It's a big weekend around Fort Worth, with the most notable events being both typical and atypical. There will be two local theater productions (one at a much-larger venue than usual), a video game championship taking place in an arena, a couple of well-known comedians, an appearance by a legendary country singer, and the long-awaited return of a huge pop star, among others.
Below are the best ways to spend your precious free time this weekend. Want more options? Lucky for you, we have a much longer list of the city's best events.
Thursday, August 11
Panther Island Pavilion presents Rockin' the River
Rockin’ the River will wrap up its 11th year of music and tubing at Panther Island Pavilion. The weekly summer event features a trio of bands playing back-to-back-to-back sets beginning around 5:15 pm on the Coors Light Waterfront Stage, while attendees watch from tubes and other floaties on the Trinity River. Performers for the final week of the series will include headliner Dirty River Boys and Peterson Bros.
Jubilee Theatre presents Dreamgirls
Jubileee Theatre will finish off its 41st season by presenting the classic musical Dreamgirls at Bass Performance Hall. The production takes the audience through a time portal of when rhythm and blues and soul music magic were part of a new American sound that swept the nation and world. The musical goes behind the scenes to reveal the business phase of show business and the shared drama that exudes love, heartache, rejection, soulful melodies, high-octane vocals, triumph and defeat — both musically and personally — through all of the characters’ journeys. It will have five performances through Sunday.
Amphibian Stage presents Andrew Orolfo
Filipino-American comedian Andrew Orolfo is an established staple on the San Francisco comedy scene, and has been featured in SF Sketchfest, High Plains Comedy Festival, and Comedy Central Clusterfest. He can be heard on Sirius XM Radio and seen on Comedy Central, The Late Late Show with James Corden, and Jo Koy: In His Elements on Netflix. He'll perform three times through Saturday at Amphibian Stage.
The Steel Woods in concert
Country rock band The Steel Woods should be riding high off of the release of their third album, 2021's All of Your Stones. But the success of that album is bittersweet, as it comes on the heels of the untimely death of co-founder/guitarist Jason "Rowdy" Cope in January 2021, before the album was released. They'll come back to Billy Bob's Texas with new guitarist Tyler Powers.
Friday, August 12
Rocket League World Championship
E-sports have been growing exponentially in recent years, and one of the most popular games has been Rocket League, a unique twist on soccer in which super-charged cars stand in for humans. Fans can see the best of the best take each other in at the Rocket League World Championship, a big event given an appropriately big venue at Dickies Arena. The finals will go on through Sunday.
Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth presents Anime at the Modern
With Anime at the Modern, the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth celebrates the Japanese anime genre, films that are visually stunning and imaginative, with poetic stories that will pull at people's heartstrings. The film festival will feature several recent releases, including the U.S. premiere of Inu-Oh. The Modern Shop will have Japanese-inspired snacks and exclusive merchandise for purchase. There will be two screenings each day through Sunday.
Hyena's presents Steven Michael Quezada
It's fortuitous timing that comedian Steven Michael Quezada is in town this weekend, as the Breaking Bad universe, in which Quezada played a key part, is coming to an end with the series finale of spinoff series Better Call Saul on Monday. With a career in the entertainment industry spanning more than three decades, Quezada has worked alongside some of the biggest names in show business. He'll perform four times through Saturday at Hyena's in downtown Fort Worth.
Improv Arlington presents Jay Pharoah
Jay Pharoah is an actor and stand-up comedian who is best known for his wide array of uncanny celebrity impressions, including President Barack Obama, Will Smith, Denzel Washington, Stephen A. Smith, Kanye West, and Chris Tucker, all of which he showcased during his stint on Saturday Night Live. He'll perform five times through Sunday at Improv Arlington.
Stolen Shakespeare Guild presents Private Lives
Elyot and Amanda, once married and now honeymooning with new spouses at the same hotel, meet by chance, reignite the old spark and impulsively elope. After days of being reunited, they again find their fiery romance alternating between passions of love and anger. Their aggrieved spouses appear and a roundelay of affiliations ensues as the women first stick together, then apart, and new partnerships are formed. The production runs through August 28 at Fort Worth Community Arts Center.
Saturday, August 13
One Night with The King starring Victor Trevino Jr.
If you missed his performance for Elvis' birthday celebration in January, Elvis impersonator Victor Trevino Jr. is back to get fans all shook up again. Trevino's dream of a career in music and acting has been realized as an Elvis Presley tribute artist. Specializing in the rockabilly '50s and '60s, he recreates the excitement of the King's popular years. The performance takes place at Downtown Cowtown at the Isis.
Vince Gill in concert
Country singer Vince Gill has had quite the career. For nearly 40 years he's been a successful solo artist, with all of his albums from 1989's When I Call Your Name to 2019's Okie reaching the top 10 on the Billboard Country charts. And since 2017, he's been a member of the Eagles, helping to fill the void of the late Glenn Frey. He'll play at Billy Bob's Texas.
Sunday, August 14
The Weeknd in concert
After a two-year wait, fans of The Weeknd will finally get to see him perform live and in person when he comes to AT&T Stadium in Arlington as part of his "After Hours Til Dawn" stadium tour. The COVID delay of his 2020 tour, which had dates scheduled in both Dallas and Fort Worth, led to him rethinking the whole tour, and now he's decided to make it mega-sized. He'll be playing in support of both his 2020 album, After Hours, and his new album, DAWN FM.
Vince Gill will play at Billy Bob's Texas on August 13.
