1 Rating / 1 Comment
STAFF REPORT
Everyone knows that Labor Day marks the end of summer.
But a quick look around our portion of North Texas reveals a less-recognized fact: The holiday weekend was but a harbinger of a fall season of lively festivals and events.
The festival season generally runs mid-September to mid-October and includes Oktoberfests in McKinney and Addison (actually held in September), the Plano Balloon Festival, Taste of Collin County, Cottonwood Arts Festival in Richardson, Garland’s Wild West Cowboy Round-Up, Autumn at the Arboretum in the Lake Highlands area, the State Fair of Texas, of course, and others big enough to make our highlights list.
“It typically cools off by September, so it kicks off the fall festival season,” said Jo Via, executive director of next weekend’s Plano Balloon Festival, shedding light on the flurry of festivals. “There’s always a good number of options for people to go to.”
“If you go to one there’s no reason you can’t go to another,” reasoned Nancy Ghirla, a spokeswoman for the Garland event, also scheduled next weekend.
The variety should be enough to satisfy even the most enthusiastic festival-goers.
Following are details by dates and communities:
McKinney
Taste of Collin County will present samples of food, wine and beer from more than 40 Collin County restaurants, live entertainment and kids’ activities at Collin County Regional Airport in McKinney. Proceeds from the event benefit North Collin County Habitat for Humanity.
When: 5 to 9 p.m. Monday
Where: Collin County Regional Airport, 1496 E. Industrial Blvd.
Admission: $25 in advance, $30 at the door, $10 for kids
More info: Call 972-542-5300, ext. 104 or visit tasteofcollincounty.com
Addison
More than 60,000 visitors are expected at Addison Oktoberfest for four days of activities, including authentic German food; beer hall and Weingarten; music and folk dancing; arts and crafts; amusements; children’s entertainment; and more.
When: 6 to 11 p.m. Sept. 16; 6 p.m. to midnight, Sept. 17; noon to midnight Sept. 18; and noon to 5 p.m. Sept. 19
Where: Addison Circle Park, 4970 Addison Circle DriveAdmission: Free Sept. 16, $5-$10 other days and times for ages 4 and olderMore info: Visit addisontexas.net/events/oktoberfest/
Plano
The Plano Balloon Festival will feature more than 60 hot air balloons, sky divers, inflatable rides, face painting, crafts, fireworks and live entertainment, including a performance by country singer Scott Ewing. Balloon rides will be available for a cost of around $250 per person.
When: 4 p.m. to close Sept. 17; 6 a.m. to close Sept. 18; and 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sept. 19
Where: Oak Point Park, 2801 E. Spring Creek Parkway
Admission: $5 for one day, $8 for two days, $4 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.; $1 off for seniors 65 and older, and kids under 36 inches are free
More info: Contact Jessica Jackson at 972-867-7566 or jessica@planoballoonfest.org, or visit planoballoonfest.org
Garland
The city’s Wild West Cowboy Round-Up includes chuck wagons serving authentic cowboy food such as meat, beans and potatoes; live western entertainment; a petting zoo; hay mazes; pony rides; and crafts.
When: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sept. 18
Where: Downtown Garland Square, Sixth and Main streets
Admission: Free
More info: Contact Nina Ghirla at 214-682-5824 or info@garlandmessenger.com or visit garlandcowboyroundup.com
Rockwall
About 200 vendors at the annual Aspasians Fall Arts & Crafts Fair will sell an array of merchandise and foods, such as jewelry, woodwork and gourmet popcorn. Proceeds from the event, sponsored by Aspasians nonprofit women’s service organization, are donated for scholarships for high school seniors.
When: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sept. 18
Where: Historic Downtown Rockwall Square (intersection of Goliad, San Jacinto, Kaufman and Rusk streets)
Admission: Free
More info: Call 214-712-0212 or visit aspasians.com
Lake Highlands
The Dallas Arboretum’s Autumn at the Arboretum will kick off with the Great Pumpkin Festival, which will include the Tom Thumb Pumpkin Patch, a Storybook Pumpkin Village, a hay bale maze and thousands of colorful fall plants and flowers. Other events are Fall Family Fun Weekend, Cool Thursdays concert series and more.
When: Open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Great Pumpkin Festival runs Sept. 18 to Nov. 14; Fall Family Fun Weekend is Oct. 30-31; and Cool Thursdays are 7 p.m. Sept. 16 to Oct 29
Where: 8525 Garland Road, Dallas
Admission: General admission is $10 for adults, $9 for seniors 65 and older, $7 for children 3-12
More info: Call 214-515-6518 or visit dallasarboretum.org
Little Elm
The town’s annual Little Elm Autumn Fest will feature a family carnival, contests, rides, games, a memorial 5K fun run, 1-mile walk, Little Miss Autumn Fest, barbecue cook-off. and vendors selling food, arts and crafts.
When: Sept. 23-26
Where: Little Elm Park, 704 W. Eldorado Parkway
Admission: Free
More info: Call Missy Meador at 972-731-3296 orvisit littleelmtx.us
Dallas
The State Fair of Texas will include a variety of attractions, including live music performances; night parades and pyrotechnics; special exhibits and shows; pig races; an auto show; a petting zoo; fried foods; amusement rides; and more.
When: Fair grounds open at 8 a.m. and closing times vary daily from Sept. 24 – Oct. 17
Where: Fair Park, 3921 Martin Luther King Blvd.
Admission: $15, $11 for kids under 48 inches and seniors 60 and older and free for children under two
More info: Call 214-565-9931 or visit bigtex.com
McKinney
The family-friendly, two-day Oktoberfest hosted by McKinney Main Street will include non-stop activities in the heart of the city celebrating a tradition that started 200 years ago in Munich, Germany. Visitors can enjoy authentic German music, food and drink, traditional costumes, dancing, children’s activities and more.
When: 4 to 11 p.m. Sept. 24; 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sept. 25
Where: Historic Downtown Square (intersection of Virginia, Louisiana, Tennessee and Kentucky streets)
Admission:Free
More info: Call 972-547-2660 or visit downtownmckinney.com
Richardson
This fall’s rendition of the nationally recognized, twice yearly Cottonwood Art Festival, now in its 42nd year, will feature more than 240 artists exhibiting work in 14 categories, including mixed media, ceramics, drawings and pastels, fiber, glass, jewelry, leather, metals, painting, photography, sculpture and wood.
When: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Oct. 2-3
Where: Cottonwood Park, 1321 W. Beltline Road, one block east of Coit Road
Admission: Free. Some children’s activities require a fee
More info: Visit cottonwoodartfestival.com
Sachse
The Chamber of Commerce’s yearly Sachse Fall Fest offers arts and crafts booths, food vendors, a children’s pageant, pie baking contest, raffle prizes, a car show, pet photo contest and more.
When: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 9
Where: Heritage Park, 4408 Hudson Drive
Admission: Free
More info: Call the Sachse Chamber of Commerce at 972-496-1212, e-mail info@sachsechamber.com or visit sachsechamber.com
Mark Macesich, neighborsgo assistant managing editor, Caitlin Harrison and Rose Baca, assistant editors, compiled this report.
No comments:
Post a Comment