This weekend you’ll have a few opportunities to not only celebrate this town’s diversity, but support the individuals that make this town diverse in the first place. . 

Denton Black Film Festival is kicking off next weekend’s festivities with the community event Building Bridges on Saturday afternoon. Spiderweb Salon, a local art collective, is hosting an 80s formal night event that will showcase music, art, and poetry from a wide array of different talented Denton folk. Dentonites from all walks of life will gather on the courthouse lawn to show solidarity with the reunion of the Million Women’s March on Washington, a protest that pushed for legislative changes concerning the rights of women and LGBTQ+ individuals.


Get out and see what your diverse community is doing, Denton.

Friday 1/19

Feminist Friday Happy Hour
Backyard on Bell
6:00 p.m.- 8:00 p.m.
FREE

Food, drinks, and female empowerment!

Backyard on Bell is hosting Feminist Friday Happy Hour, which will give progressive Denton residents a chance to meet some of the city’s female Democratic candidates. This event falls on the eve of the  Women’s March Reunion on the Square. There’s going to be food trucks, drink specials, and lively discussions.

Saturday 1/20

Women's March Reunion
Denton County Courthouse on the Square
11:00 a.m. – 1:00p.m.
FREE

Let’s make history- again!

Last January, hundreds of residents gathered on the Denton County Courthouse lawn in solidarity with the first ever Women’s March on Washington, a worldwide protest that pushed for legislative changes concerning women’s rights, reproductive rights, worker’s rights, LGBTQ+ rights, and healthcare reform. Men, women, and children are welcome to participate in this event. Signs are encouraged!

Denton Black Film Festival: Building Bridges
Patterson-Appleton Arts Center
12:00 p.m.- 4:00 p.m.
FREE
ALL AGES

Join the Denton Black Film Festival team as they host their third annual pre-festival event, Building Bridges. This event is a celebration of the art, music, film, and culture of the local black community here in Denton, Texas. There’s going to be food trucks, face painting, balloon art, caricature drawings, dance workshops, photo booths, prize giveaways, and local vendors at this family-friendly event!  For those who are over the age of 18, there will be a Vivid Shadows fashion show hosted by DBFF after the event. This is also free, and will have live music, drinks, dancing, and an exclusive fashion show celebrating local black talents.

Spiderweb Salon's 2018 Winter Formal (80s Throwback Edition!)
Dan’s Silver Leaf
7:00 p.m.- 1:00 a.m.
$5 entry

Shoulder pads? Check. Teased hair? Check. 

The Denton art collective Spiderweb Salon is hosting their 2018 Winter Formal at Dan’s Silver Leaf this Saturday, and you’re invited! The theme of this event is 80s Throwback, and guests are encouraged to dress up ala 80s prom realness. We’re talking blue eyeshadow, puffy sleeves, and hairspray up the wazoo. This event is going to be filled with local talent in the form of live poetry, music, and art, from performers like Anjelica Fraga, Torry Clark, Sarah Friday, Lorelai K, and many more. Candlemaker Marvel & Moon will be selling wares, and artist Alex Stock will be selling prints, stickers, and buttons. Spiderweb Salon will be showcasing their zines for $5 a piece, and will be releasing a brand new zine titled LOW POWER RADIO, in collaboration with Denton DJ’s and radio aficionados.

After the live performances, there’s going to be a dance party hosted by a secret, special guest.

Orcanaut, Jeremiah Jackson, TNG SXX, Springtime and Doomfall
J&J’s Pizza Basement
7:00 p.m.- 12:00 a.m.
$5
ALL AGES

This Saturday, J&J’s basement will be filled with DFW bands, including the heavy rock group Doomfall, dram math rock band Springtime and the Changes, punk band Teenage Sexx, bluesy powerhouse Jeremiah Jackson, and beloved Denton stoner metal group Orcanaut. The show starts at 8 p.m. with Doomfall and Orcanaut ends the show at 11 p.m.

Bring your friends, buy some pizza, and be prepared to get ~weird~. 

Sunday 1/21

Granatum -Back to School- Short Film Screening
Andy’s Bar
6:00 p.m.- 11:00 p.m.
18+
$3 suggested donation

Come out to Andy’s and see what local filmmakers are doing!

Granatum, a DFW short film collage and art exhibit is putting on a special film show case at Andy’s bar this Sunday evening. Each of the short films shown have been regionally produced by talents across the Dallas/Fort Worth and Denton areas. The films being shown include Roughhouse (dir. Sarah Brill), For the Love of Pie (dir. Kylie McLaughlin), Leaves (dir. Jordan Wright), Hot Rod Brothers (dir. Noah LeGrand), The News Today (dir. Lisa Donato), Hoax (dir.. Hayden Zaiser), The Legend of Gnome (dir. Ryan Polly), and I Stand Alone (dir. Kenny Severson). There’s going to be live music following the film from the bands Noah & the Grand Slam Jam Band as well as Girls Club.

East Side Vs. Jupiter House Tug Of War
East Side Social Club
4:00 p.m.- 12:00 a.m.
FREE

Baristas vs. bartenders… Who’s got what it takes?!

Support a local business in need, and have fun while doing it! Cheer on the Jupiter House team as they take on the East Side staff in a competitive game of tug of war. Each team will be sporting hilarious costumes, and the losing team will have to perform a ~grueling~ act that’s yet to be decided. Pan Ector will be printing up t-shirts on site, and there’s going to be live music as well. Tug time starts once the AFC Championship game has ended, so get there early- you won’t want to miss a second of this!

Comedy, Music and Drama
Dan’s Silver Leaf
8:00 p.m.
FREE

Get some culture in your life, Denton!

Dan’s Silver Leaf is putting on an eccentric show filled with humor, whimsy, and lots of local talent. Improv troupe The Beer City Players, performer Nolan Chapa, comedian Joey Johnson, and musical talent Miranda Kennedy will all be taking the stage this evening. 
Denton comedian + show curator Colton Jones will be hosting this event. 

Header image by A.L. courtesy of Unsplash
Header image layout designed by Mateo Granados