Arts and Culture
Culture Pass Dallas
A collaboration between the Office of Arts and Culture and the Dallas Public Library, Culture Pass Dallas is designed to provide Dallas residents access to arts and culture programming free of cost, ensuring all residents have opportunities to experience arts and culture throughout the city. The pass is available to all Dallas Public Library Card Holders For more information visit culturepassdallas.com.
Dallas Public Library
SMART Summer
Challenge Dates: May 30 to August 8
Read, Discover & Create
- Kids aged 0 to 18 are challenged to read, discover and create May 30 to August 8! For every 10 days of reading or being read to, kids earn a free book of their choice, up to 3 times over the summer. After completing 10 discovery activities and 10 create activities, kids earn a free food coupon, up to 2 times over the summer. While supplies last. Kids who complete 30 days of reading, make 10 discoveries and create 10 new things by August 8 will be entered in the grand prize drawing!
- New this summer: Kids can earn an additional prize by completing the Super Reader activity badge. Select any book to read and practice your reading comprehension skills by answering basic questions about what you read
Not Just for Kids!
- Adults aged 18 and up who read, discover or create can earn prizes.
- After logging 15 days of reading, earn a free book up to 3 times throughout the summer.
- After logging 5 activities, adults can either pick up book or a prize from the adult goodie bag up to 2 times over the summer.
- Adults who complete a combination of 45 days of reading, 5 discoveries, and 5 creations by August 8 will be entered to win a grand prize!
Free lunch!
Free summer meals available for children and teens from 1-18 in partnership with the nonprofit hunger organization, Education Potential Verified.
No proof of need or pre-registration is required to receive meals. Free meals available from June 1 through August 7. Meals are funded by the
Texas Department of Agriculture’s Summer Food Service Program.
Locations:
- Arcadia Park Branch Hampton-Illinois Branch Prairie Creek Branch
- Bachman Lake Branch Highland Hills Branch Skyline Branch
- Dallas West Branch Lancaster Kiest Branch Timberglen Branch
- Forest Green Branch Martin Luther King Jr. Branch Vickery Park Branch
- Fretz Park Branch Pleasant Grove Branch White Rock Hills Branch
- Grauwyler Park Branch Polk-Wisdom Branch Central Library
Just for Teens!
Library will partner with Dallas Parks & Recreation to participate in the Teen All Access Pass. For Summer 2026, teens will visit any Dallas Public Library location with their pass and receive a free Teen DIY Kit that will include a fun activity designed just for teens.
Free Teen Programs are also available at select library locations.
Dallas Park and Recreation
Dallas Park and Recreation hosts a number of programs all summer long. Browse everything Dallas Parks have to offer at dallasparks.org.
Aquatics
Dallas Park and Recreation and Dallas Aquatics maintains nine community pools and 17. In addition to these facilities, residents can stay cool at the three Cove and five other aquatic centers and Bahama Beach Waterpark. Click to find a pool or aquatic center! Swim lessons for all ages are available. Teach A Child To Swim scholarships are available to help youth enroll in lifesaving swim lessons. Scholarships details here!
Aquatics Seasonal Job Opportunities
Dallas Aquatics each summer hires more than 400 seasonal employees for positions at community pools, aquatic centers, and Bahama Beach Waterpark. Find your summer job here. Click here for Bahama Beach positions! Dallas Aquatics offers low-cost lifeguard and water safety instructor training and certification programs. Click here for course prerequisites, schedules, and cost!
Best Buy Teen Tech Center
Dallas Park and Recreation Department’s Best Buy Teen Tech Center is an innovative, creative, out-of-school learning space where young people, ages 12 – 17, can work with adult mentors to develop new skills, explore their own ideas, and build confidence in themselves with technology.
City Park
City Park is open daily to enjoy. Explore a selection of historic buildings Sunday-Monday from 12-5; Tuesday-Saturday 10a-5p. The summer calendar will include classes, tours, music, monthly Main Street events and more! Children ages 7-15 can register for the new Summer Exploration Camp – a weekly specialty camp that blends outdoor fun with hands-on learning about local nature and history. Visit the website for a full calendar of weekly activities and events for visitors of all ages.
Counselor in Training (CITs) Programs
Youth ages 13-17 have an opportunity to acquire job skills through a summer leadership training program. CITs support recreation programs and have a primary focus on youth Summer Camp. $35/per week. Call these locations for details:
Kiest: (214) 670-1918; Martin Weiss: (214) 670-1919; Pleasant Oaks: (214) 670-0945.
