Weekend Event Planner

These are the 13 best things to do in Dallas this weekend

It's The Nutcracker week around Dallas, as there will no fewer than five different versions of the classic Christmas ballet on stages in the area. You can also see a former Fleetwood Mac member gone solo, an "orchestra" known for their rockin' Christmas light show, a great comedian, and more.

Below are the best ways to spend your precious free time this weekend.

Thursday, December 9

Avant Chamber Ballet presents The Nutcracker
Avant Chamber Ballet will close their 2021 season with Paul Mejia’s lush production of The Nutcracker. This is Avant Chamber Ballet’s second time to present this professional production, with live orchestra conducted by Brad Cawyer, the professional dancers of Avant Chamber Ballet, and a large children’s cast. There will be four performances through Sunday at Moody Performance Hall.

Lindsey Buckingham in concert
For over 40 years, Lindsey Buckingham has had a love/hate relationship with the band that made him famous, Fleetwood Mac. He pursued solo projects in the early '80s before going his own way in 1987, only to return in 1993. He put out more solo projects in the early 2000s, but always returned to the band until his unceremonious firing in 2018. Now he's back with a self-titled solo album, in support of which he'll play at Majestic Theatre.

Friday, December 10

Dallas Ballet Company presents The Nutcracker
Dallas Ballet Company will present their 35th annual performance of The Nutcracker. Complete with elaborate sets and scenery, the journey begins with the dream of a young girl, Clara, and her Nutcracker Prince. Through the battle scene of scurrying young mice and soldiers, the victorious Nutcracker Prince takes Clara through the Snow Kingdom and Land of Sweets where they are greeted by the Sugar Plum Fairy and tasty treats from around the world. The production will run through Sunday at Granville Arts Center in Garland. All performances will also be livestreamed.

Dallas Repertoire Ballet presents The Nutcracker
Dallas Repertoire Ballet presents their 29th annual production of The Nutcracker. It tells the classic story of Clara, along with her precious toy nutcracker, as they journey through a magical and wondrous dream world, filled with brave battling soldiers, wistful snowflakes, and candy-like delights. Audiences can also visit the “Nutcracker Nook” gift shop and place a bid in the silent auction. The production will run through Sunday at Eisemann Center for the Performing Arts in Richardson.

Uptown Players presents Oy Vey in a Manger
In Oy Vey in a Manger, Angel, Winnie, Trixie, and Trampolina try to sell off their manger — yes, that manger — before it's foreclosed upon. Crises arise, secrets are revealed, Jewish-Gentile tensions surface, and mayhem ensues – all in glorious four-part harmony. Uptown Players' production, running through Sunday at Kalita Humphreys Theater, boasts The Kinsey Sicks' reinterpretations of holiday classics, such as "God Bless Ye Femmy Lesbians," "Anchor Baby," and "Lusty the Snowman."

Michael Martin Murphey's Cowboy Christmas
Michael Martin Murphey's music career has spanned four decades and has included such musical genres as folk, country, rock, Western, and cowboy music. As a singer, songwriter, and producer, he has contributed some of the most beloved songs of his generation and beyond. "Triple M" returns with his annual Christmas event, a combination of poetry and music and stories at Texas Trust CU Theatre at Grand Prairie.

Saturday, December 11

Dallas Black Dance Theatre presents Espresso Nutcracker
The holiday tradition of sharing magical moments is authentically captured, bringing together the beauty of different cultures and showcasing them in Espresso Nutcracker. Dallas Black Dance Academy students take this classic story to another level by “jazzing” up select scenes set to Duke Ellington’s Nutcracker Suite. The students will whisk the audience away as they take them through a wondrous journey to the Land of Snow and Sweets. The production takes place at Majestic Theatre.

