With Christmas Day falling on a Monday, many people will spend the weekend getting ready for the holiday. If you can catch your breath for an hour or two, there are some worthy new things to do, including a visit from a world-class acrobatics troupe, special screenings of holiday movies, a concert by an American original, a Broadway tour, and an unforgettable holiday concert.
With a couple of exceptions, the events are happening on Thursday and Friday. If you're looking for something to do on Saturday or Sunday, check out our list of the best holiday events, many of which continue throughout the holidays.
Below are the best ways to spend what little free time you might have this weekend. Want more options? Lucky for you, we have a much longer list of the city's best events.
Thursday, December 21
Cirque du Soleil presents Varekai
The word Varekai means “wherever” in the Romany language of the gypsies, the universal wanderers. This production, which will run at Dr Pepper Arena in Frisco through Saturday, pays tribute to the nomadic soul, to the spirit and art of the circus tradition, and to those who quest with infinite passion along the path that leads to Varekai. It will feature all the amazing acrobatics and storytelling for which Cirque du Soleil is known.
Dallas Symphony Orchestra presents Home Alone
The adventures of Kevin McCallister as he fights off burglars after being left home alone at Christmas has become one of the go-to holiday movies over the years. You can see and hear it in a new way when the Dallas Symphony Orchestra performs John Williams’ Oscar-nominated score live. The film will play once on Thursday and once on Friday at the Meyerson Symphony Center.
Lee Greenwood in concert
Lee Greenwood is an icon in country music, with more than 30 albums to his credit and one everlasting hit, "God Bless the U.S.A." This one-night-only performance at Moody Performance Hall, titled A Tennessee Christmas, will include songs from Greenwood's two Christmas albums, Christmas to Christmas and Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas, as well as selections from his 19 other albums.
AT&T Performing Arts Center Broadway Series presents The King and I
Two worlds collide in the Lincoln Center Theater production of The King and I. One of Rodgers & Hammerstein’s finest works, winning either Best Musical or Best Revival of a Musical each time it's been staged on Broadway, it boasts a score that features such beloved classics as “Getting To Know You,” “I Whistle a Happy Tune,” “Hello Young Lovers,” “Shall We Dance” and “Something Wonderful.” The production will run at Winspear Opera House through December 31.
Majestic Theatre presents It's a Wonderful Life
If you've only ever seen the holiday movie classic It's a Wonderful Life on TV during its annual showings on TBS and the like, you owe it to yourself to see it on the big screen. The Majestic Theatre has teamed up with the Texas Theatre to show the film in which Jimmy Stewart learns that he's touched the hearts of more people than he knows.
Friday, December 22
Trans-Siberian Orchestra: The Ghosts of Christmas Eve
Trans-Siberian Orchestra's annual winter tours have become a beloved holiday tradition over the past 20 years. 2017’s tour is a completely updated presentation of TSO’s The Ghosts of Christmas Eve, a rock opera featuring fan-favorites like "Christmas Eve/Sarajevo 12/24," "O Come All Ye Faithful," "Good King Joy," "Christmas Canon," "Music Box Blues," "Promises To Keep," and "This Christmas Day." The concert will play twice on Friday at American Airlines Center.
Lee Greenwood will perform at Moody Performance Hall on December 21.
