Weekend Event Planner

These are the 8 best things to do in Dallas this weekend

While most big events in and around Dallas have either been postponed or canceled during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, there are a few that have popped up to offer the masses some entertainment while still adhering to the necessary social distancing measures.

Below are the best ways to spend your free time this weekend. While they're not all outside of the house, they all promise to provide a nice distraction from the everyday life.

Thursday, September 10

Dallas Symphony Orchestra presents "Bronfman Plays Beethoven"
The Dallas Symphony Orchestra will continue its season with "Bronfman Plays Beethoven," featuring pianist Yefim Bronfman playing Beethoven’s Second Piano Concerto. The concert, conducted by Fabio Luisi and playing three times through Sunday at Meyerson Symphony Center, will also feature Beethoven’s Symphony No. 8. These concerts and other forthcoming concerts are currently available to subscribers only.

Friday, September 11

Fair Play at the Statler
Statler Hotel's ballroom will transform into Fair Play at the Statler, an interactive State Fair-inspired installation and activity zone. The event, taking place on the weekends through September 20, will feature artistic built-out activations such as an Elvis butter sculpture and Cotton Candy Corral, kids’ activities, games, food and drink tastings, and more. Additionally, the onsite restaurant and gaming hub Scout, and its outdoor space, will transform into “TX Fare & Midway,” where patrons can enjoy State Fair-inspired fare, drink specials, and games such as horseshoes, cornhole, skee-ball, billiards, washers, and more.

Improv Addison presents Paul Rodriguez
Longtime comedian Paul Rodriguez has been making audiences laugh all over the world (in Spanish and English) for nearly three decades with his unique brand of humor that is a perfect blend of his Latin heritage, the American dream, and his undeniable universal appeal. Rodriguez will perform at Improv Addison five times through Sunday.

Ida Y Vuelta Flamenco presents "Flamenco Fever: Memorias Flamencas"
"Flamenco Fever: Memorias Flamencas" features the father of flamenco jazz, Jorge Pardo, a world-renowned flute and saxophone artist who recently won a Grammy as a contributor in Chick Corea's Best Latin Jazz Album, Antidote. This show, taking place at Annette Strauss Square, will kick off a fall series of concerts at the outdoor venue.

Addison Weekend Drive-In Concert Series
The Addison Weekend Drive-In Concert Series, where guests can listen to live music from a variety of Dallas-Fort Worth bands, wraps up this weekend with two final events. Attendees will be able to enjoy the shows from the comfort of their vehicles, or bring lawn chairs to sit next to a car. Music will be transmitted via both speaker system and FM radio. This weekend features performances by Raised Right Men on Friday and The Redwine Band on Saturday. The concerts take place in a parking lot just south of Addison Circle Park.

Saturday, September 12

Dallas Black Dance Theatre presents Legacy Performance Series
Dallas Black Dance Theatre will present the first virtual showcase of its 44th season. The Legacy Performance + Dancemaker's Discussion will feature From Within, choreographed by Nijawwon Matthews. Following the virtual performance the audience will be able to talk live to Matthews and the dancers. Viewers must register in advance for the event on Zoom.

Carbaret: Ford v. Ferrari Drive-In & Car Show
The latest Carbaret, taking place at Brizo in Richardson, will feature a special screening of Ford v. Ferrari. There will be car show with Mustang Shelby Mustangs and Ferraris onsite, and DJ Devin Pike will be spinning Detroit Motor City & Italian rock to fuel the night. In honor of the Italian race car driver and automaker Enzo Ferarri, they'll be offering an Italian menu prepared by Aboca's Italian Chef Artur Piro.

Sunday, September 13

Kluber Family Foundation presents Curveball for a Cause Celebrity Gala
Pitcher Corey Kluber's first season with the Texas Rangers has not gone as planned, as he went on the injured list after just one inning in his first game. But Kluber will continue his philanthropic efforts with the inaugural Curveball for a Cause Celebrity Gala, now a virtual event. Fox Sports Southwest anchor John Rhadigan will act as emcee, and Kluber and several of his Rangers teammates will make virtual appearances. Proceeds will support the Kluber Family Foundation’s community outreach programs.

