Weekend Event Planner

These are the 12 best things to do in Dallas this weekend

With Thanksgiving just around the bend, holiday events are kicking into high gear all around Dallas. Five of the 12 events this week are holiday-themed, with the remaining ones featuring a JFK commemoration, a Texas rapper returning home, a famous comedian returning for the first time in three years, great theater, art, and more.

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, November 15

George W. Bush Presidential Center presents "Deck the Halls and Welcome All: Christmas at the White House 2006"
"Deck the Halls," the annual Christmas exhibit at George W. Bush Presidential Center, will be adorned with re-creations of and decorations from the 2006 White House Christmas celebration, along with behind-the-scenes photos, and a replica of the Blue Room White House Christmas tree. Families can take photos in front of the tree, with Santa Claus in the Oval Office, and take part in fun family Christmas festivities. The exhibit will be on display through January 6.

Chi Omega Christmas Market
The Chi Omega Christmas Market offers a unique, one-of-a-kind shopping experience with more than 190 merchants showcasing gifts for every age including holiday décor, women’s clothing and accessories, home accents, children’s clothing and toys, food items, and more. The market will be open at Fair Park through Sunday.

The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza presents "55 Years"
In remembrance of the 55th anniversary of the death of President John F. Kennedy, The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza is presenting a new temporary exhibit, "55 Years." The exhibit will feature a broad representation of popular magazine covers from the last five decades, a captivating visual timeline of President Kennedy’s image that reflects his lasting imprint on the nation’s consciousness and pays tribute to his life and legacy. The exhibit will remain on display through August 4, 2019.

Travis Scott in concert
Houston native Travis Scott has seen his profile rise sharply in just the past three years. His debut album, Rodeo, came out in 2015, which was quickly followed by two No. 1 albums, including 2018's Astroworld. He's also joined the world of the Kardashians, dating Kylie Jenner, with whom he now has a baby girl. You can be witness to his continued ascension at this concert at American Airlines Center.

Amy Schumer in concert
After Amy Schumer hit it big with 2015's Trainwreck, her stand-up and sketch comedy career slowed way down. Her Comedy Central show, Inside Amy Schumer, has been on an extended hiatus since 2016, and she hasn't toured extensively as a stand-up comedian since 2015. Even this show was only announced a month ago. You can see if she's still got it when she performs at Winspear Opera House.

Cara Mia Theatre presents Tina's Journey
Tina’s Journey (El Viaje de Tina) is about a young girl, her family, and her ancestors who hope to cross the U.S.-Mexico border before the Day of the Dead holidays. Performed in contemporary and Mexican folk masks, the play is a visually stunning and whimsical production that is a joyful and accessible way for young people to learn about the migration of children into the United States. It will run through December 2 at Latino Cultural Center.

Friday, November 16

Community Partners of Dallas presents Gingerbread Stroll
The Gingerbread Stroll is an annual exhibition and silent auction of gingerbread houses created by some of Dallas’ top pastry chefs. On display in Highland Park Village through November 30, it allows attendees to stroll between select retailers to view and bid on beautifully decorated gingerbread houses, with 100 percent of the proceeds benefiting Community Partners of Dallas.

Lyric Stage presents "The Majestic Unplugged"
"The Majestic Unplugged" from Lyric Stage will celebrate the wonderful sound of the renovated hall with an all-acoustic performance of some of the greatest music of the golden years of the theater, from its opening in 1921 to its closing in 1973. The show, running through November 30, will feature songs from Show Boat to The Poseidon Adventure, including “Make Believe,” “My Man,” “The Trolley Song,” and “The Morning After.”

"Politicon Live!"
Politicon, the “Unconventional Political Convention,” comes to town with "Politicon Live!," featuring former White House Communications Director Anthony Scaramucci, Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk, The Young Turks’ Hasan Piker, and host, writer, actress, and comedian Grace Parra. The non-partisan event, taking place at the Music Hall at Fair Park, brings Republicans, Democrats, and people of all political stripes together to banter and spar over topical issues.

Saturday, November 17

Ronald McDonald House of Dallas presents The Trains at NorthPark
The Trains at NorthPark will mark its 20th year at NorthPark Center, and 31st year overall, with more than 750 railcars on a 1,600-foot elaborate configuration of tracks and scenes. The exhibit, which will be on display through January 6, features cityscapes like Dallas, replete with the Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge and Fair Park; New York with Times Square and Grand Central Terminal; Washington, D.C. with The White House; and San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge.

