Night & Day // Holidays 2023

According to a certain blue monster, “C” is for “cookie,” and that’s good enough for him. I, too, am a fan of the tasty round treats. In fact, I’ve written about two cookie-oriented events in ATE DAY8 a Week in Eats & Drinks. Here in the holidays edition of Night & Day, I’m covering Cinema, Comedy, Community, and Concerts. As for Culture, Edward Brown is setting the Stage (see what I did there?) for noteworthy shows by local theater troupes in the piece that follows. Yes, let’s celebrate the … C-son.

 CINEMA 

Public television is alive and well, thanks to “contributions from viewers like you.” If you don’t already have a KERA Passport, donate now and start streaming culturally relevant, quality content like A Swingin’ Sesame Street Celebration. Featuring the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra led by Wynton Marsalis, the show stars all the lovable characters, including Big Bird, Cookie Monster, Elmo, and more, singing along. Become a KERA member and gain passport access with a gift of at least $5 a month or $60 annually at KERA.org/Passport/Donate-and-Watch.

Eight Crazy Nights screens at the new Flix Brewhouse (416 N Hwy 287, Mansfield, 682-977-8001) 7:15pm Thu as part of the film tavern’s holiday movie series, 25 Days of Flixmas. In the Adam Sandler classic, a guy who hates the holidays goes on a rampage on the first night of Hanukkah and is arrested. His mobile home burns down, and he’s forced to move in with a local basketball referee with a “kvetchy sister.” No wonder he hates the holidays! By confronting the ghosts of the past and performing an act of selfless kindness, he overcomes his demons and learns to enjoy Hanukkah again. Tickets are $7 at FlixBrewhouse.com/Mansfield. (Read more about 25 Days of Flixmas in our ATE DAY8 a Week).

“Santa! I know him!” Yes, Buddy, we all do. The Christmas classic Elf screens at Whiskey Ranch (2601 Whiskey Ranch Rd, Fort Worth, 817-840-9140) 6pm Sat, Dec 16. Tickets to this 21+ event are $10 at FRDistilling.com and include your first cocktail. You are welcome to bring chairs/blankets and spread Christmas cheer by singing loud for all to hear. (Christmas Vacation, our cover inspiration, screens here the night before.)

 COMEDY 

Will Hearn’s Grand Ol’ Christmas Show rolls into the Ridglea Theater (6025 Camp Bowie Blvd, Fort Worth, 817-738-9500) 4:30pm Sun. Featuring the Blue Water Highway Band and a troupe of Texas actors, comedians, and musicians, this musical comedy portrays a retro radio program “in front of a live studio audience” at the fictional N-O-E-L 1225 Radio Theater, punched up by gospel singers, an orchestra, and SNL-style sketches. Tickets start at $22 at Eventbrite.com.

Fresh off a side-splitting set at Hyena’s Nightclub Fort Worth, comedian/magician Eric Eaton is doing an encore performance of his adults-only holiday show Naughty Not Nice at Hyena’s Dallas (5321 E Mockingbird Ln, 214-823-5233) 7pm Sun. (Eaton’s name may be familiar. He was on the TV show Masters of Illusion.) Tickets start at $25 at Prekindle.com.

Fans of Seinfeld, rejoice! A Festivus Episode Trivia Night is 8pm Wed, Dec 13, at the Black Dog Retro Arcade inside The Improv (309 Curtis Mathes Way, Arlington). Celebrate “a Festivus for the rest of us” with an airing of grievances and feats of strength. You can play by yourself or in teams of up to six people. This event is free, but you must reserve a spot via Eventbrite.com.

Beyond the Santa cap he’s wearing on the cover as our makeshift Clark Griswold, the talented Ian Mac wears many hats. Comedian, family man, graphic artist, and former Weekly staffer are all on his resume. Now, he can add the title of podcaster, as his new GreatUnwashedPodcast.com has just gone live. See him perform stand-up comedy at Kava Culture Kava Bar (3529 Heritage Trace Pkwy, Ste 155, Fort Worth, 817-741-5469) 7pm-10pm every Sunday as part of the comedy night Ian Mac Presents: Better Than Booze, hosted by Dave Merriken.

