You’ve spent the past several months cooped up inside your home, itching to get out. Finally, there’s some relief: Restrictions due to the pandemic are being slowly relaxed, allowing museums, live music venues and other local entertainment destinations to open. 

All have reopened with social distancing and other COVID safety protocols in place. As always, call or click to make sure information is current before you make your plans. 

Arts & Culture

Amon Carter Museum: Known for its impressive permanent collection of American art, the Amon is currently hosting three exhibitions. Acting Out: Cabinet Cards and the Making of Modern Photography, on view through Nov. 1, examines the birth and popularity of 19th century cabinet cards. Texas Made Modern: The Art of Everett Spruce, also on view through Nov. 1, is made up of vivid works by the well-known Texas landscape artist. And Puente Nuevo by Justin Favela, on view until Nov. 15, is a colorful exhibition featuring large-scale artwork made from materials used to construct pinatas. www.cartermuseum.org

Arlington Museum of Art: This hidden gem in downtown Arlington, open for more than three decades, is currently showing Knox Martin: Living Legend, featuring the big and bold artwork of celebrated painter, sculptor and muralist Knox Martin. Through Oct. 11. https://www.arlingtonmuseum.org

Modern Art Museum: Although its restaurant remains closed, the museum portion of the Modern has reopened and is currently showing Mark Bradford: End Papers, an exhibition devoted to the end papers created by mixed media artist Mark Bradford. The museum’s next exhibition opens Nov. 6 and features the work of abstract artist Marina Adams. The Modern’s film series, Magnolia at the Modern, has also resumed. www.themodern.org/exhibitions/current

Fort Worth Museum of Science and History: One of the city’s most popular museums is reopening, little by little. Hours are currently limited, from 11am-4pm Thursday-Saturday. Open exhibitions are geared toward little ones, who can learn about space exploration; Texas animals and their eco-systems; bead-making; and virtual reality. Because many portions of the museum are still closed due to COVID, including the Children’s Museum and the Omni, the price of admission has been reduced to $9 per person. The museum is free for children under the age of 5. Reservations are required. https://www.fwmuseum.org

International Bowling Museum & Hall of Fame: Bowling enthusiasts will certainly be bowled over by this fun boutique museum dedicated to all things bowling. The museum has been closed due to COVID but will reopen with limited hours Sept. 29. Reservations are required. https://www.bowlingmuseum.com

Kimbell Art Museum: Considered by many to be one of the best art museums in the country, the Kimbell will welcome its next traveling exhibition in December. Titled Queen Nefertari’s Egypt, the showing will include more than 200 objects, including statues, jewelry, vases and mummies, from the ancient village of Deir-el-Medina, home to the craftsmen who made the royal tombs. In the meantime, enjoy an exhibition of British artist J. M. W. Turner’s paintings, an extensive Asian art collection, and the museum’s permanent collection of historic works. www.kimbellart.org

National Cowgirl Museum & Hall of Fame: The only museum in the world dedicated to honoring women of the West, the National Cowgirl Museum has reopened with limited hours and reduced admission. Currently on exhibit is It’s Never Just a Horse, which examines the partnership between people and horses, particularly the Museum’s Hall of Fame honorees. http://www.cowgirl.net

Texas Civil War Museum: This often overlooked museum in far west Fort Worth offers a thorough – and thought-provoking – examination of Texas’ role in the Civil War. Currently open with limited hours. https://texascivilwarmuseum.com

Live Theatre

Casa Manana: This longtime Fort Worth theater recently announced several shows to be held in its Reid Cabaret Theatre, recently updated to meet social distancing guidelines. Performances include Queen of the Night – An Evening with Whitney, a live concert featuring singers Adrianna Hicks and Nicole Vanessa Ortiz belting out the songs of Whitney Houston (Sept. 29-Oct. 3), and Frank Sinatra – The Second Century, a live concert tribute to Ol’ Blue Eyes featuring New York musical theatre performers (Oct. 13-17). Casa’s Broadway performances are scheduled to resume in February with Matilda The Musical. http://www.casamanana.org

TCU Theatre: Texas Christian University’s College of Fine Arts is presenting two upcoming virtual theatre performances: The Melody Lingers On, a classical musical revue that pays homage to Irving Berlin (Sept. 24-27), and the Shakespearean My Love is as a Fever: Sonnets on Love and Other Maladies (Oct. 29-Nov. 1). Both will be live-streamed through TCU Theatre’s YouTube channel. https://www.tcu.edu

Circle Theatre: Downtown’s underground theater is planning a virtual reading of George Orwell’s dystopian novel 1984. A stage adaptation appeared on Broadway in 2017 and was scheduled to be a part of Circle Theatre’s current season. The theater’s reading will take place virtually this fall.  https://www.circletheatre.com

Jubilee Theatre: Fort Worth’s Jubilee Theatre will soon announce its new season. Look for information on http://www.jubileetheatre.org. 

