Weekend Events Planner

These are the 11 best things to do in Dallas this Thanksgiving weekend

Holiday event season always reaches its peak at Thanksgiving, and this year is no different, with seven different holiday-themed events starting or taking place this weekend. You can also get the weekend started early with a national theater production, an ice skating extravaganza, and two concerts.

Below are more best ways to spend your precious free time this Thanksgiving weekend. Want more options? Lucky for you, we have a much longer list of the city's best events.

Wednesday, November 22

Broadway Dallas presents MJ the Musical
The music. The moves. The icon. Now, the unparalleled artistry of the greatest entertainer of all time is featured in MJ, the Tony Award-winning new musical centered around the making of the 1992 Dangerous World Tour. The production goes beyond the singular moves and signature sound of the star, offering a rare look at the creative mind and collaborative spirit that catapulted Michael Jackson into legendary status. The production runs through December 3 at the Music Hall at Fair Park.

Disney On Ice presents Find Your Hero
Disney On Ice returns with a new magical adventure, Find Your Hero, where audiences will discover what it truly means to be a hero as Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, and friends from around the Disney Kingdom come together to take families on a journey through timeless tales. The show features Mirabel from Encanto; Moana and Maui from Moana; Anna, Elsa, and Olaf from Frozen; and more. The production has eight performances through Sunday at Credit Union of Texas Event Center in Allen.

Joshua Ray Walker and Vandoliers present Friendsgiving with Jaret Ray Reddick
Joshua Ray Walker and Vandoliers will present a special co-headlining Friendsgiving concert. Walker is touring in support of his new album, What Is It Even?, while Vandoliers are touring in support of their new album, The Vandoliers. They'll be joined by Jaret Ray Reddick at Longhorn Ballroom.

The Polyphonic Spree in concert
It may be the holiday season, but the real reason for celebration for fans of The Polyphonic Spree is the release of their eighth album, Salvage Enterprise. This special show at Granada Theater will celebrate that album's release, although lead singer Tim DeLaughter and the choral rock group will surely delve into their deep catalog, too.

Thursday, November 23

Grand Prairie Parks, Arts and Recreation presents Prairie Lights
Prairie Lights is a two-mile, drive-through holiday park experience that showcases a display of more than 4 million lights arranged in hundreds of festive holiday scenes throughout the park. At the halfway point, guests can exit their vehicle to enjoy carnival rides, concessions, photos with Santa, the magical walk-thru forest, and holiday shopping. The second half of the drive ends with the new and improved light tunnel. The event takes place at Lynn Creek Park at Joe Pool Lake in Grand Prairie. (For a long list of the best Christmas lights this year, check out this story.)

Friday, November 24

Texas Christkindl Market
The 13th Annual Texas Christkindl Market is a traditional European-style market that brings the charm of German Christmas markets. Visitors will be immersed in a world of twinkling lights, decorations, food, and musical performances. The event takes place in the North Plaza at Globe Life Field through December 23.

Galleria Dallas presents Grand Tree Lighting Celebration
Galleria Dallas will present its annual Grand Tree Lighting Celebrations. Every show features the Missile Toes, Galleria’s ice-skating, back-flipping, pyrotechnic Santa Claus, live performances by Olympic and National Champion-ranked skaters, and local children who introduce the lighting of the country’s tallest indoor tree. There will be performances on both Friday and Saturday.

Heritage Farmstead Museum presents Lights on the Farm
At Lights on the Farm, guests will walk along a quarter-mile trail showcasing holiday light creations, animated displays, a 20-foot Christmas tree, refreshments, and a chance for the youngest guests to visit with Santa. There will also be plenty of selfie photo opportunities throughout the farm property of the Heritage Farmstead Museum in Plano. The event runs on weekends through December 30.

Chamberlain Ballet presents The Nutcracker
Chamberlain Ballet's annual production of The Nutcracker will feature guest artists Tiler Peck and Roman Mejia from The New York City Ballet as The Sugar Plum Fairy and her Cavalier. Guests can immerse themselves in a world of waltzing snowflakes, marching toy soldiers, and the timeless tale of Clara and her Nutcracker Prince. There will be three performances through Sunday at Eisemann Center for Performing Arts in Richardson.

