Photo Credit: Jeff Pittman
What: An Evening with Dave Matthews & Tim Reynolds
When: Thurs. Jan. 26th @ 6:00PM
Where: Verizon Theatre
1001 Performance Pl., Grand Prairie, TX 75050
Why: The duo performs an intimate acoustic concert. The two musicians met more than 25 years ago – before Dave Matthews Band was founded – and have been collaborating ever since. Their rare performances as an acoustic duo allow fans to experience their special chemistry up-close, as they strip down each song to its essence and tell stories.
What: Fort Worth Opera’s Opera Unfiltered: Voir Dire
When: Thurs. Jan. 26th @ 6:00PM
Where: Wild Acre Brewing Company
1734 E. El Paso St., Fort Worth, TX 76102
Why: To celebrate the New Year, FWOpera is heading to Wild Acre Brewing Company to give you an exclusive sneak peek of our 2014 Frontiers showcase winner Voir Dire. Written by composer Matthew Peterson and librettist Jason Zencka, the explosive new work receives its world premiere during the 2017 Festival and features firsthand accounts of the brutal world of legal drama. The creative team will join us to discuss the process of developing the piece from page to the stage and the cast will perform selections from this gut-wrenching true-crime opera.
What: A Night at the Oscars: Films, Wine and Winners
When: Thurs. Jan. 26th @ 6:30PM – 8:30PM
Where: Dallas Arboretum
8525 Garland Rd., Dallas, TX 75218
Why: Wine and movies are a perfect pairing and no one knows that better than Emmy award-winning journalist, Gary Cogill and Sommelier, Hayley Hamilton Cogill. They will lead you through an interactive discussion celebrating the Oscar nominations and pairing each film with the perfect wine. Join us for this entertaining and educational evening celebrating wine and film.
What: Dallas Mavericks Official Watch Party
When: Thurs. Jan. 26th @ 7:00PM – 10:00PM
Where: Henderson Tap House
2323 N. Henderson Ave., Dallas, TX 75206
Why: The Mavs are back on the road to face the Oklahoma City Thunder. Meet up with other Mavs fans – plus the Mavs ManiAACs and the Mavs Dancers – at the official watch party. Be one of the first 40 to show up to be eligible for a special giveaway.
What: Root & Branch Revue
When: Thurs. Jan. 26th @ 7:00PM – 10:00PM
Where: Mountain View College
4849 W. Illinois Ave., Dallas, TX 75211
E.H. Hereford University Center, University of Texas Arlington
300 1st St., Arlington, TX 76010
Why: Root & Branch Revue is Downwinders at Risk’s multi-day floating conference for green activists, featuring two of the Flint, Michigan, women who blew the top off that town’s lead-contaminated drinking water scandal. January 26, 7-9 pm: An evening with Flint activists and their Dallas-Fort Worth peers. Flint Comes to Dallas. Citizen Science and Environmental Justice – Mountain View College Performance Hall. Admission is free. January 28, 9:30 am-5:30 pm: One Day University of Change. A full day of skills and information workshops aimed at making you a better activist. Workshops include: Fighting Permits in Texas, Petitioning Rights, Basic Door-to-Door Outreach, High Tech Tools for Citizens and Health Survey Dos and Don’ts – E.H. Hereford University Center, The University of Texas at Arlington.
What: Thirsty Thursday: Get Inaugurated
When: Thurs. Jan. 26th @ 9:00PM
Where: Wild Detectives
314 W. Eighth St., Dallas, TX 75208
Why: You think this inauguration is unbelievable? How about the podium catching on fire? Or coming down with pneumonia because you “didn’t need an umbrella”? Join House Party Theatre as they dive back in time through the craziest but true inauguration stories in history.
What: Zest Fest 2017
When: Fri. Jan 27th – Sun. Jan 29th @ 1:00PM (Fri) and 10:00AM (Sat & Sun)
Where: Irving Convention Center at Las Colinas
500 W. Las Colinas Blvd., Irving, TX 75039
Why: Food expo showcases the spiciest exhibitors and products from around the country for one sizzling weekend of tastings and more. ZestFest is the ultimate party for bold and flavorful food enthusiasts with events such as cooking demos by celebrity chefs, live music, Fiery Food Challenge, Wingstop Atomic Challenge Wing Contest, and thousands of bold food samples. $15, free for children 10 and younger.
What: Denton Black Film Festival
When: Fri. Jan 27th – Sun. Jan 29th @ 1:00PM (Fri), 10AM (Sat) and 12:30PM (Sun)
Where: Campus Theatre
214 W. Hickory St., Denton, TX 76201
Why: The third annual Denton Black Film Festival is a weekend long festival celebrating the diverse stories and culture of the black community through film, music and art. Viewers can expect to see featured narratives, documentaries, and shorts submitted by filmmakers nationwide and internationally. Main attractions and activities during the festival include a music concert on Sat., headlined by acclaimed jazz vocalist, Ashleigh Smith, a two week-long art exhibit featuring select works of Dallas visual artist, Christopher Blay, and a “Women In Entertainment” component. In addition to that, the DBFF will also have spoken word and comedy showcases, industry workshops and an artist mixer event.
