Weekend Event Planner

These are the 13 best things to do in Dallas this weekend

In a surprising twist, holiday-themed events do not dominate this weekend's roundup. There are still plenty to be found, but the five new holiday events are overshadowed by new non-holiday theater, magic, dance, a comedic tribute to a certain boy wizard, a comic actress getting a big honor, a visit from a big stand-up comedian, and more.

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, December 6

Dallas Theater Center presents Fetch Clay, Make Man
Loosely inspired by the real-life friendship between Muhammad Ali and Stepin Fetchit, DTC Playwright-in-Residence Will Power has crafted a daring script that brings these two iconic figures together to shape their legacies against the backdrop of the Civil Rights Movement. Fetch Clay, Make Man is a powerful exploration of what it is to be a black man in America. The production will run in the Studio Theatre at Wyly Theatre through January 13.

Theatre Three presents Solstice: A New Holiday Adventure
Theatre Three will again capture the meaning of the holiday season by featuring the return of last year’s favorite mischievous Solstice characters, Stuart and Paulette. The couple’s adventures continue this winter through story and song and is fittingly set in NorthPark Center. This new holiday piece is definitely not your mother’s Christmas Carol, but it does feature the most lovable drug-addled grandparents Big D has to offer. The production will run through December 30.

Champions of Magic
The five world-class illusionists that make up the Champions Of Magic present daring grand illusions, stunning close-up magic, and incredible mind reading. Audiences will witness the impossible, including disappearances, levitation, teleportation, and a heart-stopping finale — all presented with lighting and special effects to rival the biggest theatrical spectacles. The show will run at the Music Hall at Fair Park through Sunday.

Friday, December 7

BMW Dallas Marathon
While the main event takes place on Sunday, the BMW Dallas Marathon is a weekend of events, starting with the Health and Fitness Expo at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center on Friday and Saturday. On Saturday, there will be the two-mile walk, 5K, 10K, and a series of new family races, followed by the marathon on Sunday, which begins and ends in downtown Dallas at Dallas City Hall Plaza.

Dallas Black Dance Theatre presents Black on Black
Dallas Black Dance Theatre and DBDT: Encore! dancers will showcase their skills as choreographers, creating works performed by their fellow dancers. The performance, which will take place on both Friday and Saturday at Dallas Black Dance Theatre, concludes with a live DJ and DBDT dancers in an after-party finale.

Dallas Symphony Christmas Pops
The Dallas Symphony Orchestra's tradition returns with Christmas classics, sing-along carols, the Dallas Symphony Chorus, and the magnificence of the Meyerson Symphony Center decked out in its holiday finest. The concert, featuring soprano Katy Williams, will be conducted by Lawrence Loh. It will run through December 16.

Potted Potter: The Unauthorized Harry Experience
Potted Potter: The Unauthorized Harry Experience is a parody show that's perfect for muggles, witches and wizards of all ages. The production, playing at Texas Theatre through December 29, goes through the story of the boy-who lived, combining all seven books into 70 hilarious minutes. The cleverly curated show includes all the favorite characters, crazily inventive props, and even a live Quidditch match.

Martina McBride in concert
Martina McBride has been country music royalty for a long time, releasing her debut album in 1992 and scoring four No. 1 albums and countless hits over the years. Though she can call upon any of number of songs in her repertoire, her return to the Dallas area will be in support of her new Christmas album, It’s the Holiday Season. She'll play at the Majestic Theatre.

Dallas Repertoire Ballet presents The Nutcracker
Dallas Repertoire Ballet presents its annual production of the beloved family classic The Nutcracker. Join Clara and her Nutcracker Prince, along with a cast of over 130 talented dancers, featuring students from the Allen-based Academy of Dance Arts. The production will run at Eisemann Center for the Performing Arts through Saturday, with a special “sensory-friendly performance” at the Saturday show.

Saturday, December 8

Dallas Heritage Village presents Candlelight
Dallas Heritage Village will present its 47th annual Candlelight, where visitors can see how holiday traditions were celebrated in the late 1800s. The Village’s largest public fundraiser features carriage rides, holiday storytelling, Victorian carolers, musical entertainment on three stages, crafts, St. Nicholas, hand-weaving, blacksmithing, and many other festive activities. It will take place on both Saturday and Sunday.

