With Christmas Day falling on a Monday, many people will spend the weekend getting ready for the holiday. If you can catch your breath for an hour or two, there are some worthy new things to do, including a holiday symphony concert, an acclaimed documentary, a college bowl game, and three country music concerts.
If you're looking for more things to get you in the holiday mood, check out our list of the best holiday events, many of which continue throughout the holidays.
Below are the best ways to spend what little free time you might have this weekend. Want more options? Lucky for you, we have a much longer list of the city's best events.
Thursday, December 21
Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra presents Sounds of the Season
At this special, one-night-only performance, the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra will play a variety of favorite holiday classics. Sounds of the Season, taking place at White's Chapel United Methodist Church, is a family-friendly, must-see event that will fill you with cheer just in time for the big day.
Asleep at the Wheel in concert
Asleep at the Wheel may not have originated in Texas, but since they've spent almost their entire career based out of Austin, we can all but call them our own. The iconic country music group has released three Christmas albums in their long career, including 2016's Lone Star Christmas Night. They'll play songs from those albums and more at Billy Bob's Texas.
Friday, December 22
Magnolia at the Modern presents Jane
You can be in the know come Oscars time by seeing Jane, one of the best documentaries of the year. Using a trove of unseen footage, director Brett Morgen tells the story of Jane Goodall's early explorations, focusing on her groundbreaking field work, her relationship with cameraman and husband Hugo van Lawick, and the chimpanzees that she studied. The film will screen five times through Saturday at the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth.
Sam Riggs in concert
If you don't know Sam Riggs' music yet, chances are you soon will. The red-dirt up-and-comer has unusual tastes for a country music singer, counting everyone from Garth Brooks to Blink-182 as influences. His sophomore album, 2016's Breathless, debuted at No. 12 on Billboard's Country Albums chart, and he's probably only going up from there. He'll play at Billy Bob's Texas.
Saturday, December 23
Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl: San Diego State vs. Army
While TCU fans gear up for the Horned Frogs' face-off against Stanford in the Alamo Bowl on December 28, their home at Amon G. Carter Stadium will host the 2017 edition of the Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl. The San Diego State Aztecs of the Mountain West Conference will go up against the Army Black Knights, with both teams making their first appearance in the bowl game.
Casey Donahew in concert with Prophets and Outlaws
If Sam Riggs is a Texas star who's on his way to making it, he could do worse than follow the lead of Burleson's Casey Donahew, who's pretty much made it. Each of his four major label album has garnered more notice than the last, with his latest, 2016's All Night Party, reaching No. 3 on the Billboard Country Album charts. He'll play with Dallas band Prophets and Outlaws at Billy Bob's Texas.
Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra presents Sounds of the Season at White's Chapel United Methodist Church on December 21.
