Weekend Event Planner

Funny or Die's Oddball Comedy Festival tops best weekend events in Dallas

With one week to go before the State Fair of Texas starts, there are lots of interesting event options around Dallas-Fort Worth. That includes a bevy of high-profile comedians, theater in the open air, art gallery open houses and more.

Below are the best options for your precious free time Thursday through Sunday. Don't like what you see? Lucky for you, we have a much longer list of the city's best events.

Thursday, September 18

2014 Shakespeare in the Park: Antony and Cleopatra
With the official start of fall coming next Tuesday, there's no better time to take in Shakespeare Dallas' Shakespeare in the Park fall offering, Antony and Cleopatra. The tragedy documenting the struggle for love, loyalty and power between two of history's greatest figures plays at Samuell-Grand Amphitheatre through September 27 before moving to Addison Circle Park October 1-12.

Undermain Theatre presents Tomorrow Come Today
When done right, theater can transport you unlike any other medium. We're crossing our fingers that Undermain Theatre's season opener comes off as planned, because the world premiere story, in which members of the elite have the ability to switch from one body to a newer one at will, sounds fascinating. The play runs at the downtown Dallas venue through October 11.

Tim and Eric & Dr. Steve Brule in concert
Tim Heidecker and Eric Wareheim have become cult comedic figures through a variety of shows featured on Cartoon Network's Adult Swim block. For this live show, they are joined by Dr. Steve Brule, aka John C. Reilly, a character whose awkwardness knows no bounds. You can experience the laughter all three bring at the Majestic Theatre.

Friday, September 19

Funny or Die's Oddball Comedy & Curiosity Festival 2014
2013's Oddball Festival was headlined by Dave Chappelle and Flight of the Conchords, but the comedian quotient has gone up quite a bit in one year. The stand-ups performing at Gexa Energy Pavilion this time around include Louis C.K., Sarah Silverman, Jeff Ross, Marc Maron, Hannibal Buress, Julian McCullough, Whitney Cummings and Brody Stevens. You won't find more comedy bang for your buck anywhere.

Limp Bizkit in concert with Machine Gun Kelly
Limp Bizkit had their heyday in the early 2000s, thanks to hits like "Nookie," "Re-Arranged" and "Rollin'." But their popularity has waned through the years, which is one reason why they're playing at the South Side Ballroom instead of a bigger venue. They play in support of their forthcoming album, Stampede of the Disco Elephants, with Machine Gun Kelly as opening act.

Saturday, September 20

2014 Plano Balloon Festival
The annual Plano Balloon Festival actually starts on Friday, but Saturday is the only full day of activities at Oak Point Park and Nature Preserve. Those activities include an early-morning balloon lift-off, a kids zone, concerts and more during the day, culminating with a balloon glow and fireworks that night. The festival continues through Sunday.

Fall Gallery Walks
Saturday is also the day for dueling art gallery events, as the galleries around both Deep Ellum and those affiliated with the Dallas Art Dealers Association throw open their doors for a special art appreciation day. DADA's version also includes a Bike Swarm from Oak Cliff Cultural Center to the Dallas Design District.

Sunday, September 21

2014 Autumn at the Arboretum
As if by magic, the Dallas Arboretum transform into a fall wonderland on Sunday, complete with thousands of fall flowers and more than 50,000 pumpkins, gourds and squash scattered throughout the grounds. Activities include a hay bale maze, scavenger hunts and the requisite pumpkin patch. Autumn at the Arboretum remains on display until November 26, the day before Thanksgiving.

Dallas Pride Day
Dallas Pride, an annual day to celebrate the local LGBT community, includes two big events. Going on most of the day is the Festival in Lee Park, featuring performances by DJ Ryan Tiffin, Mi Diva Loca, Chaz Marie and the Voice of Pride winners. There's also the Alan Ross Texas Freedom Parade, going down Cedar Springs Road from Wycliff Avenue and ending at Lee Park.

Dallas Contemporary presents Mario Testino: Alta Moda
Photographer Mario Testino has had his work published in some of the most famous fashion magazines in the world, but he turned his trained eye toward a different type of culture with this exhibit. All of the photos feature traditional and festive costumes worn by people in the Cusco area of Peru. The exhibit is on display at Dallas Contemporary through December 21.

Louis CK is one of many headliners at Funny or Die's Oddball Comedy & Curiosity Festival on September 19.

Courtesy photo

Louis CK is one of many headliners at Funny or Die's Oddball Comedy & Curiosity Festival on September 19.

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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