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.
Friday, November 20
Tarrant Regional Water District presents Panther Island Ice
Panther Island Ice returns this holiday season with limited capacity and health and safety protocols in place. Located at Coyote Drive-In, Fort Worth’s outdoor rink offers public ice skating seven days a week during the season, including all holidays, through January 18. To reduce in-person contact between patrons and staff, advanced reservations through online ticket sales are required.
Luminova Holidays
At the new Luminova Holidays, visitors will be able to view millions of twinkling lights, take to the ice on an outdoor rink, and snap selfie-worthy pics. The sprawling indoor and outdoor wonderland, located at Globe Life Field in Arlington through January 3, marks the first event to be open to the general public at the new stadium. It also includes appearances by Santa Claus, a 65-foot Christmas tree, interactive activities like light up hopscotch, train rides for the kids, strolling holiday entertainers, and booths with food and special mementos.
Magnolia at the Modern: Martin Eden
Adapted from a 1909 novel by Jack London, yet set in a provocatively unspecified moment in Italy’s history, Martin Eden is a passionate and enthralling narrative fresco in the tradition of the great Italian classics. Martin (Luca Marinelli) is a self-taught proletarian with artistic aspirations who hopes that his dreams of becoming a writer will help him rise above his station and marry a wealthy young university student (Jessica Cressy). The film, which is in Italian with English subtitles, will play five times through Sunday at the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth.
Six Flags Over Texas presents Holiday in the Park
Holiday in the Park is back for select days at Six Flags Over Texas in Arlington. The winter wonderland features a variety of interactive activities, festive shows, an extravagantly decorated Christmas tree, holiday treats, unique holiday-themed attractions, seasonal entertainment, a Merry Marketplace, The Frosty Snowhill, and, of course, world class thrill rides. It will take place through January 3.
Theatre Wesleyan presents Portraits in Black
As part of their Six Plays At Six Feet: Social Connection. Physical Distancing Fall 2020 Season, Theatre Wesleyan will present Portraits in Black. Gus Edwards presents a collection of monologues on Black life written in a voice that reflects the modern African American experience. A host of characters of all ages make their way as best they can in this last part of the 20th century. The production, which is also available for streaming, will play three times through Sunday at Thad Smotherman Theatre on the Texas Wesleyan University campus.
Josh Turner in concert
Country singer Josh Turner came out of the gates running on his debut in 2003, scoring a top 3 album with Long Black Train, and he hasn't slowed down since. All but one of his next seven albums made the top 3 on the Billboard Country charts thanks to a string of hit songs, including "Your Man," "Would You Go With Me?," "Why Don't We Just Dance?," and "Hometown Girl." He'll play at Billy Bob's Texas on both Friday and Saturday in support of his new album, Country State of Mind.
Saturday, November 21
Funky Finds Holiday Shopping Experience
Funky Finds is more than just a handmade and vintage market — it's an experience. The event, taking place on Saturday and Sunday at Will Rogers Memorial Center, features 150+ vendors, a charitable raffle benefiting the Humane Society of North Texas and DFW Toys for Tots, photos with Santa, pet adoptions, and more.
Chamber Music Society of Fort Worth presents "CMSFW Goes Virtual"
The Chamber Music Society of Fort Worth will present the final of three virtual performances, this one called "Musical Royalty." It will feature Friedrich-Max "Fritz" Kreisler's Lieberslied, Manuel De Falla and Friedrich-Max Kreisler's Danse Espagnole, Mikhail Ivanovich Glinka's Trio Pathétique, and Robert Schumann's Piano Quintet in E-flat Major, Op. 44.
The Cliburn presents MAKE Trio
The Cliburn presents MAKE Trio as the second of two socially distanced pop-up concerts this fall. MAKE — violinist Grace Kang Wollett, clarinetist Danny Goldman, and pianist Mikhail Berestnev — is a versatile trio that made its formal debut at the 2019 Basically Beethoven Festival. They'll perform twice at The Post at River East on Saturday.
Sunday, November 22
Amon Carter Museum of American Art presents Justin Favela: "Puente Nuevo"
Over a year after it debuted, Justin Favela: "Puente Nuevo" will finally close on Sunday. The Amon Carter Museum of American Art commissioned the contemporary artist to create an immersive installation exclusively for the museum, and he covered the walls of the gallery with his own murals inspired by works in the museum's collection, including 19th-century color lithographs of Mexico, as well as a sculptural tissue-paper tribute to the museum’s mobile Untitled (ca. 1942) by Alexander Calder.
GM Financial Parade of Lights
The annual GM Financial Parade of Lights will be a virtual one, taking place inside the Fort Worth Convention Center on Sunday and broadcast locally and on the Parade of Lights’ Facebook page from 7-9 pm. Following the broadcast, which will not have a live audience, there will be the “Downtown Showcase of Floats” on Monday and Tuesday, where approximately 20 signature parade floats will be displayed along Main Street for in-person (but socially distanced) photo opportunities, along with holiday music. The showcase will take place from 6-8 pm each night.
Panther Island Ice at Coyote Drive-In kicks off for the season on November 20, running through January 18.