Contemporary Ballet Dallas presents Clara's Dream & Holiday Review
Contemporary Ballet Dallas’ holiday production includes two acts: Clara’s Dream, the best parts of The Nutcracker, and Holiday Review, including performances in tap, jazz, hip hop, and contemporary to holiday songs. Clara’s Dream includes CBD’s Youth Ballet Company, guests & CBD students, and the Holiday Review includes CBD’s Youth Hip Hop Company, Youth Tap Ensemble Company, Youth Ballet, guests, and CBD students. There will be one performance Saturday and one Sunday at Eisemann Center for the Performing Arts.

Maze featuring Frankie Beverly in concert
Maze featuring Frankie Beverly has established a trust fund with music lovers worldwide. Fans know when they attend a Maze concert they will be treated to an evening of honest, raw soul music. And that’s how it has been for more than 40 years. Nothing has changed. The band has stayed in its lane, continuing to do its thing, bringing quality music from the heart night after night. They'll play on both Saturday and Sunday at Texas Trust CU Theatre at Grand Prairie.

Trans-Siberian Orchestra in concert
Trans-Siberian Orchestra will celebrate the 25th anniversary of their debut album, Christmas Eve and Other Stories. Released in 1996, the album was the beginning of their "Christmas Trilogy" that would go on to include The Christmas Attic and The Lost Christmas Eve. Featuring songs like "O Come All Ye Faithful/O Holy Night" and "Christmas Eve/Sarajevo 12/24," the concert will have two performances on Saturday at American Airlines Center.

Chelsea Handler: Vaccinated and Horny Tour
Chelsea Handler is a comedian, actress, and TV host who's arguably best known for her late-night talk show on E!, Chelsea Lately. Never one to shy away from controversy, she's built her comedic reputation on a willingness to do and say things that her peers might not. Her latest comedy special is 2020's Chelsea Handler: Evolution on HBO Max. She'll perform at The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory in Irving.

Sunday, December 12

Home Free in concert
Successful a cappella groups are few and far between, but Home Free has managed to set themselves apart. Originally formed in 2001, the group first gained national notice after winning the fourth season of NBC's The Sing-Off in 2013, earning them a contract with Sony. They've gone on to release eight albums, including the recently released Home of the Free. They'll perform at Majestic Theatre.

Bruce Robison & Kelly Willis' Holiday Shindig
Married couple Bruce Robison and Kelly Willis will bring some yuletide cheer with this special concert at the Lewisville Grand Theater. Robison and Willis are each renowned for crafting some of the most enduring music on the vast country and Americana landscape, and they will sing their way through their greatest hits as well as holiday classics.

Trans-Siberian Orchestra will perform twice on December 11 at American Airlines Center.

Photo courtesy of Trans-Siberian Orchestra

Trans-Siberian Orchestra will perform twice on December 11 at American Airlines Center.

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World Cup record

Lionel Messi sets World Cup scoring record as Argentina wins in Dallas

Photo by Charlotte Wilson/Getty Images

Lionel Messi #10 of Argentina celebrates after scoring his team's first goal during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group J match between Argentina and Austria at Dallas Stadium on June 22, 2026 in Arlington.

Scoring goals and breaking records is what Lionel Messi does, and it’s what he did again Monday, June 22 at the FIFA World Cup at Dallas Stadium in Arlington.

The Argentina captain, who many consider the greatest player of all time, scored two more World Cup goals on Monday in his team's 2-0 victory over Austria. That gave him a record total of 18 at the world's biggest tournament.

The Argentina-Austria group stage match at Dallas Stadium drew 70,649 spectators - an official sell-out crowd and the highest attendance yet for a World Cup match at the venue, officials said.

“Beyond anything I’m so happy for the win," Messi said. "It was huge, tough and difficult. It would allow us to be relaxed to what’s ahead. All matches in this World Cup are very even, very intense. I’m enjoying this moment and craving to enjoy with my teammates.”

The first goal against Austria came in the 38th minute and two days before Messi’s 39th birthday, and amid the concern of an ailing father back at home. It was the sixth consecutive World Cup game in which Messi has scored — joining France striker Just Fontaine and Brazil great Jairzinho as only players to do so.

