Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo
Cowtown’s iconic Stock Show and Rodeo has honored all facets of cowboy culture for 124 years, but this year features a big change. Rodeo events are being held in the new Dickies Arena, which cost $540 million to build and can seat 9,300 during stock show contests such as the ProRodeo Tournament. That event begins this weekend with brackets with more than 400 competitors in eight events, including bull riding, steer wrestling and barrel racing. A million dollars in prize money will be awarded at the Feb. 8 finals. Dickies Arena also has a Fan Zone where ticketholders can meet rodeo competitors and a wine tent called the Corkyard.
Other weekend highlights of the Stock Show are a robotics challenge in the nearby Fort Worth Museum of Science and History, a statewide high school mariachi competition and two mustang events: Mustang Magic Celebrity Freestyle (Jan. 24, $15-$20) and Extreme Mustang Makeover Top 10 Finals (Jan. 25, sold out).
And daily you can go to shop, play and view the animals with a general grounds ticket. Attractions and activities include a carnival and midway, the Children's Barnyard, a petting zoo, pony rides, a Go Texan marketplace, concerts at the Bud Light Roadhouse, and livestock exhibits showcasing award-winning cattle, horses, rabbits and sheep at the Will Rogers Memorial Center.
Through Feb. 8 at the Will Rogers Memorial Center, 3401 W. Lancaster Ave., and Dickies Arena, 1911 Montgomery St., Fort Worth. General grounds admission, which includes access to livestock events, exhibits and the carnival midway: $12, $5 for ages 6-16, free for children 5 and under. Rodeo tickets: $30, which includes admission to the grounds. $15 for parking. fwssr.com.
KidFilm Family Festival
We’re not kidding around: The USA Film Festival will bring two days of free family-friendly live-action and animated films to the Angelika Film Center in Mockingbird Station. This year’s lineup of feature-length and short films includes Swift, the story of an orphaned bird learning about friendship and family, featuring the voices of Kate Winslet and Willem Dafoe, and five short films plus a book giveaway to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment and women’s right to vote.
The festival will also salute three children’s book author-illustrators at two screenings. See short animated adaptations of Adam Rex’s School’s First Day of School and Laurie Keller’s Do Unto Otters: A Book About Manners and Potato Pants! on Jan. 25 at 12:30 p.m. After the screenings, Rex and Keller will read from and sign copies of their new book, Pluto Gets the Call, which families can receive for free while supplies last. Then on Jan. 25 at 2:30 p.m., meet Christopher Eliopoulos at a screening of “Xavier Riddle and the Secret Movie: I Am Madam President,” a new one-hour special episode of the PBS Kids program Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum. Eliopoulos is one of the show’s creators and executive producers. He will sign free copies of his newest book, I Am Walt Disney.
While programs are free, you need a ticket for admission. They’re available one per person on the day of the event only, beginning one hour before each showtime at the KidFilm upstairs box office. Lines can form earlier. Tickets and seating are limited, available on a first-come, first-served basis. Free books will be available while supplies last.
Jan. 25-26 starting at 12:30 p.m. at the Angelika Film Center, 5321 E. Mockingbird Lane, Dallas. Free. usafilmfestival.com.
Lunar New Year Firecracker Show
Asia Times Square’s three-weekend fest winds down with traditional firecracker shows at noon and lion dancers performing hourly.
Jan. 25-26 starting at noon at Asia Times Square, 2625 W. Pioneer Parkway, Grand Prairie. Free admission. facebook.com (search “Asia Times Square”).
ArtRocks Lunar New Year
Kids can get inspired by the artwork of Chinese surrealist Zhang Xiaogang. Activities include projects with artists from the Creative Arts Center of Dallas, KidArt, Artist DIY and Sour Grapes. The drop-in session also offers a scavenger hunt and a WalkSTEM tour.
Jan. 25 from 1 to 4 p.m. at NorthPark Center (on Level 1 between Nordstrom and Macy’s), 8687 N. Central Expressway, Dallas. Free. northparkcenter.com.
ZestFest
Entry to this three-day expo of spicy foods doesn’t require bravery and a cast-iron stomach, but you can show those off anyway by participating in the atomic wing-eating challenge on Jan. 25 or the jalapeño-eating contest on Jan. 26. The rest of us can enjoy sampling and buying hot sauce and other food items from cooks, makers and retailers; attending cooking demos with chefs, including Jon Bonnell of Bonnell’s Fine Texas Cuisine; and listening to live music. For an additional fee, make reservations for Eddie Deen’s roasted pig and barbecue dinner on Jan. 25.
Jan. 24 from 1 to 6 p.m., Jan. 25 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Jan. 26 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Irving Convention Center, 500 W. Las Colinas Blvd., Irving. $15-$16, free for children 10 and younger. zestfest.net.
KNON Blues Festival
The story of KNON-FM’s last few months would make a good blues song. The independent radio station’s studio was damaged in the October tornadoes and demolished this month. However, the station’s programming was back on the air within 36 hours after the storm, and now things are business as usual, including this 21st annual Blues Festival. Over two days, more than two dozen performers, including the Stratoblasters, Holland K. Smith, Andrew Jr. Boy Jones, Bnois King and Zak Harmon, will take the stage.
Jan. 25-26, starting daily at 3 p.m. at Poor David’s Pub, 1313 S. Lamar St., Dallas. $25 for general admission, $35 for VIP, which includes early admission. knon.org.
