There will be plenty of celebrating in and around Fort Worth this weekend with New Year's Eve falling on Sunday, but parties aren't the only thing going on. Other choices include a trio of comedians, concerts featuring country performers, screenings of an Oscar-worthy film, a big college football game, and the final days of holiday events.
Below are more best ways to spend your precious free time this New Year's weekend. Want more options? Lucky for you, we have a much longer list of the city's best events. Looking for the best New Year's Eve celebrations? Check out that list here. And for New Year's Eve dining parties, check here.
Thursday, December 28
Improv Arlington presents Tony Rock
The first of three comedy events in the Fort Worth area this weekend features Tony Rock, perhaps better known as Chris Rock's brother. But he's been able to successfully elude the shadows of his older sibling and step into his own limelight by proving himself as a skillful comedian, actor, and executive producer. He'll perform seven times through Sunday at Improv Arlington.
Turnpike Troubadours in concert
Oklahoma country band Turnpike Troubadours has been recording music since 2007, but they've hit their stride with their last three albums, each of which made the top 10 on the Billboard Country chart and ranked high on the overall Billboard 200 as well. They'll play three concerts at Billy Bob's Texas in support of their new album, A Cat in the Rain, joined by a different special guest each night - Ray Wylie Hubbard on Friday, Lance Roark on Saturday, and Miles Miller on Sunday.
Friday, December 29
Magnolia at the Modern: The Holdovers
From acclaimed director Alexander Payne, The Holdovers follows a curmudgeonly instructor (Paul Giamatti) at a New England prep school who is forced to remain on campus during Christmas break to babysit the handful of students with nowhere to go. Eventually, he forms an unlikely bond with one of them, a damaged, brainy troublemaker (newcomer Dominic Sessa), and with the school's head cook (Da’Vine Joy Randolph), who has just lost a son in Vietnam. The film will screen seven times through Sunday at the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth.
Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic: Missouri vs. Ohio State
The Cotton Bowl Classic may not mean as much this college football bowl season, as other bowls are hosting the College Football Playoffs, but the Ohio State Buckeyes and Missouri Tigers still proved themselves as two of the best teams in the nation, finishing at No. 7 and No. 9, respectively. They'll face off at AT&T Stadium in Arlington.
Hyena's presents Samuel Comroe
Comedian Samuel Comroe made his TV debut on Conan, and went on to appear BET’s Real Husbands of Hollywood with Kevin Hart and as a contestant on America’s Got Talent. His comedy is made up of the trials and tribulations of living with Tourette Syndrome and observational material based on his life experiences. He'll perform twice on both Friday and Saturday at Hyena's Comedy Club in downtown Fort Worth.
Saturday, December 30
Last call for holiday events
While a few holiday events extend beyond this weekend, many of them will wrap up their runs on Saturday, Sunday, or Monday. This weekend is your last chance to see The Christmas Carol Experience at The Woman's Club of Fort Worth, ICE! featuring Dr. Seuss' "How the Grinch Stole Christmas!" at Gaylord Texan in Grapevine, The Light Park at Hurricane Harbor in Arlington, and Lightscape at Fort Worth Botanic Garden.
Sunday, December 31
Photo by David McClister
Turnpike Troubadours will play at Billy Bob's Texas through December 30.
Hyena's presents Joe Machi
Since taking 4th place on Last Comic Standing’s 8th season, Joe Machi has been busy touring the United States as a headlining stand-up comedian. He has performed on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, and has become a regular on Red Eye with Greg Gutfeld on Fox News. Machi also won the 2013 NY Comedy Festival’s Funniest Comedian Competition, and the 2010 NY Underground Comedy Festival's Emerging Comics Competition. He'll perform two shows, including one leading up to midnight, at Hyena's Comedy Club.
Drake Milligan in concert
Viewers of America's Got Talent are already intimately familiar with country singer Drake Milligan, as he came in third place in his season after being dubbed "the new Elvis of country" by judge Howie Mandel. His audition song, "Sounds Like Something I'd Do," is off his 2022 debut album, Dallas/Fort Worth, showing the Arlington native hasn't forgotten where he came from. He'll play a special New Year's Eve show at Billy Bob's Texas, featuring a countdown to midnight and other party elements.
