Festival season continues in Fort Worth with the arrival of the annual event celebrating the beginning of May. Additionally, you'll have opportunities to see a new local theater production, watch a noteworthy foreign film, hob-knob with TV and movie celebrities, be awed by the power of opera, eat some great tacos, or sing along to some great country music.
Below are the best options for your precious free time Thursday through Sunday. Don't like what you see? Lucky for you, we have a much longer list of the city's best events.
Thursday, May 4
2017 Mayfest
Mayfest is an annual four-day family festival held in Trinity Park featuring three dedicated stages of live music; four performing arts stages showcasing tap dancing, martial arts, ballet, and hip-hop; a kids zone; outdoor activities; great food; an art and gift market; and more. The festival runs through Sunday, but everyone can get in for free on Thursday to celebrate the festival's 45th anniversary.
Stage West Theatre presents The Aliens
At a table next to the dumpster behind a Vermont coffee shop, two friends straddling youth and adulthood spend their days pondering life, music, and Bukowski. When a lonely high-school student arrives on the scene, they take him under their wing and teach him everything they know. The Aliens is a play-with-music about connection, creation, and what it takes to grow up. Stage West presents the play through June 4, with actors Jake Buchanan and Joey Folsom trading roles every other day starting May 11.
Friday, May 5
Magnolia at the Modern presents Cezanne Et Moi
The latest in the Magnolia at the Modern series is Cezanne Et Moi, a historical drama that traces the lifelong friendship between two renowned 19th-century French artists: painter Paul Cézanne and writer Emile Zola. The film goes from their first meeting as schoolmates to their creative rivalry as fame and success continue to elude Cézanne. The film, in French with English subtitles, screens six times through Sunday at the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth.
Texas Frightmare Weekend
The annual Texas Frightmare Weekend, taking place through Sunday at Hyatt Regency DFW Airport, is a horror convention that features celebrity appearances, autograph signings, screenings, exclusive parties, and horror memorabilia vendors from all over the country. Among the celebrities on hand are Malcolm McDowell; Bates Motel's Freddie Highmore, Nestor Carbonell, and Max Theriot; Stranger Things' Millie Bobby Brown, Gaten Matarazzo, and Caleb McLaughlin; The Walking Dead's Tom Payne and Austin Amelio; and many more.
Fort Worth Opera Festival final weekend
If you've been procrastinating and haven't seen any of the productions in the annual Fort Worth Opera Festival, this weekend is your last chance. Carmen plays one last time on Friday night at Bass Performance Hall, Voir Dire takes a final bow on Saturday at McDavid Studio, and Cruzar la Cara de la Luna comes to an end on Sunday at Bass Performance Hall.
Saturday, May 6
2017 Fort Worth Taco Fest
The Fort Worth Taco Festival is a celebration of Cinco De Mayo, Mexican culture, and the kaleidoscopic Latin influence on Fort Worth. Taking place at Panther Island Pavilion, the event features grub from dozens of area restaurants and food trucks in a celebrity-judged competition. There's also live music, theatrical performances, vendors, DJs, and plenty of beer.
2017 Off the Rails Country Music Fest
The second annual Off the Rails Country Music Fest is a two-day event at Toyota Stadium in Frisco featuring performances from some of the biggest names in the business. Headliners on Saturday are Miranda Lambert and Justin Moore, while Jason Aldean and Dierks Bentley lead the way on Sunday. There are also sets from Old Dominion, Tyler Farr, Rodney Atkins, CAM, William Michael Morgan, Tucker Beathard, Jessie James Decker, High Valley, and regional local artists.
The annual Mayfest takes place at Trinity Park through May 7.
Fort Worth Police Sgt. Billy Randolph, RIP.
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