North Texas is a big place, with plenty to do, see, hear, and watch. So, we scour the internet every week to find events and activities for you. As always, events may change at any time, so check the event website or registration page for the latest details.

MONDAY, MAY 15 – SUNDAY, JUNE 4 

DALLAS SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA’S SOLUNA FESTIVAL  
Times, dates, and locations vary for each performance

The weeks-long festival is back for its third installment featuring collaborative performances from pop music to contemporary art. A number of DFW-based arts groups such as Bruce Wood Dance Project, Dallas Theater Center, and Dallas Symphony Orchestra along with international performers will be included in events. This year’s theme is “dreams and illusions.”

Ticket prices vary for each event. 
Purchase tickets and find more information here. 

THURSDAY, MAY 18 – MONDAY, JUNE 5 

WEWORK CREATOR AWARDS NOMINATIONS
Online — creatorawards.wework.com

The WeWork Creator Awards is a new startup competition granting more than $20 million in funding to entrepreneurs, small businesses, growing companies, nonprofits, artists, or anyone with a great idea. Entrants will be eligible to compete for $1.5 million at the South Regional Finals June 26-27 in Austin.

Free
Find more information about the WeWork Creator Awards and the application process here. 

THURSDAY, MAY 18

THE DOERS: HOWDO’S ERIK HERSKIND
HOWDO, 4827 Memphis St., in Dallas 
5 – 7 p.m. 

HOWDO Co-founder Erik Herskind will talk about all things “thinking.” Plus, there will be beer tastings from 3 Nations Brewery. 

Free
Register and find more information here. 

FRIDAY, MAY 19 

GROW DESOTO: ENTREPRENEUR PITCH DAY APPLICATIONS ARE DUE 

Register for your chance to present your best business pitch to a panel of judges for the opportunity to locate your business in the Grow DeSoto Business Incubator opening this summer in the Brookhollow Shopping Center.

Those chosen will present their pitches on June 10 at the Grow DeSoto: Entrepreneur Pitch Day.

Registration is $10. 
Register your business here. 

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DALLAS OPPORTUNITY FAIR

Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center, 650 S. Griffin St., in Dallas
9 a.m. to 4 p.m. 

100,000 Opportunities Initiative brings its employer-led efforts to hire youths to Dallas. Job seekers ages 16-24 are invited to Friday’s job fair, where they could be hired on the spot. Participating companies include J.C. Penney, Pizza Hut, Target, Hilton Worldwide, Walgreens, and many more. 

Free

Learn more and register here.

SATURDAY, MAY 20 

NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS SMALL BUSINESS CONFERENCE 
Dallas City Hall, 1500 Marilla St., in Dallas
9 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. 

This multi-track, interactive, one-day conference will connect entrepreneurs and small business owners to key federal, state, and local agencies that support small business growth and development.

Tickets are $20. 
Purchase tickets and find more information here. 

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FORGE ON: STUDENT EXHIBITION OF LEARNING 
Village Tech Schools, 402 W. Danieldale Rd., in Duncanville
10 a.m. – 4 p.m. 

Meet students, Pre-K through high school, who will present their community-based projects including a hologram art installation made for the Dallas Zoo, a sensory garden, and bat houses built to address disease control.

Other activities will include food trucks, local artisan vendors, live entertainment, art demonstrations, and interactive community areas.

Free
Find more information here. 

SATURDAY, MAY 20 – SUNDAY, MAY 21 

A MASTER CLASS IN DOCUMENTARY FILMMAKING 
9 a.m. – 6 p.m., Saturday in Dallas 
9 a.m. – 6 p.m., Sunday in Fort Worth

In partnership with Texas Theatre, the Oak Cliff Cultural Center, Dallas Film Society, and the Lone Star Film Society, Production for Use will host a Master Class in Documentary Filmmaking, led by SXSW co-founder Louis Black and award-winning producer, Jeffrey Brown. Black and Brown will discuss filmmaking from story, funding, and production to festivals and distribution.

Tickets are $195. 
Find more information here. 

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SUNDAY, MAY 21 

MOSAIX LOUNGE: INTERNATIONAL TASTING 
Dallas Institute of Humanities and Culture, 2711 Routh St., in Dallas 
3 – 5 p.m. 

This event is an international tasting buffet of shared dishes and lively conversations inspired by questions that spark new viewpoints.

Everyone in attendance must bring an appetizer or dessert with a global theme that serves at least eight people.

Tickets are $5.
Purchase tickets and find more information here. 

WEDNESDAY, MAY 24 

TECH TITANS AWARDS GALA NOMINATIONS DUE
Online — techtitans.org

The Tech Titans Awards Gala celebrates innovators and pioneers who are leaving their mark on the high-tech industry “for the greater good,” according to the Tech Titans website.

