What attractions does Arlington call itself the entertainment capital for?

Six Flags, Hurricane Harbor, AT&T Stadium (home of the Dallas Cowboys), and Globe Life Park (home of the Texas Rangers), plus a downtown the city has spent years and a lot of money revitalizing.

What is there to do on the UTA campus on a Friday night?

The University Center has a bowling alley with 12 lanes, 9 pool tables, a game room, and a big screen TV. UTA's planetarium, with a 60-foot dome and a state-of-the-art projection system, is one of the most sophisticated in the state; students with an ID get in for three bucks.

Where are the dive bars near UTA?

On the streets parallel to campus: Caves Lounge, a hipster dive bar a block or two from campus with a pool table, weekly karaoke, a large well-lit patio, and cheap drinks, and Sunshine right in front of Caves with a similar low-key scene.

What is there to do at Lincoln Square near UTA?

Louie Louie's Piano Bar with two pianos and no weekend cover, Sherlock's Pub next door with live bands, a dance floor, darts, and pool, and Buffalo Wild Wings for football games, UFC fights, and boxing on big screen TVs.

Where can you catch free concerts near UTA?

Downtown at Levitt Pavilion, right down the street from campus. They host 50 free concerts a year on the lawn, so you can grab a bottle of wine and a blanket and enjoy music under the stars.

Which dive bar is always packed with UTA students?

Caves Lounge, a hipster bar a block or two from campus with a pool table, weekly karaoke, a large well-lit patio, and cheap drinks. It stays full of UTA students even during finals week, and Sunshine sits right in front with a similar low-key scene.

What dining options are there near UTA?

Downtown you will find dive bars and restaurants like Twisted Root and J. Gilligan's. In the College Park District there is Pie Five and Blazes Sports Grill, and at Lincoln Square, Buffalo Wild Wings shows football games, UFC fights, and boxing on big screen TVs.

Five Things to Do on a Friday Night at The University of Texas at Arlington

Arlington has deemed itself the entertainment capital with attractions like Six Flags, Hurricane Harbor, AT&T Stadium (home of the Dallas Cowboys) and Globe Life Park (home of the Texas Rangers). The city has also spent the last several years and a lot of money revitalizing downtown. The University of Texas at Arlington is right in the middle of all this. You don’t have to stray far from campus to find a good time. Here are five things to do around the University of Texas at Arlington on a Friday or Saturday night.

University of Texas at Arlington or Arlington State College marching band in downtown Arlington, Texas (10010664).jpg — Photo: University of Texas at Arlington News Service Photograph Collection / CC BY 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons

1. If you’re looking to stay on campus or you’re between paychecks head over to the University Center. They have a bowling alley and pool tables along with a game room and a big screen TV. The bowling alley hosts 12 lanes and 9 pool tables. If you can’t stay out late or aren’t into the bar scene, this is a great option. Another on-campus option is UTA’s planetarium. It’s similar to the IMAX, except not as big. It will definitely satisfy the inner science nerd in you. UTA’s planetarium has a 60-foot dome and a state-of-the-art projection system. It is one of the most sophisticated planetariums in the state. They offer shows all week as well as Friday and Saturday evenings and students with an ID can get in for three bucks.

2. Park District is one of the newer attractions for UTA. It’s part of the downtown revitalization project and is home to College Park Center. The event center hosts UTA’s basketball and volleyball teams. Drake, John Legend, Legacy Fight League, and TNA Wrestling have all performed at College Park Center. Pie Five and Blazes Sports Grill are also part of the College Park District, and if you live on campus, College Park District is within walking distance, just on the east side of campus.

3. The streets that run parallel to campus are full of dive bars. Caves Lounge is about a block or two from campus. This hipster dive bar has a pool table and hosts weekly events like karaoke. It has a large well-lit patio outside, and the drinks are cheap. Caves Lounge is always full of UTA students, even during finals week. Sunshine is right in front of Caves and the scene is similar. Cheap drinks and a low-key atmosphere make Sunshine another favorite of UTA students.