Messi had equaled Germany striker Miroslav Klose for the most goals in the World Cup at 16 with his first hat trick at the tournament in Argentina’s 3-0 win over Algeria in the Group J opener last Tuesday night in Kansas City.

He first had a chance to set the record in the ninth minute against Austria on Monday, but he missed a penalty kick.

“There were moments when I was really angry about missing the penalty, but I was able to make up for it,” said Messi, who has won a record eight Ballon d'Or awards as the best player in Europe.

Argentina advanced to the knockout round by winning its first two group games, with Messi scoring all five of the team's goals so far in his sixth World Cup.

Messi added his 18th World Cup goal in stoppage time when he shot one through several defenders after the first attempt was turned away by goalkeeper Alexander Schlager.

Lionel Messi World Cup 2022 Lionel "Leo" Messi and Argentina came into the 2026 World Cup as defending champions. Leo Messi/Facebook

In the first half, the record became Messi's alone when he caught Schlager leaning the wrong way after Thiago Almada let Facuno Medina’s pass go by him and directly onto the Argentina captain’s left foot from about 20 yards.

As the ball went into the net, Messi ran toward a corner and thrust his right arm into the air to celebrate the mark with the decidedly pro-Argentina crowd among the 70,649 fans in Dallas Stadium (AT&T Stadium) in Arlington, the sold-out home of the NFL's Dallas Cowboys.

There had been a gasp from those same fans when Messi missed the penalty kick in the ninth minute.

His left-footed attempt went just wide of the right post. He is now 4 of 7 on penalty kicks in regulation play at the World Cup with misses in three consecutive tournaments.

Klose scored his 16 goals while playing in 24 World Cup matches for Germany, which wrapped up his fourth tournament by winning the 2014 final 1-0 in extra time over Messi and Argentina.

In an interview published on June 12, Klose said he expected Messi to break the scoring record.

“I expect my record to fall in this tournament,” Klose told German newspaper Sueddeutsche Zeitung. “With the larger field of competing teams there are more games and so more chances to score goals. And I assume Argentina and France will go far. That’s perfectly OK, the record will be broken eventually anyhow and Messi is welcome to be the one who does it. I’m a big fan of Messi, always have been. Messi is a genius.”

Messi’s hat trick in the previous game, in his 200th international appearance, came 20 years to the date of his World Cup debut in Germany, when he also scored. Monday was his FIFA-record 28th match in the tournament.

The penalty kick came after Lautaro Martinez was running free in the box and was tackled from behind by Xaver Schlager and Stefan Posch, the defender playing with a broken jaw. Schalger got a foot on the ball, but Posch drew the penalty because he did not touch the ball as Martinez tumbled to the ground.

Play continued for more than a minute with Martinez still on the ground near the goal. When the game was stopped for him, officials reviewed the play.

Messi’s father has been undergoing medical treatment for an undisclosed illness, the family said in a statement last week while not providing any specifics. The 68-year-old Jorge Messi has played a key role in his third son’s soccer career, acting as his agent and managing his business affairs off the field.

Lionel Messi was overcome with emotion after scoring his first goal against Algeria, and said after that match his tears came following some tough days not related to soccer.

"Messi Mania" took over Dallas-Fort Worth for days surrounding the match, with passionate Argentina fans filling the Arlington Entertainment District, Fort Worth's Sundance Square, Dallas' Klyde Warren Park, and FIFA Fan Festival at Fair Park in Dallas.

The Argentina-Austria game was the third of nine FIFA World Cup matches (more than in any other host city) to be played at AT&T Stadium in Arlington. They started with Netherlands vs. Japan on June 14, followed by England vs. Croatia on June 17, Argentina vs. Austria on June 22, Japan vs. Sweden on June 25, and Jordan vs. Argentina on June 27.

The stadium will also host two Round of 32 matches (June 30 and July 3), one Round of 16 match (July 6), and one Semi-Final match (July 14).

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