Texas Bear Round-Up: A Celebration of Community, Camaraderie, and Charity in Dallas

If you’re looking for an unforgettable weekend filled with camaraderie, entertainment, and a spirit of giving, Texas Bear Round-Up (TBRU™) is the event you won’t want to miss!

As the largest bear run in North America, TBRU has become a must-attend gathering for bears, cubs, chubs, and their admirers from across the globe. Hosted annually in Dallas, Texas, this unforgettable event combines social connection, exciting activities, and a strong philanthropic mission creating an experience unlike any other in a space where everyone is welcomed and celebrated for exactly who they are.

TBRU is a tradition rooted in the heart of the Bear community in Dallas. Organized by the Dallas Bears, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1993, this event brings together a diverse and welcoming crowd, spanning different ages, backgrounds, and identities from all over the world. Since its inception in 1995, TBRU has grown into a globally-renowned event, drawing over 2,000 attendees from more than a dozen countries each year.

Beyond the fun and festivities, TBRU is a charity-driven event. Every year, the proceeds support local 501(c)(3) nonprofits, with over $1 million donated to date benefitting programs that provide medication, food, and life-saving procedures for elderly LGBTQIA+ individuals, and those living with HIV/AIDS – especially where insurance falls short or may not exist. TBRU also contributes to initiatives that not only feed the unhoused but actively help them transition into stable housing and employment.

The 2024-2025 beneficiaries include:

• The Cathedral of Hope: Food Benevolence Program, providing meals to housing-insecure individuals. Pantry volunteers distribute bags of the food items and toiletries to folks experiencing food insecurity.

• AIN (Access & Information Network) A leading healthcare resource for individuals living with HIV/AIDS. Providing programs and assistance to help clients access the range of care and services needed to improve their health and circumstances while achieving a better quality of life.

• Greg Dollgener Memorial AIDS Fund (GDMAF) Providing critical financial assistance to those affected by HIV/AIDS. Since 1996, GDMAF has assisted over 3,000 clients and disbursed more than $500,000 to meet needs such as rent, medication co-pays, rent or utility deposits, and emergency payments to avoid loss of utilities.

At TBRU28, over 2,100 attendees came together to raise an astonishing $165,000 for local charities, and TBRU29 in 2025 promises to be even bigger!

TBRU returns March 13-16, 2025, with its Bears in Wonderland theme, promising a weekend of whimsy adventure, and community. Held at the Hyatt Regency Dallas, the event will feature an exciting lineup of entertainment, activities, and unique experiences designed to bring people together in a warm and inclusive environment.

TBRU is known for offering a dynamic mix of activities that cater to a variety of interests and needs.

Bears University: Where Fun Meets Learning.

Introduced in 2019, Bears University offers a welcoming space for attendees to explore and learn about bear culture, leather, and kink in an open and judgment-free setting. In 2024, participants enjoyed 12 engaging classes, including things like:

• Bear Roping 101
• Coping with PTSD
• Bear Yoga
• Pet Play 101
• …and many more!

And for TBRU29, new and exciting additions are being planned for the Bears University, including:

• Dancing Bears 101: Get ready to move and groove!
• Bear-cessibility: A session dedicated to accessibility and inclusion within the Bear community.
• Advanced Flogging Techniques: An exploration of technique and artistry in impact play.
• As well as many other new additions you’ll have to be there to experience!

Game Rooms & Social Spaces

TBRU fosters an atmosphere where everyone can connect in ways that feel comfortable to them. Attendees can look forward to:

• A video game room featuring popular consoles and multiplayer experiences spanning the generations.
• A board game room with classics like Magic: The Gathering.
• Sober Support meet-ups, ensuring a welcoming space for all members of the community.
• And several other groups spanning a wide array of interests to ensure everyone feels welcome!

Pup Play & Moshes

TBRU proudly collaborates with Texas Puppy Club and DFW Kennel Club to bring pet play classes and interactive moshes to the event. In previous years, over 200 curious attendees participated in these sessions, and the 2025 event promises even more inclusive, educational, and playful experiences.

Gameshows & Bear Bingo

If you love game shows, you’re in for a treat! TBRU is known for its outrageous, high energy live game shows, where audience participation is a part of the fun! Plus, you never know what you’re gonna win!

