There is so much going on in and around Fort Worth this weekend that it's difficult to choose from among the many options. Choices include two theater productions, screenings of a new film, four different festivals, an opera, five concerts (including two huge ones), a dance production, and the final days of a notable exhibition.
Below are the best ways to spend your free time this weekend. Want more options? Lucky for you, we have a much longer list of the city's best events.
Thursday, April 24
Theatre Wesleyan presents Pippin
With a score from musical theatre giant, Stephen Schwartz (Godspell, Wicked) and with choreography in the style of the legendary Bob Fosse, Pippin tells the story of a young prince on a death-defying journey to find meaning in his existence. Will he choose a happy but simple life? Or will he risk everything for a singular flash of glory? The production will have four performances through Sunday in the Thad Smotherman Theatre/Law Sone Fine Arts Building on the Texas Wesleyan University campus.
Theatre TCU presents All Shook Up
Loosely based on Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night, All Shook Up is a hip-swiveling, lip-curling musical fantasy featuring such classics as “Heartbreak Hotel,” “Hound Dog,” “Jailhouse Rock,” and “Don’t Be Cruel.” The production will have five performances through Sunday at the Buschman Theatre on the TCU campus.
Friday, April 25
Magnolia at the Modern: On Swift Horses
In On Swift Horses, Muriel (Daisy Edgar-Jones) and her husband Lee (Will Poulter) are about to begin a bright new life, which is upended by the arrival of Lee's brother, Julius (Jacob Elordi). Muriel embarks on a secret life, gambling on racehorses and discovering a love she never thought possible. The film will screen seven times through Sunday at the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth.
Southlake Women's Club presents Art in the Square
The annual Art in the Square is a fun-filled weekend of art, music, food, spirits, and children’s activities. The event showcases the artwork of 150 juried renowned artists, and also includes the Youth Art tent featuring artwork from high school students of Northeast Tarrant County. There will also be live music performances throughout the weekend. The event takes place through Sunday at Southlake Town Square.
Fort Worth Opera presents La Cenerentola
The magical world of Cinderella is reimagined through La Cenerentola, Rossini’s captivating opera. This rendition enchants audiences with its blend of romance and fantasy, showcasing a talented cast, exquisite music, stunning performances, elaborate costumes, and intricate sets, all complemented by the full Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra. There will be performances on Friday and Sunday at Bass Performance Hall.
The Bellamy Brothers in concert
Howard and David Bellamy, aka the Bellamy Brothers, have been racking up hits for over 40 years. They're best known for their heyday in the 1980s, when songs like "If I Said You Had a Beautiful Body Would You Hold It Against Me," "Do You Love as Good as You Look," and "Too Much is Not Enough" made them one of the biggest acts of the era. They'll revisit their long and storied career at this concert at Billy Bob's Texas.
Saturday, April 26
Fort Worth Botanic Garden presents Spring Japanese Festival
The Fort Worth Botanic Garden's Spring Japanese Festival features the arts and culture of Japan. Hosted in cooperation with the Fort Worth Japanese Society, the festival includes cultural demonstrations, tea ceremonies, martial arts performances, and a performance by the Cherry Blossom Children’s Choir. There will also be authentic Japanese dishes prepared by members of the Fort Worth Japanese Society, as well as a variety of Asian-themed food trucks. The event takes place on Saturday and Sunday.
Fort Worth Aviation Museum presents Hops and Props Beerfest
The Fort Worth Aviation Museum will present Hops and Props, their annual craft beer tasting festival. The event will feature local brewers, live music, food, family-friendly vendors, airplane rides, games, activities, and more. The event will also showcase many veteran support organizations and family vendors. The museum's primary annual fundraiser takes place on Saturday only.
Ubbi Dubbi Festival
The annual Ubbi Dubbi Festival is a two-day music event featuring performances by over 40 electronic music artists, including Canabliss, Borgore, Gravedgr, Lumasi, Subtronics, Mattilo, and more. The festival takes place on Saturday and Sunday at Panther Island Pavilion.
Disturbed in concert
Heavy metal band Disturbed comes to Fort Worth as part of their tour to celebrate the 25th anniversary of their debut album, The Sickness. At this concert, the band will play The Sickness in full, followed by a full set of greatest hits. Disturbed has released eight albums in their career, most recently Divisive in 2022. The concert will be at Dickies Arena.
Kendrick Lamar and SZA in concert
Rapper Kendrick Lamar has been arguably the biggest music star of the past year, engaging in a diss track battle with Drake that resulted in the instant classic song, "Not Like Us." That song won Lamar five Grammy Awards and was the highlight of his halftime performance at the Super Bowl. He'll perform at AT&T Stadium on Saturday as part of his co-headlining tour with SZA. Lamar is touring in support of his 2024 album, GNX, and SZA is touring in support of her new album, Lana.
Ballet Frontier presents Director's Choice
Ballet Frontier will present a dynamic program featuring works by multiple prolific choreographers. The program, featuring works by Lee Wei Chao, Roy Tobias, and more, explores how different stories and perspectives can be told through dance. There will be performances on Saturday and Sunday at I.M. Terrell Academy.
Marcus King in concert
Blues rocker Marcus King has music in his soul, as his dad Marvin was a prominent blues guitarist in South Carolina and his grandfather was a popular musician in the region as well. Marcus has played guitar since an early age, even playing with his dad starting at age 8. He released his debut album, El Dorado, in 2020, and came back in 2022 with Young Blood. He'll play at Billy Bob's Texas in support of his 2024 album, Mood Swings.
Photo courtesy of Ubbi Dubbi Festival
Sunday, April 27
Arlington Museum of Art presents "Wicked Threads: The Artistry of Costume in Oz" closing day
Sunday is the final day to view "Wicked Threads: The Artistry of Costume in Oz" at the Arlington Museum of Art. The exhibition features a collection of costumes from the movie adaptation of Wicked, celebrating the artistry of the costume design and 20+ years of the beloved Broadway musical. Visitors can see original costumes, props, and images from the film, including Glinda’s "bubble" dress and Elphaba’s "Defying Gravity" costume.
Monte Montgomery in concert
Guitarist Monte Montgomery is a local legend in Austin, having won the award for "Best Acoustic Guitar Player" at the Austin Chronicle's Austin Music Awards seven years in a row. The blues/rock musician has released 11 albums in his career, most recently 2019's A Call to Arms. He'll play at Billy Bob's Texas.
