September 27, 2026—Grand Prairie’s own EpicCentral has officially been named the Best Entertainment District in Dallas-Fort Worth, taking home Gold in The Dallas Morning News’ 2026 Best in DFW: People’s Choice Awards. This is a milestone win — and a people’s-choice win. No panel of judges, no critics’ picks. Just hundreds of thousands of North Texans voting for the places they visit again and again. This year, they chose EpicCentral, a district that now welcomes nearly 3 million visitors annually. Best in DFW is The Dallas Morning News’ annual, reader-driven awards program, spanning 13 major categories and roughly 300 subcategories — everything from Best Taco to Best Day Spa to, now, Best Entertainment District. With an audience of nearly 8 million North Texans, a Gold win in this program carries real weight. It means our community showed up, voted, and said, “This is our favorite.”
What Is EpicCentral?
EpicCentral is a 172-acre entertainment district in Grand Prairie, Texas, located at 2961 State Hwy 161 — right in the heart of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. It’s built around three simple ideas: Thrill, Fill, and Chill — adventure, dining, and relaxation, all in one waterfront destination.
Thrill covers the district’s adventure attractions, including Epic Waters Indoor Waterpark, Bolder Adventure Park, PlayGrand Adventures, Epic Rec, Andretti Indoor Karting & Games, Topgolf, and Main Event, with an all-new Immersive Dome Experience coming in late 2027/early 2028.
Fill is where EpicCentral’s dining scene shines, with waterfront restaurants like Chicken N Pickle, The Finch, The Garden Grille & Bar, Radici Wood Fired Grill, Serious Eats, Vidorra, The Landing, and Syrup + Sno — with The Charlotte joining the lineup in spring 2027.
Chill rounds out the experience with the Illuvia Water Show, a Vegas-style water and light spectacle; live music and watch parties at Jambox; Central Bark Dog Park; the open green space of GrandLawn; and the scenic Paths, Lake, and Trails.
Beyond the attractions and restaurants, EpicCentral also offers modern hotels, a full-service events and convention center, and party planning for every occasion — making it a one-stop destination for day trips, weekend outings, corporate events, and everything in between.
And this is just the beginning. The district is expanding to a much larger entertainment corridor along Highway 161, stretching between I-30 and I-20 — one of the most connected stretches of things to do in North Texas. The growing corridor brings diverse shopping, from boutiques and specialty shops to major retailers, shopping centers, and great thrift finds, so whether you’re refreshing your wardrobe or just window shopping, there’s something for every taste and budget. It also brings even more dining options at every price point, plus a growing selection of hotels for overnight travelers looking to make a full weekend of it.
To our patrons — thank you.
This award belongs to you. Every visit, every vote, every time you brought a friend or family member through our doors — that’s what built this. EpicCentral was designed to be a gathering place for North Texas, and this win proves it’s become exactly that because you made it so. From our first-time visitors to our regulars who show up week after week, thank you for making EpicCentral the district DFW loves most.
We can’t wait to keep welcoming you — today, this weekend, and for many more years of Gold-winning success.
About Best in DFW
The Dallas Morning News launched Best in DFW in 2020 as an annual, reader-driven awards program spanning 13 major categories and roughly 300 subcategories — everything from Best Taco to Best Day Spa to, yes, Best Entertainment District. Each year runs in two phases: a nomination period each spring, followed by a full month of public voting each June. Results are then revealed in a dedicated Best in DFW magazine distributed with The Dallas Morning News, and posted at BestinDFW.com.
With a program reaching an audience of nearly 8 million North Texans, a Best in DFW win — Gold, especially — carries real weight. It means the community showed up, voted, and said: this is our favorite.
Come See What the Fuss Is About
Whether you’re a longtime regular or you’ve never set foot in EpicCentral, now’s a great time to visit. Grab a table on the water, catch an Illuvia show, browse the shops, or spend the day on the slides at Epic Waters — and see for yourself why DFW voted EpicCentral the best entertainment district in the Metroplex.
EpicCentral is located at 2961 State Hwy 161, Grand Prairie, TX 75052. Learn more at epiccentral.com.