Sure, you can get in one last vacation over Labor Day weekend, or you can take in some of the wide variety of events the area has to offer. There will be three new local theater productions, special screenings of a new animated film, a symphonic tribute to a great band, a trio of concerts, the final days of an art exhibition, and another opportunity to see two other popular exhibitions.
Below are the best ways to spend your precious free time this Labor Day weekend. Want more options? Lucky for you, we have a much longer list of the city's best events.
Thursday, August 31
Stage West presents Grand Horizons
Bill and Nancy are 50 years into their marriage. But just as they settle comfortably into a new senior living community, the unthinkable happens - Nancy wants out. Their two adult sons are shaken to the core, and are forced to re-examine everything they thought they knew about their lives and the people who raised them. The production, making its regional premiere at Stage West, will run through October 1.
Friday, September 1
Magnolia at the Modern: Ernest and Célestine: A Trip to Gibberitia
Ernest and Célestine return in a delightful and joyous follow-up to their first Academy Award-nominated adventure, which introduced a bear and mouse as the unlikeliest of friends. It is up to Ernest and Célestine and their new friends, including a mysterious masked outlaw, to bring music and happiness back to the land of bears. The film, which is in French with English subtitles, will have six screenings through Sunday at the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth.
Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra presents "Hotel California: A Salute to the Eagles"
The most successful and longest running show of its kind, Hotel California “A Salute to the Eagles” is the only show to have ever received “Official Authorization” to perform the Eagles catalog of music. The symphonic concert will feature all of the group's biggest hits, including "Take It Easy," "Best of My Love," "Life in the Fast Lane," "Hotel California," and more. There will be three performances through Sunday at Bass Performance Hall.
Artisan Center Theater presents Oliver
The streets of Victorian England come to life as Oliver, a malnourished orphan in a workhouse, becomes the neglected apprentice of an undertaker. Oliver escapes to London and finds acceptance amongst a group of petty thieves and pickpockets led by the elderly Fagin. The production runs through October 7 at Artisan Theater Center in Hurst.
Hip Pocket Theatre presents Testing Ground 3+3
Hip Pocket Theatre will return to its roots in experimental theatre by producing a festival of three new works. The production features Mariposa Skyway by Rob Bosquez, Red by JoAnn Gracey, and Concrete Shoes by Shelby Griffin. There will be three performances through Sunday.
Dolly Shine in concert
Texas band Dolly Shine broke out in 2010, releasing their first full length album, Room To Breathe, in 2013, and follow-up, Walkabout, in 2016. While the membership of the band has changed throughout the years, they've remained a presence at local festivals and at Billy Bob's Texas, where they've played a number of times. They'll be there yet again on Friday night.
Saturday, September 2
Josh Weathers in concert
Josh Weathers is a Fort Worth-based soulful singer-songwriter. He has spent close to 20 years honing his craft of combining songs of hope with a high energy rock n’ soul live show. He's no stranger to the various stages around Fort Worth, and he released a live album in November 2020. He'll play at Tannahill's Tavern & Music Hall.
William Beckmann in concert
Born and raised in the small border town of Del Rio, Texas, William Beckmann plays classic country and American roots music that was influenced by his early immersion in Mariachi and Norteño music. He delivers evocative, literate tunes, kind of like fellow Del Rio native Radney Foster, who’s helped mentor him since high school. He'll play at Billy Bob's Texas in support of his new album, Here's to You, Here's to Me.
Sunday, September 3
Kimbell Art Museum presents "Lives of the Gods: Divinity in Maya Art" closing day
Sunday will be the final day to view "Lives of the Gods: Divinity in Maya Art" at Kimbell Art Museum. The exhibition of some 120 rarely-seen masterpieces and recent discoveries depicts episodes in the life cycle of the gods, from the moment of their birth to resplendent transformations as blossoming flowers or fearsome creatures of the night.
Monday, September 4
Fun exhibitions for Labor Day
An extra day off gives you the perfect opportunity to take in two fun exhibitions if you haven't already done so. The recently-opened "FLORIGAMIINTHEGARDEN" at Fort Worth Botanic Garden features 18 museum-quality sculptures inspired by the Japanese art of paper folding, ranging from a few feet to more than 30 feet tall. Meow Wolf: The Real Unreal is a journey through a technicolor wonderland that blends storytelling, technology, and immersive art, featuring more than 30+ rooms of multidimensional art and compelling narrative.
Stage West presents Grand Horizons through October 1.
