Weekend Event Planner

These are the 13 best things to do in Fort Worth this weekend

With the weather (finally!) turning cooler, it should be a great weekend to be outside, and luckily Fort Worth will host a trio of outdoor festivals to take advantage of it. Other choices include a local theater production, screenings of a new film, two comedians, two symphony concerts, two country concerts, a family-friendly opera, and a visit from a bunch of Olympic gymnasts.

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, October 17

Stage West Theatre presents What the Constitution Means to Me
Earnest and polite high schooler Heidi put herself through college by winning debates about the Constitution. Now an adult, she revisits her teenage self to trace the generational impact America’s founding document has had on her life. Civic duty is on full display as this witty and interactive play that builds to a live debate between Heidi and an actual teen, allowing “we the people” to decide how to move forward. The production runs through November 3 at Stage West Theatre.

Friday, October 18

Magnolia at the Modern: Daaaaaalí!
For journalist Judith Rochant (Anaïs Demoustier), the assignment to interview renowned artist Salvador Dalí is a great career opportunity - if only he would agree to sit still and answer a single question. This comedy casts no fewer than five actors in the prismatic portrait of Dalí, an exercise in dream logic and Surrealist homage. The film, in French and Spanish with English subtitles, will screen seven times through Sunday at the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth.

Big Laugh Comedy Club presents Rachel Williams
Rachel Williams is a stand-up comedian from Long Island who performs all over New York City at clubs like NY Comedy Club, Brooklyn Comedy Club, Sesh Comedy Club, Stand Up NY, and more. She’s been heard on SiriusXM, seen on LMAOF network, and has featured for Michael Rapaport, Jared Fried, and Jon Rudnitsky. She was selected to be a part of the 2022 NY Comedy Festival and 2023 Rouge Island Comedy Festival. She'll perform four times through Saturday at Big Laugh Comedy Club.

Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra presents "Kings of Soul"
"Kings of Soul" features the music of legendary artists Marvin Gaye, Smokey Robinson, James Brown, and others in an evening of soulful rhythms. Songs, performed by a trio of vocalists and the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra, will include “Just My Imagination,” “Try a Little Tenderness,” “Dance to the Music,” “Get Ready,” and more. There will be performances on Friday and Saturday at Bass Performance Hall.

Hyena's presents Kevin Farley
Comedian Kevin Farley lives in the shadow of his late brother, Chris, but he's forged his own career over the past 20-30 years. A regular at numerous comedy clubs across the country, he's also scored parts in a variety of films and TV shows. He'll perform at Hyena's Comedy Club four times over two days on Friday and Saturday.

The Steel Woods in concert
The last time country rock band The Steel Woods came to town in 2022 was a bittersweet occasion. They were touring in support of their third album, but they were still grieving the then-recent untimely death of co-founder/guitarist Jason "Rowdy" Cope. Now with new guitarist Tyler Powers, the band has released a fourth album, On Your Time, in 2023. They'll play at Billy Bob's Texas.

Saturday, October 19

Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images

Simone Biles and other top gymnasts will take part in the Gold Over America Tour at Dickies Arena on October 20.

Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra presents FLY Dance Company: Breakin’ Classical
Perfect for ages 3-10, FLY Dance Company’s talented hip-hop dancers will keep youngsters on the edge of their seats with jaw-dropping breakdance moves set to a mix of classical favorites. The Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra will turn classical music on its side with this hip-hop meets classical live experience. The daytime performance takes place at Bass Performance Hall.

Fort Worth Opera presents ¡Bienvenidos! de Frida Kahlo
¡Bienvenidos! de Frida Kahlo is a family favorite in which Fort Worth Opera collaborates with local arts organizations Mariachi Espuelas de Plata from North Side High School and the Ballet Folklorica. For these performances at Rose Marine Theatre, they have expanded the story to include a more interactive and immersive experience utilizing visually stunning staging and arts disciplines. There will be four performances through Sunday.

Near Southside presents ArtsGoggle and Lost 'N Sound
ArtsGoggle, taking place on West Magnolia Avenue from 8th Avenue to St. Louis Avenue, is an arts and music festival that occupies 19 city blocks. The day-long event, taking place from 12-10 pm, hosts more than 900 visual artists, multiple stages of music performances, three giant 10-foot+ puppets roaming the streets, five food courts, and more. It takes place a short walk away from the last Lost 'N Sound of the year at South Main Village, which will feature more than 50 free music performances at 20 alternative venues.

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 2023 album, Here's to You, Here's to Me.

Sunday, October 20

3rd Annual Sundance Square Catrina Fest
The 3rd Annual Sundance Square Catrina Fest will feature live music and entertainment, including a special performance by Selena tribute band, Selena Forever, mariachi music, folklorico dancers, a local market, and food trucks. It will also include 10-foot giant Catrina statues made by artisans from the Feria del Alfenique in Toluca, Mexico. There will be $5,000 in prizes given out for the best Catrina costume.

Athleta presents Gold Over America Tour
The U.S. women's and men's gymnastics teams won a trove of medals at the 2024 Paris Olympics, and now they're taking a victory lap with the Gold Over America Tour, a pop concert-style spectacle that will showcase top gymnasts like Simone Biles, Jade Carey, Jordan Chiles, Paul Juda, Brody Malone, Hezly Rivera, Frederick Richard, and more. The event at Dickies Arena will feature tumbles, twists, and gravity-defying tricks. Get a behind-the-scenes look at the show with one of the cast members in this story.