What: Lunar New Year Festival
When: Fri. Jan 27th – Sun. Jan 29th @ 6:00PM (Fri) and 3:00PM (Sat & Sun)
Where: Asia Times Square
2625 W. Pioneer Pkwy., Grand Prairie, TX 76051
Why: Celebrate the Year of the Rooster at this fest that is spread over 2 weekends. All are welcome to share and observe the Southeast Asian cultures and traditions with nightly concerts, daytime cultural performances, food vendors, handmade art, kids zone and creative zone. Admission is free. Food (and some activities) available to purchase. Highlights: Nightly concerts by Vietnamese singers from California and other local bands, Daytime performances: flash mob dance, Lions Dances, Dragon Dances, martial arts exhibitions, Vietnamese Bingo, Firecrackers, Flower Festival, ATS Rising Stars 2017: Children’s singing contest, Kids and Teens activities: carnival games, Creative Zone, Kidzone, face painting
What: W Dallas – Victory presents Buzzed Art Nite
When: Fri. Jan 27th @ 7:00PM – 10:00PM
Where: W Dallas Victory Hotel
2440 Victory Park Ln., Irving, TX 75039
Why: Try your hand at painting the Dallas skyline with guidance from a master artist. The evening includes curated cocktails, bites, music and more. Open to non-hotel guests, tickets include a complimentary cocktail, 16×20″ keepsake canvas and all art supplies.
What: Dallas Symphony Orchestra presents Jason Alexander Sings Broadway
When: Fri. Jan. 27th – Sun. Jan. 29th @ 7:30PM & 2:30PM (Sun)
Where: Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center
2301 Flora St., Dallas, TX 75201
Why: Jason Alexander, the Seinfeld alum, Broadway star (The Producers) and Tony Award® winner (Jerome Robbins’ Broadway) joins the Dallas Symphony Orchestra for a night of show tunes and comedy.
What: Arctic Cat Nitro Arenacross
When: Fri. Jan 27th & Sat. Jan. 28th @ 7:30PM – 10:30PM
Where: Mesquite Rodeo Arena
1818 Rodeo Dr., Mesquite, TX 75149
Why: Experience two adrenaline-packed days filled with highflying, gravity-defying motorcycle and ATV racing inside the dirt-packed, jump-laden arena. The event draws riders young and old, pros and amateurs alike, in close competition for prize purses in various categories. The event is billed as “not just a race, it’s a party,” with laser lights, music and the show’s spectacular FMX pro jump-off.
What: Jurassic Quest
When: Sat. Jan. 28th & Sun. Jan. 29th @ 9:00AM
Where: Fair Park
1121 1st Ave., Dallas, TX 75210
Why: Jurassic Quest presents a dinosaur adventure for the whole family. The main dinosaur exhibit features ultra-realistic, life-size animatronic dinosaurs, over 80 life-size dinosaurs in all. Visitors can interact with these huge creatures, learn about them, and even ride a few. It features realistic scenes, enormous dinosaurs, cute baby dinosaurs, and lots of fun activities for kids of all ages. There are huge T-Rex and Triceratops fossil digs where young paleontologists can uncover long hidden dinosaurs bones, the “Dino Bounce” area with several, towering, dinosaur theme inflatable mazes, face painting, dino crafts, and much more. The event is located in both the Centennial and Automotive Buildings at Fair Park.
What: Frost Fest
When: Sat. Jan. 28th @ 10:00AM – 2:00PM
Where: Cimarron Park
201 Red River Trail, Irving, TX 75063
Why: Winters in Texas can mean anything from cold rain to black ice, but rarely include the fluffy white snow seen up north. This year, bring the family to Cimarron Park for a taste of the fun side of winter. Frost Fest is a free winter festival offering an opportunity to indulge in various cold weather activities. Visit the reindeer at the petting zoo, try skating on the festival rink, play in the snow area and slide down the hill. The entertainment continues with snow dance parties, winter story readings and our own version of the Polar Express train. Food vendors will be on-site; parking and admission are free.
What: North Texas Comic Book Show featuring George Perez
When: Sat. Jan. 28th @ 10:00AM – 2:00PM
Where: Embarcadero Building at Fair Park
1229 Admiral Nimitz Circle, Dallas, TX 75219
Why: Visit the family friendly North Texas Comic Book Show. The show will have more than 100 dealers of comics, toys, and collectibles. Special guests for the event include: George Perez (Sat only) – legendary comic book artist & writer, Marv Wolfman – New Teen Titans writer, Michael Golden – storyteller & artist whose work has graced 100s of comic covers, Bog Budiansky – former Marvel Comics editor, Carl Potts – former exec. editor at Marvel Comics, Scott Hanna – inker, Graham Nolan – co-creator of the Batman character BANE, Steve Erwin – artist on the comic title Deathstroke The Terminator. Cosplay contest at 2 pm on Saturday.
What: Texas Rangers Winter Carnival
When: Sat. Jan. 28th @ 10:30AM – 1:00PM
Where: Dr. Pepper Ballpark
7300 RoughRiders Trail, Frisco, TX 75034
Why: Join the Texas Rangers for a family friendly – and free – fanfest at the Frisco’s RoughRiders ballpark. Guests will have a chance to meet players, get autographs, play catch on the field and run the bases.
What: Harlem Globetrotters World Tour
When: Sat. Jan. 28th – Sun. Jan. 29th @ 2:00PM & 7:00PM
Where: American Airlines Center
2500 Victory Ave., Dallas, TX 75201
Why: The Harlem Globetrotters will come to Dallas as part of their 2016-2017 world tour. A star-studded roster will have fans on the edge of their seats to witness the ball-handling wizardry, basketball artistry, and one-of-a-kind family entertainment that thrills fans of all ages.
