With Christmas now past, the focus for new events shifts back to the usual broad array of choices. To be sure, there are still tons of holiday-related choices to choose from, including a big one coming up on Monday, but your neighborhood Scrooge can now get back to business as usual.
Below are your best options for your precious free time Thursday through Monday. Don't like what you see? Lucky for you, we have a much longer list of the city's best events.
Thursday, December 26
Forgotten Space in concert with A Live One
Forgotten Space, a local Grateful Dead tribute band, and A Live One, a Phish tribute band, are frequent collaborators, having performed together twice already at Granada Theater in 2013. The third time is a charm for fans of eccentric rock music, giving them a nice post-Christmas present.
Friday, December 27
2013 Lights All Night featuring Deadmau5 and DJ Kaskade
Last year, Lights All Night was a three-day blowout at Fair Park that helped bring in the New Year, giving revelers some of the best that electronica/dance music has to offer. The latter part of that statement is still the same, with performers like Deadmau5 and Krewella on hand, but the event has changed dates and locations, taking place Friday and Saturday at Dallas Convention Center.
Bob Schneider in concert with The Travoltas and Lex Land
A concert by Bob Schneider, who's a regular at the Granada, is always an event, as he's at ease doing everything from laid-back acoustic numbers to raunchy rock songs. In this concert sponsored CultureMap Dallas, he's sure to bring in a few holiday-related twists, with a little help from opening acts The Travoltas and Lex Land.
Saturday, December 28
Dallas Children's Theater presents Lone Star Circus' Charivari
Dallas Children's Theater normally presents a variety of theater productions aimed at kids, but they take a break from that for a couple of weekends by hosting Lone Star Circus' Charivari, an extravaganza of acrobats, aerialists, hand balancers, jugglers, clowns and dogs performing together. The show stays at Dallas Children's Theater through January 5.
KERA presents Downton Abbey season 4 premiere sneak preview
The idea that a period drama about British nobility and their servants could become one of the most popular shows in the United States was probably laughable a few years ago, but Downton Abbey has proved the skeptics wrong. Dallas-area fans get a jump on the new season, which premieres January 5, 2014, with this sneak preview of the first hour of the two-hour season premiere at Winspear Opera House.
Sunday, December 29
Pegasus Theatre presents Rehearsal for Murder!
If you've never had the chance to catch one of Pegasus Theatre's famous black-and-white productions, there's no time like the present, as they kick off the 29th season with another Harry Hunsacker adventure at Eisemann Center for the Performing Arts in Richardson. Be amazed at how live actors and sets can be transformed into something that looks like a 1920s-era movie, playing through January 26.
A Hard Night's Day in concert with Danny DeLaMatyr
Some Beatles tribute bands go all in with period-appropriate hair and costumes, but A Hard Night's Day tends to be more straightforward, playing the best of the Fab Four's catalog with no extra frills. The popular group once again plays at the Granada, this time with Danny DeLaMatyr as the opening act.
Monday, December 30
Trans-Siberian Orchestra in concert
Yes, Trans-Siberian Orchestra is traditionally something that should be experienced leading up to Christmas, but just because it's coming to American Airlines Center a few days after the holiday doesn't mean the show will be any less entertaining. The group presents two encore performances of the rock opera "The Lost Christmas Eve," featuring music that spans multiple genres, including rock, classical, folk, Broadway and R&B.
Get a sneak peek of the Downton Abbey season 4 premiere at Winspear Opera House on December 28.
Vila Brazil is beefing up its DFW locations. Photo courtesy of Vila Brazil 