Music will take center stage in and around Fort Worth this weekend through a songwriter festival, six concerts, and a music awards show. Other options include two theater productions (including one focused on a famous singer), screenings of a new acclaimed film, the first holiday lights event of the season, a pickle festival, and a big boxing showcase.

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, November 6

Fort Worth Songwriter Festival
The Fort Worth Songwriter Festival features four days packed with performing songwriters, from legends to locals, an open songwriter circle, panel discussions, and more. Headliners include Bruce Robison, David Ramirez, Jim Lauderdale, J. Plank, Sarah McQuaid, Patrice Pike, Travis Linville, Robert Ellis, Courtney Patton, Mike Stinson, and Jack Barksdale. The event takes place through Sunday at Southside Preservation Hall and Rose Chapel.

Tarrant County College South presents The World According to Ives
The World According to Ives features four short plays by David Ives, an American playwright, screenwriter, and novelist perhaps best known for his comic one-act plays. The four plays include Mere Mortals, The Universal Language, The Philadelphia, and Sure Thing. The production will have three performances through Saturday at Tarrant County College – South Campus.

The Cliburn presents Beatrice Rana
Beatrice Rana has been shaking the international classical music world ever since her 2013 Cliburn silver-medal win. In the last 12 years, she’s played most of the major venues and orchestras around the globe multiple times over. She records exclusively for Warner Classics and has released nine albums to date, including a brand-new recording of the Bach Concertos. She’ll make her first Cliburn Concerts appearance in over a decade in this sell-out concert at Kimbell Art Museum.

Aaron Lewis and The Stateliners in concert
Aaron Lewis, formerly the lead singer of the rock band Staind, moved into country music in 2012 and that’s where he has put most of his focus ever since, save for the 2023 Staind album, Confessions of the Fallen. Country fans have welcomed him with open arms, as all of his albums have ranked high on the Billboard Country charts, including his new album, The Hill. He’ll play with his band The Stateliners at Billy Bob’s Texas.

Friday, November 7

Magnolia at the Modern: Nuremberg
The Allies, led by the unyielding chief prosecutor, Robert H. Jackson (Michael Shannon), have the task of ensuring the defeated Nazi regime answers for the unveiled horrors of the Holocaust. Meanwhile, US Army psychiatrist (Rami Malek) is locked in a dramatic psychological duel with former Reichsmarschall Herman Göring (Russell Crowe). Nuremberg will screen six times through Sunday at the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth.

The Light Park
Featuring millions of LED lights synchronized to holiday music, The Light Park invites families to buckle up, turn up the volume, and immerse themselves in a mile-long light show. It features giant illuminated tunnels, towering animated trees, dancing reindeer, and music from DJ Polar Ice. The event will be open nightly through January 4 at Hurricane Harbor Arlington.

Jubilee Theatre presents The Voices of Donny Hathaway
The Voices of Donny Hathaway is a powerful play, written by Robert King Jr., that brings to life the music, struggles, and brilliance of an artist whose voice defined a generation. Through a rich tapestry of Hathaway’s most beloved songs, the story explores the beauty of his genius alongside the challenges he faced, painting an intimate portrait of a man whose art continues to inspire. The production runs through November 30 at Jubilee Theatre.

Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra presents “Rewind: Music of the ’80s”
“Rewind” celebrates the music of the ’80s, whisking audiences away on a musical time warp back to when big hair and parachute pants ruled. The fun-filled show features a set list that includes George Michael, Mister Mister, Kool & The Gang, Joan Jett, The Cure, and more. The concert, conducted by Ken Yanagisawa, will have performances on Saturday and Sunday at Bass Performance Hall.

Giovannie and the Hired Guns in concert
Giovannie and the Hired Guns is a rock band out of Stephenville, led by frontman Giovannie Yanez, that has been impressing fans and critics since 2017 with a hard-hitting sound and emotionally raw storytelling. They have released four albums in their career, including the new Quitter. They’ll play at Billy Bob’s Texas.

Saturday, November 8

Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra presents Family Series: Saint-Georges’ Sword and Bow
The story of Saint-Georges’ Sword & Bow is centered on a rivalry as old as time: classical vs. contemporary. 13-year-old Giselle is dead set on becoming a famous pop star, while her father insists that studying music theory is much more important. The supernatural arrival of Joseph Bologne, Le Chevalier de Saint-Georges, whisks Giselle back in time to learn about Bologne’s personal and professional life. The family-friendly concert takes place at Bass Performance Hall.

The Big Dill
The festival-style event The Big Dill delivers on its promise, featuring 70 vendors and food trucks, unlimited pickle sampling, mascots, carnival games, a kids zone, outdoor activities, a brine chug challenge, the World Pickle Eating Championship, a photo booth, face painting, live entertainment, and more. There is the notable absence of pickleball, but I guess you can’t have everything. The one-day event takes place at Globe Life Field and Texas Live in Arlington.

Golden Boy Promotions presents Vergel Ortiz Jr. vs Erickson “The Hammer” Lubin
The sport of boxing doesn’t hold the broader appeal that it once did, but there is still plenty of interest in its big matches, like this one featuring undefeated WBC Interim Champion Vergil Ortiz Jr. defending his Super Welterweight Title against No. 1 contender Erickson “The Hammer” Lubin. This special event at Dickies Arena will feature eight undercard bouts before the main event.

Easton Corbin in concert
Country singer Easton Corbin was among the fastest rising artists in the genre in the early 2010s, releasing three albums in five years, including 2015’s About to Get Real, which went to No. 1 on the Billboard Country charts. After a long dormant period, he finally released his first new album in eight years, Let’s Do Country Right, in 2023. He’ll play at Billy Bob’s Texas.

Sunday, November 9

Texas Country Music Awards
The 2025 Texas Country Music Awards will be hosted by singer Brandon Rhyder, who also perform. Other performers will include Josh Weathers (up for Entertainer of the Year and Male Artist of the Year), headliner Kevin Fowler (who will receive the TCMA Trailblazer Award), Billie Jo Jones (up for Female Artist of the Year), and more. The event takes place at Billy Bob’s Texas.