FESTIVALS, HOLIDAYS AND OTHER ANNUAL EVENTS IN Dallas

There are a number of festivals, holidays and other events celebrated in Dallas each year. The main ones are listed below.

A federal holiday in the United States, celebrating the life and achievements of Martin Luther King, Jr. In recent years, it has increasingly been seen as a day of service, when Americans are encouraged to volunteer to help others less fortunate than themselves. In Dallas, it is also commemorated with a colourful parade marching through the streets, complete with musicians and dancers. It usually starts at the corner of Holmes Street and Martin Luther King Boulevard.

In Dallas, the Chinese New Year is celebrated with a large parade that includes processions, floats, traditional music and dances, singing and various shows.

National holiday in the United States, celebrating the Independence from Great Britain. The celebration consists of parades, barbecues and picnics, as well as a fireworks display when night falls.

Commemorates the landing of Christopher Columbus in the New World (October 12, 1492). Celebrated each year with numerous cultural events, exhibitions and parades.

Halloween is celebrated each year by Americans of all ages. In the late afternoon and early evening hours, children don costumes and go door-to-door in their neighbourhoods to ask for treats, typically candy.

Originally a Christian religious observance, for many years Thanksgiving has been a secular holiday in the United States, celebrated by Americans of all faiths. Families come together to prepare and enjoy a large feast at home. The meal typically includes roast turkey with stuffing, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce as well as various side dishes and ends with an assortment of pies (pumpkin, pecan, apple).

CLIMATE AND WEATHER IN Dallas

Month	Min. Average Temperature (°C/F°)	Max. Average Temperature (°C/F°)	Average Rains (MM)	Best Time to Travel
January	3/37	14/57	63/2.4	Not the best period to go
February	5/41	17/63	60/2.3	Not the best period to go
March	9/48	20/68	83/3.2	Good period to go
April	14/57	25/77	106/4.2	Good period to go
May	18/64	29/84	113/4.4	Good period to go
June	23/73	33/91	96/3.7	Not the best period to go
July	25/77	35/95	70/2.7	Not the best period to go
August	24/75	35/95	75/2.9	Not the best period to go
September	21/70	32/90	68/2.6	Not the best period to go
October	15/59	27/81	70/2.7	Good period to go
November	9/48	20/68	68/2.6	Not the best period to go
December	4/39	15/59	63/2.4	Not the best period to go

Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport

The Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport is located 30 kilometres (18 miles) west of Dallas.

• 5 terminaux :
  • Terminal A
  • Terminal B
  • Terminal C
  • Terminal D (Air France)
  • Terminal E

• By car
  • Access: Downtown Dallas is a 20-minute drive on roads 114 or 183 and then Interstates 35 and 69.
  • Parking: for short term, each airport terminal offers parking available 24/7: 2 USD for 30 minutes, 3 USD for 1 to 2 hours, 9 USD for 2 to 3 hours, 10 USD for 4 to 6 hours and 24 USD for 6 to 24 hours. For long-term parking, favour the north and south car parks, accessible by shuttle (in 15 minutes). Prices: 10 USD for 24 hours.
  • Rentals: several rental agencies are located near the south exit of the airport. To get there, follow the signs located in the arrivals hall. A shuttle transports passengers at regular intervals of 10-15 minutes to the car rental building in just 10 minutes.
• Bus
  • The bus line 408 (every 30 minutes between 5:00 a.m. and 11:00 p.m.) runs 7 days a week between the airport and the city centre in about 90 minutes. The stop is located near south exit of the airport, accessible with a free shuttle in just 10 minutes. The bus fare is 2.50 USD.
• Rail
  • The DART Orange Line is operated 7 days a week, from 4:20 a.m. to 1:15 a.m. It connects terminal A to the city centre of Dallas in 90 minutes. The fare is USD 3.
• Taxis
  • Taxi ranks are located outside terminals A, B, C and E, as well as at the lower level of terminal D. Allow about 20 to 30 minutes and 40 USD to reach the city centre.
• Services
  • Bars, restaurants, currency exchange, ATMs, free Internet access (Wi-Fi), mailbox, souvenir shops, and duty free.

GETTING AROUND Dallas

The city has many parking lots, an excellent road network and good traffic flow: renting a car is a great option for discovering Dallas, as long distances make it hard to walk. Public transport, which is accessible and simple to use, is a good alternative for non-drivers.