From large and small companies to executives, investment catalysts, and teachers, the awards recognize individuals and organizations across the area’s tech ecosystem. See a full list of categories and their descriptions on the Tech Titans Awards nominations website. Companies must have operations in the Dallas-Fort Worth area to be eligible. Nominations are due by May 24.

Free
Nominate and find more information here. 

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PRESERVING THE CULTURAL HERITAGE OF DALLAS: SITES OF IMPORTANCE 
Dallas Institute of Humanities and Culture, 2719 Routh St., in Dallas
6:30 p.m., with a reception at 6 

Preservation Dallas and The Dallas Institute of Humanities and Culture will host a panel of speakers from Remembering Black Dallas, Dallas Mexican American Historical League, and the Dallas Jewish Historical Society for a talk about preserving cultural heritage sites in Dallas. 

Each group will showcase a few of their most important sites and then have a panel discussion on the work they have recently been doing, including inventorying cultural sites in Dallas, working on historic markers for sites, and more. 

Free
Register and find more information here. 

THURSDAY, MAY 25 

THE PULSE: HEALTHCARE INNOVATION BREAKFAST SERIES
Health Wildcatters, 1910 Pacific Ave., 20th Floor, in Dallas 
7:30 – 9 a.m. 

The Pulse Healthcare Innovation Breakfast Series connects entrepreneurs, medical professionals, and innovators from the DFW healthcare and business communities. Thursday’s speakers include Les W. Kreis, Jr., co-managing partner of BIOS Partners and Bill Burns, founder of Encore Vision. 

Tickets start at $15. 
Purchase tickets and find more information here. 

SNEAK PEEKS 

FRIDAY, MAY 26 – SUNDAY, MAY 28 

DALLAS’ FAMOUS MONSTER CONVENTION 
Sheraton Dallas Hotel and Convention Center, 400 N. Olive St., in Dallas 
Friday, May 26: 5 – 9 p.m.; Saturday, May 27: 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.; Sunday, May 28: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

The event features genre film and television stars, vendors, artists, and a full blown independent film festival in the form of the 2017 Silver Scream Film and Comic Fest. 

Tickets begin at $29. 
Find tickets and more information here. 

WEDNESDAY, MAY 31 

CODELAUNCH APPLICATIONS DUE 
Online — codelaunch.com

CodeLaunch is an annual seed accelerator for people and groups with app ideas that need seed funding. The competition concludes with the CodeLaunch Pitch Day, where the top competitors have a chance to present their idea to a panel of judges. Last year’s winner was ParkUpFront, an app designed to give owners of exotic cars the ability to reserve up front parking for their cars at high-end restaurants, clubs, and other venues.

Since it’s founding in 2013, the competition has continued to garner more interest. In 2016, there were 247 applicants representing six continents.

Find more information about the application process here. 

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STATE OF DALLAS COUNTY 
Hilton Anatole, 2201 N. Stemmons Fwy., in Dallas
11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. 

Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins will give an update on “challenges, growth opportunities, and the economic outlook of Dallas County,” in a conversation moderated by KERA News’ Sam Baker. The event is hosted by the Irving-Las Colinas Chamber of Commerce in partnership with the North Dallas Chamber of Commerce.

Ticket prices are $40 for chamber members and $50 for non-members. 
Find more information and register for the event here. 

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INNOVATIONS IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM 
Magnolia Hotel Dallas Park Cities, 6070 N. Central Expressway, in Dallas
11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Honorable Faith Johnson, Dallas County District Attorney, headlines the third installment of Social Venture Partners 2017 Social Innovation Luncheon Series with her talk Innovations in Criminal Justice Reform.

Faith Johnson is a pioneer with a strong vision for criminal justice reform in Dallas. Johnson has the distinction of being the first African-American female to serve as the District Attorney of Dallas County, was the first African-American female district criminal judge elected in Texas, serving as a presiding judge for 17 years, and was also the first African-American female to attain the highly regarded status of Chief Felony Prosecutor during her time in the Dallas County District Attorney’s Office.

Tickets start at $40. 
Register and find more information here. 

SAVE THE DATE

YOU WON’T WANT TO MISS THESE UPCOMING EVENTS

Fill your calendar with the most innovative events in Dallas. Whether you’re interested in Grow DeSoto: Entrepreneur Pitch Day, IgniteDFW, or retired Dallas Police Chief David Brown at the Winspear Opera House, Dallas Innovates is here to provide you a guide for the who, what, and where of innovation in Dallas. Find events such as these and many more, here.

WHAT’S ON YOUR CALENDAR?

Know of a great event? Tell us about it here. 

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