Don’t you just know the folks attending the wedding of Candice Crawford and Tony Romo Saturday at “Lee Park Tent City” are going to think the fireworks display over at Fair Park was part of the newlyweds’ celebration.
Wrong! It’s just a smidgen of the activities at CityArts Festival presented by Big City Crushed Concrete. The Saturday night fireworks are thanks to Gold Metal Recyclers.
But the excitement starts today. The Friends of Fair Park have arranged for a three-day extravaganza for the Memorial Day weekend at Fair Park and it should be great this year. The weather is supposed to be perfect for the entire family to wander along the Lagoon and Cotton Bowl Plaza.
The best part is that there’s no admission fee. OK, so the City of Dallas is charging $10 to park within the gates of Fair Park, but times are tough, don’t you know. (Editor’s note: There’s always DART, but make sure you check the weekend schedule.)
What can you expect to see and do? Just follow the jump and you’ll be amazed.
CityArts Festival will include the following:
- ArtFest, the well-known juried art show coordinated by The 500, Inc., returns to its roots at Fair Park. Nearly 150 renowned Texas and national artists are participating in this one.
- The eight Fair Park museums (African American Museum, Children’s Aquarium at Fair Park, The Women’s Museum: An Institute for the Future, Dallas Historical Society/Hall of State, the new Texas Museum of Automotive History, Texas Discovery Gardens, Museum of Nature & Science and Museum of the American Railroad) will be open Saturday and Sunday at select times thanks to Atmos Energy.
- An outdoor showing of Breakfast at Tiffany’s tonight on the lawn next to WRR thanks to Capital One Bank and the Dallas Film Society.
- The Prudential Children’s Area will be a super-sized children’s playpen featuring interactive activities, crafts and entertainment until 6 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. At 2 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday the Dallas Zoo will “present their interactive Animal Adventure live animal show. to keep the little ones fascinated, organizers have arranged to have 20 local arts organizations and non-profits (Big Thought, Crow Collection of Asian Art, Dallas Contemporary, Dallas Film Society, Dallas Holocaust Museum/Center for Education and Tolerance, Dallas Museum of Art, Dallas Public Library, Dallas Summer Musicals, International Museum of Cultures, Japan-America Society of Dallas/Fort Worth, Museum of the American Railroad, Musical Angels, Nasher Sculpture Center, Old Red Museum of Dallas County History and Culture, Sip-n-doodle, Texas Discovery Gardens, Texas Museum of Automotive History, The McKinney Avenue Contemporary and The Women’s Museum: An Institute for the Future) on site. This program is not limited to kiddos only. It a great opportunity for all ages to see the excellent groups that make up Dallas.
- Inside the Texas Museum of Automotive History, Culinary Showcase with local chefs, demonstrations, pairings and tastings for guests over the age of 21. The talent includes Lisa Chamberlain of Chamberlain’s Restaurants, Regional Executive Chef David F. Holben of Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steak House; Chef Richard Chamberlain of Chamberlain’s Steak and Chophouse and Chamberlain’s Fish Market Grill; Executive Chef Jim Severson of Sevy’s Grill; Executive Chef David McMillan of Screen Door; Chef/Owner Janice Provost of Parigi; Corporate Chef Aaron Staudenmaier of Abacus; and more. Author/award-winning cheesemaker Paula Lambert, founder of The Mozzarella Company. But for munchkins, there’s gonna be plenty to eat, too. Such folks as Fletcher’s Corny Dogs, Ain’t No Mo Butter Cakes and dozens more will have good and beverages on sale just outside the Culinary Showcase.
- CityArts Marketplace will be a shopper’s paradise with unique gifts, clothing, collectibles and other one-of-a-kind items.
On the Main Stage sponsored by MetroPCS just outside the Cotton Bowl will be the following venues:
- Friday — the Allegro Guitar Society, Destiny Tabernacle of Worship Youth Department, Latin Sensassions, Ray Baker Project, TangoAmor and The Mambos.
- Saturday — Bandan Koro African Drum & Dance Ensemble, Bowie Salsa, Contemporary Ballet Dallas, Contemporary Dance/Fort Worth, Daniel de Córdoba Bailes Españoles, Orquesta Cervantes, School of Contemporary Ballet Dallas, Shakespeare Dallas, SIMA Ballet Folklorico, South Dallas Concert Choir, Strings of Color, The SmeeTones, the University of North Texas African Ensemble and more.
- Sunday — 5 Second Rule, Ballet de Force, Ballet Folklorico Huehuecoyotl, Dyaaly Kunola West African Drum, Events in Motion, Inner City All-Stars, iNStep, Japan-America Society of Dallas/Fort Worth, Skyline High School Urban Dance Theater, The Jasmines and more.
The City Arts Festival schedule is:
- Friday, May 27: 6 – 10 p.m.
- Saturday, May 28: 11 a.m. – 10 p.m. and
- Sunday, May 29: noon – 6 p.m.
The folks you have to thank for this Memorial Day weekend mega-happening are presenting sponsor Big City Crushed Concrete and major sponsors Atmos Energy, Capital One Bank, Gold Metal Recyclers, MetroPCS and Prudential. Other sponsors are Baylor Healthcare System, Ben E. Keith Beverage Company, Budweiser, City of Dallas Office of Cultural Affairs, Coca-Cola, Dallas Film Society, Kroger, North Texas Tollway Authority, Statewide Remodeling, Ultimat Vodka, Texas Museum of Automotive History, The Patrón Spirits Company and VIKING. Media partners are Fox 4 and My27, Univision 23, 98.7 KLUV, WRR Classical 101.1 FM, 97.9 The Beat, 94.5 K-Soul, 1270 AM La Voz del Pueblo, 107.9 La Kalle, Al Dia, Downtown Business News, The Greensheet and Yelp. DART is the Official Transportation Provider.
Major suggestion: Don’t forget sunscreen!