The circus is back in town this weekend in Fort Worth as Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey bring The Greatest Show on Earth tour to Fort Worth. Other choices include screenings of a new film, a fair/rodeo, two local theater productions, a symphony concert, a well-known comedian, two country concerts, and a cabaret-style concert honoring a music superstar.

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, August 21

Magnolia at the Modern: The Floaters
A struggling musician takes a last-resort job from her overachiever best friend: supervising misfits at their childhood Jewish summer camp. With the camp’s survival in the balance as it ramps up for competition with a longtime rival, the clashing friends and campers must overcome their differences to save the camp. The film will screen seven times through Sunday at the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth.

North Texas Fair & Rodeo
The annual North Texas Fair & Rodeo features 10 nights of country music, rodeos, livestock shows, kid and fun zones, attractions, and more. Headline performers will include Braxton Keith, Chris Cagle, Ned LeDoux, Jake Hooker & The Outsiders, Kody West, William Clark Green, Diamond Rio, and more. The event takes place through August 30 at the North Texas Fairgrounds in Denton.

Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey presents The Greatest Show On Earth
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey's The Greatest Show On Earth is reimagined for a new generation, bringing a fast-paced, high-energy circus experience featuring heart-pounding stunts, incredible acrobats, and immersive family moments. Audiences will experience iconic Ringling acts like the Double Wheel of Destiny, trapeze artists, a high-speed bicycle troupe, and more. The circus will have five performances through Sunday at Dickies Arena.

Upright Theatre Co. presents In the Heights
In the Heights, featuring music and lyrics by Lin-Manuel Miranda and book by Quiara Alegría Hudes, tells the universal story of a vibrant community in New York’s Washington Heights neighborhood. It's a place where the coffee from the corner bodega is light and sweet, the windows are always open, and the breeze carries the rhythm of three generations of music. The production, which started on August 14, runs through September 13 at Upright Theatre Co. in Bedford.

Theatre Denton presents The Diary of Anne Frank
The Diary of Anne Frank is a drama that recounts the lives of eight people hiding from the Nazis in an attic for over two years. Based on the real diary of young girl who was among those in hiding, it captures the fear, hope, joys, and grief of these individuals in an extraordinary situation. The production runs through August 30 at Theatre Denton.

Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra presents "Stars of the Symphony"
"Stars of the Symphony" is an evening like none other, showcasing the talent of Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra musicians in virtuosic roles. The performance is a rare opportunity to witness members of the orchestra taking the spotlight and performing some of the most beautiful and challenging symphonic repertoire. The one-night-only event takes place at Bass Performance Hall.

Hyena's presents Tim Meadows
Actor, comedian, and writer Tim Meadows was one of the longest-running cast members on Saturday Night Live, where he appeared for 10 seasons from 1991 to 2000. He's gone on to be a reliable character actor in movies like Mean Girls, Grown Ups, and Trainwreck, and TV shows like The Office, The New Adventures of Old Christine, 30 Rock, and DMV. He'll perform four times through Saturday at Hyena's Comedy Nightclub.

Silverada in concert
For 16 years, the band now known as Silverada was known as Mike and The Moonpies. The country/Americana band made the decision to change names in 2024 because they thought the former name "was hindering their progress." They've now released two albums under the new moniker, including Texas 42 in 2025. They'll play at Billy Bob's Texas.

Saturday, August 22

Casa Mañana presents The Music of Elton John
After a popular run in The Reid Cabaret Theatre, The Music of Elton John is back for one night only on the Mainstage at Casa Mañana. The concert will take the audience through the stories behind the music: early days as a session musician, partnering with Bernie Taupin, and selling out stadiums across the globe. Broadway's best will sing all the iconic hits, including “Your Song,” “Tiny Dancer,” “Rocket Man,” “Bennie and the Jets,” “Candle in the Wind,” “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road," and more.

Jake Worthington in concert
Like a lot of singers in the 21st century, country singer Jake Worthington is an alumnus of a reality music competition. Worthington appeared on the sixth season of The Voice in 2014, where he placed second. He didn't release his first official album until 2023, which featured the hit single, "State You Left Me In." He'll play at Billy Bob's Texas in support of his 2025 album, When I Write The Song.

Photo courtesy of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey

Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey presents The Greatest Show On Earth at Dickies Arena, August 21-23.