The post-Fourth of July weekend in and around Fort Worth will be full of fun events, including one that continues the holiday celebration for a few extra days. There will also be theater for children and adults, three different special movie events, a semi-famous comedian, a birthday party for a museum mascot, and the start of one of most fun concert series in the city.
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, July 5
Ohlook Performing Arts Center presents Frozen Jr.
The Broadway musical version of Disney's Frozen debuted on Broadway less than four months ago, but Ohlook Performing Arts Center in Grapevine has been chosen as one of the pilot theaters to produce the new Jr. and Kids versions. The story of Anna, Elsa, Olaf, and the rest of Arendelle will come to life on stage at Palace Arts Center on Thursday and Friday, and then at Ohlook Performing Arts Center on Saturday.
Fort Worth Stockyards presents Red, White & Boots
The Fourth of July may have passed, but the Fort Worth Stockyards will continue celebrating Independence Day with a family-friendly festival. Going on daily through Saturday, the festival will include the usual cattle drives and Legends of Texas Gunfights, along with live music, food trucks, beer garden, farmers market, face painting, and more.
Sundance Square presents Movie Nights: Bottle Shock
For the penultimate film in Sundance Square's Movie Nights series, they will celebrate the 10th anniversary of Bottle Shock, starring Alan Rickman, Bill Pullman, and Chris Pine. The film is about a small American winery that bested the exalted French wines of the mid-1970s in the famous “Judgment of Paris” tastings. The film will be shown on the outdoor screen in Sundance Square Plaza.
Friday, July 6
Magnolia at the Modern presents Rodin
In a break from precedent, the Magnolia at the Modern series will show two films this weekend. The first, Rodin, focuses on artist Auguste Rodin's relationship with Camille Claudel. Rodin, which is in French with English subtitles, was selected to compete for the Palme d'Or in the main competition section at the 2017 Cannes Film Festival. It will screen five times through Sunday at the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth.
Improv Arlington presents Donnell Rawlings
Donnell Rawlings is an overnight success a decade in the making. He appeared on Comedy Central’s award-winning and critically celebrated Chappelle’s Show as Ashy Larry, the '70s jheri-curled "Beautiful," and numerous other characters. He'll perform five stand-up comedy sets through Sunday at Improv Arlington.
Magnolia at the Modern presents Godzilla
The second film in the Magnolia at the Modern series this weekend is Godzilla (a.k.a. Gojira), the roaring granddaddy of all monster movies. It's also a remarkably humane and melancholy drama, made in Japan at a time (1954) when the country was reeling from nuclear attacks and H-bomb testing in the Pacific. The film, in Japanese with English subtitles, will screen once on Friday and once on Saturday.
Saturday, July 7
Fort Worth Museum of Science and History presents Dynamo's Birthday
The Fort Worth Museum of Science and History will present a dino-mite birthday party for their dinosaur mascot, Dynamo. The event will include sweet treats, a chance to meet Dynamo and the Museum’s newest dinosaur, DinoGlow, and a variety of hands-on activities with the birthday dino. You can also check out the museum's current exhibits, "Grossology" and "Animal Grossology."
Panther Island Pavilion presents Rockin’ The River
The weather is blazin' hot, so there's no better time for the Rockin' the River series at Panther Island Pavilion to start up again. Taking place through August 11, the series features live bands, a fireworks show, and the ability to take it all in from a tube on the Trinity River or from the shore. The headliner for the first week will be Micky and the Motorcars, with support from Jackie Venson, Charlie and the Regrets, Mason Lively, and Travis Parker.
Sunday, July 8
Trinity Shakespeare Festival closing day
The Trinity Shakespeare Festival, which has been going on since June 19, will come to a close on Sunday with final performances of its two productions, Twelfth Night and Romeo and Juliet. The productions, which feature TCU students working side-by-side with professional actors, directors, and designers, will play at Hays Theatre and Buschman Theatre, respectively, on the TCU campus.
The annual Rockin' the River concert series at Panther Island Pavilion will start on July 7.
