Weekend Event Planner

These are the 10 best things to do in Dallas this weekend

There's one obvious choice when it comes to events this weekend, and that is the State Fair of Texas. The annual three-week event dominates the scene every year, but that doesn't mean there's nothing else to do. Among other things, you can watch champion gymnasts in action, see one of the stars of The Daily Show, or view some great art in the great outdoors.

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 29

Coaches vs. Cancer: Texas Tip-Off
The American Cancer Society’s inaugural Coaches vs. Cancer Texas Tip-off, taking place at House of Blues Dallas, features Texas sports personalities and Division I men’s basketball coaches from around the state as they come together to join the fight against cancer at a cocktail reception/pep rally. Participating coaches include Baylor's Scott Drew, Texas A&M's Billy Kennedy, UNT's Tony Benford, SMU's Tim Jankovich, TCU's Jamie Dixon, and Texas' Shaka Smart.

2016 Kellogg's Tour of Gymnastics Champions
It was a blast watching the U.S. women's gymnastics team dominate at the 2016 Olympics, and now is your chance to see them in person at American Airlines Center. Among the gymnasts performing are 2016 Olympic all-around champion Simone Biles, 2012 Olympic all-around champion Gabby Douglas, 2012 Olympic floor exercise champion Aly Raisman, 2008 Olympic all-around champion Nastia Liukin, and 2012 Olympic team gold-medalist Jordyn Wieber.

Friday, September 30

2016 State Fair of Texas
The day has finally arrived — the State Fair of Texas is back in town. It's time once again to check out kitschy exhibits, see free concerts, play midway games, jump on a bunch of fun rides, and, of course, gorge yourself with food you'll only find at the fair. Among the new options this year are fried Jell-O, Dr Pepper Chocolate Chip Ice Cream, Pecan Pie Poppers, and more. The State Fair is at Fair Park through October 23.

State Fair of Texas presents "Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel - The Exhibition"
This unique exhibition re-creates one of the world’s greatest artistic achievements, Michelangelo’s renowned ceiling frescoes from the Vatican’s Sistine Chapel, reproduced photographically and artfully displayed in their original size. The exhibition is open every day during the State Fair of Texas in the Women’s Museum building.

Hasan Minhaj in concert
Anyone who didn't give up on The Daily Show when Jon Stewart left has been watching the hilarity that correspondent Hasan Minhaj brings to the program on a consistent basis. Minhaj comes to Texas Theatre to perform his one-man show, Homecoming King, based on true events from Minhaj’s first-generation Indian-American experience.

Saturday, October 1

One Day University presents The American Presidency: Past, Present, Future
The presidential race of 2016 has been unlike any other in our nation's history. In a period where issues are overshadowed by personalities, understanding the importance of democracy and the power of your vote is more important than ever. This One Day University event at the Omni Dallas Hotel explores the foundation, legacy, and current state of the presidency.

2016 Cottonwood Art Festival
Twice a year, Cottonwood Park in Richardson comes alive with art, music, and more. The fall edition of Cottonwood Art Festival is a juried art show featuring 240 artists exhibiting museum-quality work. The festival, taking place on Saturday and Sunday, also features top local bands, children's events, food and drink, and much more.

2016 Lake Highlands Oktoberfest
Lake Highlands Oktoberfest is family-friendly event featuring good food, good beer, and good times. This year's event, taking place at Flag Pole Hill Park, features restaurant row, a kids entertainment section, and music from Bowling for Soup, Rhymin' N' Stealin', The O's, and Calhoun.

Sunday, October 2

Encore Park presents Warner Brothers Does Dallas Film Series, Part 3
For the last three weeks, venues around Dallas have been hosting screenings of films distributed by Warner Bros. in the 1930s, '40s, and '50s to honor the company's history in Dallas. The third and final screening, Captain Blood starring Errol Flynn, takes place at Encore Park, which sits next to the old Warner Bros. building in downtown Dallas.

Monday, October 3

CultureMap Social: Top Texans Under 30 Edition
True, this isn't the weekend, but any time we throw one of our patented socials, it's bound to be a good time. This one celebrates our recent list of the Top Texans Under 30, especially the five Dallasites included on the inaugural list of the twentysomething trailblazers. You can eat, drink, and rub elbows with a couple hundred hot young professionals at Fearing's. Also expect our usual party tricks and swag bags.

The State Fair of Texas is open daily at Fair Park September 30-October 23.

Photo by Jason Hays

The State Fair of Texas is open daily at Fair Park September 30-October 23.

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Movie Review

The Magic Faraway Tree is a whimsical family lark that fails to take root

Photo courtesy of Vertical Entertainment

Andrew Garfield, Delilah Bennett-Cardy, Claire Foy, Phoenix Laroche, and Billie Gadson in The Magic Faraway Tree.

With kids and families always on the hunt for entertainment, it’s typically a safe bet for a movie studio to offer up something new, even if it is a film based on an old property. The Magic Faraway Tree, based on a series of books that started in the 1930s, is a very old property, one that its filmmakers have tried to liven up with a few stars, a lot of whimsy, and a boatload of CGI.

The Thompson family, led by stay-at-home dad Tim (Andrew Garfield) and breadwinner mom Polly (Claire Foy), are forced to move to a rundown country home when Polly gets laid off. The kids - Joe (Phoenix Laroche), Fran (Billie Gadson), and Beth (Delilah Bennett-Cardy) - are used to the perks of city life like wifi and electricity, and each of them rebels in their own way to their new lot in life.

Fran, enticed by a fairy named Silky (Nicola Coughlan), is the first to venture out of the house, making her way to a magic tree that transports her to a world full of strange characters like Moonface (Nonso Anozie), Saucepan Man (Dustin Demri-Burns), Dame Washalot (Jessica Gunning), and more. Her adventures there not only broaden the world she thought she knew, but may be the key to helping her ailing family.

Directed by Ben Gregor and written by Simon Farnaby (Paddington 2, Wonka), the film is a pleasant enough lark, but it fails to fully capture the imagination. The five-member family has a lot going on, from an initially-mute Fran to a domestic situation that raises more questions than it answers. The film tries to incorporate an anti-technology message through Tim’s hatred of a smart refrigerator (voiced by Judi Dench!) and the kids' addictions to devices, but it’s quickly shed in favor of other options.

Once Fran makes it to the Magic Faraway Tree, there’s a nice shift in the storytelling, but it’s unclear what the ultimate goal is. It’s a good idea to have Fran, the youngest of the children, convince her older, more cynical siblings about the virtues of the magic world, but the conflict in the real world doesn’t seem to rise to the level needed for the escape the tree provides.

There also seems to be a missing link in the storytelling for viewers to understand the importance of the fantastical characters. The visuals of seeing Moonface and his crescent moon-shaped hair, a man with a suit full of banging pots, and more are fun for a while, but not enough to carry the whole film. A last-minute revelation feels like it was something that should have been disclosed much earlier to help strengthen the emotions of the story.

A two-time Oscar nominee, Garfield is making his first foray into family movies (if you don’t count playing Spider-Man), and while he does a good job, he doesn’t make the best fit for the semi-goofy role. The same goes for the Emmy-winning Foy, who isn’t given much of anything to do. The movie puts the story on the shoulders of the three child actors, and while each of them acquit themselves well, none of them are so outstanding as to be noteworthy.

With nearly 90-year-old source material, The Magic Faraway Tree needed to be something truly special to stand out in the 21st century movie world. Unfortunately, it features a mostly forgettable story that features some fun visuals, a couple of cute kids, and not much else.

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The Magic Faraway Tree is now playing in theaters.

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