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Photo courtesy of Beyoncé

This weekend marks the beginning of fall, even if the temperatures don't yet reflect the seasonal change. With it this year in and around Fort Worth comes a music superstar, fall holiday events, dance productions, a cabaret show, NASCAR races, multiple other concerts, and more.

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.

Thursday, September 21

Fort Worth Oktoberfest
Fort Worth Oktoberfest is a three-day celebration of German culture with the best in Bavarian entertainment. Guests can drink das bier, eat das sausage, and polka till they drop. This year’s lineup includes Alex Meixner Band, Das Ist Lustig, Alpenmusikanten, Walburg Boys and the Happy Hour Oktoberfestband. There will also be a midway with carnival rides and games. The festival takes place through Saturday at Trinity Park.

Haunted houses/Halloween events
Halloween is over a month a way, but you can get in the spirit now by going to one of a couple of haunted houses/Halloween events now open near Fort Worth. They include Pumpkin Nights at Howell Farms in Arlington, featuring over 5,000 hand-carved real and artificial pumpkins; and Fright Fest at Six Flags Over Texas in Arlington, featuring seven different haunted houses, a variety of scare zones with zombies, witches, and more, and chilling rides in the dark. Both are open through at least October 30, with more haunts opening next week.

Authentic Flamenco presents Amador Rojas
Teatro Real - The Royal Opera of Madrid and Fever have teamed up to present Authentic Flamenco, a traditional flamenco dance show. The live presentation features award-winning Spanish artists Amador Rojas and Ángeles Gabaldón as dancers, Paco Iglesias on guitar, Diego Amador and Tomasa Peña as singers, and Luis Amador on percussion. There will be two performances on Thursday at Downtown Cowtown at the Isis.

Fort Worth Dance Festival
The mission of Fort Worth Dance Festival is to preserve and promote dance in the city of Fort Worth. The festival will gather various area dance institutions, ranging from dance professionals, artists, choreographers, students, teachers, studio owners, artistic directors, dance clothing stores, and others to share ideas, experiences, technique, and artistic voices. The festival takes place through Saturday at I.M. Terrell Academy.

The Cliburn presents Anna Geniushene
Anna Geniushene’s fresh, layered, and powerful interpretations defined her participation at the 2022 Van Cliburn International Piano Competition - and won her the coveted silver medal and the adoration of fans around the globe. Her inaugural season as a Cliburn winner included recital appearances in the United States, Japan, China, and Lithuania. She'll perform on both Thursday and Friday at Kimbell Art Museum.

Casa Mañana presents Vintage Pop!: From The 1920s to the 1980s with Carole J. Bufford
Vintage Pop travels by decade, from the 1920s to the 1980s, exploring how the style and sound of pop music developed over the years. The show will highlight Carole J. Bufford's inimitable style, stories behind the music, and songs by Judy Garland, Sophie Tucker, Louis Armstrong, Elvis Presley, The Beatles, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Sting, Tina Turner, Prince, and more. The show will play in the Reid Cabaret Theatre at Casa Mañana through September 30.

Beyoncé in concert
It's taken a long time, but R&B/pop superstar Beyoncé has finally arrived in Arlington in one of the last stops on her Renaissance World Tour. The tour, which is in support of her 2022 album, Renaissance, has been met with rapturous reviews at every stop, featuring a variety of big special guests and the production value that only Queen Bey can deliver. If you're lucky enough to have a ticket, you can see her perform at AT&T Stadium.

Friday, September 22

Southall in concert
Southall - formerly The Read Southall Band - formed out of the local songwriting scene in Stillwater, Oklahoma in 2015 following the success of Read Southall's debut solo album, Six String Sorrow. The country band has released three albums in their short career, most recently 2021's For the Birds. They'll play at Billy Bob's Texas.

