It’s finally starting to feel like fall in time for Halloween weekend. Two outdoor festivals taking place this weekend will allow you to get out and enjoy the cooler weather. Other choices include an annual film festival, the national tour of a Broadway musical, two local theater productions, two country hybrid concerts, a concert featuring a classic movie, a Halloween/fall-themed festival, and the final days of a notable art exhibition.
Photo courtesy of Sundance Square
Below are the best ways to spend your free time this weekend. If you want more options, check out the calendar for an even longer list of the city’s best events.
Thursday, October 30
Lone Star Film Festival
The 2025 Lone Star Film Festival will include 16 feature films and over 80 short films over six days. Highlights include opening night film Train Dreams, starring Joel Edgerton and Felicity Jones; closing night film Do No Harm; Recovering the Stories, a documentary about BIPOC communities in Dallas; and more. The festival takes place through November 4, with screenings taking place at the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth and Movie Tavern on West 7th.
Broadway at the Bass presents A Beautiful Noise: The Neil Diamond Musical
A Beautiful Noise is the untold true story of a Brooklyn kid who became a chart-busting, show-stopping, award-winning American icon, created in collaboration with Neil Diamond himself. With 120 million albums sold, a catalogue of classics like “America,” “Forever in Blue Jeans,” and “Sweet Caroline,” an induction into the Songwriters and Rock and Roll Halls of Fame, and more, Diamond’s story is an energy-filled musical memoir that tells the untold true story of how America’s greatest hitmaker became a star, set to the songs that defined his career. The production runs through November 2 at Bass Performance Hall.
Friday, October 31
Halloween happenings
For some people, Halloween is the best holiday of the year. Fort Worth restaurants are ready to serve with spooky events, sweet treats, and special themed dinners. For a list of haunted houses, click here, and for thrills on stage, go here. And for a can’t-miss Halloween-themed light show, head here.
Casa Mañana presents West Side Story
One of the most beloved musicals of all time, West Side Story is a powerful tale of love, rivalry, and tragedy set on the streets of 1950s New York City, featuring music by Leonard Bernstein and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim. The adaptation of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet follows Tony and Maria, two young lovers torn apart by a bitter feud between the Jets and the Sharks. The production runs through November 9 at Casa Mañana.
Theatre Denton presents Dial M for Murder
This fresh version of the thrilling murder mystery Dial M for Murder, adapted by Jeffrey Hatcher, depicts where one man’s jealousy results in a web of deception and danger. The production runs through November 9 at Theatre Denton.
Blanco Brown in concert
Recent years have seen a number of artists combine the seemingly-disparate genres of rap and country, including Jelly Roll, Lil Nas X, and Shaboozey. Trying to make a name for himself is Blanco Brown, who gained some notice with his 2019 debut album, Honeysuckle & Lightning Bugs, which featured hit songs like “The Git Up” and “Just the Way.” He has yet to release a follow-up album, but did release three EPs in 2024 – Back 2 Basics, Cedar Walls & Whiskey, and Heartache & Lemonade. He’ll make his debut at Billy Bob’s Texas.
Saturday, November 1
Fort Worth Botanic Garden presents Fall Japanese Festival
The Fort Worth Botanic Garden’s Fall Japanese Festival offers an exploration of Japanese art and culture. Hosted in collaboration with the Fort Worth Japanese Society, the event includes cultural demonstrations, performances, unique shopping experiences, and traditional foods celebrating the Japanese zodiac’s year of the wood snake. The event takes place on Saturday and Sunday.
Sundance Square Catrina Fest
The annual Sundance Square Catrina Fest transforms Sundance Square Plaza into a day-long DÃa de los Muertos celebration. The one-day festival will feature live music, dance performances, artisan vendors, food trucks, and one of the nation’s largest Catrina contests.
Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra presents Jurassic Park in Concert
Jurassic Park transformed the movie-going experience for an entire generation and became the highest-grossing film of all time in 1993, winning three Academy Awards. It’s one of the most thrilling science fiction adventures ever made, and it features an iconic and beloved musical score by John Williams. The groundbreaking film will be projected in HD with the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra performing Williams’ score live to picture. The concert takes place at Will Rogers Auditorium.
Blackberry Smoke in concert
Country rock band Blackberry Smoke is now in the third decade of their career, having released their debut album in 2003. They experienced their best run of success in the 2010s, when they had five straight top 10 albums on the Billboard Country chart, including two that went to No. 1. They’ll play at Billy Bob’s Texas in support of their 2024 album, Be Right Here.
Sunday, November 2
Globe Life Field presents Fall Festival
Globe Life Field’s second annual Fall Festival will feature a wide array of fall-themed activities directly on the field at the home of the Texas Rangers. Guests are encouraged to wear Halloween costumes and bring their own trick-or-treat containers. Events will include trick or treat stations, hourly costume parades around the bases, carnival games, run the bases, wiffle ball, free play on the field, pitch in the bullpen, face painting, yard games, photo ops in the dugouts, and more.
Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth presents David-Jeremiah: “The Fire This Time” closing day
Sunday will be the final day to view David-Jeremiah: “The Fire This Time” at the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth. The exhibition, with a title derived from James Baldwin’s novel, The Fire Next Time (1963), features a group of vertical assemblages of black and other monochromatic paintings on shaped wood that form an installation. Collectively titled “Hood Niggas Camping,” the 28 works stand over 10 feet tall, surrounding viewers completely.