While many events in and around Fort Worth have either been postponed or canceled during the coronavirus pandemic, some organizations have pivoted to virtual or socially-distanced events to continue offering the masses some entertainment while we need it the most.
Below are the best ways to spend your free time this weekend. While they're not all outside of the house, they all promise to provide a nice distraction from the everyday life.
Thursday, October 22
Fort Worth Zoo presents Boo at the Zoo
For the first time ever, Boo thru the Zoo will allow guests to drive their own vehicle through the zoo’s main path (and even several behind-the-scenes areas of some of the most popular animal exhibits) while enjoying music, costumed characters, entertainment, treats, and encounters with wildlife along the way. The event takes place at Fort Worth Zoo through Sunday.
Texas Ballet Theater presents Fright Night
Texas Ballet Theater will present a spooky evening at Coyote Drive-In featuring a montage of highlights from their 2015 production of Dracula, followed by the presentation of the 1992 film Bram Stoker’s Dracula. The event, a fundraiser for the dance company, has a variety of VIP options that include personal attendants for guests' cars and an invite to a VIP reception.
Randy Rogers & Wade Bowen in concert
Over the past few years, Red Dirt country singers Randy Rogers and Wade Bowen have developed a fruitful partnership. They released Hold My Beer, Vol. 1 in 2015, and that album went so well, going to No. 4 on the Billboard Country charts, that they came back for more with 2020's Hold My Beer, Vol. 2. They'll play at Billy Bob's Texas on both Thursday and Friday.
Friday, October 23
Maverick Theatre Company presents Moving Forward: A Devised New Work
The University of Texas at Arlington’s Maverick Theatre Company presents Moving Forward: A Devised New Work, a new musical theater piece created in a collaboration between Broadway guest artists and students from the Theatre Arts and Dance department. The production features text and music that reflect the students’ thoughts, concerns, and feelings about witnessing a social movement during a global pandemic. It will be available to stream any time through Sunday.
Nate Bargatze: One Night Only
Comedian Nate Bargatze, aka "The Tennessee Kid," is a road-tested comic who's been touring the country for many years. The native of Old Hickory, Tennessee has had specials on both Comedy Central and Netflix, including the 2019 Netflix hour-long special, The Tennessee Kid. He will perform twice at Coyote Drive-In, live performances that will also be shown on the big screen at the drive-in theater.
Theatre Wesleyan presents Eurydice
In Eurydice, Sarah Ruhl reimagines the classic myth of Orpheus through the eyes of its heroine. A familiar story of six-feet (under) distancing, a young woman dies and is sent to the underworld where she reunites with her father and struggles to remember her lost love. This play is a fresh look at a timeless love story. The production, taking place through Sunday at TWU's Thad Smotherman Theatre, will be available for both in-person and streaming viewing.
Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra presents"Soul Men"
Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra will present the music of legendary artists Marvin Gaye, Luther Vandross, James Brown, Otis Redding, The Temptations, Al Green, and others in an evening of soulful rhythms. Featured hits, sung by vocalists Chester Gregory and Michael Lynche, include “I Heard It Through the Grapevine,” “Try a Little Tenderness,” “You Make Me Feel Brand New,” and “I Only Have Eyes For You.” The concert will have three performances through Sunday at Will Rogers Memorial Center.
Saturday, October 24
Autotrader EchoPark Automotive 500 NASCAR Cup Series Race Weekend
NASCAR returns to Texas Motor Speedway with the Autotrader EchoPark Automotive 500 NASCAR Cup Series Race Weekend, featuring two days of events leading up to the showcase race on Sunday. On Saturday will be the O’Reilly Auto Parts 300 NASCAR XFINITY Series Race, followed by the doubleheader of Autotrader EchoPark Automotive 500 and SpeedyCash.com 400 on Sunday.
The Cliburn presents Natasha Paremski
The Cliburn presents Natasha Paremski as the first of two socially distanced pop-up concerts this fall. With her consistently striking and dynamic performances, pianist Natasha Paremski reveals astounding virtuosity and voracious ability. A passionate chamber musician, she regularly collaborates with Grammy-winning cellist Zuill Bailey, in performances and on recordings. She will perform twice for limited audiences at The Post at River East. Tickets must be purchased in advance.
Monster Jam
No, this isn't a Halloween-themed event — at least not directly — but rather the return of the monster truck event to AT&T Stadium in Arlington. Monster Jam, which will have events on both Saturday and Sunday, features a mix of high-flying action and four-wheel excitement. Fans will witness a battle for the event championship, with each skilled Monster Jam athlete tearing up the dirt in 12,000-pound trucks going head-to-head for points in Freestyle, the Skills Challenge and Racing competitions.
Four Day Weekend presents Four Day 4Ever
It's been a long year for a groups like Four Day Weekend, which can only truly thrive via live performances. With both the Fort Worth and Dallas theaters closed for the past six months, they have been surviving on virtual corporate work and video production. This virtual fundraising show will technically be free, but they would appreciate any donation viewers can give at gofundme.com/f/fourday4ever.
Comedian Nate Bargatze will perform twice on October 23 at Coyote Drive-In.
Hoisting of a nearly century-old tree in Sundance Square.
Sundance Square