Take Your Buddy to See Elf: The Musical, Get Your Cosplay at the New Anime Con, Fight it Out at The Bomb Factory, Enjoy a Free Sheila E Show and More.

They’ve got an interesting way of dealing with stress over there in South Korea. Much like celebrities who will check themselves into the hospital for the weekend due to exhaustion, folks in Korea are sending themselves to fake prisons to escape the daily grind.

Fortunately, there are tons of ways to unwind this weekend that don’t involve getting locked up. Enjoy your freedom at one of these three dozens spots. — Cory Graves

Friday

Anime Dallas 2018 at Hyatt Regency DFW
It’s not the nearly 30-year-old A-Kon convention, but an upstart anime gathering featuring a similar collection of screenings, guests, videogames and cosplay. — CG

A John Williams Family Christmas at Meyerson Symphony Center
All three days this weekend, the Children’s Chorus of Greater Dallas is doing cuts from Harry Potter, Home Alone and other Hollywood, holiday classics. — CG

Found Footage Fest at Texas Theatre
A duo whose backgrounds include writing for The Onion and The Late Show With David Letterman show off their latest collection of found footage, assembled from thrift store VHS finds and other quirky archives. — CG

Broncho at Dada
The newest album from sexy Oklahoma indie-rockers Broncho is a real winner. Since the band’s last album, one of its members got married, and another got divorced, lending a push-and-pull effect to the latest effort, weighing the pros and cons of the institution. — CG

Blazing Saddles at Inwood Theatre
Yes, your sweet grandmother’s favorite movie is coming back to the big screen. Director Mel Brooks’ classic is a satirical take on those old western movies you had to watch on Sunday afternoon because nothing was on. It’s all coming back now, isn’t it? — Sidney Johnson

Wes Corwin at New Main Brewing
The Cracked writer hits town to perform stand-up at the brewery’s monthly comedy event. Peng Dang, Julia Sykora and Jeff Pinkos open, and Brian Breckenridge hosts. — CG

David Olney at Fort Worth Live
One of Townes Van Zandt’s best friends and favorite songwriters plays the singer-songwriter haven. — CG

Minus the Bear at Granada Theater (Sold Out)
Everyone’s favorite bear-less band is back! Bring your own bear, since this math rock and electronic hybrid band definitely won’t have one. Tera Melos opens. — Chelsea Upton

The Crystal Method at Trees
Get busy, child. — CG

The Suffers at Kessler Theater
This Houston band infuses classic American Soul with rock and roll elements for a danceable sound for the crowd to enjoy. — Kelly Benjamin

Legacy Fighting Alliance 55 at The Bomb Factory
Check out some fighting by some in-their-prime athletes that’ll be 1,000 percent less embarrassing than whatever Chuck Liddell’s up to tonight. — CG

Elf: The Musical at Music Hall at Fair Park
Each day this weekend, Dallas Summer Musicals is staging a musical version of the Will Ferrell holiday favorite. DID YOU HEAR THAT?! — CG

LEV (EP Release) at Double Wide
Dallas pop artist LEV will celebrate the release of her newest EP with a concert — and a drag performance. — CG

Saturday

Mike & the Moonpies at Blue Light Dallas
My personal favorite Texas honky-tonk outfit is, perhaps, the new Blue Light’s biggest show to date. — CG

Funny & Famous Comedy Show at The Theatre at Grand Prairie
DeRay Davis and Corey Holcomb head up a big night of stand-up that also includes sets from Kountry Wayne, Melanie Comarcho and Chico Bean. — CG

Three-Year Anniversary/Prohibition Repeal Party at Intrinsic Smokehouse & Brewing
Celebrate 85 years of legal alcohol drinking — and three years of doing so at this Garland brewpub — at this free party, which includes the release of some special, limited edition beers. — CG

One-Year Anniversary at Twilite Lounge (Fort Worth)
It’s been one year since Fort Worth’s best bar opened. That’s worth celebrating in itself, even if it weren’t for Calhoun and Jake Paleschic playing a free show there. — CG

