Looking for things to do this weekend and through next week in Dallas-Fort Worth? Here are some ideas, many of which are family friendly or free, to help you find events across North Texas.
FORT WORTH STOCK SHOW AND RODEO
This three-week event offers live music, a petting zoo, rodeos, livestock shows, a carnival midway, shopping and more. Highlights include the Stock Show “All Western” Parade on Jan. 17 at 11 a.m. in downtown Fort Worth, the Best of Mexico Celebración on Jan. 18 at 7:30 p.m. at Dickies Arena, and Cowboys of Color Rodeo on Jan. 19 at 2 p.m. at Dickies Arena. Over at Will Rogers Memorial Center, country singer Colter Wall will perform a pair of shows with special guest Hayden Redwine, on Jan. 23-24 at 7:30 p.m. There will also be free live music in the Michelob Ultra Roadhouse and The Corkyard.
Jan. 16-Feb. 7 from 8 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. at the Stock Show grounds in Fort Worth. General grounds admission, which includes access to livestock events, exhibits and the carnival midway, is $15 for adults, $8 for ages 6-16, and free for children 5 and under. Tickets for rodeos and the Colter Wall concerts cost extra. fwssr.com.
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KIDFILM FAMILY FESTIVAL
FREE Enjoy two days of free movies at this 42nd annual festival, which will also have a book-signing by author Deborah Diesen with free books for kids. Diesen wrote 2008’s The Pout-Pout Fish, as well as a string of other books featuring the grumpy fish. An animated movie adapted from her books will be among those screened at the festival, two months ahead of its scheduled release date. Other highlights include the animated films Miss Moxy, The Land of Sometimes, Spiked and The Last Whale Singer. Check the website for the full schedule.
Jan. 17-18 at the Angelika Dallas. Free. usafilmfestival.com.
MLK COMEDY KICK-OFF: DEON COLE
Actor-comedian Deon Cole is perhaps best known for his work on the ABC sitcom Black-ish and its spin-off Grown-ish. His portrayal of Charlie Telphy on the shows earned him three consecutive NAACP Image Awards for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series, from 2020-22. He also stars in the BET+ comedy series Average Joe. Cole earned a pair of Primetime Emmy Award nominations for his writing on the late-night talk shows The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien and Conan. Catch Cole’s standup act in Grand Prairie, with opening comedian Ocean Glapion.
Jan. 16 at 8 p.m. at Texas Trust CU Theatre in Grand Prairie. $49.10-$232.87. axs.com.
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MLK CELEBRATIONS IN GARLAND
Garland will honor the legacy of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. with a weekend of events. The city’s 37th annual MLK Parade kicks off Jan. 17 at 10 a.m. at Dairy Road and Garden Drive, near Embree Park, and wraps up at the Granville Arts Center. Immediately following the parade at noon in the arts center is a musical performance titled Freedom’s Symphony. The two-day celebration wraps up with a Youth Extravaganza on Jan. 18 at 4 p.m., also at the arts center.
Jan. 17-18 in Garland. All events are free and open to the public. visitgarlandtx.com.
LESLIE JONES
Leslie Jones’ fearless presence made her a breakout star on Saturday Night Live. After joining the SNL cast in 2014 after years on the standup circuit, Jones quickly became known for her booming delivery, blunt punch lines and unfiltered takes on everything from dating to politics to everyday frustrations. She’s also starred in films like 2016’s Ghostbusters and 2021’s Coming 2 America, and she earned acclaim as an Olympics commentator with her exuberant social-media coverage. Fans in Irving can expect a fast-moving set built on personal stories, sharp observations and uncensored honesty.
Jan. 16-17 at 7 and 9:15 p.m. at Punch Line Comedy Club in Irving. $43.80. punchlineirving.com.
AN EVENING WITH PHIL ROSENTHAL OF ‘SOMEBODY FEED PHIL’
Phil Rosenthal cemented his reputation in the entertainment industry by creating, writing and executive producing the hit CBS sitcom Everybody Loves Raymond, which aired from 1996 to 2005. In more recent years, he’s indulged his love for food and travel in the PBS series I’ll Have What Phil’s Having and the Netflix series Somebody Feed Phil. He’ll share humorous insights on his career and travels in this live show at the Majestic Theatre.
Jan. 21 at 7:30 p.m. at the Majestic Theatre in Dallas. $53-$64. ticketmaster.com.
Phil Rosenthal stars in the Netflix series “Somebody Feed Phil.”
