North Texas is a big place, with plenty to do, see, hear, and watch. We scour the internet every week to find events and activities for you. As always, things may change at any time, so be sure to check the official website or registration page for the latest details. For ongoing events, click here.
Don’t miss anything: Get Dallas Innovates Every Day. And, if you know of a great event, tell us about it. Event details courtesy of organizers.
International Conference on Advances in Biotechnology, Chemistry and Life Sciences
Hosted by Science Leagues
Hybrid event, online and in-person at Embassy Suites by Hilton – Dallas Park Central, 13131 N. Central Expwy., Dallas
From 9 a.m. Friday to 4:15 p.m. Saturday
Join Science Leagues for their wide platform to share vital and recent innovations in the arenas of Advances in Biotechnology, Chemistry and Life Sciences. The conference has a wonderful space for both scientific presentations like oral, poster and a commercial exhibition.
Tuesday, December 31
Lone Star New Year’s Eve at Reunion Tower
Hosted by Hunt Realty Investments
Reunion Tower, 300 Reunion Blvd. E., Dallas
11:59 p.m.
The downtown Dallas sky on New Year’s Eve will once again dazzle as the city celebrates with a bigger and better Lone Star NYE event, a spectacular gift from Hunt Realty Investments. This year’s celebration will feature an expanded display with over 5,000 pyrotechnic special effects launched from Reunion Tower, an impressive 259-LED light display, and 500 drones flying high, making this a New Year’s spectacle like never before. Local DFW drone partners, Sky Elements, return. They are known for their drone light shows, current Guinness World Record titles, and as a finalist this year on America’s Got Talent.
You can enjoy the show from the surrounding area or ring in the New Year with an unforgettable celebration of Lone Star NYE at Reunion Tower! Crown Block at Reunion Tower, the Michelin recognized restaurant, is hosting exclusive New Year’s Eve events. Indulge in a specially curated prix fixe menu at Crown Block at Reunion Tower before or enjoy sparkling cocktails, live DJ entertainment, and a seat inside the action for Dallas skyline’s dazzling fireworks show at The Crown Room’s NYE party. Celebrate in style and make this New Year’s Eve one to remember!
Wednesday, January 8
1 Million Cups
Various North Texas locations and times
Every Wednesday, 1 Million Cups communities around North Texas and the country meet to give each other “support, encouragement, and feedback over a cup of coffee.” Entrepreneurs present their businesses to the group, but “it’s not a pitch; it’s a chance to learn, collaborate and grow,” organizers say. In North Texas, you’ll find multiple 1MC groups in locations including Dallas, Fort Worth, Irving, Frisco, Northeast Tarrant County, and Wichita Falls. Some have Zoom live feeds.
Thursday, January 9, 2025
The IQ Brew – Launching a Startup: Insights on Accelerator Programs & Investors
Hosted by The Richardson IQ
IQHQ, 1302 E. Collins Blvd., Richardson
8:30 to 10 a.m.
In this presentation Leon Jacobson will delve into starting a business in the healthcare space, accelerator programs and what investors look for in a startup. Jacobson is the CEO and Co-founder of Nerveli, a digital health startup that is disrupting the pain management space.
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IoT Texas Happy Hour:
Hosted by IoT Texas
Hybrid event; online and in-person at SpringHill Suites Dallas/Plano/N. Garland, 3251 E. President George Bush Turnpike, Richardson
6 to 7:30 p.m.
Walker Reynolds with 4.0 Solutions will present and give us an update on how well Unified NameSpace (UNS) is being adopted, the future of manufacturing and industry, the impact of AI, and the importance of digital fluency. He’ll also discuss the importance of restructuring the way we think about systems integrators, suppliers, hardware & software manufacturers, and distributors that is compatible with the 4th industrial revolution.
The meeting was moved from Jan. 2 to Jan. 9th due to New Year Holiday.
Tuesday, January 14, 2025
Table Topics Luncheon: Elevating Employee Excellence
Hosted by the Women’s Business Council – Southwest
Hybrid event; online and in-person at WBCS office building, 5605 N. MacArthur Blvd., Irving
11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Great leaders understand that elevating employee excellence requires a focus on growth and development. In this session featuring Dee Maddox, Chief Excellence Officer of DMX Consulting, LLC, we explore the importance of employee development and how it contributes to organizational success. We will discuss best practices for implementing effective employee development strategies and programs, including the importance of ongoing coaching and feedback and how to measure and evaluate the success of these initiatives. Organizations that prioritize employee development experience increased engagement, productivity, and retention.