Stage West Theatre: The pandemic has forced local arts organizations to think outside of the box and no other local theater may be as far from the box as Stage West, whose brilliant drive-in show Everything Will Be Fine is currently the toast of Fort Worth’s theatre community. Picture a drive-in movie and replace it with a dance/theater experience and you have Everything Will Be Fine. Final performances are Sept. 24-27 at the Texas Wesleyan University Administration Building parking lot, 1205 Wesleyan Street. Advance tickets are required. In October, Stage West will present Playlets, a triplet of three short virtual plays. https://stagewest.org

Theatre Arlington: While full-scale theatrical productions are currently on hold, the theater has several smaller, crowd-pleasing performances scheduled for this fall, including Comedy Tonight, a musical revue celebrating the last four decades of Theatre Arlington (now through Oct. 4). The theater will also host a cabaret series in October with singer Ken’Ja L. Brown on Oct. 16, a Gershwin revue on Oct. 17 and the family-friendly Halloween song and dance show, Creepy Cabaret Oct. 30-31. https://theatrearlington.org

Theatre Wesleyan: Texas Wesleyan’s theatre troupe continues its Six Plays At Six Feet series with an outdoor production of At a Distance, an original play written and directed by professor of theatre, Connie Whitt-Lambert. The show, about two strangers who discover a shared appreciation of solitude and classical literature, includes – and is inspired by – the works of Sophocles, Aristophanes and William Shakespeare and other famous poets and philosophers. Tickets are free but must be reserved in advance. Oct. 2-4 at Kay Granger Mall at Texas Wesleyan University. https://txwes.edu

Live Music

Arlington Music Hall: One of the few music venues in the area to reopen, Arlington Music Hall has a full slate of upcoming concerts. Shows include The Association (Oct. 8); Lorrie Morgan (Oct. 29); Johnny Rodriguez (10/23), Sammy Kershaw (11/6), and Beatlemania 64 (11/13). Concerts are scheduled through the holidays and into 2021 with tickets available to purchase Right Now. https://arlingtonmusichall.net

Billy Bob’s Texas: The world’s largest honky tonk has officially reopened, with new COVID-conscious guidelines in place. There’s also a full menu of grub, from burgers to barbecue. Concerts are back, too. Upcoming performances include a double-header with Randy Rogers and Wade Bowen (Oct. 23); Eli Young Band (10/31); the return of Texas singer/songwriter Robert Earl Keen (Nov. 6); and Soney Larue (12/5). Billy Bob’s will also host the 2020 Texas Country Music Awards on Nov. 15. https://billybobstexas.com

Fat Daddy’s:  One of Tarrant County’s most popular spots for live music has re-opened and filled their calendar with all of your favorite tribute bands.  Worth the trip to Mansfield for the music and the menu!  https://fatdaddyslive.com/ 

Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra: Since Bass Performance Hall remains closed due to COVID, the FWSO has moved the Symphonic Series and the Pop Series performances to Will Rogers Auditorium, including Beethoven’s “Pastoral” (Oct. 16-18), Soul Men (Oct 23-25), Home for the Holidays (Nov. 27-29) and others. https://fwsymphony.org

Levitt Pavilion: Arlington’s family-friendly outdoor venue is bringing the intimacy of its live concerts to your living room with a virtual concert series called, appropriately enough, Your Living Room. Performers include Jamie Lin Wilson (Sept. 25); La Tropa F (Sept. 26); Abraham Alexander (Oct. 16); and others. In-person concerts will resume in 2021, with the exception of an Oct. 10 Randy Rogers show, which is a fundraiser for Levitt. https://levittpavilionarlington.org

RIdglea Theater: Fort Worth’s historic Ridglea Theater has a handful of concerts scheduled over the next several weeks, including a can’t-miss double-header with Patty Griffin and Mavis Staples on Oct. 24. https://www.theridglea.com

