All around the weather in big D is beckoning spring time lovers to get out and enjoy the bounty of the season. If you are looking for some ideas of what to do outside this year to enjoy the richness of spring how about some local art festivals that not only showcase local talent, but also music and good food.
Looking for the perfect eclectic mix of art alongside a nice showcasing of music then the Deep Ellum Arts Festival is the answer April 6 to 8. Moving into it 24th year, the free three-day, Deep Ellum Arts Festival® in Downtown Dallas offers more than 200 juried decorative and visual artists selling and commissioning original works, and 100 original bands and performance artists showcasing the newest sights and sounds from across six different stages. The festival encompasses six blocks of Main Street along with a popular Pet Parade and plenty of food and drink.
The City of McKinney’s Arts in Bloom will take place this year April 13 to 15 produced and sponsored by McKinney Main Street. Arts In Bloom takes place in Historic Downtown McKinney with 150 juried artists, the Local Artist Village, and the Student Art Tent from McKinney Independent School District all set up on the tree-lined streets surrounding the McKinney Performing Arts Center. Attendees will enjoy the sights and sounds of fine artists, dancers, performance artists, musicians, Texas wineries, and food vendors as well as a hands-on interactive area for children, the Kids Creation Station, where young Picasso’s can learn about art processes and create their own masterpieces. With two live stages, you won’t want to miss the chance to try plenty of wine and craft beer tastings while taking in the overall artsy vibe.
Right in the heart of the downtown arts district, the Dallas Art Fair is the perfect place for collectors, arts professionals, and the public to take in a wide range of modern and contemporary artworks presented by leading national and international galleries. The curated exhibitions and programming are all about those in attendance joining in lively conversation surrounding the city’s rapidly growing arts community. This year’s fair will be April 13 to 15 located at the Fashion Industry Gallery, a 68-acre area that is home to some of Dallas’ most significant cultural landmarks.
The Main Street Fort Worth Arts Festival is right around the corner April 19 to 22 this year touting names like Revival, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, Jamestown Revival and Shane Smith & The Saints gracing the stage. Going into its 33rd year, everything from blues, jazz, country, rock ‘n’ roll, Latin, funk, R&B, soul, folk, Americana, classical and more alongside acrobatic teams and the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra will be set on two stages the University of Texas at Arlington Main Stage, located at 9th and Main Street, and the Sundance Square Stage, located in the Sundance Square Plaza. The four-day festival will feature performances starting at 11 a.m. and continue into the evening and best of all, it’s free.
Richardson’s Wildflower! Arts and Music Festival has announced its 26th year with a lineup of artists that range in genre from alternative, to country, pop, rock and folk. Billed as North Texas’ largest outdoor music event this year’s festivities will be from May 18 to 20 at the Galatyn Park Urban Center. Bands as diverse as Kool & the Gang to Eve 6 to Goo Goo Dolls, Gin Blossoms and John Ford Coley will grace the stage and tickets are on sale now. Wildflower! will also feature a Battle of the Bands contest, the Budding Talent Competition, and the Art Guitar Auction this year as well as a Singer Songwriter contest, the family friendly WF! Kids, the WF! Eats, the WF! Marketplace and Performers Row featuring strolling entertainers, buskers and acrobats.