The first full weekend in December will bring a number of new holiday events in and around Fort Worth, including music, dance, and theater. But most of the events will be of the non-holiday variety, including a well-known comedian, an anime convention, screenings of a new documentary, a symphony concert, four other concerts, and a big day of college basketball.

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.

Thursday, December 5

Hyena's presents Billy Gardell
Billy Gardell is best known for starring as Bob in the CBS series Bob Hearts Abishola and as Mike in Mike & Molly. He also appeared in Young Sheldon and the CMT series Sun Records. As a stand-up comedian, Gardell has a grounded, down-to-earth point of view, telling stories about his rough childhood, wild adolescence, and new family life. He'll perform five times through Saturday at Hyena's Comedy Nightclub.

Casa Mañana presents Christmas with Kenny & Dolly
Fort Worth’s own Jolie Holliday returns to The Reid Cabaret Theatre at Casa Mañana for Christmas with Kenny & Dolly. The production celebrates the 1984 quadruple-platinum Christmas album by Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton, and gets in the holiday spirit with songs like “Once Upon a Christmas,” “I Believe in Santa Claus,” “A Christmas to Remember,” “Silent Night,” and more. The production runs through December 22.

Friday, December 6

Anime Frontier
Anime Frontier brings together the best of the U.S. and Japan for a showcase of what’s next in Japanese entertainment. The event will feature some of the biggest guests in anime and manga, and leading publishers in their first and continued appearances in Texas. Anime Frontier, taking place at Fort Worth Convention Center through Sunday, features exhibits, exclusive premieres, and special events.

Magnolia at the Modern: My Name is Alfred Hitchcock
A century after the debut of Alfred Hitchcock's first feature, he remains one of the most influential filmmakers in the history of cinema. But how does his vast body of work and legacy hold up in today’s world? Award-winning filmmaker Mark Cousins tackles this question and looks at the auteur with a new and radical approach: using Hitchcock’s own voice. The film will screen seven times through Sunday at the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth.

Ballet Frontier presents The Nutcracker
Ballet Frontier's annual production of The Nutcracker is comprised of professional dancers, talented young students, dazzling costumes, and world-class choreography. There will be four performances through Sunday at I.M. Terrell Academy.

Jubilee Theatre presents Auntie Explains Xmas
Auntie Explains Xmas is a heartwarming journey of holiday cheer from Jubilee Theatre's Founding Artistic Director, Rudy Eastman. The family musical brings the magic of Christmases past and present. Filled with laughter, love, and timeless traditions, the play captures the essence of what makes the holiday season so special. The production runs through December 15 at Jubilee Theatre.

Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra presents "Spano Conducts Beethoven and Jake Heggie"
The Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra will give the world premiere performance of American composer Jake Heggie and Librettist Anita Amirrezvani’s Earth 2.0, a work exploring ecology and the environment in music, featuring star counter-tenor Key’mon Murrah. The orchestra’s Music Director Robert Spano will conduct the premiere before turning to one of the most universal works in the classical canon, Beethoven’s “Eroica” symphony. There will be three performances through Sunday at Bass Performance Hall.

Theatre Arlington presents Holiday Inn
Holiday Inn, the beloved film classic, comes to the stage in a charming crowd-pleaser featuring one glorious Irving Berlin number after another, each celebrating a different festivity. The production runs through December 22 at Theatre Arlington.

Amphibian Stage presents An Evening with Mick Lynch
Amphibian Stage will present an evening of live music featuring Irish singer/songwriter Mick Lynch. Originally from Dublin and now residing in Upstate New York, Mick is a co-founding member of the acclaimed bands The Guggenheim Grotto and Storyman. He'll play on both Friday and Saturday at Amphibian Stage.

Stolen Shakespeare Guild presents Georgiana and Kitty: Christmas at Pemberley
Georgiana Darcy, an accomplished pianist wary of romance, and Kitty Bennet, a bright-eyed optimist and perfect best friend, are ready for their own adventures in life and love after years of being overshadowed by their older siblings. Their journey begins with the arrival of an admirer and secret correspondent. Despite meddlesome families and outdated expectations, these determined friends forge their own path in a holiday tale filled with music, ambition, sisterhood, and forgiveness. The production runs through December 22 at Arts Fort Worth.

Sammy Kershaw in concert
Country singer Sammy Kershaw had his heyday in the mid-1990s thanks to a series of top 10 albums and hits like "She Don't Know She's Beautiful," "I Can't Reach Her Anymore," and "National Working Women's Holiday." After a releasing seven albums during the 2010s, Kershaw comes back to Fort Worth in support of his first new album in seven years, Cross Road Blues. He'll play at Billy Bob's Texas.

Saturday, December 7

National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame presents Cowgirl Christmas
The National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame's annual Cowgirl Christmas celebration features shopping where visitors can browse a variety of gifts, apparel, and more from local vendors. Guests can explore museum exhibits, take photos with Santa, and participate in holiday-themed crafts and games.

Alabama in concert
Country band Alabama is celebrating its 55th anniversary since being formed by cousins Teddy Gentry, Randy Owen, and the late Jeff Cook in 1969. The band has sold 80 million albums in their career, with eight of them going to No. 1 in the 1980s alone. They also have 43 No. 1 singles to their name, including 21 in a row from 1980-1987, and a top 10 streak that lasted until 1993. They'll play at Dickies Arena.

Randy Rogers Band in concert
If you're a fan of the Red Dirt country music scene, you've known the Texas-based Randy Rogers Band for years. Starting in 2006, they had a string of six straight top 10 albums on the Billboard Country charts. In recent years, Rogers has teamed up with fellow Texan Wade Bowen for two albums, 2015's Hold My Beer, Vol. 1 and 2020's Hold My Beer, Vol. 2. They released their ninth non-collaborative album, Homecoming, in 2022. They'll play at Billy Bob's Texas.

Sunday, December 8

College basketball showcases
It will be a big day of college basketball at Dickies Arena on Sunday. The 4th annual US LBM Coast-to-Coast Challenge will feature a daytime doubleheader of men’s basketball games, with TCU taking on Vanderbilt and No. 22 Texas A&M facing off with Texas Tech. But the bigger event will be the Hoopfest Women’s Basketball Classic that night, featuring No. 8 TCU taking on the defending national champion, No. 3 South Carolina. The events are ticketed separately.

  

Photo courtesy of Jubilee Theatre

Jubilee Theatre presents Auntie Explains Xmas, December 6-15.