Josiah Smith tumbles down a slide at the Fourth of July Jubilee at the Civic Center in Denton. The jubilee celebrates Independence Day after the parade with games, food and competitions for kids.
You don’t have to travel far to have summer fun this year; there are plenty of things to do right in Denton County. Here are some summer activities happening close to home for Denton residents this year.
Josiah Smith tumbles down a slide at the Fourth of July Jubilee at the Civic Center in Denton. The jubilee celebrates Independence Day after the parade with games, food and competitions for kids.
Jake King/DRC
The city is hosting several summer events in June and July.
Make Music Day on the Courthouse on the Square lawn on June 21
Denton is also home to its own water park, Water Works Park. Water Works is open daily until Aug. 12 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. (noon to 7 p.m. on Sundays) and hosts special events and movie nights throughout the summer.
Parade participants wave as onlookers cheer during the annual Yankee Doodle Parade on the Square to celebrate the Fourth of July holiday in 2022.
Juan Betancourt/DRC
The Square is a bustling hub for Denton residents looking for some fun close to home. Apart from the restaurants, bars and shops, the Square hosts a few events over the summer.
Twilight Tunes, a free outdoor concert series, takes place every Thursday on the Courthouse lawn, weather permitting.
Check the Square calendar for updates, details and additional scheduled events throughout the summer.
TWU and UNT events
Both Texas Woman's University and the University of North Texas host events open to the public over the summer.
UNT has summer concerts presented by the College of Music, art exhibitions and camps for kids. TWU has athletic camps almost every day for kids of all ages, as well as a few literacy and reading camps.
The Colony’s Grandscape is one huge entertainment center with a variety of restaurants, shops and entertainment facilities. The fun includes Andretti Indoor Karting and Games, escape rooms at the Immersive Gamebox, the Grandscape Ferris Wheel and more. For adults, Grandscape has Truckyard, a popular and bustling outdoor bar, and Cigars International, a large cigar shop and bar, as well as some Denton favorites like Barley & Board and LSA Burger Co.
Hawaiian Waters
The Colony is also home to Hawaiian Waters, a sister location to Hawaiian Falls water parks. The park is open every day in June and July and has special events every Friday in July. Hawaiian Waters has a variety of attractions for adults and kids of all ages.
Little Elm Beach
Little Elm has a variety of things to do thanks to its proximity to Lewisville Lake. The Little Elm Beach sits cozily on the shore of the lake. With several restaurants to choose from, volleyball nets and events scheduled all summer long, it’s the perfect close-to-home day trip.
There is a $10 parking fee on standard days, with tickets available for special events and season pass parking rates.
Lewisville Lake
Lewisville Lake has a variety of parks and campgrounds for Denton County residents to enjoy, as well as options for boat and jet ski rentals. Perfect for a day trip or a simple lakeside picnic, the lake is only about 15 minutes from Denton.
National Videogame Museum
Frisco is home to the National Videogame Museum. The NVM presents the history of the video game industry in a fun and interactive way that also highlights the STEM values that are essential to being a part of the video game industry.
The Star in Frisco
The Star is the Cowboys’ home away from their stadium in Arlington. Not only do the Cowboys train there during offseason, but also the Star features several high-end restaurants, bars and a 50-yard turf field for little ones to run around on. The Star also hosts several summer events, such as youth camps, yoga and movie nights.
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