Saturday, September 23

Fort Worth Museum of Science and History presents "Very Eric Carle: A Very Hungry, Quiet, Lonely, Clumsy, Busy Exhibit"
The new exhibition "Very Eric Carle" highlights a journey into the imaginative world of the renowned author and illustrator. Inspired by his quintet of "very" books, including the beloved classic, The Very Hungry Caterpillar, the play-and-learn exhibition is all about friendship, creativity, and the power of imagination. Visitors can step into a kaleidoscope of colors, textures, and shapes, where the boundaries between art and nature blur. The exhibition will be on display at the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History through January 7, 2024.

NASCAR Weekend at Texas Motor Speedway
With the NASCAR season in its final stretch, Texas Motor Speedway will play host to two major races with playoff implications. On Saturday will be the Andy's Frozen Custard 300, which kicks off the Xfinity Series Playoffs. That will be followed on Sunday by the Autotrader EchoPark Automotive 400, in which the top 12 drivers left in the Cup Series compete on the 1.5 mile speedway, including point leaders William Byron and Martin Truex Jr.

Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra presents FLY Dance Company: Breakin’ Classical
FLY is what happens when street dance and classical music meet, but that’s not all. Based in Houston, FLY is pure fun - youthful energy, risk-taking movement, and clever choreography set to a mix of surprising musical selections. FLY has been spreading their infectious “theatrical hip hop” around the world since 1992. They'll perform with the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra at Will Rogers Auditorium.

Daughtry in concert
For a fourth-place finisher on American Idol, Chris Daughtry sure has made the most of his opportunity. He's one of only a handful of contestants to become an unqualified success after the show, as he and his band have racked up multiple No. 1 songs and albums. With six albums in their career, most recently 2021's Dearly Beloved, they'll play at Arlington Music Hall.

Sunday, September 24

BoDeans in concert
Rock band BoDeans is entering its fifth decade, having formed in Wisconsin in 1983. Although they've released 14 albums throughout the career, most recently 2022's 4 The Last Time, they're best known for their 1993 song, "Closer to Free," which served as the theme song to the TV family drama series, Party of Five. They'll play at Tannahill's Tavern & Music Hall.

Christian Nodal in concert
It's still early in Mexican singer Christian Nodal's career, but he's already set an enviable pace. Each of his three albums, most recently 2020's Ayayay!, have gone to No. 1 on Billboard's Regional Mexican Albums charts, as well as the top 10 Billboard Latin charts. And pretty much every single he puts out, including two off his new EP, Forajido 2, make the top 10 on the Mexican charts. He'll play at Dickies Arena.

Beyonc\u00e9 Renaissance album cover
Photo courtesy of Beyoncé

Beyoncé will perform at AT&T Stadium in Arlington on September 21.

Photo courtesy of Dallas Black Dance Theatre

Dallas Black Dance Theatre presents Dancing Beyond Borders

DBDT: Encore! transcends borders and boundaries in a display of contemporary modern dance. Audiences will embark on a journey that explores the intersection of grace, athleticism, and artistry.

Photo courtesy of Chung Lin Tseng

Ballet Frontier presents Fall in Love

Ballet Frontier will present their annual fundraising gala, Fall in Love. The event features a meal, a silent auction, and a short performance from Ballet Frontier's company artists. Later in the evening, guests will be invited to meet the dancers and join them on the dance floor.

TCU School for Classical & Contemporary Dance

TCU School for Classical & Contemporary Dance presents Sh'ma Film Preview Screening

Sh’ma is a new dance film by SCCDance Professor Suki John, featuring a cast of 15 extraordinary performers including Dance Theatre of Harlem and Texas Ballet Theatre professionals, celebrated local artists, TCU alums, and students.

Sh’ma uses the languages of film, choreodrama, and music to tell the story of John’s family during the Holocaust. The film lasts 70 minutes and will be followed by a Q&A with members of the cast and crew.

Photo courtesy of Ballet Frontier of Texas

Ballet Frontier of Texas presents A Midsummer Night's Dream

A Midsummer Night’s Dream is based on William Shakespeare’s play, a happy tangle of plots and subplots about the loves and adventures of mortals and mystical beings. The play features the iconic characters Puck, Titania, and Oberon, with fairies and wood nymphs, magical potions, and mistaken identities abounding.

