Will Rogers generates ~$217 million annually. | Photos by the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo
Fort Worth’s Will Rogers Memorial Center is currently undergoing a $50.5 million makeover, just in time for its 90th birthday next year.
A renovation on the 120-acre multipurpose event center began in February and is slated for completion this November. The City of Fort Worth has contributed $45.5 million to the project, while the Stock Show will supplement the remaining $5 million.
What the renovations include
Brand new entrance, including doors with windows
Concourse expansion
Updated concessions + restrooms
Fire and life safety systems
Accessibility accommodations to welcome all guests
HVAC and electrical systems replacements
Structure removal, including outdated rooms and offices
New meeting rooms and food prep facilities
Asked
Asked
Share your memories
Will Rogers Memorial Center hosts all kinds of cultural and sporting events. | Photo by @photogkeith
Now, we’re calling you guys to share your favorite memory at the iconic Will Rogers Memorial Center. Was it your first-ever rodeo? Was it a lucky find at an antiques show? Was it seeing The Rolling Stones back in 1978?
Texas Rangers vs. Houston Astros | Friday, Sept. 5-Sunday, Sept. 7 | Times vary | Globe Life Field, Arlington | $28+ | Purchase a Saturday theme night ticket and receive a collectible Silver Boot Series pin while supplies last + Sunday is Ice Cream Sunday, where kids get ice cream for $1.
Brahms Fourth and Grieg’s Piano Concerto | Friday, Sept. 5-Sunday, Sept. 7 | Times vary | Bass Performance Hall | $32+ | Hear three classical works performed by the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra (FWSO), plus join FWSO’s Buddy Bray for a pre-concert lecture to dive deeper into the works, their history, and other fun concert-related facts.
Saturday, Sept. 6
Flutter Fest | 9 a.m. | Dallas Zoo | $43+ | Purchase a general admission ticket and you’ll have access to a royal event featuring a variety of butterfly species, like the monarch.
The Stars Hollow Market | 10 a.m.-2 p.m. | Inclusion Coffee, Arlington | Cost of purchase | “Gilmore Girls” fans — I think you know what you need to do.
Sunday, Sept. 7
Drawing from the Collection | 2 p.m. | The Modern | Free | Artist instructor Diane Durant will lead this informal basic drawing class — personal sketchbooks are encouraged, all other materials will be provided.
Monday, Sept. 8
Homeschool Class: Sights of African Savanna | 1:15-3:45 p.m. | Fort Worth Zoo | $40 | The Fort Worth Zoo is now providing classes for home-schooled children, ages 6-11, including a live animal presentation and themed art and science lessons — check the calendar for remaining themes.
Lockwood Distilling Co. is closing its tasting room on Magnolia Avenue to pursue business in Garland. The FTW Lockwood will close at the end of this month and will open in Garland’s downtown square later this year. You can always visit the locations in Richardson and McKinney too. (CultureMap Fort Worth)
Open
Cowtown meets its first-ever cannabis lounge. Emerald City Dispensary + Lounge sells CBD-infused products, as well as forms of Delta-8 and Delta-9, including THC cocktails and smokable cannabis. The joint also features a gaming corner. (CultureMap Fort Worth)
State
Gov. Greg Abbott’s second special session has come to an end. See what passed and what didn’t. (Fort Worth Star-Telegram)
Art
If you’ve got a weak stomach, you might want to look away: Caravaggio’s “Judith Beheading Holofernes” arrives at the Kimbell Museum on Friday, Sept. 14. The same day marks the opening of the rare “Myth and Marble.” Learn more. (Fort Worth Magazine)
Cause
The 2025 Cowtown Ball is set for Friday, Sept. 26, and tickets are available for purchase, starting at $500. The event will be held at Tannahill’s, and proceeds will go towards the American Cancer Society.
Weather
DFW may soon experience high temperatures less than 90° this weekend — should we break out our winter coats? Regardless of your fashion choice, we recommend getting your weather updates from WFAA’s Mariel Ruiz on X.
Listen
Texas did not put its best foot forward when facing Ohio State last weekend. Can it be fixed? Get the biggest stories every day from the local experts of the Longhorns with Locked On’s daily podcasts.
Try This
Maximize your Friday night with live acoustic country music on the Lucchese Stage at The District. Featuring local solo and duo acts every week through November, this series brings laid-back vibes and Texas charm you won’t want to miss.*
Shop
Score this cap sleeve tee for an effortless transition from summer to autumn wardrobing. It features a chic V-neck design and is available in 12+ colors. Bonus: It’s under $17.*
Rapper and Grapevine-native Post Malone revealed his namesake’s fashion line this week in Paris. “Season One: At First Light” — which features denim, leather, and calf-hair — is the debut collection for Austin Post, and a nod to his Texas roots.
Styles will be available to buy online after his New York presentation on Sept. 19-20. For now, the website prompts eager fashionistas to enter their email to join the waitlist.
BTW — Posty is set to headline Dallas’ 52nd Cattle Baron’s Ball at Southfork Ranch on Saturday, Oct. 25. And yes, tickets are still available.
The chance to learn a new language during Babbel’s Best Sale of the Year. Turn your morning read into a new daily habit — with Babbel, 10 minutes a day builds real conversation skills you can use on your next trip or at the international festival downtown. Get lifetime access for $199 across all 14 languages.*
The fun doesn’t have to end here. After reading the newsletter, head over to our games page. Games refresh with new challenges every day at 6 a.m. from crossword puzzle to Sudoku to themed word search.
Actor Ed Harris was just added to the cast of the “Yellowstone” spin-off — which has already started filming in North Texas. I’m hoping to add him to our article on celebrity sightings. Where do you think Ed Harris would hang out around Cowtown?
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