4. Head downtown. There are several other dive bars and great restaurants like Twisted Root and J. Gilligan’s. Levitt Pavilion is right down the street and they host 50 free concerts a year on the lawn. Check out the schedule, grab a bottle of wine and a blanket and enjoy a night of free music under the stars.

5. If you’re looking for options for your night then go up to Lincoln Square. It’s a couple miles from campus but there is a lot to do. Louie Louie’s Piano Bar offers great entertainment for the night. Two pianos, a bar full of people, and songs you know. They host parties and the best part is no cover on the weekends. Next door is Sherlock’s Pub which has live bands, a dance floor, darts and pool in the back. If it’s sports you’re after, Buffalo Wild Wings is in Lincoln Square, also where you can catch football games, UFC fights, boxing, and most other events on their big screen TVs.

Elizabeth Page graduated from UTA in 2011 with a degree in communications-journalism.

Key takeaways

Arlington sits in the middle of big attractions like Six Flags, Hurricane Harbor, AT&T Stadium (home of the Dallas Cowboys), and Globe Life Park (home of the Texas Rangers), plus a downtown the city has spent years and a lot of money revitalizing.
On campus, the University Center has a bowling alley with 12 lanes and 9 pool tables, and UTA's planetarium with its 60-foot dome lets students in for three bucks with an ID.
The College Park District, walkable from the east side of campus, is home to College Park Center plus places like Pie Five and Blazes Sports Grill.
The streets parallel to campus are lined with dive bars like Caves Lounge, always full of UTA students even during finals week, and Sunshine.
Downtown, Levitt Pavilion hosts 50 free concerts a year on the lawn, and Lincoln Square a couple miles out has Louie Louie's Piano Bar (no cover on weekends), Sherlock's Pub, and Buffalo Wild Wings.

Frequently asked questions

What attractions does Arlington call itself the entertainment capital for?: Six Flags, Hurricane Harbor, AT&T Stadium (home of the Dallas Cowboys), and Globe Life Park (home of the Texas Rangers), plus a downtown the city has spent years and a lot of money revitalizing.
What is there to do on the UTA campus on a Friday night?: The University Center has a bowling alley with 12 lanes, 9 pool tables, a game room, and a big screen TV. UTA's planetarium, with a 60-foot dome and a state-of-the-art projection system, is one of the most sophisticated in the state; students with an ID get in for three bucks.
What is in the College Park District near UTA?: College Park Center, which hosts UTA's basketball and volleyball teams and has welcomed Drake, John Legend, Legacy Fight League, and TNA Wrestling, plus Pie Five and Blazes Sports Grill. It is within walking distance on the east side of campus.
Where are the dive bars near UTA?: On the streets parallel to campus: Caves Lounge, a hipster dive bar a block or two from campus with a pool table, weekly karaoke, a large well-lit patio, and cheap drinks, and Sunshine right in front of Caves with a similar low-key scene.
What is there to do at Lincoln Square near UTA?: Louie Louie's Piano Bar with two pianos and no weekend cover, Sherlock's Pub next door with live bands, a dance floor, darts, and pool, and Buffalo Wild Wings for football games, UFC fights, and boxing on big screen TVs.
Where can you catch free concerts near UTA?: Downtown at Levitt Pavilion, right down the street from campus. They host 50 free concerts a year on the lawn, so you can grab a bottle of wine and a blanket and enjoy music under the stars.
Which dive bar is always packed with UTA students?: Caves Lounge, a hipster bar a block or two from campus with a pool table, weekly karaoke, a large well-lit patio, and cheap drinks. It stays full of UTA students even during finals week, and Sunshine sits right in front with a similar low-key scene.
What dining options are there near UTA?: Downtown you will find dive bars and restaurants like Twisted Root and J. Gilligan's. In the College Park District there is Pie Five and Blazes Sports Grill, and at Lincoln Square, Buffalo Wild Wings shows football games, UFC fights, and boxing on big screen TVs.

Sources

University of Texas at Arlington, official site (linked in the original post)

Editorial note: grammar and clarity of the original post were lightly corrected in 2026. Facts and opinions are the author's own.