Dallas VideoFest presents Ernie Kovacs Award: Amy Sedaris
Dallas VideoFest will honor actress and writer Amy Sedaris with the coveted Ernie Kovacs Award. Sedaris, a Second City alumna, is arguably best known for her role as Jerri Blank in the Comedy Central favorite Strangers with Candy. The Ernie Kovacs Award recognizes the career and talents of some of television’s greatest visionaries. The event will take place Alamo Drafthouse Richardson.

Brian Regan in concert
Setting a comedic standard of excellence that others continually try to follow, Brian Regan is a unique comedian who is relatable to generations of fans and revered by comedians as the best in the business. Known as a "clean" yet hilarious comedian, his comedy can be enjoyed by audiences of all ages. He'll perform at the Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory in Irving.

Sunday, December 9

Dallas Museum of Art presents "Asian Textiles: Art and Trade Along the Silk Road" closing day
Drawn from the DMA’s collection, this exhibition, which comes to a close on Sunday, showcases fine examples of garments and ornamental hangings. The works on view come from India, Central Asia, China, and Japan, with some objects featuring colored ink paintings on textile backgrounds. The garments range from a Japanese fireman’s coat to an Indian sari and a Chinese dragon robe.

Dallas Theater Center presents Fetch Clay, Make Man, playing at Wyly Theatre through January 13.

Photo by Evan Michael Woods

Dallas Theater Center presents Fetch Clay, Make Man, playing at Wyly Theatre through January 13.

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RIP Mark

Colorful Dallas musician and DJ Mark Ridlen passes away at 65

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Mark Ridlen RIP

A bright and colorful light in Dallas' music scene went out: Mark Ridlen, DJ and musician, passed away on November 17, following a bout with cancer; he was 65.

From his appearance in Ron Howard’s 1978 directorial debut, Cotton Candy, to his groups Quad Pi, Lithium X-mas, and a plethora of side projects with scores of DFW musicians, to his full-time job as a professional DJ under the moniker "DJ Mr. Rid," Ridlen had been a steady staple on the local creative scene.

He surfed pretty much every musical wave: from Dallas' epochal dance music scene in the early 80s, to punk rock to his role as one of Dallas' top DJs — the guy you called when you wanted your event to be cool and fun.

Ridlen had been quietly battling kidney and lung cancer for the past three years. Over the summer, he had his second kidney removed, which meant he was on dialysis treatment a couple times a week.

He remained upbeat, but according to friends of the family, two more tumors were recently found in his brain. His family and friends decided to forego further treatment and were by his side when he died.

He remained in demand until his passing. In May, he DJed a party at the Kessler Theater, celebrating the 40th anniversary of the Starck Club, the legendary '80s dance music club designed by Philippe Starck, which had a huge influence on Dallas, and which Ridlen was part of.

He was invited to DJ at the Starck Club when it opened in 1984 and remained in that role until the club closed in 1989.

Reid mark ridlen Mark Ridlen (right) with close friend Reid RobiinsonFacebook

From there, he migrated to Expo Park, the underground neighborhood across from Fair Park where art and music ruled. His stints at XPO Lounge, Double Wide, and other neighborhood venues made him a staple in the community.

At the same time, he was a member of Lithium Xmas, a psychedelic art-rock band which he formed with acclaimed musicians Chris Merlick and Greg Synodis.

He was also a pop culture savant with a comprehensive knowledge of music, who balanced a low-key charm with a vibrant sense of style, whether it was a vivid pop-art tunic or a flashy sequinned jacket, he did it all with originality and panache.

In late August, a large circle of musicians and friends rallied to participate in a benefit for Ridlen, to help pay for his medical costs — a sweet indication of the high regard in which he was held.

“I do want people to know that I am not being slowed down by cancer,” Ridlen said at the time. “I'm ready to continue working. I have more-or-less a clean bill of health for the moment, and hopefully that doesn't change.”

Survivors include his mother Nancy and his brother David. A memorial service is in the works with details still to be announced.

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