There is a lot going on in and around Dallas this weekend, but not one of the events seems to stand out higher than the others. Among the choices are a big golf tournament, four local theater productions, a religious-themed exhibition, a dance festival, a new location for a well-known haunted house, an arts festival, and more.
Below are the best ways to spend your precious free time this weekend. Want more options? Lucky for you, we have a much longer list of the city's best events.
Thursday, October 5
The Ascendant LPGA
The Tribute Golf Links in The Colony will host The Ascendant LPGA, the only official LPGA Tour event in Texas. Fans will gets see some of the best female golfers in the world - including defending champion Charley Hull, past champions Angela Stanford, Cheyenne Knight, and Stacy Lewis, and major champions Celine Boutier, Lydia Ko, and Lexi Thompson - as they compete in one of the tour's final events of the season. The tournament goes on through Sunday.
Cara Mía Theatre presents Your Healing Is Killing Me
The launch of the national touring production of Virginia Grise’s manifesto, Your Healing is Killing Me, urges communities to sharpen their tools for self-defense. Her escape hatches to freedom exist everywhere we are willing to see them - from the treatments and consejos of curanderas, abortion doctors, Marxist artists, and bougie dermatologists. The production will have four performances through Sunday at Latino Cultural Center.
Jen Fulwiler: Maternal Instinct
Jen Fulwiler is a stand-up comic, bestselling author, and mom of six. She was the host of the daily talk radio show The Jen Fulwiler Show on SiriusXM, and has her own podcast, This Is Jen. Her standup comedy special, The Naughty Corner, is out now on Amazon. She'll perform for one night only at Wyly Theatre.
Friday, October 6
The Nazarene – The Way, The Truth, and The Life
In The Nazarene, visitors are transported back 2,000 years to the sights and sounds of ancient Israel, which come alive through portrayals of the most significant events from Jesus’ life. The 30,000-square foot exhibition, with five narrated galleries and 19 scenes, features state-of-the-art technology with 3D set designs, lighting, and panoramic sound that will immerse visitors in scenes from the New Testament. The event takes place in a space attached to LOOK Cinemas in Dallas (not in the theater itself) through January 7, 2024.
NTPA Repertory presents Young Frankenstein
In the hilarious comedy Young Frankenstein, Frederick Frankenstein inherits his family's estate in Transylvania. With the help of a hunchbacked sidekick, Igor, and a leggy lab assistant, Inga, Frederick finds himself in the mad scientist shoes of his ancestors. Eventually, of course, young Frankenstein’s monster escapes and hilarity ensues. The production runs through October 15 at Willow Bend Center of the Arts in Plano.
Dallas Black Dance Theatre presents DanceAfrica
At the 18th annual DanceAfrica festival, guests can immerse themselves in vibrant performances as Dallas Black Dance Theatre pays homage to the past, present, and future of African heritage, and revels in the beauty of shared traditions. The festival takes place on Friday and Saturday at Moody Performance Hall.
AT&T Performing Arts Center presents History That Doesn’t Suck with Professor Greg Jackson
Adapted from the podcast of the same name, Professor Greg Jackson tells the epic tale of The Unlikely Union, weaving defining moments in American history (1754-1865) into a thrilling narrative of the struggle and triumph of a young nation to form, define, and reform itself. Travel back in time through epic storytelling of familiar and unsung real characters from history, and return with real context for today. The event takes place at Wyly Theatre.
Dallas Children's Theater presents Teen Scene Players present… The Secret Life of Girls
Bullying in every form can become the prelude to dangerous behaviors like depression, cutting, and eating disorders. The Secret Life of Girls takes an unflinching look into the world of mean girls and exposes the consequences that bullying creates. Because that girl everyone is spreading rumors about…the one who just can’t seem to fit in…chances are, you know who she is. The production runs through October 15 at Dallas Children's Theater.