Whether you’re on stage or cheering from the crowd, these events are packed with laughs, surprises, prizes, and unforgettable moments like:

Variety Hour – Expect the unexpected! A lively mix of music, comedy and variety of acts; All with our own personal bear-twist!

Minute-To-Win-It – A fast paced, hilarious competition where contestants tackle outrageous challenges in 60 seconds or less! Do you have what it takes to win?

Bear Bingo with Sister Helen Holy! A TBRU Fan Favorite! Hosted by the one and only Sister Helen Holy, this raucous, side splitting take on Bingo is unlike anything you’ve ever experienced before. Expect quick wit, wild prizes, and a whole lot of fun.

At TBRU the entertainment never stops, and these games are just the beginning!

First Timers Meet & Greet: A Warm Welcome for New Attendees

Is this your first time at TBRU? A weekend of this size can feel overwhelming, especially with so much to see and do. That’s why the organizers highly encourage all first time attendees to join the First Timers Meet & Greet. This welcoming, relaxed event is the perfect way to meet fellow newcomers, ask questions, and get insider tips on how to make the most of your TBRU experience. You’ll walk away with new friends, helpful guidance, and the confidence to dive in headfirst into the weekend!

Shop Til’ You Drop!

Maybe all the excitement has you overwhelmed and you need a little retail therapy? Then check out the massive vendor market! Every year TBRU hosts over 60+ vendors downstairs in the Hyatt Regency that sell a wide range of products. Everything from leather, harnesses, candles and body scrubs, you name it, you can find here!

BearDance: The Dance of the Year

No TBRU weekend is complete without BearDance, one of the most anticipated dance parties of the year! Get ready to let loose on the dance floor, surrounded by an energetic crowd of bears, cubs, and admirers. This high-energy event is not to be missed, hosted by Presenting Sponsor, BearDance®.

BearDance is a non-profit organization dedicated to raising money for LGBTQIA+ charities serving local communities through unique events that bring bears, cubs, chasers, and all friends closer together. Since 2009, BearDance has raised more than $725,000 dollars benefiting local LGBTQIA+ organizations including Youth First, AIDS Interfaith Network, AIDS Services of Dallas, Sharon St. Cyr Foundation, AIDS Arms, The Greg Dollgener Memorial AIDS Fund, and the Resource Center.

The celebration also extends far beyond the walls of the Hyatt Regency as well with partner organizations like the TGRA, the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, or the United Court of the Lonestar Empire joining the mix to help out. Throughout the weekend, Dallas’s vibrant LGBTQIA+ scene joins in the fun, with bars throughout the Gayborhood hosting special TBRU events.

Some of the participating venues include:

• The Hidden Door Dallas
• The Round-Up Saloon and Dance Hall
• The Dallas Eagle
• Woodies
• S4
• TMC
• JRs

Each of these venues adds to the festive atmosphere, offering drink specials, themed parties, and community-driven events with special guest DJ’s just for TBRU weekend! And as a courtesy, the Bear Buses will transport attendees safely to and from each of these locations!

Attending Texas Bear Round-Up isn’t just about having a great time, it’s about being part of something meaningful. Whether you’re a first-timer, a seasoned attendee, or whether you’ve attended all 29 Runs – TBRU offers a welcoming and inclusive space where everyone belongs with exciting entertainment and engaging activities for all interests, including their annual surprise celebrity entertainer. Not to mention the opportunities to give back to the community through charitable contributions and the chance to make lifelong lasting friendships and connections with bears, cubs, and admirers from around the world.

So, are you ready to “Party for a Purpose?” and be part of an event that celebrates diversity, community, and giving back? Don’t miss out on the BIGGEST and best TBRU yet! Whether you’re coming for the education, the parties, or the camaraderie, TBRU29 promises an experience you’ll never forget.

Dates: March 13-16, 2025
Location: Hyatt Regency Dallas (300 Reunion Blvd, Dallas, TX 75207)
Attendees: Over 2,000 from around the world, last year we had 9 different nations in attendance!

Registration is open with plenty of Run Passes left, and ONLY at WWW.TBRU.ORG!

Online registration will close on March 1, 2025, however, if you still need to register after that date you may do so at the host hotel at the onsite registration desk!

For more details, visit WWW.TBRU.ORG and follow them on social media for the latest updates!

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Photos by Louis Dang (@Artenis) on Instagram and Adrian Castillo (@Bearly.Focused) on Instagram.