The cruise departs on Thursday, July 14 at 6:30 p.m. from Eagle Point Marina in Lewisville.


From the double decks of the majestic Star of Texas, the Making Waves Boat Club will break from its usual wakeboarding, water-skiing, and re-creating James Bond chase scenes to host a 2.5-hour cruise on Lake Lewisville on Thursday, July 14. After boarding at 5:30 p.m., up to 200 passengers can mingle in the air-conditioned cabin or explore the upper deck before the boat returns to the marina at 9 p.m. As the vessel skims along the water, wash down an assortment of finger sandwiches and cheeses with drinks from one of the on-board wet bars, toasting to the lake's horizon as its ripples glitter orange from the setting sun and capsized carrot-juice tankers. Click here to get yours now.

Cure for the Summertime "I'm Bored" Effects: Tour Texas Motor Speedway for $8!

Summer is a time for vacationing and fun events. Add Texas Motor Speedway’s facility tour to your list; it’s a must-see! Speedway World, Texas Motor Speedway’s official store, offers tours of the speedway’s 1,500 acre facility.

Enjoy a ride around property in an air-conditioned van with several stops along the way. The tour gets underway with a lap around “The Great American Speedway!™” (Subject to availability.) Then see what it’s like to pull into a pit box on the infamous Pit Road. Follow this with a trip to Victory Lane where you can take a photo with friends and family. It’s the same place where your favorites like Jeff Gordon, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Jimmie Johnson, Tony Stewart and more celebrated their victories. Then enjoy the breathtaking view high atop the speedway in a Luxury Suite.

Tours are available every day of the week for only $8! Discounts are available for seniors 65+ and children under 12 years old. Speedway World’s weekly hours are Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. Call ahead to (817)215-8565 and reserve your tour in advance.

Show off Your Ooh and Aahh Skills

Help Fair Park test the oohs and aahs. They need more volunteers to help check out sight lines from inside the Cotton Bowl as they test Fair Park Fourth fireworks on Tuesday, June 21. Meet outside the Cotton Bowl at Gate B at 8:40 p.m. Questions? Contact Angela Shellene at (214) 871-0783. No parking fee.

Break a Dance World Record! Tomorrow!

Calling all Dancers of North Texas bE a part of history... As the ATT Performing Arts Center attempt to break a Guinness World Record™!

In celebration of BILLY ELLIOT's arrival in Dallas, we invite you to participate in "The World's Largest Remote Dance Lesson" as we attempt to break the official Guinness World Record™!

- Everyone who participates will receive a secret code to purchase discounted tickets to see BILLY ELLIOT
during its Dallas engagement.
- You can participate as an individual or as part of a group. However, all the members of the largest participating group will receive FREE tickets to see BILLY ELLIOT THE MUSICAL during its Dallas engagement. Part of a cheer/drill/dance team? Come in uniform to show your dance spirit! Have a group larger than 10? Call the Box Office at 214.880.0202 to reserve your spot!**
- “Express Yourself” and dress to impress! Your picture could end up in the Guinness Book of World Records!

It's totally free and easy to BE a part of this event. Click here for all the details!

Gift Ideas for Dad: Flyfishing in Dallas- for more than half off!

Via the Cut and Paste Department thanks to Travelzoo:

$80 - FLY-FISHING LESSONS ON PRIVATE LAKE, REG. $200 http://www.travelzoo.com/l/72883938-1039596/
Source: Tailwaters Fly Fishing Co.

For $80, cast a line in the waters around Dallas with two private fly-fishing lessons from Tailwaters Fly Fishing Co. The lessons, a great Father's Day gift, include all necessary gear and would normally cost $200. The first 90-minute lesson meets at Tailwaters Fly Fishing Co. in downtown Dallas to cover the basics of knots, riggingand casting before heading to Turtle Creek to practice. Then, pick a weekend to go to Athens, where you will catch and release bass and sunfish on a four-hour trip. For $119 (regularly $300), get the same deal for two, and learn to fish with a friend.

To get this deal, purchase a voucher directly fromTravelzoo, then call Tailwaters to schedule your lessons.

Important:*This deal is valid once 25 are sold -- forward to friends!*Buy the voucher before 8 p.m. Monday, June 6.*The voucher can be redeemed starting Tuesday, June 7,through Nov. 6, 2011.

For more information on this deal from Tailwaters, click here: http://www.travelzoo.com/l/72883938-1039596/

Music Lineup for Taste of Addison

As if the food weren't a good enough reason to go to Taste of Addison, here's the music lineup that will definitely make a trip up the tollway worth it:

FRIDAY, MAY 20, 2011
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6:00 Dustin Perkins Band
7:30 Kyle Bennett Band
9:00 Chris Young
10:30 Tracy Lawrence

SATURDAY, MAY 21, 2011
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1:00 Seryn
2:30 Jace Bersin Trio
4:00 Tiffany Shea Band
5:30 Calhoun
7:00 The Orbans
8:45 Cody Canada & The Departed
10:30 Third Eye Blind

SUNDAY, MAY 22, 2011
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12:30 Mariachi Rosas Divinas
2:00 IMAJ
3:30 The Killdares

Half Price Date Idea for the Adventurous

You don’t have to be a world-class paddler to power one of these lightweight watercrafts. Kayaking is the perfect anytime activity for adventurers, water enthusiasts, and those simply looking for a great tan and a fun workout: 1) $25 gets you a half-day rental of a single or double kayak ($50 value) or 2) $37.50 gets you a full-day rental of a single or double kayak ($75 value) from Flying and Floating Toys.

Sounds like a fun date for the adventurous, water-loving sort. Have fun!