Car

Dallas is a very car-friendly city. You will find numerous parking lots throughout town at an affordable rate. You can rent a car directly at the airport, but note that in Texas, you must be at least 25 years old (some rental companies agree to rent vehicles to drivers aged 21 to 24 years, but at a higher price).

Bus

The city of Dallas is served by the DART (Dallas Area Rapid Transit) network, comprised of more than 100 bus lines, covering the most important points in the city. They run daily, every 15 minutes at most, from 5:00 a.m. to midnight.

Lines 1-183 run local routes and cover the city centre. Lines 200 are express and do not make every stop or station (for more information, please visit www.dart.org/riding/expressbus.asp).

The fare in Dallas is USD 2.50 for all public transportation. You can get a ticket from the machines located on the buses or light rail, provided you have exact change. It is also possible to order online a transport card with a microchip or acquire a valid day card at a cost of USD 6. For more information, visit: www.dart.org/fares/fares.asp

MetroRail

The city of Dallas is served by four light-rail lines:

• The red line runs north to south, from Parker Road in Westmoreland, stopping, notably, in the city centre.
• The green line runs west to east, from North Carrolton to Buckner, and makes several stops in the historical centre.
• The yellow line connects the international airport to the city centre.
• The blue line runs from Downtown Rowlett in the east, all the way to UNT Dallas in the south, by way of the city centre.

Express Railway

The Trinity Railway Express line (TRE) connects Fort Worth to Dallas in 70 minutes. Price for a single fare is USD 2.50 and USD 5 for a daily pass with unlimited travels.

Taxi

Many taxis circulate on the streets of Dallas. You can hail them or take them from a station. Initial charge is USD 2.25, plus about USD 1.80 per kilometre.

Visitor information

Upon your arrival in Dallas, you can get in touch with local tourism professionals for further information and to help organise your stay.

Offers practical information and many useful recommendations (accommodation, restaurants, public transport, festivals, cultural events, etc.).

• Adress: 100 South Houston Street
  Dallas, TX 75202
• Telephone: +1 214 571 1316
• Website: www.visitdallas.com/

Visit the USA, a public-private marketing entity, works closely with the travel industry to promote tourism in communities around the country. Its website offers excellent information on all US travel destinations, including Dallas.

• Website: www.visittheusa.co.uk

Currency and Exchange Rates

The currency used in is the dollar (USD).

1 € = 1,12 $

1 $ = 0,89 €

The above exchange rate is given for information because is variable.

Medical information

See your doctor before you travel. It is also recommended to take out insurance covering medical expenses and repatriation before your trip. Dallas counts several hospitals and medical institutions, as well as quality medical practitioners and health specialists.

There are no vaccination requirements for visitors to the United States.

For more information, contact Air France's international vaccination centre:

• Address: 38, quai de Jemmapes, 75010 Paris
• Website: www.vaccinations-airfrance.fr
• Telephone: +33 (0)1 43 17 22 00
• Make an appointment for a vaccination
  • online (click here)
  • call the centre at +33 (0)1 43 17 22 00

There are no specific food safety risks.

Tap water is safe to drink in Dallas.

Administrative formalities

The Visa Waiver Program (VWP) allows citizens or nationals of several countries to travel to the United States without a visa for stays of 90 days or less, whether for tourism or business.

For further information, see the Visitor Visa page on the website of the Bureau of Consular Affairs, U.S. Department of State:
travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/tourism-visit/visitor.html

Useful Addresses

To enjoy peace of mind during your stay in Dallas, visit the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of your country.

Good to know

+1

+ phone number

-7 : 00
of time difference with
Rome

Start of daylight saving time: second Sunday in March

End of daylight saving time: first Sunday in November

BANKS

Usually open Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

GOVERNMENT OFFICES

Usually open Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

120 V / 60 Hz

Tipping
In Dallas as in the rest of the United States, a service charge is not included in the bill and tips form a major portion of income for waiting staff. Prices on restaurant menus are indicated before taxes and tips. You are therefore expected to leave a tip (generally between 15 and 20 percent of the bill). Tipping less than 15 percent (or leaving no tip at all) means that you are very dissatisfied with the service.