Sunday, Sunday, Sunday!

Leaping Lizards

If you’ve come straight here from Page 2, the answer to the question is yes and no. Lizards aren’t running wild in Waxahachie. That’s just Frank doing cosplay at Scarborough Renaissance Festival (2511 FM 66, 972-938-3247), which opens this weekend. Antennae, antlers, and angel wings are sights you typically see at the festival, but this weekend you’ll find the Easter bunny among the costumed revelers.

Celebrate the holiday with a blend of festive traditions and Renaissance charm. Children ages 12 and under can participate in the Easter Egg Stroll, a playful twist on the classic holiday event, in which young guests join village characters in a whimsical egg-on-the-spoon stroll around the Maypole. No registration is required. Then on Sunday at noon, guests of all ages are invited to attend the Renaissance Easter Service at the Crown Meadow Stage. The abbreviated Anglican-style gathering celebrates the new season with prayer, music, and a message of hope.

Tickets are available at SRFestival.com. Admission is $34 for adults (ages 13+) and $15 for kids (ages 5-12), plus taxes and fees. Children 4 and under are always admitted free.

Egg-citing News

I’ll show myself out. For real, though, there are some Easter egg hunts this weekend you won’t want to miss. For starters, The Rail Club (3101 Joyce Dr, Fort Worth, 682-224-3556) is hosting its annual Community Egg Hunt on Sat, Apr 4, from 10am to noon with hot dogs, pizza, carrot cake, and snow cones. Everyone is welcome, and there is no cost to attend. You will need to sign up ahead of time at TheRailClub.net so they know how many children to expect and their ages.

Super Soul Sunday starts at 9am at the Potter’s House (1270 Woodhaven Blvd, Fort Worth, 817-446-1999) with the Easter production Fulfillment: It Is Finished in the main sanctuary, plus a separate Destiny Planet Experience at the same time for kids. Children learn core values designed to teach them that they are Destined, Effective, Strong, Teachable, Intelligent, and Noble Young leaders (D.E.S.T.I.N.Y.). The after-service experiences, which begin at 11:30am, include a block party with free food and DJ music. There is no cost to attend.

Also on Sunday, St. Stephen Presbyterian Church (2700 McPherson Av, Fort Worth, 817-927-8411) has a free community Easter egg hunt on the front lawn at 10am, followed by an organ and brass prelude in the church sanctuary and Easter worship and communion service at 10:30am. For a full directory of Easter services happening this weekend, visit Around Fort Worth in our Blotch drop-down at FWWeekly.com this Wednesday evening.

Now For the Grown Folk …

Did you hear about the Easter egg hunt at Rick’s Cabaret last night? Eggs were filled with club-related prizes, including a golden egg with a grand prize. One can only imagine where they hid the eggs. Had we done the Easter event listings last week, I’d have told you about that ahead of time. Sigh. But that’s OK. I found some other adult-oriented fun for you crazy kids.

A Great Notion Pub (2024 Ridgmar Blvd, Fort Worth, 817-731-8521) has its Easter Dart Tournament on Sat, Apr 4, with a $300 guaranteed “mystery out” (a side-pot game with randomly determined rules). The cost is a $15 entry fee, plus $10 per match. Signup is at 7:30pm for an 8pm draw. To register, call 214-770-9613.

El Chingon (2800 Bledsoe, Ste 100, Fort Worth, 817-870-9997) has a Bad Bunny Brunch 11am-4pm on Sun, Apr 5. There will be an adult Easter egg hunt and special cocktails and eats. Admission is free for #StandingRoomOnly, and brunch is $12 per person or $55 for a four-person party. For info and reservations, visit ElChingonFW.com. And for other dining options, flip to the next page and read Ate Days of Easter Brunch.

Screentime

In a move that sounds like either an April Fool’s joke or a #DadJoke at the least, SNL recently announced that actor/musician Jack Black and musician Jack White would be pairing up for the first SNL of April, with Black as the host and White as the musical guest. Since the two collaborated on the Tenacious D song “Jack Gray” several years ago, this is more of a reunion. As White is not camera-shy and Black has some musical chops himself, I predict the two will be together onscreen throughout the evening. Tune into NBC at 10:30pm on Saturday, or watch SNL on the Peacock app.

Aside from coverage of Democratic senate candidate James Talarico, Christians have not had much positive media coverage in recent years. With the “Christian” Nationalists bastardizing Jesus’ words for their own gain and all the cringe film and TV projects with really horrible production values over the years, well, it’s all just really embarrassing for true believers. Recently, our film editor found a new Christian movie with some redeeming value to it.

Based on the founding of the Shaker sect (which holds gender equality as one of its tenets), The Testament of Ann Lee tells the story of the namesake character who takes her “Shaking Quaker” followers to the American colonies after British authorities come down on her for daring to preach the word of God herself. In his review (“Shake It,” Jan 21), Kristian Lin says that this Shaker musical starring Amanda Seyfried is the greatest Christian musical film ever made. Along with her stellar musical performances, he said that she distinguishes the movie from the herd of Christian films by portraying Ann’s religious faith as “something hot, angry, and troublesome for herself and others.” You can use the QR code at the end of this column to check out the full article, but Lin’s final thoughts paint quite a picture.

“Seyfried is compelling when experiencing visions of angels and Biblical figures. Less expectedly, she’s also a galvanizing presence when leading her congregation. … It takes a peculiar set of traits and skills to portray this singular figure in Christian history, especially as a musical heroine. It truly feels like no actor except Seyfried could have done justice to either her or The Testament of Ann Lee. That’s the highest praise I can come up with.”

My best friend and I watch 1989’s Steel Magnolias about this time every year. After all, this classic based on the play of the same name about six women in a small Southern town who share gossip and solve problems at the local beauty parlor, anchoring one another through life’s ups and downs, does start and end at Eastertime. It’s streaming on Netflix and about a dozen other places, so hop online and join us (virtually) on Sunday. We’ve watched it so many times that we quote the lines as we go. The more mimosas we drink, the funnier it gets. One of the best parts is when Ouiser hugs M’Lynn and tells her she is in her prayers, much to Annelle’s surprise. By the time we get to the end of this scene, Leigh and I are both shouting Clariee’s “smartass” line simultaneously:

Ouiser: Yes, Annelle, I pray! Well, I do! There, I said it. I hope you’re satisfied.

Annelle: I suspected this all along.

Ouiser: Oh! Well, don’t you expect me to come to one of your churches or one of those tent revivals with all those Bible-beaters doin’ God only knows what! They’d probably make me eat a live chicken!

Annelle: Not on your first visit!

Clairee: Very good, Annelle. You’ve spoken like a true smartass!