There are some weekends in Dallas where you have an obvious theme for events, and some where they're all over the map; this weekend is firmly in the latter category. You can choose from drag queens "werqin' it," a host of celebrity appearances at a pop culture festival, the beginning of a new opera season, two new museum exhibits, several big name concerts, and more.
Below are the best ways to spend your free time Thursday through Monday. Want more options? Lucky for you, we have a much longer list of the city's best events.
Thursday, October 19
Dallas Symphony Orchestra presents Jean-Yves Thibaudet
Like many professional musicians, pianist Jean-Yves Thibaudet showed an early talent for the instrument, entering the prestigious Lyons Conservatory in France at the age of 5. The Dallas Symphony Orchestra will present a concert featuring Thibaudet, with selections including Debussy's "La Mer" and "Gigues & Rondes de Printemps" from Images, Ravel's Piano Concerto for the Left Hand, and Daphnis et Chloé, Suite No. 2. The concert will have four performances through Sunday at the Meyerson Symphony Center.
RuPaul’s Drag Race: Werq The World Tour
The most unforgettable queens from RuPaul's Drag Race will Werq Your World on the official World Tour. Performers will include Alyssa Edwards, Detox, Kim Chi, Latrice Royale, and Violet Chachki, as well as some of the new ladies from season nine: Peppermint, Sasha Velour, Trinity Taylor, and Valentina. The event will take place at the Majestic Theatre.
Friday, October 20
Dallas Fan Days
Dallas Fan Days is a twice annual comics, sci-fi, horror, anime, and gaming event packed with family-friendly activities, celebrity and comic guests, and much more. Celebrity guests for the Fall 2017 edition, taking place at Irving Convention Center at Las Colinas through Sunday, will include David Tennant (Doctor Who), Mara Wilson and Graham McTavish (The Hobbit), Bruce Boxleitner (Babylon 5), Madelaine Petsch (Riverdale), Ruth Connell (Supernatural), Kristian Nairn (Game of Thrones), Jeremy Jordan (Supergirl), and more.
The Dallas Opera presents Samson & Dalila
The Dallas Opera will launch its new season with Camille Saint-Saëns’ passionate and romantic Samson & Dalila. Tenor Clifton Forbis and Russian soprano Olga Borodina, making her Dallas Opera debut, portray the doomed twosome, trapped in a love affair of biblical proportions. The opera will be performed five times through November 5 at Winspear Opera House.
George Lopez in concert
Few comedians have enjoyed the type of success that George Lopez has over the past 20 years or so. He has had not one, but three eponymous sitcoms — George Lopez, Saint George, and the current TV Land show, Lopez. He was also the host of the short-lived talk show Lopez Tonight. Obviously, the man knows funny, which he'll show at this special event at the Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory.
Uptown Players presents The Full Monty
The musical stage version of the hit 1997 British film, The Full Monty follows six down-on-their luck steelworkers who are desperately seeking employment and a paycheck to support their families. As they see women (including their own wives) going gaga over buff male strippers, they learn to move their average bodies in a way that resembles erotic dance. Uptown Players will present the musical at Kalita Humphreys Theater through November 5.
Saturday, October 21
Perot Museum presents "Journey to Space"
This bilingual exhibition (presented in English and Spanish) is a hands-on adventure for all ages that takes guests as close to space as one can get from Earth. At 10,000 square feet, "Journey to Space" features two massive rotating labs that provide a glimpse of what it looks and feels like to be on the International Space Station Destiny module. The exhibit will be on display at Perot Museum through May 6.
Rhett & Link's Tour of Mythicality
There are many people taking advantage of the new digital media landscape, but best friends Rhett & Link are two of the best at it. The comedic duo hosts the most-watched daily show on the Internet, Good Mythical Morning. They also have a narrative series, Rhett & Link's Buddy System; a podcast, Ear Biscuits; and tons of comedic songs, sketches, and viral low-budget local commercials. They'll appear live and in person at the Majestic Theatre.
Sunday, October 22
Dallas Museum of Art presents "Truth: 24 Frames Per Second"
Dallas Museum of Art will open the first major exhibition in the museum’s history dedicated to time-based media. “Truth: 24 Frames Per Second” brings together 24 pioneers of film and video and over six decades of work focused on pressing contemporary themes, such as race relations, political unrest, sexual identity, and the media, to explore the nature of truth and reality in contemporary life. The exhibition will be on display through January 28, 2018.
Little Steven and the Disciples of Soul in concert
For over 40 years, Little Steven (aka Steven Van Zandt) has made his name as a member of Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band, not to mention his acclaimed supporting role in The Sopranos. Those two career-defining stints have overshadowed his solo work, which has included nine albums, including 2017's Soulfire. He'll play with his band, the Disciples of Soul, at the Majestic Theatre.
Marc Anthony in concert
"Despacito" may be the bilingual hit of 2017, but singer Marc Anthony has been breaking down the barrier between English language and Spanish language music for almost 30 years. He's only had a couple of bona fide hits — 1999's "I Need to Know" and 2000's "You Sang to Me" — but his high-profile marriage to Jennifer Lopez and philanthropic work have kept his name in the headlines. He'll bring his Full Circle tour to American Airlines Center.
The Dallas Opera presents Samson & Delila at Winspear Opera House, starting on October 20.
Lamine Yamal #19 of Spain controls the ball during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Quarter Final match between Spain and Belgium at Los Angeles Stadium.Photo by Alex Grimm/Getty Images