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ARTS AND LETTERS LIVE: PADMA LAKSHMI
A former restaurant critic for The New York Times, Padma Lakshmi rose to prominence as host of the Bravo cooking competition show Top Chef for nearly 20 seasons. The India-born Lakshmi has also worked as a model, actress and businesswoman, but her writing will be the focus of her Arts and Letters Live appearance in Dallas. Lakshmi’s first cookbook, Easy Exotic, was released in 1999, and she’s released a steady stream of books since then, including 2025’s Padma’s All American: Tales, Travels, and Recipes from Taste the Nation and Beyond. She’ll discuss that book, a love letter to the people who create American cuisine and a reflection on who we are as a nation.
Jan. 22 at 7:30 p.m. at the Dallas Museum of Art’s Horchow Auditorium. In-person tickets are sold out, but public livestream access and a copy of the book is $56.50, or $51.50 for DMA members. dma.org.
K-POP WARRIORS
Fans of K-Pop music may like this family-friendly live show. Packed with music and action, the show features vibrant costumes, skilled choreography and a bevy of hit songs from well-known K-Pop characters. The touring 90-minute performance will make stops in three North Texas cities, so there’s probably a show near you.
Jan. 20 at 4 and 6:30 p.m. at the Cleburne Conference Center in Cleburne, Jan. 21 at 4 and 6:30 p.m. at the Plano Event Center in Plano, and Jan. 23 at 4 and 6:30 p.m. at the Mesquite Arts Center in Mesquite. $36.64 for ages 13 and up, $19.32 for children ages 2 to 12, and free for younger kids. eventbrite.com.
SHOWTIME SATURDAY: PERCUSSION THINGS
FREE If you’re eager to get the kids out of the house, this weekly entertainment series at Galleria Dallas can help. Percussion Things features Catherine Whiteman and Len Barnett, who combine storytelling with energetic percussion performances. They’ll share tales from West Africa and the Caribbean on Level 3 of the mall, near the Play Place.
Jan. 17 at 11:30 a.m. at Galleria Dallas in Dallas. Free. galleriadallas.com.
MLK CELEBRATION WEEK
FREE The Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center is celebrating the civil rights icon with a series of events. MLK Celebration Week kicked off Jan. 13 and continues Jan. 16 with a “Driver’s of Opportunities Symposium” from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and a candle-lighting ceremony from 7 to 8:30 p.m. MLK Fest, on Jan. 17 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., will feature live music, food, guest speakers, a mural painting, a community clean-up and more. The MLK Scholarship and Awards Gala will take place that evening at 6:30 p.m. The week culminates in the MLK Day Parade on Jan. 19 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Check the website for details.
Through Jan. 19 at the Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center and other venues in Dallas. Free. dallasmlkcenter.com/mlk-celebration-week.
REALIZING THE DREAM HEALTHY LIVING EXPO
FREE This event honoring the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. will offer information on healthy living: financially, spiritually, physically, politically, socially and environmentally. Get-out-the-vote efforts will also be front and center. Among the day’s highlights is a macaroni and cheese cook-off, where organizers say they’re looking for the best mac and cheese ever (they note that it was one of MLK’s favorite dishes). Registrations for the cook-off are due by Jan. 16.
Jan. 19 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the South Dallas Cultural Center. Free. bit.ly/DBTHExpo2026.
Harry Potter: The Exhibition runs through Jan. 31 in Dallas’ Pepper Square.
Harry Potter: The Exhibition
ASTRA LUMINA
Follow a pathway of light on this one-mile night walk at the Trinity Forest Adventure Park. Meant to mimic the feel of visiting the stars, this multisensory experience uses projections, lighting and music to create a sense of wonder for visitors of all ages. The journey through nine cosmic installations, from the multimedia entertainment studio Moment Factory, takes about an hour to complete. Bring a credit card, because all purchases at the site are cashless.
Fridays and Saturdays through Jan. 31 at Trinity Forest Adventure Park in Dallas. Adult tickets start at $20.90, with prices changing depending on the date and time booked. Prices for kids ages 4-12 start at $16.90. Discounts are available for seniors, students and military members. Family and group bundles are also available. Parking is $9.90 if booked in advance. astralumina.com.
HARRY POTTER: THE EXHIBITION
Potterheads should appreciate this immersive celebration of all things Harry Potter. Visitors can see authentic movie props, actor-worn costumes and re-creations of iconic scenes and settings, and they can also hone their Quidditch skills, brew potions, cast spells and pot a Mandrake. An After Hours event for muggles ages 18 and up, running from 6 to 9 p.m., offers complimentary cocktails or mocktails.
Through April 12 at 14902 Preston Road in Dallas’ Pepper Square shopping center. Ticket prices vary by day, starting at $24 for ages 13 and up and $16 for ages 3-12, with discounts available for family or group purchases. Free for younger kids. dallas.harrypotterexhibition.com.