Dallas Symphony Orchestra presents "Stravinsky The Firebird"
The Dallas Symphony Orchestra's Thanksgiving concert, "Stravinsky The Firebird," features conductor Gustavo Gimeno and violinist Alexander Kerr. The program will include Tchaikovsky's Selections from The Nutcracker, Mozart's Concerto No. 5 for Violin and Orchestra, “Turkish,” and Stravinsky's Suite from The Firebird (1945 Revision). There will be three performances through Sunday at Meyerson Symphony Center.

Texas Ballet Theater presents The Nutcracker
Featuring dazzling choreography and exquisite sets, The Nutcracker celebrates the season with enchantment, snowflakes, and sweets. Audiences can experience the most magical Christmas tradition of the season as Clara and her Nutcracker Prince battle an army of mice and travel through a winter wonderland to meet the Sugar Plum Fairy in the Kingdom of Sweets. The production runs through December 3 at Winspear Opera House.

Photo by Steven Visneau

Texas Ballet Theater presents The Nutcracker at Winspear Opera House, November 24-December 3.

theater music concerts kids families sports holidays shopping dance symphony event-planner

Movie Review

Marty Supreme cements Timothée Chalamet as his generation's movie star

Courtesy

Timothée Chalamet

In a time when true movie stars seem to be going extinct, Timothée Chalamet has emerged as an exception to the rule. Since 2021 he has headlined blockbusters like the two Dune movies and Wonka, and also got nominated for an Oscar for playing Bob Dylan in A Complete Unknown (his second nomination following 2018’s Call Me By Your Name). Now, he’s almost assured to get his third nomination for the stellar new film, Marty Supreme.

Chalamet plays Marty Mauser, a world-class table tennis player living in New York. But reducing Marty to his best skill doesn’t do him justice, as he’s also a motormouth schemer who will do almost anything to achieve his dreams. He doesn’t have any qualms about wooing married women like neighbor Rachel (Odessa A’zion) or actress Kay Stone (Gwyneth Paltrow), or hiding his true ping pong skills to win money in scams with friends like Wally (Tyler the Creator).

Marty is seemingly on the go the entire movie, whether it’s trying to convince Kay’s millionaire husband Milton Rockwell (Kevin O’Leary) to fund his table tennis ambitions; or trying to track down the dog of Ezra (Abel Ferrara), a man he accidentally injures; or trying to avoid the ire of the boss at the shoe store where he works. Just when you think he might slow down, he’s off to the races on another plan or adventure.

Directed by Josh Safdie and written by Safdie and frequent co-writer Ronald Bronstein, the film is an almost continuous blast of pure energy for 2 ½ hours. So many different things happen over the course of the film that the story defies conventional narratives, and yet the throughline of Marty keeps everything tightly connected. His particular type of brash behavior turns much of the film into a comedy as he does and says things that are both shocking and thrilling.

Another thing that makes the movie sing is the fantastic characterization by Safdie and Bronstein. Almost every person who is given a speaking line in the film has a moment where they pop, which speaks to airtight dialogue that the writers have created. Characters will be introduced and then disappear for long stretches of time, and yet because they make such an impression the first time they’re on screen, it’s easy to pick up their thread right away.

Safdie, as he’s done previously with brother Bennie (Uncut Gems), calls on a host of well-known non-actors or people with interesting faces/vibes to inhabit supporting roles, and to a person they are crucial to the film’s success. O’Leary (of Shark Tank fame), rapper Tyler the Creator, director Ferrara, magician Penn Jillette, and fashion designer Isaac Mizrahi each deliver knockout performances. The relative unknowns who play smaller roles are just as impressive, making each beat of the film feel naturalistic.

Leading the way is the powerhouse performance by Chalamet. For one person to believably play both the famously reserved Dylan and also a firecracker like Marty is astonishing, and this role cements Chalamet’s status as his generation’s movie star. A’zion is a rising star who gets great moments as Marty’s on-again/off-again love interest. Paltrow pops in and out of the film, lighting up the screen every time she appears. Fran Drescher as Marty’s mom and Sandra Bernhard as a neighbor also pay dividends in small roles.

Josh Safdie’s first solo directorial effort is unlike any other movie this year, or maybe even this century. Thanks to its breakneck storytelling, a magnificent performance by Chalamet, and countless intangibles that Safdie employs expertly, the film smacks viewers in the face repeatedly and demands that they come back for more.

---

Marty Supreme opens in theaters on December 25.

movies film