It's a festival kind of weekend across Fort Worth, with two arts-related events and two music fests. Other choices include four theater productions, screenings of an acclaimed new film, three concerts, and a screening of a classic film backed by a live symphony orchestra.
Below are the best ways to spend your free time this weekend. If you want more options, check out the calendar for an even longer list of the city's best events.
Stage West Theatre presents Eureka Day through November 8.
Thursday, October 22
UT Arlington Department of Theatre and Dance presents Into the Woods
Into the Woods is a musical by Stephen Sondheim that intertwines the plots of several Brothers Grimm fairy tales, exploring the consequences of the characters' wishes and quests. The production, taking place on the MainStage Theatre in the Fine Arts Building on the UT Arlington campus, will have four performances through Sunday.
Stage West Theatre presents Eureka Day
A virus has hit the elite Eureka Day elementary school. An outbreak is near. Now the school board must meet with the pack of parents to find an ethical solution. But when the ultra-progressive Eureka community cannot agree, this beacon of open-minded ideals quickly spirals into chaos. Truth is a weapon and facts are subjective in this apt and hilarious satire of national proportions. The production, making its regional premiere at Stage West, runs through November 8.
Friday, October 23
ArtWorks Foundation presents Art Worth Festival
The Art Worth Festival is a celebration of visual arts and classical music, featuring the work of scores of artists from across North Texas and the U.S. It includes live demonstrations of art disciplines like glassblowing, metalsmithing, and more. There will also be performances of classical music by orchestral ensembles, as well as The Fort Worth Opera, which will perform daily. The festival runs through Sunday at The Shops at Clearfork.
Magnolia at the Modern: Primetime
Set in 2006, Primetime is a psychological thriller centered on the meteoric rise and moral complexities behind the hit mid-2000s television show To Catch a Predator. TV journalist Chris Hansen (Robert Pattinson) sets out to make television history, launching a hidden-camera sting operation to expose child predators. While the show was a ratings goldmine, it also blurred lines between journalism and entertainment, and the film explores the personal and ethical consequences of transforming real-life crimes into must-see TV. The film will screen seven times through Sunday at the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth. Read our full review here.
Pat Green in concert
After rising through Texas' dancehall scene years ago, Pat Green earned himself major label support in Nashville and became the poster child of Texas music for a whole generation of fans. Green’s explosive live shows have made him a fan favorite, and the San Antonio native has sold over two million albums and been nominated for three Grammy Awards. His most recent album of new songs was Miles and Miles of You in 2022, and a new live album, Live from the Center of the Known Universe, comes out in November. He'll play at Bass Performance Hall.
Sundown Collaborative Theatre presents Witches (a devised piece)
Drawing from centuries of witch folklore and the lived experiences of women and gender-diverse people today, the devised work Witches explores the ways people have been feared, controlled, judged, and punished for stepping outside the boundaries placed around them. Through horror, ritual, movement, video, shadow, sound, visual effects, and original text, Witches moves between the world of folklore and the world we recognize now. The production runs through November 1 at the Theatre Denton Annex in the Golden Triangle Mall.
Theatre Arlington presents The Great American Trailer Park Musical
There’s a new tenant at Armadillo Acres and she’s wreaking havoc all over Florida’s most exclusive trailer park. When Pippi, the stripper on the run, comes between the Dr. Phil-loving, agoraphobic Jeannie and her tollbooth collector husband, the storms begin to brew. The musical, featuring music and lyrics by David Nehls with a book by Betsy Kelso, runs through November 8 at Theatre Arlington.
David Lee Murphy in concert
Country singer David Lee Murphy has been trying to make his way in the industry for a long time. He started out relatively hot, notching two top 12 albums on the Billboard Country charts in the mid-1990s. He's spent most of the past 30 years as a songwriter alone, releasing only two albums in the 21st century, most recently No Zip Code in 2018, which earned him a CMA Award for "Everything's Gonna Be Alright," a duet with Kenny Chesney. He'll play at Billy Bob's Texas.
Saturday, October 24
Near Southside presents ArtsGoggle
ArtsGoggle, taking place on West Magnolia Avenue from 8th Avenue to St. Louis Avenue, occupies 21 city blocks and hosts more than 800 visual artists. There will also be nine stages featuring performances by more than 50 musicians/bands. The main event is preceded on Friday night by ArtsBoggle, the official pre-party. Visitors can enjoy markets, live music, special menus, and dining experiences all along the 21 block stretch.
Sick New World Festival
The Sick New World Festival will feature performances from over 50 hard rock and metal bands, including System of a Down, Deftones, Slayer, Evanescence, Marilyn Manson, The Prodigy, and more. The one-day event will take place at Texas Motor Speedway.
National Life Group Do Good Fest
Do Good Fest is an annual benefit concert supporting childhood hunger relief and youth mental health. The outdoor concert at Levitt Pavilion in Arlington will feature performances by headliner Barenaked Ladies, singer-songwriter Lisa Loeb, and the original band members of Nine Stories, Tim Bright, Jonathan Feinberg, and Joe Quigley. Proceeds will benefit Tarrant Area Food Bank’s Ready to Learn initiative.
Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra presents Batman in Concert
For one night only, guests can experience Tim Burton’s Batman like never before, with the full film projected on the big screen while the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra performs Danny Elfman’s iconic score live. Guests can revisit the dark, stylish world of Gotham City and unforgettable performances of Michael Keaton and Jack Nicholson, and the rest of the cast that made the history of one of DC Comics’ most popular superhero characters. The concert takes place at Will Rogers Auditorium.
Gary Allan in concert
Gary Allan may not have the same cachet as many of the top tier genre musicians, but he's had a big impact nonetheless, scoring 11 top 10 singles and six top 5 albums, including 2013's No. 1 album, Set You Free. Allan, whose most recent release was Ruthless in 2021, will play at Billy Bob's Texas.
