Weekend Event Planner

These are the 10 best things to do in Dallas this holiday weekend

Just because Christmas has passed doesn't mean that you have to stop celebrating the holidays. This long holiday weekend around Dallas will feature a few more holiday-themed events, including a theater production, a cirque performance, a concert, a hybrid performance, and a bad movie. Other choices include a Broadway-style musical, a concert, an electronic music festival, video game music played by a symphony, and a comedian.

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. Looking for the best Christmas lights still illuminating Dallas? Those lists are here and here.

Thursday, December 26

Broadway Dallas presents Peter Pan
Peter Pan is a high-flying musical brought back to life in a new adaptation by celebrated playwright Larissa FastHorse. The adventure begins when Peter Pan and his mischievous sidekick, Tinker Bell, visit the bedroom of the Darling children late one night. With a sprinkle of fairy dust and a few happy thoughts, the children are taken on a magical journey they will never forget. the production runs through January 5 at the Music Hall at Fair Park.

AT&T Performing Arts Center presents Yippee Ki Yay: The Parody Celebration of Die Hard
When gunmen seize an LA skyscraper, off-duty policeman John McClane is the hostages’ only hope. Yippee Ki Yay is an uplifting action romp (and unauthorized parody) that pays affectionate tribute to the iconic '80s festive fan favorite and is essential viewing for Hans Gruber superfans and newcomers alike. The production runs through Sunday at Wyly Theatre.

Friday, December 27

Cirque Musica Holiday Wonderland
Celebrating its 15th anniversary, Cirque Musica Holiday Wonderland is filled with acrobatics, aerial feats, and musicians and singers, taking audiences on a journey into a world of music, cirque, and wonder. With new costumes, music, and storylines, the all-new show blends the grace and athleticism of circus performers with a musical mix of seasonal favorites. The one-night-only event takes place at Comerica Center in Frisco.

Bob Schneider in concert
Austin-based musician Bob Schneider is a Texas original who's been a part of three different bands, but has experienced his biggest success as a solo singer. Over the past 25 years, he's released 21 albums - most recently The Human Torch in 2023 - a track record that means this concert at Granada Theater won't be short of great material. He'll be joined by special guests J Isaiah Evans & The Boss Tweed.

Saturday, December 28

Trans-Siberian Orchestra in concert
Trans-Siberian Orchestra comes to Dallas as part of their The Lost Christmas Eve tour, the first time they've presented their rock opera since 2013. The Lost Christmas Eve is the final chapter of their Christmas trilogy, which also includes Christmas Eve and Other Stories and The Christmas Attic. There will be two performances on Saturday at American Airlines Center.

Lights All Night
The annual Lights All Night festival is an all-electronic music extravaganza, featuring performances by almost 40 acts. Headliners include Excision, Audien, Friction, Thought Process, Delta Heavy, William Black, Ganja White Knight, Zorza, and more. The festival takes place on Saturday and Sunday at Dallas Market Hall.

Eisemann Center presents Campana Sobre Campana: Christmas in Mexico
Mariachi Garibaldi de Jaime Cuéllar and Ballet Folklorico del Rio Grande will celebrate the holiday season with Campana Sobre Campana: Christmas in Mexico. The show is named after the beloved Andalusian Christmas Carol and brings cherished Mexican traditions to life in a magical celebration of the season. They will journey through the joyous rhythms of "Bells Upon Bells" and the vibrant spectacle of Mexican dance, capturing the heartwarming story of Mary and Joseph's journey. The show will be at Eisemann Center for Performing Arts in Richardson.

AT&T Performing Arts Center presents Sonic Symphony
Sonic Symphony is an immersive live experience that celebrates more than three decades of music from Sega’s iconic mascot. From the classic 8-bit and 16-bit tunes to rock bands and EDM, the concert will take the audience on a musical journey through the colorful world of Sonic the Hedgehog. The event takes place at Winspear Opera House.

Sunday, December 29

The Mocky Horror Picture Show presents Jack Frost
At the Mocky Horror Picture show, comedians Liz Barksdale, Danny Gallagher and Albie Robles make fun of a movie while audiences watch it in the theater. At this event, they'll mock Jack Frost, which stars Michael Keaton as a dad who dies right before Christmas and comes back to life as a snowman. Except this snowman walks and talks like an Eldritch horror created for a Rankin/Bass television Christmas special. Audience members will get a special bag of props to use during the movie, and this time, there will be snowball fight right in the middle of the movie. The screening takes place at Texas Theatre.

Hyena's presents Ralph Barbosa
Ralph Barbosa was named the Funniest Comic in Texas in 2019, was the winner of the New York Latino Film Festival Stand Up Comedy competition in 2021, and recently made his HBO debut on the HA Festival Comedy Special. He also sold out six shows in Dallas for his 2023 Netflix special, Cowabunga. He'll perform four times through Monday at Hyena's Comedy Nightclub.

Photo by Matthew Murphy, MurphyMade

Broadway Dallas presents Peter Pan at the Music Hall at Fair Park through January 5.

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Closure News

Restaurant-music venue Lava Cantina in The Colony to close in January

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Lava Cantina

A major music venue and restaurant in Dallas-Fort Worth is closing: Lava Cantina, which has been open in The Colony since 2017, is closing down for what it says wil be a "thorough renovation" of the space.

According to a statement, the renovation will begin on January 1, following a final week of year-end shows including a blowout on New Year's Eve.

Lava Cantina was from father-and-son Steve and Ian Vaughn, who pooled their passions and experience to create Lava Cantina, a restaurant and music venue they debuted in Baton Rouge, Louisiana in 2013. Steve worked in the music industry for over 40 years, while Ian was previously COO at Raising Cane's who left to focus on opening what he called "his dream restaurant."

The Colony location was a spinoff and the third Lava Cantina at the time. It had a Cajun and Mexican menu, described by Ian as "Creole with a Mexican twist," which incorporated elements from his South Louisiana roots with Mexican and margaritas.

They closed the Baton Rouge location in 2018, but The Colony location prevailed — even surviving a COVID closure, due in no small part to its role as a concert venue: The 28,000-square-foot space with a capacity of 1,800 was a hugely popular musical destination, hosting close to 300 shows a year — everything from local acts like Pat Green, to touring acts like the Bellamy Brothers, to crowd-pleasing cover bands in every genre.

Most shows were free along with your restaurant bill, and if they did charge, they generally kept show admission prices low.

The venture eventually spawned an entertainment company for the Vaughns who booked and promoted tours around the U.S. as well as signing and managing artists.

The venue did not respond to requests for comment but according to their statement, they'll host select private parties and events during th shutdown.

However, an employee in the events department said that they were not accepting any reservations for events. And musicians who'd performed at the venue stated that it had been acquired by Live Nation and would reopen as a live music venue only, with no restaurant attached. Live Nation also did not respond to a request for comment.

A current employee said the staff had received no information about what the new concept would be, but that the projected reopening would be in April.

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