 COMMUNITY 

Slightly east, the holidays begin with the Arlington Holiday Lights Parade at Levitt Pavilion (100 W Abram St, 817-543-4301) on Saturday. The festivities start with the Miss Persis Elf Show at 3:45pm, followed by live music from Weekly Music Awards nominee September Moon with Hankins. The parade is at 6pm and ends at 7:15pm with a tree-lighting ceremony. Afterward, enjoy tunes spun by DJ Gurrl while you take photos with Santa. All of the above is free of charge.

The Wildcat Band invites you to the 20th Annual Breakfast with Santa and Holiday Market at Kennedale High School (901 Wildcat Way, 817-563-8100) 9am-2pm Sat. This community-wide event features live holiday music and a holiday market with hundreds of handcrafted items for sale. Admission is free. As for the pancake breakfast (or pizza lunch) with Santa, the cost is $10, with proceeds benefiting the Kennedale Wildcat Band. For more information, visit KHSBand.com/HolidayMarket.

The City of Irving would like to show you a good time. Visit Irving is getting into the holiday spirit by offering chances to win Irving-centric experiences and gifts. Now thru Tue, Dec 12, enter Irving’s 12 Days of Holiday Giving Contest to maybe go home with a staycation that includes holiday activities, dining, and more. One winner will be randomly selected every day, and participants must enter daily. Prizes range in value from $450 to $7,200 each, totaling $15,000. Nice! For complete details on how to enter, visit IrvingTexas.com/12-Days-Giveaway.

 CONCERTS 

Fort Worth has managed to steal a great holiday concert away from Dallas. Go, us! Trans-Siberian Orchestra brings its Ghosts of Christmas Eve: The Best of TSO to Dickies Arena (1911 Montgomery St, 817-402-9000) for one night only 7:30pm Fri. TSO is an offshoot of prog-rockers Savatage, who, after once writing a wildly popular Christmas song, were asked by their record label for an entire holiday album. That successful body of work has progressed (pun intended!) over the years and is now a large-scale extravaganza performed by two touring companies. Both the East and West Coast troupes are amazing. Tickets start at $59.75 at Ticketmaster.com for this concert by the East Coast contingency.

As part of their Deep in the Heart of Christmas shows, Emmy Award winners The Texas Tenors — former finalists on America’s Got Talent: The Champions — will perform at the Palace Theatre (300 S Main St, Grapevine, 817-410-3100) 7:30pm Mon-Wed, Dec 11-13, and 3pm Tue and Thu, Dec 12 and 14. Along with seasonal classics like “O Holy Night” and “Joy to the World,” the guys will sing well-known hits from the American songbook like “You’ve Lost that Lovin’ Feelin’ ” and more. Tickets are $48 at GrapevineTexasUSA.com.

Wasn’t I just bragging about our snagging a show from Dallas? Well, Big D has pilfered one of our Music Awards nominees. Hometown crooner Abraham Alexander plays the Majestic Theatre (1925 Elm St, Dallas 214-670-3687) 7pm Thu, Dec 14, with special guest Jackson Scribner. This holiday concert is Alexander’s only North Texas show before he heads out on tour after the first of the year. Tickets start at $26 at Prekindle.com. While you’re there, please stop by the merch table and pick up a copy of SEA/SONS. His new album would be a great Christmas gift for yours truly. Vinyl, please. #JustSayin

Grand Prairie’s Pentatonix make their annual pilgrimage to North Texas for a hometown holiday performance. Pentatonix: The Most Wonderful Tour of the Year is 7pm Wed, Dec 20, at Dickies Arena (1911 Montgomery St, Fort Worth, 817-402-9000). Tickets start at $30 at Ticketmaster.com.

Whether you prefer your holiday tunes secular or sacred, our slice of North Texas is delirious with holiday-themed shows. Read all about it in Snowy Sizzle.