The North Texas area is very fortunate to have a bounty of arts and cultural events for you, and your family and friends. Need something fun and frolicky for the kids? Check out our holiday theme page for some fun festive ideas. Want to dress up and go see a magical Christmas tradition like “The Nutcracker?” Then check out our Nutcracker Superlist. Maybe the hubbub of the holidays makes you want to escape into nature or take your plus one to a classic movie, an intimate concert, or an exhibition at a quiet gallery.  Then we have you covered with a little bit of everything in this week’s picks from the Art&Seek calendar.

Wednesday

Join the Dallas Symphony Orchestra at the Meyerson Symphony Center for a night of wizardry. “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone” will screen while the DSO performs John Williams’ magical score live to the film.

In Denton, head to the Meadows Gallery at the Patterson-Appleton Arts Center for “30 Under 30,” an exhibition featuring talented young artists under 30-years old.

And take in the site-specific work “Puente Nuevo” by Justin Favela at the Amon Carter Museum of American Art in Fort Worth. The murals in this colorful installation were inspired by works in the museum’s collection and were created using massive amounts of piñata tissue paper.

Thursday

Happy Thanksgiving!

Friday

Photo by Richard W. Rodriguez.

Tonight, the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra will present the first of their three Home for the Holidays concert. Seasonal favorites will be performed by the orchestra and special guests at Bass Performance Hall where there might just be a chance for snow flurries.

Head to historic Downtown McKinney for the kickoff of their version of Home for the Holidays. The festivities include a Christmas Tree Lighting and live entertainment by Ricki Derek and the Ho, Ho, Ho Orchestra.

In Dallas, Kitchen Dog Theatre presents “Queen of Basel” at the Trinity River Arts Center. Set at a party for Miami’s rich and famous, the play examines the explosive elixir of power, class, and race within the Latinx community.

Saturday/Sunday

Take a Nature Walk on Saturday at the River Legacy Living Science Center in Arlington. The hikes are held on the 4th Saturday of each month and are free, family-friendly, and led by a guide.

Also on Saturday, head to the Castle Hills Village Shops in Lewisville for Holiday in the Plaza. Enjoy photo ops with Santa, live reindeer, face painting and a balloon artist at the event, but that’s not all–Santa will light a 68-foot tree after sunset.

Join Momentum Dance Company this weekend at the Irving Arts Center. The company will be celebrating its 15th anniversary season with a very special production of “The Nutcracker.”

Also, this weekend, catch “Miracle on 34th Street” on stage at the Eisemann Center in Richardson.

Monday

Prairie Lights continues at Lynn Creek Park in Grand Prairie. The drive-through light experience features 4-million lights set along 2 miles of path and an animated light tunnel. There is also a Holiday Village where you will find food, gifts, Santa, an indoor show, and the Magic Lighted Walk-Through Forest.

The Palace Arts Center in Grapevine screens the 1951 movie “A Christmas Carol.” tonight. The classic tale follows an old, bitter miser who is given a chance for redemption when he is haunted by three ghosts on Christmas Eve.

Join the book club at The Wild Detectives in Dallas. Tonight, they’ll be discussing “Trust Exercise” by American author and Pulitzer and PEN award finalist Susan Choi.

Tuesday

Martina McBride performs this evening at UT Tyler’s Cowan Arts Center. The award-winning country singer has sold more than 18 million albums to date.

Check out the “Hip Hop Nutcracker” at The Theatre at Grand Prairie. The contemporary ballet is set to Tchaikovsky’s timeless music and features a dozen all-star dancers, a DJ, and a violinist.

And, it’s your last chance to see a retrospective of work from Vernon Fisher. His exhibition, “Words and Pictures” is on view at UNT’s new College of Visual Arts and Design building.

For more on these and other events, explore the Art&Seek calendar.

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