Life After COVID Brings Festivals Back to Dallas

The pandemic isn't over, but the panic is. Today, President Biden announced that the country has met his goal of 200 million vaccinations administered in the first 100 days of his administration. And that comes as welcome relief to Dallasites looking to restart their lives in earnest.

While there are still an assortment of virtual events to keep folks entertained at home, there are also — and will continue to be — more in-person options. Here's what's available through the weekend:

The 51st Annual USA Film Festival runs today through April 25. Events will be held at the Angelika Film Center, 5321 E. Mockingbird Lane in Dallas.

This year’s feature film programs include Johan von Sydow’s Tiny Tim: King For a Day; Mariem Pérez Riera’s Rita Moreno: Just a Girl Who Decided to Go For It; Sonia Kennebeck’s Enemies of the State; Euros Lyn’s Dream Horse; Anders Thomas Jensen’s Riders of Justice; Nicole Riegel’s Holler; Ben Sharrock’s Limbo; Luke Holland’s Final Account; Ümran Safter’s Leave the Door Open; Tracey Deer’s Beans; Joe Duca’s Her Name Was Jo; and Arnold Lim’s All-in Madonna.

Safety measures will be in place. Masks are required and social distancing seating protocols will be observed for this year’s contact-free event. Tickets are free, but must be reserved in advance by calling The Festival office at 214-821-6300.

No walk-up tickets will be available. For more details and to view the full schedule, visit www.usafilmfestival.com

Friday through Sunday, you can fill your ears with banjos, fiddles, dobros and dulcimers at the Bluegrass Heritage Festival in the DoubleTree Dallas Hotel near the Galleria. The DoubleTree not only provides a showroom for the main featured entertainment, but spaces for jamming as well. Details are available at the Bluegrass Heritage Festival website. This year's roster includes the Lonesome River Band, the Byron Berline Band, Breaking Grass, the Purple Hulls, Salt Creek, Chords of Grace, and others. Sunday morning also features a Gospel Sing/Service with Prairie Wind.

Online, The Undermain Theatre Festival presents a virtual alternative, "Whither Goest Thou America: A Festival of New American Plays", featuring Suffocation Theory by David Rabe (which has been extended through May 2). Tickets are $20.

The theater is also hosting a virtual conversation with playwright Rabe Thursday at 6:30 pm CST available to donors only). Tickets can be purchased here:https://undermain.secure.force.com/ticket#/

Also streaming today through April 28:Bright Boys by local playwright Blake Hackler
(tickets are $15 for this reading), and also on the way April 28 through May 2 is Feeding on Light by New York-based playwright Lenora Champagne (tickets are also $15)

For more information, visit their site: www.undermain.org

The EarthxFilm Festival continues through Sunday with outdoor and virtual screenings. Its mission is to showcase Films and Emerging Media that Explore Science, Conservation, Climate Change, and the Environment while honoring those working to protect the planet. EarthxFilm aims to turn awareness into action through education, art, and media.

Sunday's closing night features the world premiere virtual presentation of Clark Johnson’s Percy vs. Goliath, starring Christopher Walken, Adam Beach, Christina Ricci, and Zach Braff. Executive Produced by NBA champion Dwight Howard, this true-life story tells of a farmer taking on a multi-national corporation over the impact of GMOs on his livelihood.
Additional film highlights will include an evening of Texas-focused films featuring EarthxFilm alum Ben Masters’ American Ocelot and Nicol Ragland’s Trans Pecos.

For more information, visit the EarthXFilm site.