Garland

Things to Do

There’s so much to do, see, and enjoy right here in Garland—no trip to Dallas necessary! Explore Downtown Garland to admire the historic architectural charm as you browse specialty shops or sample the flavors of local restaurants. Visit the Granville Arts Center, home to three beautiful theatres that are known to host everything from Broadway acts to orchestra concerts, and the beautiful Atrium event center. Enjoy outdoor summer concerts, fun local events, or after-hours music and entertainment all along Main Street Garland.

Parks & Recreation

Get outside and explore Garland! With over 2,880 acres of parkland and 30 miles of trails, it certainly won’t be hard to find a way to enjoy the great outdoors while staying active. Lake Ray Hubbard is open year-round to boating, skiing, fishing, swimming, and much more. Numerous parks along the lake offer boat ramps, fishing piers, grills and picnic areas, playgrounds, and scenic trails.

You’ll also find numerous other recreational facilities and amenities throughout the community, such as six recreation centers, 60 parks, four swimming pools and a Surf and Swim center, a 13-court tennis center, a nature preserve, sports fields, three greenbelts, and the premier 63-hole Firewheel Golf Park. Plus, the city offers numerous sports leagues, clinics, camps, and fitness and recreational programming for all ages.

Shopping & Dining

Garland is home to a wealth of major shopping, dining, and commercial centers throughout town. At Harbor Point, located along the shores of Lake Ray Hubbard, you’ll find plenty of stores and restaurants, as well as the unique Bass Pro Shops, which features an aquarium, arcade, and in-store restaurant overlooking the lake. Another main focal point of commercial development is Firewheel Town Center, which features a mixed-use community complete with residential living, office space, major department stores, specialty retail, local restaurants, a playground, a park, and an 18-screen movie theater.

Community Spirit

Celebrated the connected small-town community spirit of Garland with plenty of local events and celebrations. Enjoy stellar theatre performances during the Garland Summer Musicals or relax outdoors in Downtown Garland at the Garland Square Pickers summer concerts. You can also find fresh local goods and produce at two farmers markets, one in Downtown Garland at the Marketplace, and one at Firewheel Town Center.

Local Employment

Though within easy access of the major employment opportunities in both Richmond and Dallas, Garland is home to many of its own top employers. Some of the largest employers in the community include Baylor Medical Center, Kraft Foods, US Food Service, Resistol Hatco, L3 Communications, SilverLine Windows, KARLEE, Atlas Copco, Mapei, General Dynamics, Sherwin Williams, Ecolab, and Plastipak.

Public Schools

Garland public school students are served by Garland Independent School District and have the distinct advantage of a district without school zonings, giving them the freedom to choose which schools they want to attend. Many of Garland’s high schools feature specialized programs, such as the International Baccalaureate program at Garland High, the STEM magnet program at North Garland High, the College and Career magnet program at Lakeview Centennial High, or the vocational cosmetology program at South Garland High.