Photo courtesy of Authentic Flamenco

Authentic Flamenco presents Amador Rojas

Teatro Real - The Royal Opera of Madrid and Fever have teamed up to present Authentic Flamenco, a traditional flamenco dance show. During the 65-minute live presentation by SO-LA-NA Entertainment, audiences will be experience an expression of raw passion and emotion, featuring award-winning Spanish artists Amador Rojas and Ángeles Gabaldón as dancers, Paco Iglesias on guitar, Diego Amador and Tomasa Peña as singers, and Luis Amador on percussion.

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'Yellowstone' stars to greet fans at Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo

Yellowstone news

Yellowstone fans, get your comfy shoes ready - there'll be a long line for this one. Cole Hauser a.k.a. "Rip Wheeler" on Yellowstone, and Taylor Sheridan, the show's co-creator, executive producer, and director of the series, will meet fans and sign autographs at the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo.

The event will take place from 4:30-6:30 pm only on Friday, February 3. Location is the 6666 Ranch booth near the south end of Aisle 700 in the Amon G. Carter, Jr. Exhibits Hall.

According to a February 2 announcement from FWSSR, "fans will have the opportunity to snag an autograph as well as purchase some distinctive Yellowstone and 6666 Ranch merchandise while also enjoying all the features the Stock Show offers."

The event is free to attend (with paid Stock Show admission) and open to the public.

It's the second year in a row for Hauser to appear at FWSSR; in 2022, he and fellow cast mates drew huge crowds.

Sheridan, a Paschal High School graduate, is no stranger to Fort Worth; he lives in a ranch near Weatherford and filmed 1883, the prequel to Yellowstone, in and around Fort Worth. Currently, another spinoff, 1883: The Bass Reeves Story, is filming in North Texas.

The Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo is winding up its 2023 run on Saturday, February 4.

These are the 14 best things to do in Fort Worth this weekend

Weekend Event Planner

This weekend in and around Fort Worth is music-heavy, with five big concerts in the area and a couple more at everybody's favorite honky tonk. There will also be three theater productions, including the national tour of a Broadway play; screenings of both a new documentary and acclaimed short films; the start of haunted house season; and a dance production.

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. Oh, and the State Fair of Texas starts this weekend in Dallas; if you plan on going, make sure you don't pay full price.

Thursday, September 28

Theatre Wesleyan presents Playmarket: Premiere Productions
Theatre Wesleyan will present the continuation of its long-running Playmarket program with the premiere of four original short plays. Playmarket: Premiere Productions will include The Death of Seneca by Jonathan Burt, Dime Store Dinos by Parker County Theatre Company executive producer Lori Coughlin, The Ramifications of a Changed Man by Alexandra Flurry-Powell, and Somewhere Between Floors by Lily Seavey. The production, taking place in the Thad Smotherman Theatre at Texas Wesleyan University, will have four performances through Sunday.

Broadway at the Bass presents To Kill a Mockingbird
Set in Alabama in 1934, Harper Lee’s enduring story of racial injustice and childhood innocence centers on one of the most venerated characters in American literature, small-town lawyer Atticus Finch (played by Richard Thomas). The cast of characters includes Atticus’s daughter Scout, her brother Jem, their housekeeper and caretaker, Calpurnia, their visiting friend Dill, and a mysterious neighbor, the reclusive Arthur “Boo” Radley. The touring production, adapted by Academy Award winner Aaron Sorkin, will run through Sunday at Bass Performance Hall.

Friday, September 29

Magnolia at the Modern: Carlos
The documentary Carlos follows rock legend Carlos Santana’s journey from 14-year-old street musician to a 10-time Grammy-winning global sensation. The film features unseen archival materials, including home video recordings made by Santana himself, concert footage, and behind-the-scenes moments. There will be seven screenings through Sunday at the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth.

