With Valentine's Day falling in the middle of the week this year, many lovebirds will take the opportunity to celebrate early this weekend. Choices for entertainment will include a film festival, two new theater productions, a new opera, a national comedian, two big-name concerts, magic, a country music festival, and an early celebration of another holiday.
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, February 8
DFW South Asian Film Festival
The fourth annual DFW South Asian Film Festival will present one world premiere, six international premieres, two U.S. premieres, nine Texas premieres, and one Dallas premiere — for a total of 19 shorts, documentaries, and feature films through Sunday. Most screenings will take place at AMC Village on the Parkway 9; the opening night reception and screening will be at Highland Park Village Theatre.
Jake Nice presents We’re Gonna Die
As part of AT&T Performing Arts Center's Elevator Project, Jake Nice will present We’re Gonna Die, a cabaret-style musical written by experimental NYC playwright Young Jean Lee that celebrates the unifying nature of human mortality. Equal parts stage musical and rock concert, We’re Gonna Die juxtaposes tales of everyday suffering with uplifting indie pop songs. The production will run at Wyly Theatre through Saturday.
Bishop Arts Theatre Center presents Thurgood
In celebration of Black History Month, Bishop Arts Theatre Center will present Thurgood, the dramatic retelling of the life of Thurgood Marshall, the first African American to be appointed to the Supreme Court. Written by George Stevens Jr. and starring Selmore Haines, the production will run every weekend through February 25.
Improv Addison presents Chris Redd
Chris Redd is an actor, writer, standup, sketch, and improv performer who most recently joined the cast of Saturday Night Live. He's appeared in movies like Pop Star: Never Stop Never Stopping, The House, and Netflix's new film, A Futile and Stupid Gesture. With SNL off for the week, Redd will take a trip to Improv Addison to perform six times through Sunday.
Lana Del Rey in concert with Kali Uchis
Lana Del Rey has been an enigmatic figure on the music scene since her breakout song, "Video Games." Her stage name is a far cry from her real name, Elizabeth Grant, forcing her to fight back against critics who called her inauthentic. But none of that has slowed down her career, which has featured two No. 1 albums, including 2017's Lust For Life. She'll be joined by opening act Kali Uchis for this concert at American Airlines Center.
Friday, February 9
The Dallas Opera presents The Ring of Polykrates
Erich Wolfgang Korngold’s very first opera, The Ring of Polykrates, is a one-act domestic comedy that revolves around a musician whose career is on an upswing, along with his finances. His happiness, he tells his wife, Laura, would be complete if only he could see his long-lost friend Peter Vogel again. The opera will be paired with Korngold's Violin Concerto in D Major, Op. 35., played by revered French violinist Augustin Dumay. The production will play four times through February 17 at Winspear Opera House.
The Illusionists present Adam Trent: The Next Generation of Magic
Broadway/TV star Adam Trent will bring his signature brand of magic and illusion to Verizon Theatre at Grand Prairie in a 90-minute stage spectacle. Produced by the creative team behind the Broadway show, The Illusionists, the show is an immersive entertainment extravaganza of magic, comedy, and music designed to entertain the entire family.
Saturday, February 10
Mardi Gras Texas Style!
Celebrating its 17th year, Mardi Gras Texas Style! is a one-of-a-kind music festival featuring all of the food, fun, and flavor of the best Mardi Gras celebration combined with 20 Texas County music acts on five stages. Performers will include Cody Johnson, Easton Corbin, Mike Ryan, Stoney LaRue, Koe Wetzel, Zane Williams, The Dirty River Boys, Deryl Dodd, and Prophets & Outlaws. The festival will take place in the Automobile Building at Fair Park.
Little Big Town in concert with Kacey Musgraves and Midland
Save for a tiny blip with their ill-conceived 2016 non-country album, Wanderlust, country group Little Big Town has been on an upward trajectory since they debuted in 2002. Each of their past four regular albums, including 2017's The Breaker, has landed in the top 10 on the Billboard 200 charts, thanks to No. 1 hits like "Pontoon," "Girl Crush," and "Better Man." They'll play at Verizon Theatre in Grand Prairie, with support from Kacey Musgraves and Midland.
Sunday, February 11
10th Annual Oak Cliff Mardi Gras Parade
In advance of Mardi Gras on Tuesday, February 13, Oak Cliff will put on its annual Mardi Gras parade on Sunday. The parade route runs west to east down Davis Street and finishes in the Bishop Arts District, promising floats, lots of beads, crazy costumes, and revelry.
Little Big Town will play at Verizon Theatre at Grand Prairie on February 10.
Hannah Bilka is one of two North Texans competing in this year's Games.Photo courtesy of Getty Images
In addition to being a top-notch figure skater, Emily Chan is also trained in Chinese modern dance and ballet.teamusa.com/
Plano's Amber Glenn will have the Dallas-Fort Worth crowd on its feet. Facebook/ISU 
Boone Niederhofer is a former Texas A&M University football player.Photo courtesy of Getty Images