If you're in the mood for the holidays, this is the weekend for you, as the vast majority of events are focused on the most wonderful time of the year. They include five events where holiday music takes center stage, another Nutcracker, a comedy event, a special screening of a classic Christmas movie, an event with a filthily cheerful filmmaker, and a visit from a certain red-nosed reindeer.
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, December 12
Classical 101.1 WRR-FM presents Caroling in the Arts District
Classical 101.1 WRR's beloved annual holiday tradition features free noon performances by some of Dallas-Fort Worth's favorite choral groups. The final two performances of Christmas carols at Moody Performance Hall will feature Turtle Creek Chorale on Thursday and the Arts District Chorale on Friday. Both events will also include free cookies, cocoa, and door prizes.
Mainstage Irving-Las Colinas presents Have Yourself a Broadway Little Christmas
Have Yourself A Broadway Little Christmas brings together favorite holiday songs made famous through Broadway shows and movie musicals. The production will feature hits from Irving Berlin’s White Christmas, Mame, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Songs for A New World, Holiday Inn, Broadway’s Elf, and many more. The evening will conclude with a holiday sing-along as well as auction and raffle opportunities. There will be three performances through Saturday at Irving Arts Center.
Friday, December 13
BMW Dallas Marathon Weekend
The biggest race of the year in Dallas will feature events all weekend long. There will be a Health and Fitness Expo on Friday and Saturday, where visitors can collect information and merchandise from running, fitness, and health-related vendors. Races include the Friday Night Lights Mile on Friday; a 10K, 5K, 2-Mile Walk, and multiple races for kids on Saturday; and the marathon on Sunday. All events begin and end in downtown Dallas at Dallas City Hall Plaza.
Dallas Repertoire Ballet presents The Nutcracker
You can never have too many Nutcrackers this time of year, and now it's time for a version from Dallas Repertoire Ballet. The production features Clara and her Nutcracker Prince along with a cast of over 130 talented dancers, featuring students from the Allen-based Academy of Dance Arts. There will be four performances through Sunday at Eisemann Center for the Performing Arts in Richardson.
Turtle Creek Chorale presents 40 Years of Fa La La
The Turtle Creek Chorale will continue their holiday celebration with this concert at Moody Performance Hall. Accompanied by a full orchestra, the 250-member chorale will present beloved holiday pieces ranging from the traditional, like "Do You Hear What I Hear?" and "Gesu Bambino," to new arrangements of "Silent Night" and "Hark the Herald Angels Sing." There will be four performances through Sunday.
TITAS/Dance Unbound: MOMIX
Innovation meets ingenuity meets creativity, and you have the secret to the genius of MOMIX. With their unrestrained ingenuity and fearless athleticism, Viva MOMIX is unfettered creativity. Surreal, surprising and wondrous, there’s nothing like the MOMIX live performance experience. The dance troupe will perform for one night only at Winspear Opera House.
Ricki Derek Christmas Show
Ricki Derek is known as one of the finest crooners in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, earning praise for his ability to channel the vibe of Frank Sinatra and other classic singers. This show, taking place for one night only at Granada Theater, is a tribute to Sinatra and the most wonderful time of the year.
Theatre Three presents Gold, Frankincense, and Credit Card Debt
Co-presented by Bootstraps Comedy Theatre, Gold, Frankincense, and Credit Card Debt: A ChristmasHoliday December Sketch Comedy Show will feature some of Dallas-Fort Worth's funniest comedians roasting Santa’s chestnuts until they’re a delicious golden brown. Topics under the microscope for this show, playing at Theatre Three through December 28, will include holiday parties, marketing speak, Crossfit, the power of holiday music over a person’s sanity, snow in Texas, and more.
Saturday, December 14
An Evening with Chevy Chase & Screening of Christmas Vacation
There are some Christmas movies you can watch with the whole family, and then there's National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, which remains a classic despite its raciness. After a 30th anniversary screening of the film, the celebration will continue with actor Chevy Chase sharing stories from his career and the making of his classic movies and legendary television programs. The event takes place at The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory in Irving.
The Polyphonic Spree's 17th Annual Holiday Extravaganza
The Polyphonic Spree's annual Holiday Extravaganza is an all ages, family-friendly event. In addition to a performance by the Polyphonic Spree, Mrs. Mistletoe will be face painting for the kids, Mr. Evergreen will be doing balloons animals, and Vixen the reindeer will make a stop with Santa's sleigh for photos out front with Mr. & Mrs. Claus. Frosty, Rudolph, and elves will be in attendance. The event will be at Majestic Theatre.
AT&T Performing Arts Center presents #HearHere: Spike Lee
There is no other filmmaker like Spike Lee. He's made a career out of showing truth to power, from his breakout film, Do the Right Thing, all the way up to his most recent film, BlacKkKlansman, which found the writer/director in peak storytelling form and earned him his first competitive Oscar win. He'll talk about his career and more in this event at Winspear Opera House.
A John Waters Christmas: Filthier & Merrier
Like a damaged St. Nick for the Christmas corrupted, legendary filmmaker John Waters will present a bag full of sticks and stones for the devoted and the damned, spreading Yuletide profanity and perverted piety with his critically acclaimed one-man show, A John Waters Christmas: Filthier & Merrier. Taking place at The Kessler, the Pope of Trash will give the audience a Cool Yule like no other.
Sunday, December 15
AT&T Performing Arts Center presents Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Musical
The beloved TV classic Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer soars off the screen and onto the stage this holiday season. It’s an adventure that teaches audiences that what makes them different can be what makes them special. Based on the animated television special, the production will have two performances at Winspear Opera House.
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Musical will have two performances on December 15 at Winspear Opera House.
Polish gingerbread at Gourmet European Market.Photo courtesy of GEM