The post-Christmas event landscape in and around Fort Worth offers a decent number of things to do, including one last holiday-themed event. Other choices include: two comedians, four concerts, a college football bowl game, and screenings of an acclaimed new film.
Below are the best ways to spend your free time this weekend. Want more options? Lucky for you, we have a much longer list of the city's best events. Looking for the best Christmas lights still illuminating Fort Worth? Find those lists here and here.
Thursday, December 26
Hyena's presents Ralph Barbosa
Ralph Barbosa was named the Funniest Comic in Texas in 2019, was the winner of the New York Latino Film Festival Stand Up Comedy competition in 2021, and recently made his HBO debut on the HA Festival Comedy Special. He also sold out six shows in Dallas for his 2023 Netflix special, Cowabunga. He'll perform six times through Saturday at Hyena's Comedy Nightclub.
Braxton Keith in concert
Braxton Keith calls San Antonio home, but the 20-something songwriter hasn’t spent much time there in recent years. As one of the newest exports of Texas’ country music scene, he leaves town nearly every weekend. Inspired by the traditional twang of storytellers like Marty Robbins and Merle Haggard, he writes songs that blend modern sounds with the best elements of old-school country. He'll play at Billy Bob's Texas in support of his new EP, Blue.
Friday, December 27
Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl: Oklahoma vs. Navy
With the expansion of the College Football Playoff, bowl season has been somewhat diminished, but the annual Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl still has some cachet to it thanks to its association with the service academies. This year will feature a matchup between Navy, which is riding high after beating Army in the annual Army-Navy game, and Oklahoma, who went through a down year for them, but still beat Alabama to deny the Crimson Tide a spot in the playoff. The game takes place at Amon Carter Stadium on the TCU campus.
Magnolia at the Modern: Conclave
Conclave explores one of the world’s most secretive and ancient events: selecting a new Pope. Cardinal Lawrence (Ralph Fiennes) is tasked with running the covert process after the unexpected death of the beloved Pope. Once the Catholic Church’s most powerful leaders have gathered from around the world and are locked together in the Vatican halls, Lawrence uncovers a trail of deep secrets left in the dead Pope’s wake - secrets which could shake the foundations of the Church. There will be seven screenings through Sunday at the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth.
Improv Arlington presents Chingo Bling
Comedian Chingo Bling is known for his insightful, unapologetic stand-up comedy and multiple viral videos. He has appeared in everything from feature films, Netflix, and MTV shows, to comedic web series, musical parodies, and live stand-up comedy shows. He currently hosts the podcast, Red Pill Tamales. He'll perform five times through Sunday at Improv Arlington.
Wyatt Flores in concert
Singer Wyatt Flores is one of the latest up-and-comers in the Red Dirt country genre of Texas and Oklahoma. A native of Stillwater, Oklahoma, the 23-year-old made his debut in 2022, putting out three EPs in three years before finally releasing his debut album, Welcome to the Plains, in October. He was even a nominee for Best Emerging Artist at the most recent Americana Music Honors & Awards. He'll play at Billy Bob's Texas.
Saturday, December 28
Cirque Musica Holiday Wonderland
Celebrating its 15th anniversary, Cirque Musica Holiday Wonderland is filled with acrobatics, aerial feats, and musicians and singers, taking audiences on a journey into a world of music, cirque, and wonder. With new costumes, music, and storylines, the all-new show blends the grace and athleticism of circus performers with a musical mix of seasonal favorites. The one-night-only event takes place at Will Rogers Auditorium.
Toadies in concert
Fort Worth originals Toadies have a semi-annual end-of-year tradition of playing at Billy Bob's Texas, as they did so in 2021 and 2022 (for some reason, they - boo! - played in Dallas at the end of 2023). The band has released seven albums in their career, most recently 2017's The Lower Side of Uptown, although their biggest success remains their 1994 debut album, Rubberneck, which might get extra play at this concert since it hit its 30th anniversary this year.
Sunday, December 29
The Damn Quails in concert
In the early-to-mid 2010s, the Damn Quails were a rising Red Dirt country group. But a fight with their record label and other issues led them to go on an indefinite hiatus in 2016. Against the odds, the group - led by Gabe Marshall and Bryon White - made a comeback in 2022 with a new album, Clouding Up Your City. They'll play at Billy Bob's Texas.
Photo courtesy of Cirque Musica
