Weekend Event Planner

These are the 16 best things to do in Dallas this weekend

You might think you're seeing double on this weekend's list of events in and around Dallas, as there are two separate events for both Harry Potter and Dracula, just in time for Halloween. Other choices include a quartet of throwback concerts, two big-name comedians, an autumn festival, a big country star, a B-movie festival, and more.

Of course the biggest event in DFW will be the Texas Rangers taking on the Arizona Diamondbacks in the World Series at Globe Life Field. Didn't get World Series tickets? No worries.

Below are more 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 26

Eisemann Center for the Performing Arts presents The Manhattan Transfer
The Grammy Award-winning vocal group The Manhattan Transfer comes to Richardson as part of its final tour. As they celebrate their 50th anniversary, the group looks back on a career that has spanned genres from pop to jazz to rock and roll and more. Trist Curless, Alan Paul, Janis Siegel, and Cheryl Bentyne will be joined by guests The DIVA Jazz Orchestra at Eisemann Center for Performing Arts in Richardson.

Lyric Stage presents Little Shop of Horrors
Lyric Stage gets spooky for Halloween with their production of Little Shop Of Horrors, a delectable sci-fi horror musical. Seymour is a meek and dejected assistant at a floral shop who happens upon a strange plant. Little does Seymour know that this strange and unusual plant will develop a soulful R&B voice, a potty mouth, and an unquenchable thirst for human blood. The production runs through Sunday at Majestic Theatre.

Dane Cook: The Perfectly Shattered Tour
Dane Cook, a comedy trailblazer and actor known for his stand-up comedy specials and observational humor, comes to Dallas on his Perfectly Shattered Tour. Combining energetic physical comedy, clever wordplay, and trenchant observations about human behavior, Cook's unique brand of stand-up and accessible guy-next-door attitude have galvanized audiences of all ages. He'll perform at Texas Trust CU Theatre.

Friday, October 27

Ennis presents 21st Annual Autumn Daze
Autumn Daze in Ennis is back for its 21st year with more than 15,000 pumpkins. With the theme of "Season of Harvest," it will feature a giant pumpkin house, corn husk tepees, a corn display, pumpkin walk, and professional carvers. The star of the festival is the Giant Hay Maze and Pumpkin Patch. Along with the main attractions, kids will enjoy pumpkin painting, carnival rides, climbing on the life-size tractor made from haybales, a gigantic harvest moon, and the huge corn pit. The festival takes place in downtown Ennis through Sunday.

Chris Stapleton in concert
When country star Chris Stapleton comes to town, it's always a big deal in the literal and metaphorical sense. In 2021, he brought his All-American Roadshow to Globe Life Field in Arlington. He sized down the next year to Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, but it was his only stop in Texas that year. And now he's returned to play back-to-back nights at Dos Equis Pavilion right before the release of his fifth album, Higher. He'll be joined by Charley Crockett and Nikki Lane.

Avant Chamber Ballet presents Dracula
The first of two Dracula ballets this week is this world premiere production from Avant Chamber Ballet. It features a dramatic score created by Philip Glass to accompany the 1931 horror film classic, and tells the suspenseful and gripping story reimagined to reflect modern times. The production, recommended for audiences 10 years and older, will have three performances through Saturday at Moody Performance Hall.

AT&T Performing Arts Center presents Johnny Cash - The Official Concert Experience
In this multi-media celebration, Johnny Cash’s rich, iconic baritone has been lifted from archival concert footage and recordings, enabling the "Man in Black" to perform his biggest hits, including "I Walk the Line" and "Ring of Fire," with a live band again. In addition to never-before-seen footage and on-screen narration by Cash’s only son, John Carter Cash, male and female vocalists will split singing duties to perform even more Cash hits, as well as tunes by artists of the time, including The Statler Brothers, Carl Perkins, and June Carter Cash. The concert takes place at Strauss Square.

Dallas Symphony Orchestra presents Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban in Concert
Audiences can relive the magic of their favorite wizard in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban in Concert. The thrilling tale, accompanied by the music of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, follows Harry from when he uses the Marauder’s Map to when the Patronus Charm bursts from his wand. There will be three performances through Sunday at Meyerson Symphony Center.

