🚗 WORTH THE DRIVE

August 21–23, 2026

Okay, North Texas — we made it to the weekend. 🎉

And since we're deep into August, let's acknowledge the obvious:

It's HOT.

So this week's picks lean toward places where you can stay cool, head out later in the evening, or at least avoid spending your entire Saturday baking in the Texas sun.

I'm not trying to give you every single thing happening around North Texas. These are simply the things I'd actually text a friend and say:

“Hey, this looks fun. Want to go?”

Let's go.

Event details can change, so always check directly with the venue or organizer for reservations, availability and last-minute updates before heading out.

🚗 WORTH THE DRIVE: DALLAS

🍽️ DFW Restaurant Week

Going on now through September 7

If the thought of an outdoor festival in August makes you want to turn the air conditioner down another three degrees, here's your weekend plan. 😂

DFW Restaurant Week is underway, with special prix-fixe menus at restaurants all over the Metroplex — and part of the proceeds benefit local charities.

A few Dallas options that caught my eye:

Fearing's — Weekend brunch, lunch and dinner options at one of Dallas' best-known restaurants.

Stock & Barrel — A great excuse to head to Bishop Arts, have dinner and make a night of it.

Kessaku — Fifty floors above downtown Dallas. If we're calling something Worth the Drive, this feels like it qualifies.

Reservations are a good idea, so check availability before you head out.

🌙 Twilight Nights at the Dallas Arboretum

Friday, Saturday & Sunday | 6:00–9:00 PM
Dallas Arboretum | 8525 Garland Road

Yes, this one is technically outside.

But at least we're waiting until the sun starts thinking about going down. 😂

The Arboretum stays open late for Twilight Nights, with art, music, specialty cocktails and bites available for purchase.

This feels like an easy date night or girls' night — especially if you'd like to do something besides another dinner reservation.

And White Rock Lake at sunset doesn't hurt.

🍷 WORTH THE DRIVE: AROUND CEDAR CREEK

Triple N Ranch Winery

Trinidad

This may be my favorite little find of the week.

Friday: Happy Hour from 3:30–4:30 PM, Seth Thomas live from 5:00–7:00 PM, and Music Bingo & Trivia from 5:30–6:30 PM.

Wine + live music + Music Bingo?

That sounds like a pretty easy Friday-night decision to me.

Saturday: Piano & Wine with Seth Thomas from 1:00–4:00 PM.

Honestly, the Saturday afternoon option may sound even better when it's 100 degrees outside.

Grab a friend, have a glass of wine and listen to piano music in the afternoon.

Air conditioning is currently one of my favorite amenities.

🤠 WORTH THE DRIVE: CORSICANA

Copperhead Jones at Moontower at The Oaks

Saturday | 9:00 PM
Corsicana

If you're in the mood for Texas country Saturday night, Copperhead Jones is playing at Moontower at The Oaks.

This is exactly the kind of thing I want to find for these Friday guides — something you might not know was happening unless somebody happened to tell you.

Grab some friends and make a night of it.

🏡 WORTH A STOP: WAXAHACHIE

Ellis County Home & Garden Show

Saturday | 10:00 AM–6:00 PM
Sunday | 10:00 AM–5:00 PM
Waxahachie Civic Center

Okay, this one is better than it first sounds.

There are home and garden exhibitors, seminars, kids' activities, an art, gift and gourmet marketplace, wine tastings and more.

And perhaps most importantly for this particular weekend:

Admission is FREE. Parking is FREE. And it's INSIDE. 😂

If you're decorating, remodeling, landscaping — or just like looking at pretty things for your house — I'd put this on the list.

As a Realtor, I'm pretty sure I can call this professional development. 😉

❤️ IF I HAD TO PICK...

🍷 Girls' Afternoon

Piano & Wine at Triple N Ranch Winery

A glass of wine, piano music and air conditioning on a Saturday afternoon.

I don't think I need to overcomplicate this.

🍽️ Date Night

Try somewhere new during DFW Restaurant Week

Pick a restaurant you've been meaning to try and make a reservation.

Sometimes dinner IS the event.

🏡 Easy Saturday or Sunday

Ellis County Home & Garden Show

Free admission, free parking, shopping, home ideas, wine tastings — and nobody is asking me to stand outside in August.

Winner.

Why I'm Bringing This Back

A little history behind this new Friday series:

I actually used to do a weekend guide like this years ago.

I loved finding restaurants, markets, concerts, festivals and those random little things happening around us that you don't hear about until Monday when somebody says:

“You should have gone!”

What I didn't love was how much time it took to find everything.

Thankfully, that's gotten a little easier. 😉

So I'm bringing it back.

Every week, I'll be looking around Dallas, North Texas, Corsicana and the lake communities I love for things that are actually worth knowing about.

And you'll see a lot of:

🚗 WORTH THE DRIVE

Because sometimes the best thing happening this weekend isn't five minutes from home.

Maybe it's Dallas. Maybe it's Corsicana. Maybe it's Cedar Creek, Fort Worth, Waxahachie or some little Texas town we haven't even thought of yet.

If it looks good enough to get in the car for, I'll tell you about it.

I'm not going to list everything.

I'm going to find the good stuff.

Check back each Friday for my latest picks.

And if you know about something I shouldn't miss, send it my way.

See you out there!

Cheryl