Essential info

Experience

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• “Amahl and the Night Visitors” | Friday, Dec. 8-Sunday, Dec. 10 | Times vary | Fort Worth Botanic Garden, 3220 Botanic Garden Blvd., Fort Worth | $15-$30 | The Fort Worth Opera will perform the one-act story of a young boy who encounters the three wise men on their way to visit the newborn Christ-child.
• Ultimate Bullfighters World Finals | Friday, Dec. 8 | 7:30 p.m. | Cowtown Coliseum, 121 E. Exchange Ave., Fort Worth | $15-$98 | Watch bullfighters perform gravity-defying acrobatic stunts in this interpretation of traditional Spanish bullfighting.

• Guided Tour | Saturday, Dec. 9 | 11 a.m.-12 p.m. | The Carter, 3501 Camp Bowie Blvd., Fort Worth | Free | Join a Carter docent to learn tips and tricks for looking at art and then impress your friends with your art knowledge.
• “Handel’s Messiah” | Saturday, Dec. 9 | 7:30 p.m. | Will Rogers Memorial Center, 3401 W. Lancaster Ave., Fort Worth | $39.60-$114.40 | Don’t miss the Fort Worth Symphony’s performance of the famous oratorio.

• “The Grand Ol’ Christmas Show” | Sunday, Dec. 10 | 4-7 p.m. | Ridglea Theater, 6025 Camp Bowie Blvd., Fort Worth | $22-$64 | Enjoy this raucous, rollicking, musical comedy featuring Blue Water Highway.
• Dallas Cowboys | Sunday, Dec. 10 | 7:20 p.m. | AT&T Stadium, 1 AT&T Way, Arlington | $169-$2,669 | Watch the Cowboys (9-3) take on NFC East rivals Philadelphia Eagles (10-2).

• The US Army Corps of Engineers suspended its plan to close South Holiday Park at Benbrook Lake to cyclists. After months of discussions, the USACE plans to construct new trails and roads for the safety of cyclists and campers. (Fort Worth Report)

• Merlin Entertainments announced the attractions for North Richland Hills’ Peppa Pig Theme Park, which is set to open next year. Guests can expect five rides — including a roller coaster, balloon ride, and boat ride — seven themed playscapes + a water play area.

• Dayne’s Craft Barbecue opened the doors to its first brick-and-mortar in Aledo earlier this week. The food truck originally planned to open on Camp Bowie Boulevard, but scrapped those plans over the summer. Stop by 100 S. Front St. Wednesday-Sunday for a brisket burger with all the fixin’s.

• Los Angeles hat maker Nick Fouquet set up a pop-up shop in the newly opened Bowie House hotel. Open through Thursday, Feb. 15, the shop features custom hats with the designer’s signature matchstick. Stop by tomorrow for a personalized custom hat fitting and drinks from La Pulga Spirits.

• 45,000. That’s how many rides Arlington’s self-driving vehicle pilot program — known as RAPID — has logged in nearly three years. Available from the Arlington Transit app, the self-driving van takes passengers around downtown and UT Arlington. The program is funded through the spring of 2025. (KERA)

• Sundance Square might have the tallest Christmas tree in the area, but Pantego has the highest one. Every year, the southeast Tarrant County town installs a decorated Christmas tree on top of a 200-ft water tower. The 12-ft tree topped with a two-ft snowflake will remain up through the beginning of January.

• The initial lineup has been released for the second annual Fort Worth Music Festival and Conference. Produced by Live Nation, Tim Love, and Larry Joe Taylor, the four-day festival kicks off Wednesday, Feb. 28, and features headliners William Clark Green Band of Heathens, and Ben K. Weller. Grab tickets.

• Starting in January, Crowley and Duncanville ISDs will require students to carry clear plastic or mesh backpacks as a safety regulation. The standard applies to all pre-K through 12th grade Duncanville students but only middle and high schoolers in Crowley. Order a color-trimmed backpack. (KERA)

• A new McDonald’s concept could be coming to your neighborhood. We don’t know much yet, but the fast food chain is testing a small-format cafe called CosMc that serves a range of out-of-this-world drinks and bites. The chain aims to open 10 with locations in DFW by the end of next year.

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FedEx deadlines

• Wednesday, Dec. 13 | Ground economy
• Friday, Dec. 15 | 5-Day shipping
• Monday, Dec. 18 | 4-Day shipping
• Tuesday, Dec. 19 | 3-Day shipping (ground) + express saver
• Wednesday, Dec. 20 | 3-Day shipping (home) + 2-Day shipping (ground)
• Thursday, Dec. 21 | 2-Day shipping (home) + 1-day shipping (ground)
• Friday, Dec. 22 | 1-Day home delivery + same day

UPS deadlines

• Tuesday, Dec. 19 | UPS 3-Day Select
• Wednesday, Dec. 20 | UPS 2nd Day Air
• Thursday, Dec. 21 | UPS Next Day Air

United States Postal Service deadlines

• Saturday, Dec. 16 | USPS Ground Advantage + First-Class Mail
• Monday, Dec. 18 | Priority Mail
• Wednesday, Dec. 20 | Priority Mail Express