Weekend Event Planner

These are the 9 best things to do in Dallas this weekend

St. Patrick's Day weekend in Dallas features an eclectic slate of events that will likely entertain you no matter what you like to do. You can enjoy some college basketball, a talk by a tech genius, stand-up comedy, local theater, songs from a master done classically, two fun holiday celebrations, two big-name concerts, 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, March 15

2018 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Championship First/Second Rounds
Dallas will play host to first- and second-round games of the NCAA Tournament, with six games played over the course of two days, Thursday and Saturday. The games will feature matchups between the No. 3 and No. 14 seeds, and No. 6 and No. 11 seeds in both the South and East regions, with teams like Tennessee, University of Miami, Texas Tech, and Florida leading the way. All games will be played at American Airlines Center.

AT&T Performing Arts Center presents #hearhere: Steve Wozniak
A Silicon Valley icon and philanthropist for more than 30 years, Steve Wozniak has helped shape the computing industry with his design of Apple’s first line of products the Apple I and II. Through the years, Wozniak has been involved in various business and philanthropic ventures, focusing primarily on computer capabilities in schools and stressing hands-on learning and encouraging creativity for students. He will speak at Winspear Opera House.

Improv Arlington presents Deon Cole
Since getting exposure as a writer for Conan, comedian Deon Cole has gone on to star in a string of television shows, including Black-ish, Grown-ish, Angie Tribeca, and the game show Face Value. He'll get back to his first love — stand-up comedy — by performing six times through Sunday at Improv Arlington.

Friday, March 16

Nasher Sculpture Center presents 'til Midnight
The monthly 'til Midnight at Nasher Sculpture Center features live outdoor concerts from a variety of national and regional musical talent paired with film screenings in the Nasher Garden. Guests also get to visit the Nasher for free, taking in the museum’s renowned collection of modern and contemporary art. The first 'til Midnight of the year will feature music by Psychic Ills and Francine Thirteen, followed by a screening of Cooley High.

MainStage Irving-Las Colinas presents Witness for the Prosecution
In Witness for the Prosecution, Leonard Vole is on trial for the grisly murder of esteemed London socialite Emily French. While facing these vicious allegations, only one thing stands between Leonard and the end of a rope — his wife. Will she come to his defense even though she is a witness for the prosecution? Or will her testimony be the evidence that hangs him? The courtroom thriller will play at Irving Arts Center through March 31.

Dallas Symphony Orchestra presents The Nat King Cole Songbook
The Dallas Symphony Orchestra will present The Nat King Cole Songbook, featuring Denzal Sinclaire and conducted by Jeff Tyzik. Selections for the concert will include timeless classics from Nat King Cole like "Unforgettable," "I Love You (For Sentimental Reasons)," "Mona Lisa," and more. There will be three performances through Sunday at the Meyerson Symphony Center.

Saturday, March 17

St. Patrick's Day celebrations
It's the rare year when St. Patrick's Day falls on a Saturday, so you can expect the celebrations to be extra exuberant. The two big places to be will be the Dallas St. Patrick's Parade and Festival, featuring more than 90 floats, 1,700 participants, bands, and more along Greenville Avenue; and the St. Patrick's Day Block Party on Lower Greenville, featuring three music stages and specials at area bars and restaurants.

The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory's House Party featuring Lil Uzi Vert
Lil Uzi Vert, who was nominated for Best New Artist and Best Rap Performance at the 2018 Grammy Awards, will kick off the inaugural House Party at the Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory. Lil Uzi Vert released his first full-length album, Luv is Rage 2, in 2017. He'll be joined by G Herbo, Dice SoHo, DJ Drama, and JVN.

Sunday, March 18

Lorde in concert with Tove Styrke and Run the Jewels
It's not just anyone who becomes worldwide famous at the age of 17, but that happened for Lorde when she released her debut album, Pure Heroine, which featured the inescapable "Royals" and top 10 hit "Team." She'll comes back to Dallas to play at American Airlines Center in support of her 2017 album, Melodrama, joined by opening acts Tove Styrke and Run the Jewels.

Lorde will perform at American Airlines Center on March 18.

Photo by Brendan Walter

Lorde will perform at American Airlines Center on March 18.

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Rivers wild

Ethan Hawke narrates new documentary that deep-dives into Texas rivers

Cropped still from Deep in the Heart 2: Texas Rivers

The Rio Grande is one of the stunning subjects of Deep in the Heart 2: Texas Rivers.

One Texas film icon passes the torch to another for a deep dive on Texas' river ecosystems in the upcoming documentary Deep in the Heart 2: Texas Rivers. Matthew McConaughey narrated the original 2022 film, Deep in the Heart: A Texas Wildlife Story. Now Ethan Hawke narrates the follow-up, which will be in theaters September 25.

Deep in the Heart 2 is directed by Ben Masters, a nature-obsessed Texan who was born and raised in Amarillo and has followed wildlife around the state and beyond. Working with his crew at Fin & Fur Films, Masters explores the Rio Grande, the Sabine River, and the Neches River, a press release says, coming across otters, turkeys, alligator snapping turtles, and more.

This underwater shot was taken in San Marcos.Still from Deep in the Heart 2: Texas Rivers

The original Deep in the Heart took a broad view of Texas — both its landscapes and their inhabitants — while the "sequel," as the release calls it, specifically highlights water. Conservation is an important angle, and viewers will get a chance to consider how they could connect with and protect the ecosystems on their screens.

"Most of my favorite memories are on Texas Rivers," said Masters in the release. "I grew up on the Canadian, fell in love on the Brazos, got married on the Guadalupe, found adventure on the Rio Grande, and am raising my kids on the Colorado."

The filmmaker says that spending three years filming his natural subjects gave him "a newfound appreciation" for rivers and how distinct they are from one another.

Amazing cinematography was a hallmark of the original film, and the sequel offers more beautiful shots.Still from Deep in the Heart 2: Texas Rivers

"We spent months filming mountain lions on the Pecos, snapping turtles on the Neches, otters on the Sabine, fatmuckets on the Llano, and whooping cranes in the Guadalupe's Estuary," Masters said. "Editing the majesty of Texas Rivers into 80 minutes was a huge challenge, and I'm just incredibly grateful to work with such a talented team of cinematographers, editors, producers, and musicians."

Hawke, born in Austin and raised in Fort Worth, is known for acting in the Dead Poets Society, Gattaca, the Richard Linklater films Boyhood and Blue Moon, and more. He has taken up causes in environmental advocacy for years and appeared in other ecology-focused films, including the intense fictional First Reformed (2018) and a goofy anti-littering PSA with TxDOT (2023).

Some unexpected guests in the Rio Grande.Still from Deep in the Heart 2: Texas Rivers

The film was made in association with H-E-B, a regular supporter of ecological documentaries and initiatives, and conservation organization Texan by Nature. Other collaborators include producer Josh Winkler, editor Sam Klatt, assistant editor Chet Stefan, and composer Noah Sorota. The musical score is performed by Dallas Chamber Symphony.

animals documentaries ecology ethan hawke film matthew mcconaughey movies nature texas wildlife