Kluber Family Foundation presents Curveball for a Cause Celebrity Gala, a virtual event, on September 13.

Photo courtesy of Kluber Family Foundation

Kluber Family Foundation presents Curveball for a Cause Celebrity Gala, a virtual event, on September 13.

galas event-planner movies dance concerts

Film Fest News

Top picks of the 2025 Asian Film Festival of Dallas coming in July

AFFD

Asian Film Festival's Baby Assassins: Nice Days

The annual Asian Film Festival of Dallas — a nonprofit dedicated to celebrating Asian and Asian-American filmmakers — returns in 2025 with more than two dozen films including action movies, comedies, thrillers, and short films.

The four-day festival will take place July 24-27 at the Angelika Film Center Dallas, 5321 E. Mockingbird Ln. #230, and will include award-winning films, premieres, and red carpet action.

Highlights include:

Opening Night July 24: Shinji Araki's Japanese thriller Penalty Loop
Centerpiece July 25: Johnny Ma’s comedy-drama The Mother and the Bear (Johnny Ma will also be in-person at AFFD to participate in the post-screening Q&A.)
Women's Showcase July 26
Closing Night July 27: Yugo Sakamoto's Japanese action-comedy Baby Assassins: Nice Days

AFFD will also host a special Saturday Women’s Showcase spotlighting female filmmakers from across Asia—South Korea, India, Singapore, and Vietnam—as well as the U.S.

"For the festival as whole, while fans can still count on the high-energy action films we’re known for, a deeper theme emerged as I programmed the lineup — the power of connection," says Programming Director Paul Theiss in a release. "This year’s festival explores the deep human need to reach out, be seen, and never go it alone. And what better place to celebrate that spirit of connection than at a film festival, which brings us together through the shared experience of storytelling.”

Women's Showcase
Highlights include:

Mye Hoang's 25 Cats From Qatar. Film about an American flight attendant and cat cafe owner who reacts to a homeless cat crisis in Qatar by coming up with a plan to fly 25 cats to Milwaukee, with her cat cafe providing the way for people to adopt them.
Dương Diệu Linh’s Don’t Cry, Butterfly. Focuses on a wedding venue staffer who learns of her husband’s affair while watching live TV. Instead of confronting him, she uses a voodoo spell to reclaim his love.
Nelicia Low’s Pierce. Thriller follows the push and pull between a young fencer and his estranged older brother, recently released from juvenile prison after serving time for killing an opponent during a fencing match.

All three filmmakers will be in Dallas to participate in Q&As following their screenings.

Sunday will feature films with attending filmmakers leading up to the Closing Night screening of Yugo Sakamoto's Japanese action-comedy Baby Assassins: Nice Days, including:

Jeff Mann’s Paper Marriage finds comedy and drama in the story of a Chinese immigrant facing deportation, who pays an unemployed and directionless man to marry her.
Lee Jong-min and Yeum Moon-kyoung’s South Korean comedy The Last Woman on Earth looks at a female screenwriter who finds tension with her fellow film students due to her script’s anger toward men.

Also noted for its singular party presentations, this year the Asian Film Festival of Dallas will complement the screenings and filmmaker appearances at AFFD with Opening Night, Centerpiece, and Closing Night parties at the Angelika Film Center with Asian cuisine and crafted drinks by George Kaiho, featuring Suntory Japanese Whisky, as well as themed presentations, filmmaker meet-and-greets, and photo opportunities for film fans who have come out to enjoy the great AFFD programming during those evenings.

To purchase badges, tickets, and find a full list of all the films, go to asianfilmdallas.com.

Over the last 20+ years, the festival has provided opportunities for more than 400 Asian and Asian-American filmmakers to share their vision, often providing the only venue for their films to be shown in Dallas. The films have also allowed festival goers a chance to experience other lives and cultures without leaving their seats.

festivals event-planner movies