Discover Dallas
Discover Dallas is a free summer camp experience for Dallas residents ages 5-12 to fill their summer with fun, learning, and adventure at various locations including libraries and recreation centers across the city. Campers will enjoy creative crafts, sports, swimming, life skills activities, enrichment programs, and field trips.
Outdoor Adventures at Samuell Farm
Adventure Camp at Samuell Farm gives youth ages 7–15 the opportunity to explore the great outdoors at the 400-acre Samuell Farm in Mesquite. This year’s “Level Up” theme takes campers on a series of progressive adventures as they build confidence and skills through mountain biking, kayaking, archery, fishing, survival skills, and nature photography.
Recreation Centers
Dallas’ 42 recreation centers located throughout the city offer youth diverse recreational and leisure activities ranging from camps to sports leagues. Click here to find a recreation center in your community.
Teen All Access Pass
New for 2026 – State Fair of Texas joins in the fun and will provide City of Dallas Teens free entry to the State Fair. Read the full press release on the Teen All Access pass.
Dallas Park and Recreation offers the Teen All-Access Pass that gives Dallas youth free admission to popular cultural and recreational venues including the Bahama Beach Waterpark, Dallas Zoo, Dallas Arboretum, Trinity River Audubon Center, Southern Skates Roller Rink, and Perot Museum. New partner attractions this year are Dave and Busters, Dallas Love Field, and State Fair of Texas. Passes will be available in July at City of Dallas recreation centers. Find recreation center locations here!
Teen Night
Dallas Park and Recreation offers the Teen All-Access Pass that gives Dallas youth free admission to popular cultural and recreational venues including the Bahama Beach Waterpark, Dallas Zoo, Dallas Arboretum, Trinity River Audubon Center, Southern Skates Roller Rink, Perot Museum and other attractions. Passes will be available in July at any City of Dallas recreation center. Find recreation center locations here!
Teen Summer Camp at Exall, Nash-Davis, Thurgood Marshall and Timberglen recreation centers promotes leadership development by giving teens the chance to assist with decision-making, planning, and activity coordination. Teens also improve their problem-solving, communication, and interpersonal skills. Teen Camp registration is available here!
Youth Sports
Low-cost coed leagues for ages 4 to 14 introduce youth to the fundamental skills for soccer, baseball, basketball, flag football and other sports encourage healthy competition.
Dallas Police Department
The Dallas Police Activities League (PAL) is more than just a youth program — it’s a community initiative that builds trust and fosters positive relationships between law enforcement and Dallas youth. By engaging kids ages 8–18 in athletic, educational, and recreational activities, PAL promotes personal growth, respect for authority, and a lifelong sense of citizenship. Officers and mentors create an environment where youth can learn life skills, build character, and stay on a positive path — all while having fun.
Whether it’s through martial arts, basketball, or summer camp, PAL believes that early, positive interactions with police officers can set young people on a course for success, both in their communities and in life.
Mayor’s Youth Sports Ticket Program
Mayor’s Youth Sports Ticket Program: Free Access to Dallas Sports
The Mayor’s Youth Sports Ticket Program, launched by Dallas Mayor Eric L. Johnson in partnership with the Dallas Sports Commission, offers Dallas youth aged 12–17 the opportunity to attend professional, collegiate, and amateur sporting events at no cost. Since its inception in 2022, the program has distributed over 15,000 tickets.
Eligible participants, who must be Dallas residents, can register through the Dallas Sports Commission. Each youth ticket holder receives an accompanying ticket for a chaperone. Tickets are distributed on a first-come, first-served basis and are valid for a single event. Once registered and verified, participants will be notified of available sports opportunities.
The program offers access to over 20 sporting events, including matches from Dallas Trinity FC, NASCAR races at Texas Motor Speedway, and the Concacaf Gold Cup.
Mayor Johnson emphasized the program’s impact, stating, “Professional sports bind us together as a city… These athletes inspire civic pride and teach our youth the value of discipline, resilience, and teamwork. That’s why I am proud to partner with the Dallas Sports Commission to offer more of our city’s youth the chance to witness the excitement of Dallas sports firsthand.”
To learn more and apply, visit the Mayor’s Youth Sports Ticket Program.