“But like, yeah” at Erin Cluley Gallery
Rachel Livedalen’s new exhibition appropriates and mashes up ’90s girl power and Greco Roman aesthetics to make dynamic prints conveying “the cultural representations defining womanhood.” — CG

Ten-Year Anniversary Party at Lola’s
It’ll be a three-stage affair celebrating the demise of the old Wreck Room, featuring sets from Holy Moly, The Me-Thinks, Siberian Traps, Dead Vinyl and so many more. — CG

A Holiday Market Pop-Up at the Alexan Ross
Maintain that commitment to shopping small, by patronizing some local vendors from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Complimentary gift-wrapping included. — CG

Japanese Garden Maple Festival at Fort Worth Botanic Garden
Celebrate the fall foliage with traditional Japanese dances, teas and martial arts demonstrations. — CG

Love Actually at Alamo Drafthouse (Cedars)
Did you know there was a Love Actually sequel called Red Nose Day Actually? Well, now you do, and now you’ll have something to discuss with your fellow Love Actually enthusiasts at this shindig. — Obed Manuel

Cinewilde Presents: Mame at Texas Theatre
This 1974 musical stars Lucille Ball in the titular role, her final film performance, alongside many a queer icons Bea Arthur, Bruce Davison and Robert Preston. A talk with local queer artists preceeds the film, and a cocktail party in the lobby follows. — CG

Reliant Lights Your Holidays at Winspear Opera House
This annual, free family event returns with a performance from Sheila E, a professional ballet folklorico company, a fireworks show and a visit from Santa. — CG

nothing,nowhere at RBC
The dreaded emo/white rapper combo. Wicca Phase Springs Eternal, Smrtdeath and St. Panther open. — CG

Emo Nite Dallas at 2513 Deep Ellum
The monthly, Los Angeles-born, emo dance party returns with its regular DJs and some live bands TBA. — CG

Light Up Lowest Greenville
The Lowest Greenville community is to host a holiday celebration with drink specials at participating locations. — Lauren Keuning

The Steve Gnash Experience, Yaz Mean, Blu H3ron at Armoury, D.E. (Free)
Another diverse bill lined up for the recurring Locked and Loaded series. Be especially excited to check out Dallas prog fusion outfit Yaz Mean, which just released a new album recorded by Grammy-winner Jordan Richardson. — CG

Sunday

Sunny Sweeney’s Dysfunctional Family Christmas at Magnolia Motor Lounge
The brassy country songwriter brings her dysfunctional family (read: Brennen Leigh and Ward Davis) to Fort  Worth for a song swap thing. — CG

Laugh Your MASS Off w/ Mac Blake at Main At South Side
Once the funniest person in Austin, the bearded comic headlines this recurring music venue-set comedy show. Aaron Brooks, Tony Casillas and Michael Reed also perform and, as always, Brian Breckenridge hosts. — CG

Tamale and Beer Pairing at L.U.C.K.
There are more than just chicken, pork and beef tamales in the world. The Casa Masa folks will show you the way pairing their other worldly goods with four North Texas brews. — CG

Elf: The Musical at Music Hall at Fair Park
The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear. — CG

Edward Scissorhands at Texas Theatre
Of all the gothic comedy’s Tim Burton’s been responsible for, his fourth film, Edward Scissorhands is still among his best. The ugly duckling/gentle giant tale is the film that spawned the short-lived “Wino Forever” relationship between co-stars Winona Ryder and Johnny Depp, as well as the ongoing, nine film deep relationship between Depp and Burton. Or like the old tagline went; the film will touch you, even if he can’t. — CG

Darci Lynne and Friends at The Theatre at Grand Prairie
The pint-sized ventriloquist that won the 2017 season of America’s Got Talent brings her friends to town to do comedy. Her friends are puppets, btw. — CG

DISH: Sunday Brunch + Beats at Independent Bar & Kitchen
Celebrity chef Roe DiLeo whips up the dishes while Samma Lone handles the beats. The bar handles the $4 bloodys and mimosas. — CG

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