Weekend Event Planner

Porgy and Bess and plenty of Christmas cheer top best weekend events in Dallas

There are two themes to the best events in Dallas-Fort Worth this weekend. One, of course, is the holiday season, as nearly every featured event revolves around celebrating it in one way or another. The other is make-up events, as the ice storm this past weekend forced the postponement of a couple of significant outings.

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 12

Lexus Broadway Series presents The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess
It's not a holiday show, but theater lovers are still getting a gift with the national tour of the Tony Award-winning Porgy and Bess. Set to the timeless music of Ira and George Gershwin, it's an epic romance that features songs like "Summertime," “It Ain’t Necessarily So” and “I Got Plenty of Nothing.” The production plays at Winspear Opera House through December 22.

Our Productions Theatre Company presents Sweater Curse: A Yarn About Love
Arts and media journalist Elaine Liner has been writing about the Dallas theater scene for a long time, and now she's about to become a part of it. Her debut play weaves together her obsessions with knitting, great literature that mentions knitting, old movies in which Bette Davis knits, and the knotty problems of romance. It plays at MCL Grand Theater in Lewisville through Sunday.

Friday, December 13

Klyde Warren Park Ice Skating Rink
The ice brought on by Winter Storm Cleon should be mostly gone by Friday, which means it's the perfect time for Klyde Warren Park to introduce its long-anticipated ice skating rink. It's actually not ice; it's a synthetic surface called Super-Glide that acts like real ice, which means you can skate in both cold and warm weather. The rink is open every day through January 31.

Reliant Lights Your Holidays 2013
Okay, let's try this again. The first attempt at starting a new holiday tradition in the Dallas Arts District was postponed due to the ice storm, but all systems are go for this Friday. Expect lots of family-friendly activities, including a snow park on top of the reflecting pool in Sammons Park, along with lighting of 250,000 LED lights and a fireworks display.

Ricki Derek's A Merry Little Christmas Show 2013
Local crooner Ricki Derek has been paying homage to the classic jazz/big band sound for years, and this show brings back the feeling of the old Bing Crosby Christmas specials. Derek and a few special guests play two shows at the Scat Jazz Lounge on Friday before bringing their act to Dallas on Saturday for two shows at Lakewood Theater.

Saturday, December 14

Perot Museum of Nature and Science First Anniversary Celebration
It's only been a year since the Perot Museum of Nature and Science first opened its doors, but it's become so ingrained in Dallas that it feels like it's been here much longer. The museum hosts a special event in its outdoor plaza featuring music, cake and an encore performance by the dance troupe BANDALOOP, who memorably scaled the building at its opening.

Christmas in the Stockyards 2013
Another event postponed due to weather, the annual Christmas in the Stockyards at the Historic Fort Worth Stockyards celebrates the holidays the cowboy way. Expect a Cowboy Santa, pony rides, chicken roping, petting zoo, caroling, Fort Worth Herd Cow Camp, holiday parade and, of course, a Christmas tree lighting.

The Women's Chorus of Dallas presents Baby It's Hot Outside
The Women's Chorus of Dallas wants to get your mind off of the recent freezing temperatures with the beach-themed Baby It's Hot Outside. Joined by the Les Amis String Quartet at Dallas City Performance Hall, they put a warm spin on holiday classics and other works.

Sunday, December 15

Richardson Theatre Centre presents Mrs. Bob Cratchit's Wild Christmas Binge
Dallas Theater Center is presenting the traditional version of A Christmas Carol, but Richardson Theatre Centre has gone in another direction with this play. In this version, the ghosts spur on Scrooge a little too quickly, as he arrives at the Cratchits' house while Mrs. Cratchit is in a flurry preparing for the holidays. The comedy runs through December 29.

Lone Star Wind Orchestra presents Joyful and Triumphant: A Holiday Concert
Some of the most talented youth musicians the area has to offer are on display at this concert presented by the Lone Star Wind Orchestra. The LSWO Youth Winds and J.J. Pearce High School Wind Ensemble play a variety of music at Dallas City Performance Hall, from holiday favorites to rousing classical pieces.

The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess plays at Winspear Opera House through December 22.

$Alicia Hall Moran as Bess and Nathaniel Stampley as Porgy in the The Gershwins\u2019 Porgy and Bess$

Photo by Michael J. Lutch

The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess plays at Winspear Opera House through December 22.

unspecified

World Cup Fun

Halperin Park hosts free World Cup watch parties for USA & Mexico games

Bandshell and LED screen at Halperin Park

Photo by Kathy Tran

Halperin Park in Dallas will show all U.S. and Mexico World Cup Group stage games on a large LED screen.

Dallas' newest park is joining the lineup of FIFA World Cup watch party sites: Halperin Park will host free public viewing events for six matches featuring the U.S. Men's National Team and Mexico's national team.

Starting with the very first match of the tournament, Mexico vs. South Africa on June 11 at 2 pm, the new bridge park will show the teams' games on their 300-square-foot LED wall, as well as several other large-scale LED screens throughout the park.

Fans will be able to watch the live broadcasts from under the bandshell or the Great Lawn in the park.

Kids playing soccer at Halperin Park in Dallas The Great Lawn at Halperin Park will be a prime viewing spot for the World Cup Watch Parties. Photo by Kathy Tran

The United States opens their World Cup play on June 12 at 8 pm with a game against Paraguay.

The two teams will play on back-to-back days for the remainder of the Group stage:

Mexico vs. South Korea - June 18 at 8 pm
USA vs. Australia - June 19 at 2 pm
Mexico vs. Czechia - June 24 at 8 pm
USA vs. Türkiye - June 25 at 9 pm

Each watch party will feature local DJs and other cultural showcases, an assortment of food trucks, and access to the park’s signature amenities such as the Great Lawn, children’s playground, and interactive water features.

In addition, the park will offer special football-themed versions of its programming all month long, including story time, craft zone, face painting, and more.

"We wanted to create a safe, welcoming and high-energy environment where families can experience the magic of the World Cup right in their own backyard,” said April Allen, President and CEO of Halperin Park and the Southern Gateway Public Green Foundation, in a statement. “Whether you are wearing green, white and red for El Tri or red, white and blue for the USMNT, we are turning Dallas’s newest public green space into an outdoor living room where fans can connect, cheer, and make unforgettable memories.”

A giant soccer ball sculpture at Halperin Park will be a great selfie opportunity during their World Cup Watch Parties. Photo courtesy of Halperin Park

The events will also feature activations from World Cup sponsors and local partners. Highlights include a life-size replica of Adidas' official World Cup match ball, a McDonald's photo bus and children's activities, Michelob ULTRA fan viewing areas, and complimentary sunscreen provided by UT Southwestern Medical Center.

There is no word if the park will continue to host watch parties should either team advance past the Group stage.

Self-parking is available at the Dallas Zoo surface lot and parking garage, with convenient crosswalk access to the park from Ewing Avenue. Fans are encouraged to take DART, which has a stop at the Dallas Zoo, or rideshare services when possible.

Halperin Park opened in spring 2026 as a five-acre deck park spanning Interstate 35E between Ewing and Marsalis avenues near the Dallas Zoo. Built over the highway, the park was designed to reconnect neighborhoods in southern Dallas that were divided when I-35E was constructed in the 1950s.

The watch parties are part of a big slate World Cup festivities planned across North Texas. Arlington's AT&T Stadium, dubbed "Dallas Stadium" for the tournament, will host nine World Cup matches, while a FIFA Fan Fest will take place at Dallas' Fair Park and watch parties will take place in bars, parks, and other venues across Dallas-Fort Worth.

sports parks sports-fitness