Holiday Movies, Laughs, Parades and Concerts Fill the Fort Worth Area Calendar

Cinema, comedy, community gatherings and concerts make up a crowded holiday calendar across Fort Worth and nearby cities, with events running from this week through Dec. 20.

On the film side, KERA is promoting its Passport streaming service, which includes A Swingin' Sesame Street Celebration. The program features the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, led by Wynton Marsalis, alongside Big Bird, Cookie Monster, Elmo and other characters. Passport access comes with a KERA gift of at least $5 a month or $60 a year. Flix Brewhouse in Mansfield shows Adam Sandler's Eight Crazy Nights at 7:15 p.m. Thursday as part of its 25 Days of Flixmas series, with $7 tickets. Whiskey Ranch in Fort Worth screens Elf at 6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 16. That event is for ages 21 and over, and the $10 ticket includes a first cocktail.

Comedy options start Sunday. Will Hearn's Grand Ol' Christmas Show plays the Ridglea Theater at 4:30 p.m., with the Blue Water Highway Band and a troupe of Texas actors, comedians and musicians. The show is staged as a retro radio program at a fictional station, with gospel singers, an orchestra and sketches. Tickets start at $22. The same evening, comedian and magician Eric Eaton, who appeared on Masters of Illusion, brings his adults-only show Naughty Not Nice to Hyena's Dallas at 7 p.m., with tickets from $25.

Seinfeld fans can attend a Festivus Episode Trivia Night at 8 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 13, at the Black Dog Retro Arcade inside The Improv in Arlington. Players can compete alone or in teams of up to six. Entry is free, but a reservation is required through Eventbrite. Comedian Ian Mac, a former Fort Worth Weekly staffer, has launched a podcast and performs stand-up at Kava Culture Kava Bar in Fort Worth from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. each Sunday, as part of a night hosted by Dave Merriken.

Community events start Saturday with the Arlington Holiday Lights Parade at Levitt Pavilion. The Miss Persis Elf Show opens at 3:45 p.m., followed by music from September Moon with Hankins. The parade runs at 6 p.m. and ends with a tree lighting at 7:15 p.m., after which DJ Gurrl plays and visitors can have photos taken with Santa. All of it is free. Also Saturday, the Wildcat Band hosts its 20th annual Breakfast with Santa and Holiday Market at Kennedale High School from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Admission is free, and the pancake breakfast or pizza lunch with Santa costs $10, with proceeds supporting the band.

Visit Irving is also running its 12 Days of Holiday Giving Contest through Tuesday, Dec. 12. One winner is chosen at random each day, and participants must enter daily. Prizes range from $450 to $7,200 and total $15,000.

Concerts include Trans-Siberian Orchestra, which plays Dickies Arena for one night at 7:30 p.m. Friday with its show Ghosts of Christmas Eve: The Best of TSO. The group grew out of the progressive rock band Savatage, and the East Coast touring company will perform. Tickets start at $59.75. The Texas Tenors, Emmy winners and former America's Got Talent: The Champions finalists, appear at the Palace Theatre in Grapevine at 7:30 p.m. Monday through Wednesday, Dec. 11-13, with 3 p.m. shows Tuesday and Thursday, Dec. 12 and 14. Tickets are $48.

Fort Worth singer Abraham Alexander plays the Majestic Theatre in Dallas at 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 14, with guest Jackson Scribner. It is his only North Texas show before a tour that begins after the new year, and tickets start at $26. Grand Prairie's Pentatonix close out the list with The Most Wonderful Tour of the Year at Dickies Arena at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 20, with tickets from $30.