Dallas 2024 Texas vs. Oklahoma Weekend Guide: Watch Parties, Family Fun, and Cultural Highlights
Every October, thousands of football fans from both sides of the Red River converge on Dallas for the annual Red River Showdown between the University of Texas and the University of Oklahoma. The highly anticipated game kicks off Saturday, Oct. 12 at 11 a.m. The excitement doesn’t end once the crowd leaves the Cotton Bowl; Dallas offers a full weekend of entertainment for every type of fan.
Watch Parties
Game tickets sell out quickly, but you can still catch every play at a host of local venues. The bi‑level Happiest Hour bar in the Harwood District is turning the weekend into a rivalry‑style celebration complete with live music, dancing, food, drinks, and plenty of college football.
In the Knox/Henderson neighborhood, OU supporters can join fellow Sooners at Henderson Tap House for the OU Club of Dallas Official Watch Party, a community‑focused gathering that keeps the energy high all game day.
Uptown’s vibrant bar scene lights up with burnt orange and crimson red during the weekend. While patio parties line McKinney Avenue, serious fans head to Christie’s Sports Bar, which boasts 62 HD TVs, multiple projectors, and hearty bar fare that makes it a sports‑fan favorite.
The Rustic’s Red River Game Day Watch Party starts at 10 a.m. and continues into the night, with a brunch the following day to cure any post‑game hangovers.
Family Friendly
Visiting Dallas with children? You’re in luck. The Texas‑OU weekend falls right in the middle of the State Fair of Texas, so you can enjoy classic fair treats, carnival games, live music, and unique deep‑fried delights such as chicken cordon bleu waffles, Nutella custard French toast, and potato salad.
Take a break from the excitement and stroll through the Dallas Arboretum’s Autumn at the Arboretum. Fodor’s names this pumpkin festival one of America’s best. With a “Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown” theme, expect to meet iconic characters like Linus, Snoopy, and Woodstock, and capture memorable photos against the famous brick wall.
For a touch of wonder, head to the Dallas Farmers Market’s circus tent, where Cirque Kerwich showcases contortionist Elia, illusionist Trigg Watson, comedian Nick, and juggling star Frank Chapman. Arrive an hour early to try your hand at circus skills before the main show.
Soak Up Some Culture
Football and culture go hand in hand in Dallas. After the game, swing by the Dallas Museum of Art for the “Laviš Dior: From Paris to the World” exhibition, which celebrates 70 years of Dior haute couture with nearly 200 iconic dresses, accessories, and runway footage.
Art and history enthusiasts should visit The Kinsey Collection of African American Art. This comprehensive survey, praised as one of the most extensive outside the Smithsonian Institution, uses rare objects, paintings, sculptures, books, letters, and manuscripts to trace African American culture.
Wrap up your weekend with a soaring piano performance: the Dallas Symphony Orchestra’s Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto No. 1 offers a powerful rendition reminiscent of Russian Orthodox Church music, drawing piano lovers from all corners of the city.