Pink in concert
It can be difficult for a singer to maintain a certain image over a long period of time, but Pink - or, if you prefer, P!nk - has managed to do just that. She's stuck with her version of pop/rock for over 20 years, and her fans have rewarded her by pushing her to the top of the charts with every album, including the new Trustfall. She'll play at Globe Life Field in Arlington as part of her Summer Carnival Tour, joined by Brandi Carlile, Grouplove, and KidCutUp.

The 26th Annual Manhattan Short Film Festival
Over 100,000 film lovers unite in over 500 cinemas across six continents to view and vote on the finalists’ films in the 26th Annual Manhattan Short Film Festival. Manhattan Short is not a touring festival; rather, it is an instantaneous celebration that occurs simultaneously across the globe, bringing great films to great venues and allowing the audiences to select their favorites. Screenings will take place on Friday and again on October 5 at Palace Arts Center in Grapevine, as well as twice on Saturday at the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth.

Luke Bryan in concert
Since his debut album in 2011, country singer Luke Bryan has been as consistent as they come, with each of his five albums featuring all-original songs going to No. 1 on the Billboard Country charts and making at least the top 5 on the Billboard 200. He's also upped his profile by appearing on The Voice and, since 2018, serving as a judge on American Idol. He'll play at Dickies Arena in support of his 2022 compilation album, Prayin' In A Deer Stand.

Loona Assemble in concert
K-Pop sensation Loona Assemble will take the audience on a new journey beginning with the Loona Assemble Debut Ceremony, in which “in the year of great chaos, Hyunjin, YeoJin, Vivi, Go Won and HyeJu boarded the Loosemble spacecraft. A new world unfolds here, starting with a long voyage to find their friends.” They'll perform at Will Rogers Auditorium.

Jubilee Theatre presents East Texas Hot Links
It's summer 1955 in the piney woods of East Texas where local men wander into Charlesetta's Top o' the Hill Café almost every night for comfort, solace, and companionship. Times are changing, the Klan is active, and young black men have been disappearing or turning up dead. This night, Delmus wants to celebrate getting a new job, but the other regulars are skeptical. They try to warn him as they joke, feed the jukebox, and play cards until betrayal catches all of them and life at Top o' the Hill is changed forever. The production runs through October 29 at Jubilee Theatre.

Haunted houses
This weekend officially kicks off Halloween season in and around Fort Worth, with four big haunted houses opening their doors. Friday brings Hangman's House of Horrors in Fort Worth and Moxley Manor Haunted House in Bedford, each of which feature three separate haunted attractions. Starting on Saturday are Cutting Edge Haunted Housein Fort Worth, located in a 100-year-old abandoned meat packing plant, and The Parker House in Denton, with two main attractions. All of the haunted houses will be open on weekends through at least Halloween.

Ned LeDoux in concert
Kids following in their parents footsteps has a long tradition in the entertainment industry, although few manage to outshine their mother or father. Ned LeDoux is the son of cowboy musician Chris LeDoux, whose work inspired Garth Brooks and others. Ned, touring in support of his 2022 album, Buckskin, will play at Billy Bob's Texas.

Saturday, September 30

Ballet Frontier of Texas presents A Midsummer Night's Dream
Ballet Frontier of Texas' A Midsummer Night's Dream is based on William Shakespeare’s play, a happy tangle of plots and subplots about the loves and adventures of mortals and mystical beings. The play features the iconic characters Puck, Titania, and Oberon, with fairies and wood nymphs, magical potions, and mistaken identities abounding. There will be performances on Saturday and Sunday at I.M. Terrell Academy.

Joji in concert
Japanese singer/rapper Joji first made his name as YouTuber, where he made comedy videos under the name of Filthy Frank. Transitioning to music in 2017, he's made a significant impact in the R&B/lo-fi world, with each of his first three albums making the top 5 on the Billboard 200. He crossed over to the mainstream with the hit "Glimpse of Us" off of his 2022 album, Smithereens. He'll play at Dickies Arena.