Moscow Ballet presents Great Russian Nutcracker: The Dove of Peace
Moscow Ballet will bring their Great Russian Nutcracker: The Dove of Peace Tour to Dallas. The tour brings the Christmas spirit to life with world-class performers; Russian folk legends Father Christmas and Snow Maiden, backdrops hand-painted by Russian masters; and a Dove of Peace with a 20-foot wingspan. There will three performances through Sunday at McFarlin Auditorium on the SMU campus.

Sunday, November 18

Dallas Museum of Art presents Ida O’Keeffe: "Escaping Georgia’s Shadow" opening day
Ida TenEyck O’Keeffe was recognized as a gifted artist during her life, but her efforts were overshadowed by those of her famous older sister, Georgia. Ida O’Keeffe: "Escaping Georgia’s Shadow" brings to light approximately 50 rediscovered works by Ida O’Keeffe that reveal she crafted an artistic identity that was distinct, in style and subject matter, from that of her celebrated sibling. The exhibit will remain on display through February 24, 2019.

The Trains at NorthPark will be at NorthPark Center, November 17 through January 6.

Photo courtesy of Bank of Texas

The Trains at NorthPark will be at NorthPark Center, November 17 through January 6.

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Movie Review

Shaun the Sheep gets PG-spooky in new movie for the Halloween season

Photo courtesy of Aardman / Sky UK LTD / StudioCanal 2026

Shaun the Sheep in Shaun the Sheep: The Beast of Mossy Bottom.

Since his introduction over 30 years ago, the Aardman Animations character Shaun the Sheep has been almost as popular as the studio’s flagship characters, Wallace and Gromit. There is never a shortage of trouble Shaun can get into as he leads his flock and proves to be a thorn in the side of his farmer and Bitzer, the farmer’s loyal sheepdog.

His antics lead everyone down some slightly spooky roads in the new film, Shaun the Sheep: The Beast of Mossy Bottom. At first, things are only slightly awry as Shaun and the flock are growing a secret pumpkin patch to have their own jack-o-lanterns. But when the farmer accidentally destroys the pumpkin patch, Shaun tries to regrow it quickly with a Frankenstein-esque experiment.

However, disaster looms when Shaun uses an old bottle of Hair-Gro as the container for the serum he creates. Naturally, the balding farmer uses it on his head, and everyone soon discovers how truly successful it is, with pumpkins growing out of control and the farmer sprouting hair all over his body. Through a series of mishaps, the farmer becomes the titular beast, creating mayhem while Shaun and others try to stop him.

Directed by Steve Cox and Matthew Walker, and written by Mark Burton and Giles Pilbrow, the film goes down just as easy as every other Aardman project has. They get the Halloween vibes started from the opening credits, with things like the sheep doing the “Thriller” dance, and continue the fun throughout, referencing everything from Psycho to Friday the 13th in a nice, PG way.

With no script — every character is mute save for reaction noises — the movie relies on sight gags for its humor, and the Aardman team is endlessly inventive in that respect. Sometimes it’s small things like a sheep using toilet paper rolls as binoculars, and sometimes it’s something like forcing the Bigfoot-like farmer to be shaped into a rectangle as he escapes through a window. But there’s a never-ending stream of such moments, so even if one doesn’t tickle your funny bone, chances are the next one will.

The biggest benefit of the characters not talking is that there’s no need for deep character development. The filmmakers do a great job of giving the basic traits of each character, and then use those attributes to color everyone’s actions for the rest of the film. Shaun is the troublemaker, the farmer is a bumbling fool, Bitzer is preternaturally smart, and the town’s vet is empathetic, and the combination of those characters and others makes for a highly entertaining blend.

Like all Aardman creations, Shaun the Sheep: The Beast of Mossy Bottom is a fun lark that doesn’t make its audience think too hard. With just enough references to keep viewers engaged but not so many as to be overbearing, the film puts its well-worn characters to good use once again, delivering a Halloween season story that can be enjoyed by people of all ages.

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Shaun the Sheep: The Beast of Mossy Bottom is now playing in theaters.

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