From the family-friendly activities that make up Summer at the Arboretum to regular community yoga events and weekly concert series at Klyde Warren Park, there’s always some Dallas summer event to indulge in.
Here are some of the most exciting summer festivals in and around the Big D.
Homegrown Music and Arts Festival
Now in its sixth year, the Homegrown Music and Arts Festival is gearing up to take over Main Street Garden Park Saturday, May 9, 2015. Twelve talented musical groups with ties to Texas will serenade festival goers, who can browse locally produced visual art between acts. Spoon is this year’s “main attraction,” but talent promises to fill the air all day long. The festival starts at 11:30 AM, and is a five-minute cab ride from AMLI Quadrangle.
Wildflower! Art & Music Festival
From its humble origins as a small community gathering in 1993, the Wildflower! Arts & Music Festival has exploded into North Texas’s largest music festival. This year’s festivities kick off on Friday, May 15, 2015 with a set by Zepparella, a talented Led Zeppelin tribute group. Minus the Bear, Pat Benetar, Blue October, Leon Russell, Tonic, Fuel, Everclear, and Kansas will all take to the stage during the three-day event. And on the afternoon of May 16, 2015 three “Road to the Wildflower!” Battle of the Bands finalists are also scheduled to perform.
If you have kids with limited attention spans, the Wildflower! Kidz Korner offers activities and entertainment designed to keep children of all ages engaged. Where food is concerned, all of your needs can be met by the Taste of Texas Food Garden. The Richardson festival grounds will also house dozens of unique shopping opportunities.
Dallas International Guitar Festival
Are you a passionate consumer or producer of guitar music? There may not be a better place for six-string lovers than Dallas during the three-day Dallas International Guitar Festival. This year, the oldest and largest guitar show in the world will take place Memorial Day Weekend at Fair Park. The large Dallas fairgrounds will transform into a guitar junkie’s heaven from May 29 through 31, 2015. Thousands of new and vintage guitars and accessories will be available for sale and trade, and dozens of world-class guitarists, including George Lynch and Rick Derringer, will perform.
Taste of Dallas
Foodies, take note. Taste of Dallas 2015 is taking place earlier than the gastronomic extravaganza usually does. On June 12 through 14, 2015, Fair Park will act as one gigantic culinary laboratory. Many of Dallas’ best restaurants, including Big Al’s McKinney Avenue Tavern, Doc’s Bar & Grill, and Fat Rabbit Kitchen & Bar, will be serving their signature dishes and experimental bites.
BBQ aficionados won’t want to miss the 5,000 BBQ Battle Royale competition. “People’s Choice” judges are still needed. Details haven’t been finalized yet, but the high-end, dine-for-a-cause event Taste the Difference will host four exquisite tastings. Discount tickets for Taste of Dallas go on sale at Walgreens throughout the area on May 12, 2015.
Great Texas Balloon Race
If you want a family-friendly summer festival to attend that will expand your horizons, the Great Texas Balloon Race may be just what the doctor ordered. This year, the July 21 through 26, 2015 races double once again as the U.S. National Championship event.
With the event set over Longview, the Great Texas Balloon Race observation grounds are definitely a trek from Dallas and Fort Worth. If your kids have yet to see hot air balloons in flight, the reward may very well be worth the journey. In the event that your children get bored of watching professional hot air balloon pilots race through the sky, the bounce houses, bungee runs, and climbing wall in Kid’s Land should keep them occupied.
Do you want to fill gaps in your calendar with fun, cultural events over the next few months? There’s a lot of cool stuff going on in the area that can enrich your experience.
What are your favorite festivals, art fairs, and community events in the Dallas – Fort Worth metroplex?
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