Things to Do in DeSoto, Texas
DeSoto is a close-in southern Dallas County suburb, and its draws mix the community kind — a Town Center with a theater and amphitheater, good parks — with a few genuine standouts, like a covered BMX track and a 19th-century Victorian farmstead. Cedar Hill State Park is a short drive west.
Here's what to do in and around DeSoto.
The DeSoto Town Center
The DeSoto Town Center is the civic and cultural heart of the city, gathering City Hall, the Recreation Center, the DeSoto Public Library, the Civic Center, an outdoor amphitheater, and The Corner Theatre in one district, alongside shopping and dining.
It's where a lot of the town's events happen, from concerts at the amphitheater to performances at the theater, plus community gatherings like the DeSoto Artist Lab Showcase Festival. It's the natural center for a visit.
DeSoto BMX and the Parks
One of DeSoto's most distinctive attractions is DeSoto BMX (formerly Metroplex BMX) at Grimes Park — a covered track built for BMX racing. Friday race nights are free to watch, and the action draws riders and spectators from across the region.
Grimes Park also has a big playground and sports facilities, and the Windmill Hill Nature Preserve and Roy Orr Trail add trails and natural areas for a quieter day outside.
History and Sky-High Views
For a look at the area's past, the historic Nance Farm preserves a Victorian-style home built in the 1850s, along with a windmill, curing shed, milking barn, and tank house — a window into 19th-century farm life in southern Dallas County.
For a very different view, DeSoto-based Texas Helicopter Experience offers tours that take in downtown Dallas, AT&T Stadium, the Fort Worth Stockyards, and other Metroplex landmarks from the air. And Cedar Hill State Park on Joe Pool Lake is a short drive west for the outdoors.
FAQ: Things to Do in DeSoto
DeSoto's draws include the Town Center with its theater and amphitheater, the covered DeSoto BMX track at Grimes Park, the historic 1850s Nance Farm, and helicopter tours with Texas Helicopter Experience. Cedar Hill State Park on Joe Pool Lake is a short drive west.
The DeSoto Town Center is the city's civic and cultural district, home to City Hall, the Recreation Center, the Public Library, the Civic Center, an outdoor amphitheater, and The Corner Theatre, plus shopping and dining. It hosts many of the town's events.
The historic Nance Farm in DeSoto preserves a Victorian-style home built in the 1850s, along with a windmill, curing shed, milking barn, and tank house — a look at 19th-century farm life in the area.
East Texas guides — an easy drive from DeSoto
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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