Wednesday, January 15
1 Million Cups
Various North Texas locations and times
Every Wednesday, 1 Million Cups communities around North Texas and the country meet to give each other “support, encouragement, and feedback over a cup of coffee.” Entrepreneurs present their businesses to the group, but “it’s not a pitch; it’s a chance to learn, collaborate and grow,” organizers say. In North Texas, you’ll find multiple 1MC groups in locations including Dallas, Fort Worth, Irving, Frisco, Northeast Tarrant County, and Wichita Falls. Some have Zoom live feeds.
Thursday, January 16, 2025
DRC 2025 Annual Meeting – The Business of Sports: Playmakers Panel
Hosted by Dallas Regional Chamber
Globe Life Field, Arlington
3 to 6:30 p.m.
The Dallas Regional Chamber’s 2025 Annual Meeting, presented by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas, will bring together more than 1,000 business leaders to celebrate our successes, look forward, and explore why our region is the #1 market in the U.S. for sports business—and how it helps fuel our region’s prosperity.
Panel discussion includes Charlotte Jones, co-owner of the Dallas Cowboys, Cynt Marshall, CEO of the Dallas Mavericks; Brad Alberts, President & CEO of the Dallas Stars; Neil Leibman, President of Business Operations and Chief Operating Officer for the Texas Rangers; Dan Hunt, President of FC Dallas; Greg Bibb, President, CEO and Managing Partner of the Dallas Wings; and moderator Chuck Morgan, EVP of Ballpark Entertainment, Promotions and Production for the Texas Rangers.
Wednesday, January 22
1 Million Cups
Various North Texas locations and times
Every Wednesday, 1 Million Cups communities around North Texas and the country meet to give each other “support, encouragement, and feedback over a cup of coffee.” Entrepreneurs present their businesses to the group, but “it’s not a pitch; it’s a chance to learn, collaborate and grow,” organizers say. In North Texas, you’ll find multiple 1MC groups in locations including Dallas, Fort Worth, Irving, Frisco, Northeast Tarrant County, and Wichita Falls. Some have Zoom live feeds.
Friday, January 24
Turning Vision into Value: A Roadmap to Your Dream Exit
Hosted by Venture Opportunities
Vision Opportunities Meeting Room, 9330 LBJ Freeway, Ste. 290, Dallas
11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Join Venture Opportunities for “Turning Vision into Value: A Roadmap to Your Dream Exit”—a powerful session designed specifically for business owners ready to take control of their business’s value. This presentation will dive into key drivers that determine business value and provide actionable insights to help you assess where your business stands. You’ll evaluate your performance on three of the most critical drivers and discover practical strategies to improve your scores. Walk away with a clear plan to increase the value of your business and move closer to achieving your dream exit. Whether you’re planning to sell soon or in the distant future this session is essential for building a business buyers can’t resist.
Cost is $25 and includes lunch.
Wednesday, January 29
1 Million Cups
Various North Texas locations and times
Every Wednesday, 1 Million Cups communities around North Texas and the country meet to give each other “support, encouragement, and feedback over a cup of coffee.” Entrepreneurs present their businesses to the group, but “it’s not a pitch; it’s a chance to learn, collaborate and grow,” organizers say. In North Texas, you’ll find multiple 1MC groups in locations including Dallas, Fort Worth, Irving, Frisco, Northeast Tarrant County, and Wichita Falls. Some have Zoom live feeds.
Thursday, February 13
The 10th Annual State of Entrepreneurship
Hosted by The DEC Network and presented by Bank of America
Vouv Event and Meeting Space, 4445 Sigma Road, Dallas
6 to 8:30 p.m., Save the date
The 10th Annual State of Entrepreneurship presented by Bank of America has become a tradition for celebrating the people, places and passions that keep the North Texas startup ecosystem thriving. The entire community comes out to cheer on the launches, fundings, exits and overall wins of the entrepreneurial community from the past year.
ONGOING
HOLIDAY EVENTS
Through Saturday, January 4, 2025
Dallas Zoo Lights Presented by Reliant
Hosted by Dallas Zoo
650 S R.L. Thornton Freeway, Dallas
5:30 to 9:00 p.m.
Celebrate the holidays at Dallas Zoo Lights, running nightly from November 22, 2024, through January 4, 2025. This year’s theme, “Once Upon a Wild Light,” invites you to explore the Zoo transformed into a glowing wonderland with over 2 million lights and immersive experiences.
Highlights include:
- Visions of the Wild, a 360-degree light experience exploring vibrant biomes and wildlife.
