Things to Do in Carrollton, Texas
Carrollton mixes an old railroad-town square with one of the largest Korean communities in Texas and a river corridor full of trails — an unusual combination that makes it more interesting than most northern suburbs. Add an old-fashioned amusement park, and there's a real day here.
Here's what to do in and around Carrollton.
The Historic Downtown Square
The heart of Carrollton is its historic downtown square, centered on a gazebo and overlooked by its landmark grain silo — a reminder of the town's days as a "grain and gravel" railroad depot. The historic storefronts now hold boutique shops, restaurants, and entertainment venues.
It's a genuinely charming, walkable square that hosts community events through the year, and it's the natural place to start a visit.
Koreatown Carrollton
Carrollton's Koreatown, centered around Old Denton Road, is a destination in its own right — one of Texas's most concentrated Korean communities, with authentic Korean BBQ, bakeries, 24-hour spas, and the H Mart grocery store, alongside Vietnamese and Chinese spots.
Exploring the food and shops here is one of the best things to do in Carrollton, and it draws visitors from across the Metroplex looking for authentic Asian food and culture.
Sandy Lake and the Trails
For a family day, Sandy Lake Amusement Park offers old-fashioned rides, paddle boats, bumper cars, pony rides, and picnic areas — a nostalgic, low-key destination that's become a Carrollton institution.
And for the outdoors, trails along the Elm Fork of the Trinity River and the Elm Fork Nature Preserve, connecting the town's riverside parks for biking, running, and wildlife watching.
Upcoming in Carrollton
Dates confirmed on each organizer's own site as of October 3, 2026. Plans change, so check the link before you drive.
Sat, Nov 7, 2026
Festival at the SwitchyardCarrollton · Historic Downtown Carrollton
16th annual free festival; Toad the Wet Sprocket headlines with openers Eve 6 and Wheatus
FAQ: Things to Do in Carrollton
Carrollton's draws include the historic downtown square with its landmark grain silo, Koreatown along Old Denton Road, Sandy Lake Amusement Park, and the Elm Fork river trails and Elm Fork Nature Preserve.
Historic Downtown Carrollton is a preserved railroad-era square centered on a gazebo and a landmark grain silo, with historic storefronts now holding boutique shops, restaurants, and entertainment venues, hosting community events through the year.
Sandy Lake Amusement Park offers old-fashioned rides, paddle boats, bumper cars, and pony rides, and the Elm Fork river trails and nature preserve provide biking, walking, and wildlife watching along the Trinity River.
East Texas guides — an easy drive from Carrollton
Weekend trips, lakes, festivals and small-town food east of the metroplex.
Things to Do in East Texas
What to do in East Texas, checked against official sources: Tyler's Rose Garden and Caldwell Zoo, Canton's First Monday Trade Days, the Texas State Railroad, state parks, museums and festivals.
Read Guide →East Texas Festivals and Annual Events
Season-by-season guide to East Texas festivals and events — Canton's First Monday Trade Days, the Texas Rose Festival, the Yamboree, Wonderland of Lights and more, checked against each host's own site.
Read Guide →Best Day Trips from Tyler and East Texas
Drive-time guide to day trips from Tyler: state parks, small towns, museums, and lakes within about 30 minutes, an hour, and up to three hours.
Read Guide →Best Lakes in East Texas
A fact-checked guide to 17 East Texas lakes, from Lake Fork's trophy bass and Caddo Lake to Toledo Bend, Sam Rayburn and Lake Tawakoni. Sizes, species, access and rules come from TPWD.
Read Guide →Business Owner?
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