Mid-January in Fort Worth means it's time for the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo. It will be the biggest thing in town over the next three weeks, but it's far from the only thing going on. This weekend other choices include screenings of an acclaimed new film, a quartet of country concerts, and a trio of comedians.
Below are more best ways to spend your precious free time this weekend. Want more options? Lucky for you, we have a much longer list of the city's best events.
Friday, January 12
Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo
The biggest event of the year on the Fort Worth calendar is also one of the first of the year. The three-week long event features daily rodeos at Dickies Arena, livestock and horse shows, kid-friendly activities and exhibits, live music, a carnival midway, shopping, food, and more. It will run through February 3. (Note that the FWSSR All Western Parade on Saturday, January 13 will have a modified route through downtown due to street closures following the recent hotel explosion.)
Magnolia at the Modern: Freud's Last Session
On the eve of World War II, two of the greatest minds of the 20th century, C. S. Lewis (Matthew Goode) and Sigmund Freud (Anthony Hopkins), converge for their own personal battle over the existence of God. Freud’s Last Session interweaves the lives of Freud and Lewis - past, present, and through fantasy - bursting from the confines of Freud’s study on a dynamic journey. The film will screen seven times through Sunday at the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth.
Sammy Kershaw in concert
The Auditorium Entertainment Series, which goes along with the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo, brings in a variety of big singers/bands to play concerts at Will Rogers Auditorium during the run of the Rodeo. First up is country singer Sammy Kershaw, who had his heyday in the mid-1990s thanks to a series of top 10 albums and hits like "She Don't Know She's Beautiful," "I Can't Reach Her Anymore," and "National Working Women's Holiday." Kershaw has released 17 albums in his career, most recently 2016's The Blues Got Me.
Improv Arlington presents Brandon T. Jackson
Brandon T. Jackson is a multifaceted young actor carving his own path in Hollywood. He started out in stand-up comedy and has evolved into a young film and television star who is perhaps best known for his role in Tropic Thunder. He has also starred in Thunderstruck, the third incarnation of Fox’s Big Momma’s House franchise, and Warner Bros.’ Lottery Ticket. He'll perform five times through Sunday at Improv Arlington.
Arlington Music Hall presents Pauly Shore
Pauly Shore tasted stardom in the 1990s thanks to his MTV show Totally Pauly, as well as starring roles in films like Jury Duty, In the Army Now, Bio-Dome, Encino Man, Son In Law, and A Goofy Movie. Apart from actively touring the country with his stand-up comedy, Shore is working on a documentary of his life that spans the 1960s, ’70s, ’80s, and ’90s. He'll perform at Arlington Music Hall.
Hyena's presents Rob Little
Rob Little has established himself as one of the funniest, most progressive comedians in the country. He has been a feature performer at the Chicago Comedy Festival and the Boston Comedy and Movie Festival. He has appeared on NBC's Last Comic Standing and the Comedy Central sketch comedy show, Nick Swardson’s Pretend Time. He'll perform four times through Saturday at Hyena's Comedy Nightclub.
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 comes back to Fort Worth to play at Billy Bob's Texas.
Saturday, January 13
Robert Earl Keen in concert
Even through Texas legend Robert Earl Keen brought his touring days to a close in 2022, he - like fellow legend George Strait - has continued to play one-off concerts and release new music. His 2023 album, Western Chill, the 20th release of his career, is part of a special boxed collector's set. A member of the Texas Heritage Songwriters Hall of Fame, he has written songs for music superstars like George Strait, The Chicks, The Highwaymen, and Nanci Griffith. He'll play at Bass Performance Hall.
Tracy Byrd in concert
Country singer Tracy Byrd was part of the early 1990s country boom alongside acts like Garth Brooks, Alan Jackson, and more. He became a success thanks to hits like "Holdin' Heaven," "Lifestyles of the Not So Rich and Famous," "Watermelon Crawl," "The Keeper of the Stars," and more. He's released 10 albums in his career, with the most recent being 2016's All American Texan. He'll play at Billy Bob's Texas.
The Fort Worth Rodeo takes place at Dickies Arena, January 12-February 3.