Hoosier Arenacross Nationals
Lasers, fog and a light show give a rock ’n’ roll kickoff to each of these two nights of professional dirt bike racing. In addition to riders navigating a rough motocross track, the show will include bike-riding clown Nitro Ned, kiddie bike races and Bryan Jackson, who will attempt to wheelie around the entire track. Go early to meet the pro riders at 6 p.m. On Jan. 24, children’s tickets are $5.
Jan. 24-25 at 7 p.m. at Mesquite Arena, 1818 Rodeo Drive, Mesquite. $19, $5-$10 for ages 3-11. hoosierarenacross.com.
Peek at the Park
FREE Are you ready for some ... baseball? Spring training is still weeks away, but if you’re ready for the MLB season to begin, spend the day with the Texas Rangers. Some players and coaches will be on hand to sign autographs, as will mascot Rangers Captain. And there will be visits to Globe Life Park and Globe Life Field, the new ballpark that will have a retractable roof and air conditioning. At Globe Life Park, see a model of the new ballpark, get season ticket info, buy memorabilia at Batter’s Eye Club or just say your goodbyes to the old ballpark. At Globe Life Field, step into the viewing area to check out the playing field, seating bowl and roof. Inside Texas Live, there will be Q-and-A sessions with executives and players, an appearance by Ivan Rodriguez, a photo booth and food and drink for sale.
Jan. 25 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Texas Live, 1650 E. Randol Mill Road, Arlington. Free admission and free parking in Lots B and J. mlb.com/rangers.
Dallas Bridal Show
With more than 300 dressmakers, florists, caterers, bakers, photographers, DJs, travel agents, event planners and other party professionals, even the pickiest, most-entitled, made-for- reality-TV bridezilla should be able to find everything she needs to plan her perfect day. The biannual events in Dallas in January and July are Bridal Show Inc.’s biggest expos, with hundreds of companies represented. In addition to business booths, there’ll be bridal fashion shows daily, door prizes and giveaways.
Jan. 25-26 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Dallas Market Hall, 2200 Stemmons Freeway, Dallas. $12 for adults, $6 for ages 3-14, free for ages 2 and under. bridalshowsinc.com.
Community Beer Co.'s Seventh Anniversary
The Dallas Design District brewery will celebrate its lucky No. 7 with a vintage Las Vegas-themed celebration, and costumes are encouraged. There’ll be several stations serving over 70 kinds of beers, including an anniversary brew. Admission includes a souvenir glass and eight 6-ounce pours, and there'll be food trucks, live music, a photo booth and arts and crafts vendors.
Jan. 25 from noon to 6:30 p.m. at 1530 Inspiration Drive, Dallas. $30.77 for entry at 3 p.m.; $47.77 for entry at 1:30 p.m., plus a 16-ounce can of the anniversary beer to take home; $67.77 for entry at noon, plus a 16-ounce can of the anniversary beer to take home and a T-shirt. Tickets must be purchased in advance; no tickets will be sold at the door. communitybeer.com.
Social Science: 'Engine-Unity’
The theme for the Perot Museum of Nature and Science’s first adults-only late-night event of the year is engineering. Use math and science skills to solve problems such as stealing a jewel without setting off a trap, creating a catapult to launch treats to a dinosaur or designing a protective suit for a spacewalk. But the event is not all STEM. Other challenges include getting a good selfie in the photo booth, choosing the right dance moves for the DJ party and ordering the signature cocktail, the Mechanical Mule.
Jan. 24 from 7 to 11 p.m. at the Perot Museum of Nature and Science, 2201 N. Field St., Dallas. For ages 21 and up. $29 for admission, $10 for garage parking. perotmuseum.org.
Denton Black Film Festival
Features, documentaries and short films on the diversity of the black experience will be screened at Alamo Drafthouse and Campus Theater. But the festival is more than just movies. There’s an interactive Tech Expo, spoken word and music performances, comedy competitions, art, workshops, after-parties and a Sunday gospel brunch.
Through Jan. 26. See a schedule of events, prices and venues at dentonbff.com.
Boards 'N' Brews
FREE If you’re ready for winter to end, take a trip to Grand Prairie where it’s a balmy 85 degrees inside Epic Waters. The 80,000-square-foot water park, which stays open year-round, will debut a weekend surf party series on Jan. 24. On Friday and Saturday nights, those 18 and older can enjoy a summer atmosphere with music from either a live band or DJ, a special menu of food and drinks at the Longboards bar, arcade access and flowboarding lessons. For $15, try out the FlowRider, a two-lane surf simulator. Though the adult-only nights are beach-themed, Epic Waters’ pool and slides will not be open.
Fridays and Saturdays from 9:30 p.m. to midnight at Epic Waters, 2970 Epic Place, Grand Prairie. Free admission; $15 to use FlowRider. Must be 18 or older. epicwatersgp.com.
123 Andrés
The Latin Grammy-winning duo of Andrés Salguero and Christina Sanabria will bring their bilingual dance party to a Saturday morning singalong at Opening Bell Coffee. The family-friendly performance will include “Spanish and English songs for little language learners.” Expect tunes from sassy salsas to Andean folk music from 123 Andrés, which has played venues from libraries to Lollapalooza.
Jan. 25 at 11 a.m. at Opening Bell Coffee, 1409 S. Lamar St., Dallas. $5. Check-in starts at 10:30 a.m. openingbellcoffee.com.
