The historic Forest Theater will reopen Nov. 1 with The Grand Return, a community homecoming celebrating the landmark’s return to South Dallas. The event begins at 5:30 p.m. and will feature live entertainment, musical guests, local businesses in Vendor Village, food trucks and opportunities to explore the restored theater. The evening will culminate in the relighting of the theater’s iconic tower and marquee for the first time in more than 50 years.

Originally opened in 1949, the Forest Theater became one of Dallas’ premier live entertainment venues, hosting performers including Prince, B.B. King, Gladys Knight and Erykah Badu. Its reopening is part of Forest Forward’s broader neighborhood revitalization work connecting arts and culture with education, housing, entrepreneurship and economic mobility.

The expanded campus will include a 1,000-person concert hall, 200-seat black box theater, creative education lab, recording and podcast studios, artist classrooms and community gathering spaces.

Advance registration is required.

For more information and registration, visit ForestForward.org.