Animals headline this long Memorial Day weekend around Fort Worth, as a big championship rodeo and an exhibition featuring animals made out of LEGO bricks come to town. Other choices include screenings of a new film, a festival, three comedians, a symphony concert, two country concerts, and the final days of a notable art exhibition.
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.
Friday, May 22
Fort Worth Botanic Garden presents Sean Kenney’s Nature Pop!
Nature Pop!, an exhibit by acclaimed artist Sean Kenney, features more than 40 sculptures crafted from over 800,000 LEGO pieces. The exhibition celebrates the beauty of nature through bold, colorful displays that create a striking contrast with the Fort Worth Botanic Garden's living landscape. Educational content throughout the exhibit enriches the experience with scientific facts about the creatures and ecosystems in each display. It will remain on display through September 7. Read more about it in this story.
Magnolia at the Modern: Omaha
In an early morning in 2008, a young Ella (Molly Belle Wright) and her brother Charlie (Wyatt Solis) are awoken by their father (John Magaro) and loaded into the car. As their road trip progresses across the American West, Ella discovers the truth about their seemingly spontaneous journey in this poignant coming-of-age drama. The film will screen seven times through Sunday at the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth.
Levitt Pavilion presents DreamFest
The annual DreamFest comes with an extra vibe of hometown pride as Arlington marks its 150th anniversary, featuring three nights of free live music, food trucks, vendors, and family fun in the heart of downtown. Headliners will include Martha and the Vandellas on Friday, Wade Bowen on Saturday, and Tejano artist Marcos Orozco on Sunday. The event takes place at Levitt Pavilion in Arlington.
Hyena's presents Heather Shaw
Heather Shaw is a seasoned stand-up comic with over 10 years experience who has gained a large following on social media for her humor and uncanny resemblance to Jim Carrey. She’s has worked with comics such as Mark Normand, Eric Andre, and Fortune Feimster, and she also has a weekly podcast, Heather Shaw is Kidding, where she makes fun of current events happening in pop culture, politics, and elsewhere. She'll perform twice on Friday at Hyena's Comedy Nightclub.
The American Rodeo Championship Weekend
The American Rodeo Championship Weekend merges high-stakes rodeo action with performances from some of music's biggest stars, offering a blend of sport and entertainment. Fans can cheer on both rodeo’s reigning champions as well as underdog "Contenders" who are chasing life-changing payouts. Music performers will include Midland and Chris Young. The event takes place on Friday and Saturday at Globe Life Field in Arlington.
Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra presents "An Evening in Finland"
In The Swan of Tuonela, composer Jean Sibelius invokes the plaintive call of the English horn as the voice of the swan in the land of the dead in a Finnish folk legend. To complete the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra’s season, Concertmaster Michael Shih steps into the spotlight for a brand-new concerto by American composer Michael Gandolfi before the orchestra concludes with another work by Sibelius, his soulful second symphony. There will be three performances through Sunday at Bass Performance Hall.
Improv Arlington presents LaVar Walker
After winning the 2012 national Miller Lite Stand Up comedy competition judged by Kevin Hart, comedian/writer LaVar Walker joined The Shaquille O’Neal All Star Comedy Jam. He also advanced to the semifinals in NBC’s Last Comic Standing and has appeared in films like The Pharmacist and Uncle Drew. He'll perform five times through Sunday at Improv Arlington.
Kevin Fowler in concert
Texas country music singer Kevin Fowler has been trying to make his way in the industry for over 20 years, releasing nine albums since 2000. He's slowly but surely made his way up the charts, including with his well-received 2019 album, Barstool Stories. He'll play at Billy Bob's Texas.
Saturday, May 23
Shenandoah in concert
Shenandoah became well known for delivering such hits as “Two Dozen Roses,” “Church on Cumberland Road,” and “Next to You, Next to Me,” as well as classics like “I Want to be Loved Like That” and the Grammy-winning “Somewhere in the Vicinity of the Heart” duet with Alison Krauss. They'll play at Billy Bob's Texas.
Sunday, May 24
Amon Carter Museum of American Art presents "New Horizons: The Western Landscape"
Sunday will be the final day to view "New Horizons: The Western Landscape" at the Amon Carter Museum of American Art. The exhibition presents contemporary interpretations of the American West’s terrain through the work of 14 living artists. Featuring paintings and sculptures, the exhibition explores how artists working today are redefining the visual language of the West, challenging long-standing perspectives and expanding on the stories the region can tell.
Hyena's presents Tré Williamson
Comedian Tré Williamson combines singing, dance moves, celebrity impersonations, and an array of colorful characters with thought-provoking and emotionally inspiring material. He has been featured in national TV commercials, syndicated radio, roles in television series like Grey’s Anatomy, The Office, and It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, and films like Sinners Wanted, with appearances on the E! Network, Access Hollywood, and BET. He'll perform twice on Sunday at Hyena's Comedy Nightclub.
Fort Worth Botanic Garden presents Sean Kenney’s Nature Pop!, May 22-September 7.