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Weekend Event Planner

These are the 11 best things to do in Fort Worth this weekend

GM Financial Parade of Lights Fort Worth

Photo courtesy of Parade of Lights

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The weekend before Thanksgiving is when the holiday season really kicks into high gear, and this year features a Broadway musical, multiple local festivals, and a big parade. Other non-holiday choices include screenings of an acclaimed new film, three country concerts, a great comedian, an opera, the opening of a new art exhibition, and a small-scale symphony concert.

Photo courtesy of Parade of Lights

The annual GM Financial Parade of Lights takes place in Downtown Fort Worth on November 24.

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, November 21

Performing Arts Fort Worth presents Dr. Seuss' How The Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical
Dr. Seuss' How The Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical features the hit songs "You're A Mean One Mr. Grinch" and "Welcome Christmas” from the original animated series. Max the Dog narrates the action as the mean and scheming Grinch, whose heart is "two sizes too small," decides to steal Christmas away from the Holiday-loving Whos. The production runs through Sunday at Bass Performance Hall.

Friday, November 22

Holiday events
In addition to the special one-off holiday performances, the Fort Worth area will have several holiday festival-style events start their run this weekend. They include Texas Christkindl Market at Texas Live in Arlington (running through December 23), Coca-Cola’s Classic Christmas at Choctaw Stadium in Arlington (through December 29), and Lightscape at Fort Worth Botanic Garden (through January 5).

Magnolia at the Modern: Blitz
Sir Steve McQueen’s Blitz follows the epic journey of George (Elliott Heffernan), a 9-year-old boy in World War II London whose mother Rita (Saoirse Ronan) sends him to safety in the English countryside. George, defiant and determined to return home to his mother and grandfather (Paul Weller) in East London, embarks on an adventure, only to find himself in immense peril. Meanwhile, a distraught Rita searches for her missing son. The film will screen seven times through Sunday at the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth.

Little Big Town in concert with Sugarland
Country group Little Big Town and country duo Sugarland have a long history together, first collaborating on the song "Life in a Northern Town" in 2008. Sixteen years later, they teamed up again for the new song "Take Me Home," after which this tour is named. Little Big Town has released 10 albums in their career, most recently Mr. Sunin 2022, while Sugarland has released six albums in their career, most recently Bigger in 2018. They'll play at Dickies Arena.

Big Laugh Comedy Club presents Dulce Sloan
Comedian Dulcé Sloan was most recently a correspondent on Comedy Central’s The Daily Show with Trevor Noah, and has been hailed by Variety, Rolling Stone, and Timeout LA as a Top Comedian to Watch. She has also been honored as the NBC Stand UpShowcase Winner, a Montreal Just For Laughs New Face, and as a Comedian to Watch on The Steve Harvey Show. She'll perform four times through Saturday at Big Laugh Comedy Club.

Fort Worth Opera presents Little Women
Mark Adamo’s operatic adaptation of Little Women brings Louisa May Alcott’s classic coming-of-age novel to life in a fresh and powerful way. The American opera is celebrated for its emotional depth and resonant themes of family, sisterhood, growing up, and coming home. Adamo captures the internal conflict of iconic central character, Jo March, who fears that growing up inevitably means growing apart from her family and her sisters, Meg, Beth, and Amy. There will be performances on Friday and Sunday at Arts Fort Worth.

Randall King in concert
A throwback to classic country, Randall King formed an Americana group in college called the Randall King Band, which released an album called Old Dirt Road before splitting. He then debuted as a solo artist in 2016 with the EP Another Bullet before releasing his first self-titled album in 2018 and his second album, Shot Glass in 2022. He'll play once again at Billy Bob's Texas.

Saturday, November 23

Dylan Wheeler in concert
A native of the East Texas town of Edgewood, Dylan Wheeler has made a name for himself on the Texas country music scene. The success of his debut EP, Tell Me I'm Wrong, in 2018 convinced him to quit his job in the oil & gas industry and pursue music full-time. He released his debut album, Times Are Changing, in 2022, and now he returns again to play at Billy Bob's Texas.

Sunday, November 24

Amon Carter Museum of American Art presents Rufino Tamayo: "Innovation and Experimentation"
Exploring more than 60 years of Rufino Tamayo’s prints, "Innovation and Experimentation" showcases the artist’s extensive engagement with prints and his ambitions to add volume and texture to a traditionally two-dimensional medium. In these works, Tamayo's depictions and abstractions of the human figure are highlighted as fertile ground for formal experimentation. A selection of Mesoamerican sculpture complements the prints on view, examining an important source of inspiration for the artist. The exhibition will remain on display through April 20, 2025.

Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra presents Chamber Series: "Mozart, Schulhoff, and Korngold"
The composer Erich Wolfgang Korngold is remembered best for his film scores to silver-screen classics like The Adventures of Robin Hood and Captain Blood, but his concert works are also a testament to his prodigious talent. In this first FWSO Chamber Program featuring members of the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra, Korngold’s music appears alongside Mozart’s Serenade in C minor and a Divertissement by Schulhoff, whose music was buried by the Nazis but has been reemerging in recent years. The performance takes place at Kimbell Art Museum.

GM Financial Parade of Lights
The annual GM Financial Parade of Lights will brighten up the streets of Downtown Fort Worth for its 42nd year, marking the City of Fort Worth’s official kickoff to the holiday season. The parade features the Texas Rangers baseball team as Grand Marshal, along with floats, vintage cars, horse-drawn carriages, marching bands, carolers, and Santa Claus along the 1.59-mile route.

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