Outdoor Activities

Fort Worth Botanic Garden: Take a stroll through the prettiest place in Fort Worth. Open seven days a week, from 8am-6pm. https://www.fwbg.org

State Fair of Texas: There are still lots of ways to keep your State Fair of Texas traditions alive this year. Try out the Drive Thru State Fair Food, pictures of Big Tex, or even State Fair of Texas at Home. Don’t let COVID-19 break your traditions. https://bigtex.com/

Fort Worth Zoo: The nation’s No. 1 zoo is open but reservations are required. The zoo’s popular Boo at the Zoo returns, as a drive-through event, Oct. 22-25. https://www.fortworthzoo.org

Hall’s Pumpkin Farm and Corn Maze: ‘Tis the season for pumpkin patches and this long-running p-patch in Grapevine, opening Oct. 2, is among the biggest in the area. In addition to the two-acre corn maze, there are hayrides, food and drinks and, of course, pumpkins of all shapes and sizes. http://www.hallspumpkinfarm.net

Log Cabin Village: Take a trip back in time, to the days of log cabins and no Instagram. Reservations required. https://www.logcabinvillage.org

Six Flags Over Texas: Thrill-seeker’s paradise is open weekends only and also for special events, such as the upcoming Fright Fest. Reservations required. https://www.sixflags.com

Taste of Nigeria Festival: Get a taste of authentic Nigerian cuisine at this seventh annual event, taking place at noon Sept. 26 at Asia Times Square in Grand Prairie. https://www.eventbrite.com

Texas Wine Month in Grapevine:  Wine enthusiasts from around the state and country are invited to come celebrate Texas Wine Month in Historic Grapevine, which kicks off at the Nash Farm Harvest Moon Supper celebrating the harvest moon. Additional activities include live jazz and Grapevine wines on board the Grapevine Vintage Railroad. The 28th Annual New Vintage Wine and Gallery Trail features multiple winery tasting rooms in Historic Downtown Grapevine, and visitors and residents alike have the unique opportunity to observe The Lone Star International Wine Competition. For more information on Texas Wine Month events, visit GrapevineTexasUSA.com/TexasWineMonth.

Trinity Trails of Fort Worth: All portions of the 100 mile-plus Trinity Trails remain open for joggers, bikers and good ol’ fashion walkers. https://www.trinitytrailsfw.com

Virtual Events

Chamber Music Society of Fort Worth: The popular chamber group will stream a recorded performance of its A Bridge of Searing Beauty concert at 2pm on Oct. 10. https://www.cmsfw.org

The Cliburn: Home of the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition, The Cliburn continues to present a myriad of online events and experiences, from children’s education programs to streaming concerts. https://cliburn.org

DFW Child Virtual Family Night: Every other Friday, DFW Child magazine and the Carrollton Public Library join hands to present interactive, online story-reading events designed for the whole family. Registration is required. https://dfwchild.com

Fort Worth Opera: Celebrating its 75th season, the Fort Worth Opera has launched a new digital initiative called Green Room, which includes master classes, online performances and Zoom readings of new works.  Following the success of our 2019 world premiere, Frida Kahlo and the Bravest Girl in the World, composer Joe Illick and librettist Mark Campbell have teamed up once again for Stone Soup, a new family opera with an enduring message of kindness. Led by a resourceful young hero named Sally, this timely tale teaches the value of sharing and collaboration. https://www.fwopera.org/stone-soup

Levitt Pavilion: Arlington’s family-friendly outdoor venue is bringing the intimacy of its live concerts to your living room with a virtual concert series called, appropriately enough, Your Living Room. Performers include Jamie Lin Wilson (Sept. 25); La Tropa F (Sept. 26); Abraham Alexander (Oct. 16); and others. In-person concerts will resume in 2021, with the exception of an Oct. 10 Randy Rogers show, which is a fundraiser for Levitt. https://levittpavilionarlington.org

TCU Theatre: Texas Christian University’s College of Fine Arts is presenting two upcoming virtual theatre performances: The Melody Lingers On, a classical musical revue that pays homage to Irving Berlin (Sept. 24-27), and the Shakespearean My Love is as a Fever: Sonnets on Love and Other Maladies (Oct. 29-Nov. 1). Both will be live-streamed through TCU Theatre’s YouTube channel. https://www.tcu.edu