Things to Do in Carrollton, Texas
Carrollton mixes an old railroad-town square with one of the largest Korean communities in Texas and a string of parks and greenbelt trails — an unusual combination that makes it more interesting than most northern suburbs.
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, a Korean spa (Spa Castle), 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.
Parks and Trails
For the outdoors, about 20 miles of trails run through Carrollton's parks and creek greenbelts, good for biking and running. The 40-acre Elm Fork Nature Preserve adds a short loop trail through woods that were never clear-cut, a quiet nature walk close to home.
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
Concerts & Shows Near Carrollton
Listings from Ticketmaster, updated October 14, 2026. Tickets are sold by Ticketmaster; we don't check these dates ourselves, so confirm on the ticket page.
- Thu, Oct 15 · 7:00 PM Tales from the Dorkside · Addison Improv, Addison · 5 mi
- Oct 16 – Oct 18 Carlos Mencia · Addison Improv, Addison · 5 mi · Comedy
- Sun, Oct 18 · 1:00 PM The Day Players · Addison Improv, Addison · 5 mi
- Thu, Oct 22 · 7:30 PM Standoperos: La Tómbola · Addison Improv, Addison · 5 mi
- Oct 23 – Oct 25 Corey Holcomb · Addison Improv, Addison · 5 mi · Comedy
- Sat, Oct 24 · 2:00 PM Family Magic & Comedy For All Ages · Addison Improv, Addison · 5 mi · Magic & Illusion
- Oct 29 – Oct 31 Loni Love · Addison Improv, Addison · 5 mi · Comedy
- Tue, Nov 3 · 7:30 PM Led Varela · Addison Improv, Addison · 5 mi
FAQ: Things to Do in Carrollton
Carrollton's draws include the historic downtown square with its landmark grain silo, Koreatown along Old Denton Road, the city's park and greenbelt trails, and the 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.
Carrollton's parks and creek greenbelts hold about 20 miles of trails for biking and walking, and the Elm Fork Nature Preserve has a short loop trail for a quiet nature walk.
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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