The holidays are already in full effect in Fort Worth the weekend before Thanksgiving, with four events celebrating the season, but a visit from the King of Country overshadows them all. Other options include concerts at a ranch, a trio of well-known comedians, a classical music concert, and two smaller-scale concerts.
Below are the 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, November 18
Fort Worth Botanic Garden presents Lightscape
Taking place within the Fort Worth Botanic Garden and set along a beautifully illuminated walking trail custom-designed for Fort Worth, Lightscape will feature spectacular artistic installations that come to life after dark with color, imagination, and sound. Visitors will walk a one-mile-long path with suspended strands and tunnels of light, a fire garden, undulating wave of bluebonnets, singing trees, treetop sculptures, and artistic installations, while toasting marshmallows over a fire and drinking hot chocolate and other seasonal drinks at stations along the trail. The event will run through January 8.
Artisan Center Theater presents The Best Christmas Pageant Ever
Based on the best-selling book, The Best Christmas Pageant Ever follows the outrageous shenanigans of the Herdman siblings, or “the worst kids in the history of the world.” The siblings take over the annual Christmas pageant in a hilarious yet heartwarming tale involving the Three Wise Men, a ham, scared shepherds, and six rowdy kids. The production runs through December 23 at Artisan Center Theater in Hurst.
Dallas Symphony Orchestra presents Circle T Ranch Music Festival
The Dallas Symphony Orchestra will present the second annual Circle T Ranch Music Festival, a three-day concert series featuring performances by The Steep Canyon Rangers on Friday and contemporary and classical music from the orchestra on Saturday and Sunday. Along with performances, the family-friendly festival will feature food trucks and a number of pre-concert activities, ranging from face-painting to instrument demonstrations. All concerts will be at Circle T Ranch in Westlake.
Improv Arlington presents Shawn Wayans
Shawn Wayans was born into one of Hollywood's largest and most successful comedic families, so he was naturally gifted with the ability to make people laugh. He carved his own acting career with a starring role in the sitcom The Wayans Bros., along with movies like the Scary Movie franchise. He'll perform four times through Saturday at Improv Arlington.
Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra presents "Wagner Highlights"
Audiences can marvel at some of the greatest moments in the operatic repertoire as Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra Music Director Robert Spano delves into the music of Richard Wagner, including “The Ride of the Valkyries” from Die Walküre, the Prelude to Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg, and “Siegfried’s Rhine Journey” from Götterdämmerung. The program will include images by famed British illustrator Arthur Rackham. There will be three performances through Sunday at Bass Performance Hall.
Hyena's present Helen Hong
A fan favorite on the hit NPR podcast Wait Wait Don’t Tell Me, Helen Hong has been a recurring character on HBO's Silicon Valley, CBS' The Unicorn, and others. She will perform four times through Sunday at Hyena's in downtown Fort Worth.
George Strait in concert
Country superstar George Strait may have retired from touring way back in 2014, but he's by no means finished playing concerts. He helped open Dickies Arena in 2019, and he's also played big shows in the past couple of years at the Houston Rodeo and in Austin alongside Willie Nelson. He's back at Dickies Arena for two special concerts - one Friday and one Saturday - where he'll be joined by opening act Tenille Townes.
The Panhandlers in concert
The Panhandlers are a Texas country music group made up of William Clark Green, Cleto Cordero, Josh Abbott, and John Baumann, four solo artists who've had a good amount of success in their own right. They'll play at Billy Bob's Texas in support of their new EP, West Texas is the Best Texas.
Saturday, November 19
Fort Worth Zoo presents 30th Anniversary Festival
The Fort Worth Zoo will celebrate the 30th Anniversary of their reopening with a special festival, where visitors can spend the day with favorite animals, enjoy a variety of live musical acts throughout the park, take advantage of photo ops, interact with strolling characters, enjoy giveaways (while supplies last), and check out themed animal enrichment activities in habitats across the zoo. Admission will be half-price all day long.
13th Annual Funky Finds Holiday Shopping Experience
The 13th Annual Funky Finds Holiday Shopping Experience will feature Santa as he wears shades, swimming trunks, and his Hawaiian shirt in holiday market surf side. The flamingos are rounding up the best in handmade and vintage funky finds for shoppers' tropical holiday pleasure. Visitors can also float over to snag the best finds before they're swept away with the tide. The event takes place on Saturday and Sunday at Will Rogers Memorial Center.
George Lopez: OMG Hi! Comedy Tour
Few comedians have enjoyed the type of success that George Lopez has over the past 20 years or so. He has had not one, but three eponymous sitcoms — George Lopez, Saint George, and Lopez. He was also the host of the short-lived talk show, Lopez Tonight. Obviously, the man knows funny, which he'll show in two performances at Will Rogers Auditorium.
Josh Weathers Band in concert
Josh Weathers is a Fort Worth-based soulful singer-songwriter. He has spent close to 20 years honing his craft of combining songs of hope with a high energy rock n’ soul live show. With his band or not, he's no stranger to the various stages around Fort Worth. They'll play at Tannahill's Tavern & Music Hall.
Sunday, November 20
40th Annual GM Financial Parade of Lights
The GM Financial Parade of Lights will take over the streets of Downtown Fort Worth for the 40th year, with more than 100 illuminated floats, an array of festive performers, holiday decor, live music, and hundreds of thousands of sparkling lights. The lighting of the Christmas tree in Sundance Square will take place an hour prior to the start of the parade, at 5 pm. For things to know before you go (including road closures and parking), go here.
George Strait will play at Dickies Arena on November 18 and 19.