RBD in concert
Mexican Latin pop group RBD was huge in their native country and across Latin and South America in the 2000s, starting with their 2004 debut album, Rebelde. The group, which gained popularity due to them starring on the telenovela of the same name, would go on to release five albums (including versions in both Portuguese and English) before disbanding in 2009. Now they've reunited to celebrate that first album and more with the Soy Rebelde Tour. They'll perform at Globe Life Field in Arlington.

Easton Corbin in concert
Country singer Easton Corbin was among the fastest rising artists in the genre in the early 2010s, releasing three albums in five years, including 2015's About to Get Real, which went to No. 1 on the Billboard Country charts. After a long dormant period, he finally released his first new album in eight years, Let's Do Country Right, earlier this year. He'll play at Billy Bob's Texas.

Richard Thomas in the national tour of To Kill a Mockingbird
Photo by Julieta Cervantes

The national tour of To Kill a Mockingbird will be at Bass Performance Hall through October 1.

Beloved Arlington developer earns nod for revitalizating old buildings

Vintage News

Developers tend to view the world as a place to tear down and build anew. But Arlington resident and longtime financial visionary Alan Petsche often has different ideas in mind.

"A love for, and a respect of history," he calls it.

Petsche is the man responsible for thoughtful projects such as the restoration and reopening of Arlington's famous Candlelite Inn, the 1957 restaurant said to have served the first pizza in town; and Joe's Radiator Service, a 1963 structure at 200 N. East St. in Arlington that's now home to pizzeria Cane Rosso.

For those efforts, Petsche was named the 2023 Dream Builder by the Downtown Arlington Management Corp., who presented the award at the Arlington association’s annual meeting and luncheon on September 20.

“A restored building has memories in its walls. You hear and feel them,” Petsche said as he recounted a Candelight memory. “You know what kids? Your grandma and grandad had their first date here. Same booth we’re in now!”

The award honors individuals who've contributed to revitalizing downtown Arlington; previous recipients include developer Ryan Dodson, whose Dodson Commercial Real Estate did the Urban Union development in Arlington, and former Arlington mayor Jeff Williams.

Alan PetscheFrom left: John Arnot from DAMC, Alan Petsche, Maggie Campbell DAMC President/CEO, and Jim Minge, Texas Trust Credit UnionDAMC

A long-time resident of Arlington and graduate of Lamar High School and UTA, Petsche has a legacy of building successful businesses and helping others in the community. He was only nine when he began working for his father, who started the A.E. Petsche Company in the family garage. Petsche eventually became the COO of the family business, which served the aerospace industry for more than 40 years before it was sold in 2009.

A release calls him a "serial entrepreneur" who has owned and operated an eclectic variety of businesses ranging from a comic book store he started in high school to a computer company, commercial real estate organizations, and restaurants. He is highly regarded in Arlington and beyond for his generosity, business acumen, integrity, musical talent, and service to the community.

At the Candlelite Inn, his team serves lunch to 150 volunteers of Mission Arlington weekly. The Court at the College Park Center Special Events Arena is named in his honor as a major donor to the University of Texas at Arlington.

He was also the biggest investor in the Urban Union development, helping drive major re-investment and bringing dozens of new businesses into downtown Arlington. Urban Union currently has 24 storefronts within eight buildings.

In a prior life, he was in a '70s power-pop band called The Pengwins, which toured and sold records throughout the U.S. and in Europe. He keeps the music flame alive with a record label called Spyder Pop Records (initially created under the name Aaron Avenue Records) which has been called "a textbook model of how to do musical community right," as well as "rightly renowned for their spectacular presentation of vinyl and CD releases."

Maggie Campbell, President and CEO of the Downtown Management Arlington Corporation said, "Alan’s love for his hometown of Arlington is evident in the investments he has made, such as restoring the Candlelite Inn, and his passion for making downtown Arlington a prime destination for living, work, and entertainment that appeals to residents and visitors."