Not to overshadow Thanksgiving, but let’s be real: the day after Thanksgiving is the official start to the holiday season and that has A LOT of people excited. That said, here are some ways to kick off the holiday season this weekend.

Miracle on 34^th Street

Runway Theatre brings the Macy’s holiday Santa to Greater Fort Worth in this charming Christmas classic. This performance follows the trials and tribulations of Kris Kringle, filled with holiday cheer; his coworkers, filled with envy; and a little girl, full of belief in the magic of Christmas.  This family-friendly show is a timeless Christmas story that will have you laughing and reveling in the holiday spirit!

“Miracle on 34^th Street” begins Friday, November 26 and runs through Sunday, December 12.

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Parade of Lights

“Unwrap the Magic” this Friday in downtown Fort Worth
for the 28th annual Chesapeake Energy Parade of Lights. 

This event features a special Holiday Fun Zone, the lighting of the Sundance Square Christmas tree and more than 100 entries in the parade! The parade is guaranteed to feature many professional floats, as well as community-based floats, making their way through the streets of downtown for you to enjoy.

There are lots of other events planned, including a performance from 4-Day Weekend, photos with Santa and a Christmas movie on the big screen in the Chisholm Trail parking lot.

The event kicks off at 6 p.m. at the corner of Throckmorton and Belknap, but people are expected to start arriving around 4:30 to get good seats. Click here for full details, including the parade route map and an event timeline.

If you’re unable to make it out to the parade, tune into TXA-21 for a first-ever broadcast of the event.

For those of you who aren’t ready to welcome the holiday season just quite yet, but you still need something to do with all of your visiting family members, visit WorthGoing.com to see what’s happening in Greater Fort Worth.

If you can’t make it to Log Cabin Village on Friday, head over there on Saturday and Sunday to make candles from 1-4 p.m.! No reservations are required to dip your own candles that you’ll get to take home. The cost is $3 plus regular Village admission.

This art exhibition and sale features themes of the West in bronze, sculpture, oil, watercolor, pencil and other fine art media. Nearly 50 female artists will be featured in this exhibit, including Hall of Fame honorees from previous years. This exhibition is noted as the “finest all-female Western art show and sale in the Southwest.”

A portion of the proceeds from this exhibition will benefit the National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame. So, not only is this a great way to see various forms of art from renowned female artists, but it’s a way to give back to a museum in your own backyard!

This two-day event, The Funky Finds Experience, will feature the work of more than 120 artists, crafters and designers and their hand-crafted goods. You’ll find clothing, jewelry, accessories, home goods, paper goods and much more.

If you’re looking to get a head start on your holiday shopping, this FREE event is the perfect opportunity. While you’re at The Funky Finds Experience, purchase $1 raffle tickets – all proceeds benefit the Tarrant Area Food Bank and Toys for Tots and you’ll have the chance to win some great prizes.

The event runs Saturday, November 6 and Sunday, November 7 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The performances will feature two unique events on one of the world’s largest “dance” floors – over 300 feet of dancing! You’ll enjoy new dances performed by the CD/FW dancers, as well as select performances from musicians and dancers.

Audience members are invited to shake their tail feathers with the dancers in a freestyle round of the “chicken dance.” Winner will receive gift certificates to The Black Rooster Bakery.

October 30 and 31 will be full of dynamic aviation performances, static display, interactive booths and a Kid Zone, plus admission is free.

Gates are open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and parking is $20.

More information – click here.

The Zoo is also hosting a wildlife costume photo contest, so be sure to take photos while you’re at the new event and upload them on the Zoo’s website – you can win some fun prizes.

There’s no need to buy your tickets ahead of time – you can purchase them at the Zoo.

All the other info you need to know is at www.fortworthzoo.org/boo

Sundance Square will roll out the red carpet for one of Fort Worth’s most fun and unique events of the year.

Go ahead and make your plans to attend The Lone Star Film Society’s Lonestar International Film Festival (or as the cool kids call it, LSIFF), taking place in Sundance Square November 10 – 14.

This five-day celebration of cinema is known for bringing films to Fort Worth that represent what’s next in international cinema, as well as introducing emerging artists.

Red carpets, celebrities, education panels and parties make this event a must-attend celebration.

Venues, schedules and guests will be announced soon, so stay tuned to WorthGoing.com for all the information you’ll need.

Alice in Wonderland

Join your childhood friends Alice, Matilda, Mad Hatter, White Rabbit and the Dodo Birds in Wonderland at Artisan Theater in Hurst!

Relive the 1951 Disney classic, Alice in Wonderland, on stage as you watch Alice make her way through a magical world and sing along to the classic tunes, “I’m Late,” “The Unbirthday Song” and “Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah.”

This lively show will surely bring back fond memories of the first time you were introduced to this Disney tale – it will be a hit for children and adults alike!

The show ends Saturday, September 25.

The 39 Steps

Mix spies, humor, a murder mystery and just two actors, and you get a get a show that’s “so much fun that it ought to be illegal.” The 39 Steps is an espionage story brought to life at Stage West that’s full of fun.

If you’re a classic movie buff, you may remember Alfred Hitchcock’s 1935 rendition of this novel. Stage West writes that the theatrical performance of The 39 Steps provides more wit and humor than Hitchcock’s version.

This performance features a “large dollop of humor and a host of witty references” to other Hitchcock films, and was a major hit in London (winning the 2007 Olivier Award for best new comedy) and then in New York (winning two Tonys and two Drama Desk awards).

Hurry over to Stage Theater — The 39 Steps ends Sunday, September 26.

Fort Worth has been treating you to jazz, now it’s Denton’s turn to step up to the mic. On September 18 and 19, Denton will be singing the blues at its 12th annual Blues Fest.

The popular (and free!) event, sponsored by the Denton Black Chamber of Commerce, will feature blues musicians, dancing, a Denton Idol contest, food, bounce houses and face painting all weekend long.

Pops Carter and the Funkmonsters, who have played at this family-friendly event nearly every year since it began in 1999, will make their return this year.

For all the details, visit www.worthgoing.com