- Dino Lumina: A Jurassic Adventure, an immersive projection display at DinoLand where dinosaurs roam and come to life.
- Holiday treats, festive photo opportunities, glowing animal lanterns, live musical performances, and Santa’s Holiday Storyland.
Please note: This event focuses on festive lighting displays; most of the Zoo’s animals will be asleep by the time the lights come on.
Learn more and purchase tickets here.
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Through Sunday, January 5, 2025
Ice, Lights, and City Nights
Hosted by Omni Dallas Hotel
555 S. Lamar Street, Dallas
10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
For the holiday season, Omni Dallas is transforming its iconic Pegasus Lawn into the only ice rink in downtown Dallas. Skate under the dazzling Dallas skyline and enjoy an entire winter wonderland just steps away.
Highlights include:
- Ice skating with tickets that include skate rental and one hour on the ice.
- Hot cocoa stations for a cozy treat.
- The Elf Express train ride through the hotel’s winter wonderland.
- Seasonal craft cocktails at Blitzen’s Bar, decked out with whimsical holiday décor.
- A chance to catch a glimpse of Santa Claus strolling around.
Children 12 and under require adult supervision, and children 5 and under must have an accompanying adult skater. All participants are required to sign a waiver.
Purchase tickets here.
Through Sunday, February 9
Dutch Art in a Global Age
Hosted by The Kimbell Art Museum
3333 Camp Bowie Blvd., Fort Worth
Open daily, except on Mondays
In the seventeenth century, Dutch merchants sailed across seas and oceans, joining trade networks that stretched from Asia to the Americas and Africa. This unprecedented movement of goods, ideas, and people gave rise to what many consider the first age of globalization and sparked an artistic boom in the Netherlands.
Dutch Art in a Global Age brings together paintings by Rembrandt, Frans Hals, Gerrit Dou, Jacob van Ruisdael, Maria Schalcken, and other celebrated artists from the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston’s renowned collection. These are joined by four Dutch paintings from the Kimbell’s permanent collection, along with prints, maps, and stunning decorative objects in silver, porcelain, and more, from the seventeenth and the first half of the eighteenth centuries. Exploring how Dutch dominance in international commerce transformed life in the Netherlands and created an extraordinary cultural flourishing, the exhibition also includes new scholarship that contextualizes seventeenth-century Dutch art within the complex histories of colonial expansion, wealth disparity, and the transatlantic slave trade during this period.
Friday, February 14 to Sunday, May 11
Titanic: The Exhibition
Hosted by Imagine and
Pepper Square, 14902 Preston Road
Save the date. Tickets are timed entry.
The story of one of the most important nautical disasters in history is coming to North Texas with the immersive Titanic: The Exhibition, produced by Imagine and Fever, which will open for a limited engagement in Dallas following a “highly successful” run in Chicago.
The exhibit harkens back to the morning of April 15, 1912, when the Titanic sank in the icy waters of the North Atlantic. It’s a story that still captivates and intrigues people to this day.
The largest and most immersive touring Titanic experience, Titanic: The Exhibition is a narrative journey that focuses on the fates of the passengers and crew aboard the sinking ship with stories, artifacts, and ship re-creations.
Monday, August 3 through Friday, August 7
Dallas Startup Week
Hosted by DSW and sponsored by Capital One
SMU Cox School of Business, Dallas
Save the date
Every year Dallas Startup Week brings together entrepreneurs and changemakers to exchange ideas, collaborate, and grow. Founders are changing the Dallas ecosystem every day and this free annual event, billed as the largest entrepreneurial gathering in North Texas, highlights what’s new and next in the region.
Keep checking back for updates on the agenda and speakers. Learn more here.
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R E A D N E X T
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The hybrid event in August will take place in person at SMU and virtually. The seventh annual Dallas Startup Week powered by Capital One is Dallas-Fort Worth's largest event focused on driving entrepreneurial success, economic impact, and innovation in the region.
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You'll find deadlines coming up for a new accelerator program; and many more opportunities.
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You’ve found Dallas Innovates’ archive of news briefs from July to September 2021.
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Nonprofit BUiLT is hosting the event to highlight the success and possibilities of Black tech talent in the region. “There is no talent pipeline problem,” says Peter Beasley, co-founder of the Blacks United in Leading Technology International. “Black tech talent is widely available, especially in North Texas.”
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With Dallas ranked as one of the top cities in America for tech pros, UT Dallas and Fullstack have launched four skills training bootcamps focused on coding, cybersecurity, data analytics, and DevOps. The online bootcamps begin in November with tuition at $11,995 each.
