The weekend before Thanksgiving is traditionally when holiday events kick into high gear, and this year is no different, with six different events starting their runs over the next four days. But the lineup is packed with plenty else to do, including comedians, concerts, and dance productions.
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, November 16
Chi Omega Christmas Market
The Chi Omega Christmas Market is a 46-year-old tradition, featuring over 200 merchants and welcoming more than 10,000 shoppers in search of getting in the holiday spirit. Merchants will feature holiday décor, women’s clothing/accessories, home accents, children’s clothing/toys, food items, and more. The fundraiser event goes on through Saturday in the Automobile Building at Fair Park.
Matt Rife: ProbleMATTic World Tour
Comedian Matt Rife made his television debut on MTV’s Wild 'N Out as the youngest cast member in history for four seasons before moving on to other MTV properties, including hosting the reboot of TRL and appearing on The Challenge. Other credits include Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Fresh Off The Boat, BET’s North Of The 10, and NBC’s comedy competition show Bring The Funny. He'll perform two shows at The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory in Irving.
Doja Cat in concert
Unlike some others in the genre, rapper Doja Cat wasn't an overnight success, with her 2018 debut album, Amala, coming in at No. 138 on the Billboard 200. That quickly changed, though, as her follow-up in 2019 made the top 10 and her 2021 album, Planet Her, sent her into the stratosphere. She's maintained those heights were her new album, Scarlet, which features the No. 1 song, "Paint the Town Red." She'll perform at American Airlines Center, joined by Ice Spice and Doechii.
Dallas Symphony Orchestra presents "Tchaikovsky Pathétique"
The latest Dallas Symphony Orchestra, "Tchaikovsky Pathétique," features conductor Yutaka Sado and pianist Alessandro Taverna. The program includes Yasushi Akutagawa's Triptyque, Britten's Concerto No. 1 for Piano and Orchestra, and Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 6, “Pathétique.” There will be four performances through Sunday at Meyerson Symphony Center.
Kansas in concert
Progressive rock band Kansas comes to Dallas as part of their 50th Anniversary celebration. The "garage band" from Topeka released their debut album in 1974 and has gone on to sell more than 30 million albums worldwide thanks to hit songs like "Carry On Wayward Son" and "Dust in the Wind." They'll play at Winspear Opera House.
Theatre Three presents Scrooge in Rouge
After a widespread case of food poisoning wipes out the majority of The Royal Music Hall Twenty-Member Variety Players, three surviving members of the company soldier on through a performance of A Christmas Carol that abounds in bad puns, naughty double-entendres, and witty songs. The production will run in the Theatre Too at Theatre Three through December 17.
Friday, November 17
Galleria Dallas presents Snowday and Santaland
Snowday takes guests on an explorable adventure through more than 20 imaginative rooms. Created to be a fully immersive journey, it features unique photo opportunities, including five extra-special photo moments with integrated cameras and lighting. Next to Snowday is Santaland, where visitors arrive in a magical moonlit forest and journey through an enchanted path filled with starry lights, polar bears, and endless photo ops leading to Santa’s cabin hideaway. Santaland is open through December 24, and Snowday stays open through January 7.
NTPA Deaf Theatre presents It’s a Wonderful Life
NTPA Deaf Theatre will present the holiday classic It’s a Wonderful Life, the heartwarming story of idealistic George Bailey which unfolds as he considers ending his life one fateful Christmas Eve. The beloved American holiday classic comes to life as a live ASL-friendly 1940s radio broadcast. The production is designed to be enjoyed by both hearing and Deaf audiences alike. A cast of 25 Deaf and hearing actors perform together with an innovative method of combining language to tell stories on stage. The production has four performances through Sunday at Willow Bend Center for the Arts in Plano.
Jim Jefferies: Give 'em What They Want Tour
Jim Jefferies is a native of Australia who is one of the most popular and respected comedians of his generation, entertaining audiences across the globe with his provocative, belief-challenging, and thought-provoking comedy. His ninth stand-up special, Intolerant, came out on Netflix in 2020 and he currently hosts his own podcast, I Don’t Know About That with Jim Jefferies. He'll perform at Majestic Theatre.
Enrique Iglesias, Ricky Martin, and Pitbull in concert
Three of the biggest Latin artists of all time will join forces for this special concert at American Airlines Center. The Trilogy Tour features three unique headlining sets from Enrique Iglesias, Ricky Martin, and Pitbull. The megastars will deliver a mix of their biggest career-spanning hits with influences of reggaeton, salsa pop, dance, and electronic music.
Bruce Wood Dance presents Soar
With a world premiere by Filipino American choreographer Norbert de la Cruz III, the return of Joy Bollinger’s "In My Your Head," and Bruce Wood’s beloved home, Soar offers a riveting and uplifting exploration into our shared humanity. Bruce Wood Dance will have three performances through Sunday at Moody Performance Hall.
Eisemann Center for Performing Arts presents Versa-Style Dance Company
Founded in 2005 by Los Angeles natives and co-artistic directors Jackie "Miss Funk" Lopez and Leigh "Breeze-Lee" Foaad, Versa-Style Dance Company was created to promote, empower and celebrate the artistry of Hip Hop and street dance culture. Versa-Style is recognized for its electrifying performances and inspiring engagement activities for schools and local communities. They'll perform at Eisemann Center for Performing Arts in Richardson.
The Core Theatre presents Stops Along the Way
Musicians Steven and Michelle are at opposite ends of the country and are trying to make it home to be together for the holidays as “snowmageddon” descends. What can go wrong on their stops along the way? An unveiling of the characters of middle America, flyover country has never been so funny. The production runs at The Core Theatre in Richardson through December 17.
Saturday, November 18
Vitruvian Lights
Vitruvian Lights transforms Vitruvian Park in Addison into North Texas’ most magical holiday wonderland, with more than 1.5 million sparkling LED lights are wrapped around 555 trees. Visitors are encouraged to walk or drive through Vitruvian Park to enjoy the beauty of the lights. Special event nights on November 18 and 25 will feature concerts by local performers, food trucks, sweet treats, free photos with Santa, live reindeer, letters to Santa, classic holiday characters, an elf balloon artist, and more. The lights will be on nightly through January 1. (For a longer list of the best Christmas lights around, go here.)
Plano Symphony Orchestra presents Ghostbusters
Plano Symphony Orchestra's latest concert will be Ghostbusters, featuring a nostalgic viewing of Ivan Reitman’s two-time Oscar-nominated film as the orchestra performs Elmer Bernstein’s Grammy-nominated score live. The performance takes place at Eisemann Center for Performing Arts in Richardson.
Wynonna Judd in concert
Country star Wynonna Judd comes to Dallas as part of her Back To Wy Tour. The concert will feature the songs off Wynonna’s first two solo albums - Wynonna (1992) and Tell Me Why (1993) - performed track by track, front to back, followed by a finale of her other hits, along with classics by The Judds. She'll perform at Majestic Theatre.
Sunday, November 19
Pocket Sandwich Theater presents Holiday on Thin Ice
The Pocket Sandwich Theatre in Carrollton will be visited by Three Spirits – Parody, Satire, and Slapstick - as the ghost of Four Out Of Five Doctors returns in a not-original-cast production of the Docs' perennially most popular show, Holiday on Thin Ice. Audiences will witness out-of-control AI, hear a Christmas Ode to Political Correctness, meet the fruitcakes in your neighborhood as well as medication side-effects, budget-killing sprees and the most-dreaded of all ... visits from in-laws. The production will have six performances through December 11.
Doja Cat will perform at American Airlines Center on November 16.
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