The Temptations and The Four Tops in concert
Motown legends The Temptations and The Four Tops will bring an electric evening of elegant harmonies and smooth-stepping moves to Grand Prairie. For more than 50 years, both The Temptations and The Four Tops have prospered, propelling popular music with a series of smash hits and sold-out performances throughout the world. They'll perform at Texas Trust CU Theatre.

Saturday, October 28

Harry Potter: A Forbidden Forest Experience
It's a very Harry weekend, as The Forbidden Forest Experience opens up in Little Elm. Inspired by the iconic Forbidden Forest and featuring creatures from the Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts series, visitors will see lights morph the landscape into a magical outdoor trail. Visitors will be able to discover some of their favorite moments from the Forbidden Forest, encounter mystical creatures such as Hippogriffs, unicorns, and Nifﬂers, and practice casting their very own spells. The event takes place daily at Little Elm Park through January 13, 2024.

It Came from Texas Film Festival
The It Came from Texas Film Festival will feature B-movies that were shown at drive-in movie theaters around the country in the 1950s, '60s, and '70s — quirky, campy films made in Texas that fit the horror/sci-fi genre. Highlights include 1974's The Texas Chain Saw Massacre and The Mocky Horror Picture Show making fun of Ray Kellogg's 1959 cheesy horror classic, The Giant Gila Monster. The festival takes place on Saturday and Sunday at Plaza Theater in Garland.

Samantha Bee: Your Favorite Woman
Samantha Bee has established herself as having one of the most unique and sharp comedic voices on television. After 12 years as the longest-serving regular Daily Show correspondent of all time, she got her own weekly late-night comedy series, Full Frontal with Samantha Bee, which ran for seven seasons on TBS. Bee is the author of the essay collection I Know I Am, But What Are You? and she and her husband Jason Jones also co-created the half-hour comedy series, The Detour. She'll perform at Texas Theatre.

Raphael Saadiq and Tony! Toni! Toné in concert
The standing joke with the '80s/'90s R&B band Tony! Toni! Toné! is that none of them are actually named Tony (or Toni or Toné). Raphael Saadiq, his brother D'Wayne Wiggins, and Timothy Christian Riley will perform as a group for the first time in nearly 25 years. The Tonys' set will feature hits like "Feels Good," "Anniversary," and "It Never Rains (In Southern California)," brand-new material, and Saadiq performing his solo songs. They'll perform at the Music Hall at Fair Park.

Ochre House Theater presents Kaput
Kaput is a seafaring comedy featuring the adventures of Captain Chuck, a Nazi hunter, Tappy, his ever-faithful Tugboat, Tulip, the French revolutionary in search of justice for her little brother Poppy, who wants to be a girl. These three Misfits set out together, seeking safe harbor in a cruel, fascistic world, on the world’s most mysterious and dangerous island called Kaput. The production runs through November 18 at Ochre Houe Theater.

Sunday, October 29

Ballet Ensemble of Texas presents Dracula
Ballet Ensemble of Texas' version of Dracula features unique twists to the traditional story. Patrons may also participate in The Vein Drain, Drinks with Dracula prior to the performance, and a Fiendish Frock Fashion Fantasy, a costume parade for the audience at the performance. The one-night-only performance takes place at Irving Arts Center.

Luis Miguel in concert
Mexican singer Luis Miguel has been one of the top-selling Latin artists for decades, dating back to his 1982 debut album, El Sol, released when he was just 11 years old. Now a fully mature 53-year-old, Miguel has gone on to release 21 albums in his career, most recently 2017's ¡México Por Siempre! As a testament to his continuing popularity, he'll perform at American Airlines Center not just on Sunday, but again a little more than six months later on May 8, 2024.

Courtesy photo

Chris Stapleton will play at Dos Equis Pavilion on October 27 and 28.

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Dudes Doing Things

Behind-the-scenes look at the Dude Perfect media empire in Frisco

Dude Perfect

The five buddies who now comprise Dude Perfect had no intention of creating a brand or even a business 16 years ago when they started making a video of basketball trick shots while they were attending Texas A&M.

“My dad would say we were procrastinating studying for finals at that time, which he is 100 percent correct,” said Coby Cotton, whose twin brother Cory is also part of the group. “We were just having fun, and that’s one thing that I am grateful to say has continued.”

