Weekend Event Planner

Rocking concerts — holiday and not — headline the best weekend events in Dallas

The new events happening in and around Dallas this weekend are your typical melange of holiday offerings, from the national tour of a Broadway musical to holiday concerts by some big-name bands. There are also smaller offerings available, including a couple that — gasp! — are not actually related to the holidays.

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, December 10

Evgeny Kissin: An Evening of Jewish Music and Poetry
Seeing as we're smack dab in the middle of Hanukkah, which runs until December 12, there's no better time to showcase the renowned Jewish pianist Evgeny Kissin. Kissin’s musicality, the depth and poetic quality of his interpretations, and his virtuosity have earned him the admiration of audiences around the world. He'll play a special concert of Jewish music and poetry at the Winspear Opera House.

Dallas Summer Musicals presents Elf the Musical
Based on the beloved 2003 movie, Elf the Musical is the hilarious tale of Buddy, an orphan who is raised by elves and unaware that he is actually a human. Through a journey to New York City to find his father and true identity, Buddy is determined to win over his family and help the Big Apple remember the true meaning of Christmas. Dallas Summer Musicals presents the musical at Music Hall at Fair Park through December 20.

Friday, December 11

Dallas Black Dance Theatre presents Black on Black
Black on Black is an intimate, up-close, and personal interaction with the dancers of Dallas Black Dance Theatre and DBDT II, as they take you into their own creative space and choreograph cutting-edge dances for one another. This special event also provides an opportunity for the audience to mingle with the dancers.

The Brian Setzer Orchestra: 12th Annual Christmas Rocks! Tour
With a career spanning more than 30 years, Brian Setzer has smash hits as founder/leader of The Stray Cats, his 18-piece Brian Setzer Orchestra, and as a solo artist. Even though his annual visit moves from Dallas to Allen this year, his concert at Allen Event Center will still be a blast as Setzer delights the crowd with his infectious rockabilly style, tackling his hits and unique versions of holiday classics.

Saturday, December 12

The Polyphonic Spree 13th Annual Holiday Extravaganza
The Polyphonic Spree, Dallas' own choral rock band, moves from the defunct Lakewood Theater to the larger stage of the Majestic Theatre for a family-friendly party. In addition to the great music, the event will feature face painting, balloon animals, and visits from Santa, Mrs. Claus, Rudolph, and more for photo opportunities.

Nasher Sculpture Center presents Soundings: A Thousand Cranes
Inspired by the power of a child’s innocence to transcend human tragedy, Chris Theofanidis’ A Thousand Cranes forms the cornerstone of a program that reflects both the human desire to harness unattainable power and the limitless power of human expression. The East Coast Chamber Orchestra will play at Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing Arts, presenting a world premiere that includes Theofanidis’ Gently Flow My Tears, Jörg Widmann’s Ikarische Klage, and Johann Sebastian Bach’s Chaconne.

The Brian Setzer Orchestra will play a special Christmas concert at Allen Event Center on December 11.

Photo courtesy of AT&T Performing Arts Center

The Brian Setzer Orchestra will play a special Christmas concert at Allen Event Center on December 11.

concerts theater event-planner dance music

Rivers wild

Ethan Hawke narrates new documentary that deep-dives into Texas rivers

Cropped still from Deep in the Heart 2: Texas Rivers

The Rio Grande is one of the stunning subjects of Deep in the Heart 2: Texas Rivers.

One Texas film icon passes the torch to another for a deep dive on Texas' river ecosystems in the upcoming documentary Deep in the Heart 2: Texas Rivers. Matthew McConaughey narrated the original 2022 film, Deep in the Heart: A Texas Wildlife Story. Now Ethan Hawke narrates the follow-up, which will be in theaters September 25.

Deep in the Heart 2 is directed by Ben Masters, a nature-obsessed Texan who was born and raised in Amarillo and has followed wildlife around the state and beyond. Working with his crew at Fin & Fur Films, Masters explores the Rio Grande, the Sabine River, and the Neches River, a press release says, coming across otters, turkeys, alligator snapping turtles, and more.

This underwater shot was taken in San Marcos.Still from Deep in the Heart 2: Texas Rivers

The original Deep in the Heart took a broad view of Texas — both its landscapes and their inhabitants — while the "sequel," as the release calls it, specifically highlights water. Conservation is an important angle, and viewers will get a chance to consider how they could connect with and protect the ecosystems on their screens.

"Most of my favorite memories are on Texas Rivers," said Masters in the release. "I grew up on the Canadian, fell in love on the Brazos, got married on the Guadalupe, found adventure on the Rio Grande, and am raising my kids on the Colorado."

The filmmaker says that spending three years filming his natural subjects gave him "a newfound appreciation" for rivers and how distinct they are from one another.

Amazing cinematography was a hallmark of the original film, and the sequel offers more beautiful shots.Still from Deep in the Heart 2: Texas Rivers

"We spent months filming mountain lions on the Pecos, snapping turtles on the Neches, otters on the Sabine, fatmuckets on the Llano, and whooping cranes in the Guadalupe's Estuary," Masters said. "Editing the majesty of Texas Rivers into 80 minutes was a huge challenge, and I'm just incredibly grateful to work with such a talented team of cinematographers, editors, producers, and musicians."

Hawke, born in Austin and raised in Fort Worth, is known for acting in the Dead Poets Society, Gattaca, the Richard Linklater films Boyhood and Blue Moon, and more. He has taken up causes in environmental advocacy for years and appeared in other ecology-focused films, including the intense fictional First Reformed (2018) and a goofy anti-littering PSA with TxDOT (2023).

Some unexpected guests in the Rio Grande.Still from Deep in the Heart 2: Texas Rivers

The film was made in association with H-E-B, a regular supporter of ecological documentaries and initiatives, and conservation organization Texan by Nature. Other collaborators include producer Josh Winkler, editor Sam Klatt, assistant editor Chet Stefan, and composer Noah Sorota. The musical score is performed by Dallas Chamber Symphony.

animals documentaries ecology ethan hawke film matthew mcconaughey movies nature texas wildlife