Dallas Symphony Orchestra presents "Rachmaninoff Symphony No. 3"
"Symphony No. 3" is unmistakably Rachmaninoff - with soaring melodies, shattering climaxes, and the dark rumblings of his signature Dies irae from the Mass for the Dead. But once the clouds have lifted, the Symphony ends in jubilant, life-affirming exclamations. Also on the program are Barber’s celebratory organ toccata and a new work that honors JFK upon the 60th anniversary of his passing. The concert, featuring narrator Eric Owens, soprano Janice Chandler-Eteme, and organist Bradley Hunter Welch, will have three performances through Sunday at Meyerson Symphony Center.
Theatre Arlington presents American Son
In American Son, an estranged bi-racial couple must confront their feelings about race and bias after their son is detained by the local police following a traffic stop incident. Their disparate histories and backgrounds inform their assumptions as they try to find out what happened to their son. The production runs through October 15 at Theatre Arlington.
Reindeer Manor presents Thrasher Slashers Scarepark
Haunted house Reindeer Manor, which had to move from its old location of 49 years in Red Oak, has found a new home to bring scares for 2023. Alliance Skatepark in Grand Prairie will be transformed into Thrasher Slashers Scarepark for the Halloween season. It will feature three main attractions - Offworld, The House of 4 Suits, and Sunk!, stage shows, games, concessions, photo ops, roaming gangs of monsters, souvenirs, and screams around every corner. It will be open through October 31.
Saturday, October 7
Cottonwood Art Festival
Cottonwood Art Festival is a semi-annual event that features works from the nation's top visual artists. The prestigious art show, which has been a part of Richardson life for over 50 years, features over 240 artists to exhibit their museum-quality work. The artists compete in 14 categories: 2D Mixed Media, 3D Mixed Media, Ceramics, Digital, Drawings/Pastels, Fiber, Glass, Jewelry, Leather, Metalwork, Painting, Photography, Sculpture and Wood. The festival, which also features performances from local bands, takes place on Saturday and Sunday at Cottonwood Park in Richardson.
Jim Brickman Hits Live! And A Little Bit of Christmas
Jim Brickman is a best-selling solo pianist who, since his first album, 1995’s No Words, has sold 8 million albums worldwide. He's collaborated with many stars, including Martina McBride, Donny Osmond, Kenny Rogers, Olivia Newton-John, Johnny Mathis, and Kenny Loggins. He'll perform hits like "Love of My Life," "Valentine," and "Angel Eyes," plus a few holiday favorites like "The Gift," at Wyly Theatre.
The Dallas Opera presents People’s Choice Concert
The Dallas Opera will present their annual People’s Choice Concert, featuring some of the opera’s most famous tunes. Audiences will hear music from Pagliacci, Porgy and Bess, La forza del destino, and more, including a sneak preview of music from Dallas Opera’s upcoming season-opening production, Tosca. The performance takes place at Winspear Opera House.
Coppell Arts Center presents iLuminate
iLuminate has been a household name since they were called "The Best New Act in America" during their run on America’s Got Talent in 2011. iLuminate, a company based on the fusion of technology and dance, features dancers in electrified glow-in-the-dark suits performing dynamic routines and illusions on a darkened stage. They'll put on a one-night-only performance at Coppell Arts Center.
Portugal. The Man in concert
Rock band Portugal. The Man may not be the most unlikely success in music history, but they're up there. The group started in the small town of Wasilla, Alaska in 2002 before moving to Portland, Oregon a couple years later. Although they got enough attention to be able to put out a string of albums, it wasn't until their eighth album in 2017, and more specifically their hit song "Feel It Still," that they crossed over to the mainstream. They'll play on both Saturday and Sunday at Granada Theater in support of their new album, Chris Black Changed My Life.
The Cottonwood Art Festival takes place at Cottonwood Park in Richardson on October 7 and 8.
Skate the Square is an outdoor ice rink in Frisco. Frisco Square Facebook 
Peace Plaza Ice Rink Photo courtesy of Grapevine Convention & Visitors Bureau 
Stockyards Rodeo Rink is moseying into Fort Worth's historic district for the season. Photo courtesy of Shutterstock 
2022 Olympic pairs skater Ashley Cain (show here with former partner Timothy LeDuc) will make a solo appearance at the Hilton Anatole and Galleria Dallas ice rinks. Getty Images 
Galleria Dallas and its very Christmas tree. Photo courtesy of Galleria Dallas