When they posted that first video on YouTube in April 2009, the nearly 3 1/2-minute clip was just a way to share with family and friends what they were doing on an $80 portable basketball rim they bought for the backyard.

Things have expanded far beyond that small circle. And the tricks got much bigger, like the world record shot made from 856 feet high in Las Vegas two summers ago on the third day of attempts.

Dude Perfect now has more than 61 million subscribers on YouTube, with 482 videos that have gotten more than 18.5 billion total views. An "Average Dude vs. Steph Curry" video did 16 million views just four months ago.

The group’s family-friendly content has gone beyond just basketball shots and is big business, among the top 1 percent of channels on the second most-viewed website in the world.

Professional athletes, celebrities and musicians want to be part of their productions, both short form and longer videos. Among those who have taken part in recent Dude Perfect projects are Tom Brady, Caitlin Clark, and Paul Skenes; the pitcher was blindfolded when he struck out 6-foot-6 Cody Jones, the DP member known as “Tall Guy.”

Dude Perfect dudes: twins Coby & Cory Cotton, sandwiching Garret Hilbert, Tyler Toney, and Cody Jones.Dude Perfect

The group last year hired its first CEO after acquiring at least $100 million in capital from a private investment firm. There are plans for a Dude Perfect theme park, and earlier this year the group opened a new headquarters. The facility located in a North Texas warehouse district includes a full basketball court with moving rims on one wall, half a football field with a regulation goalpost, a pickleball court, a putting area, a hidden candy vault and room for expansion to include experiences for fans.

“A sports lover’s Barbie dreamhouse” is how new CEO Andrew Yaffe described the 80,000-square-foot facility.

“If you ask the guys what they intended in 2009, I don’t know that this would have been in their wildest dreams,” said Yaffe, who previously was a senior NBA executive overseeing the league’s social, digital and original content. “We think about this is what a media company looks like in 2025. And it’s really exciting to think about what that can be in 2030 or 2035.”

More than trick shots
Dude Perfect has evolved from that original video shot with a single camera into successful content creators, with a mix of sports and comedy that is more than just basketball shots. The group will embark on another live tour later this year.

There have been nearly 50 episodes of “Overtime” since 2018, a variety show usually around 25 minutes with a variety of segments and often special guests. Curry in that recent episode took part in a 3-point shooting contest using a football, Frisbee, pickle ball and soccer ball before finally a basketball.

There are occasional videos such as “All Sports Golf Battle” when on a course without actual golf clubs, including once at Augusta National when Bryson DeChambeau used items like a tennis racket, Frisbee and pool stick. “Stereotype” videos poke fun at any number of groups or events.

“They’ve built a media empire that brings families together, whether it’s trick shots, epic challenges, live events or experiences that truly redefine what it means to connect with fans,” said Brian Albert, who leads Google’s US YouTube video deals and creative teams. “They are creator trailblazers.”

Safe for families
Even before each of the Dudes became fathers — there are now 16 children ages 10 and under between them, and another on the way — they wanted to be one of the world’s most trusted brands for families to enjoy together.

“Early on, we met through some Bible studies and so we knew we weren’t going to cuss in our videos, we weren’t going to have alcohol promotion,” Jones said. “Early on, it actually hurt our brand because people were going to YouTube in order to kind of have that wild side of things. And since, it’s only helped because we’ve become brand safe.”

Tyler Toney, the bearded Dude often front-and-center in videos, said that is the best thing they hear from parents.

“But it wasn’t until we had our own kids where we’ll be up here at the office filming and then I go home and now I’m on my TV at home and my boys are watching,” Toney said. “I get to hear myself a lot and it gets old, and I apologize now to all the parents for how loud we are in a lot of the videos. But it’s cool to see that even in our families the importance of that, having that quality entertainment that we can enjoy with our own kids.”

For the record books
Dude Perfect’s first record for longest shot came from the third deck of Texas A&M’s football stadium in the fall of 2009. That came months after the initial video of trick shots, which had been followed by one they did at a Christian-based camp that summer.

They made a shot from atop the 561-foot tall Reunion Tower in Dallas in 2014, a record then broken by another group before Dude Perfect reclaimed it in Las Vegas.

“We’re not hoping to have to improve on the world’s highest shot from The Strat in Vegas any time soon,” Coby Cotton said. “That was an exhausting experience.”

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