Totally Texas -- Seize the weekend at Cottonwood Park

Richardson’s Cottonwood Art Festival

Cottonwood Park

1321 W. Belt Line Rd. (between Coit & Waterview)

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The Weather Channel’s predicting sunny skies, gentle winds, temperatures in the 80’s and low 90’s: a perfect weekend to spend outdoors. Like at Richardson’s Cottonwood Art Festival this Saturday and Sunday.

Twice a year (repeating the first weekend in October), shady Cottonwood Park is transformed into a colorful tent city as more than 240 juried artists display their work in a variety of media. This year’s featured artist is Minnesotan Carl Zachmann, whose kinetic sculptures explore the designs and textures of America’s industrial past.

My family regularly strolls through the booths, samples the food booths, sways to festival-long music from local entertainers, and maybe, just maybe, finds time to feed the ducks at Cottonwood Park’s lake.

Most of the professional artists pitch their tents on the lakes’ east side. At ArtStop on the west shore, kids can work in plaster, collages, and clay sculpting on a potter’s wheel.

Festival hours are 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. Admission and parking are free. This year the festival has expanded parking to the Richardson High School’s football stadium parking lot. A free shuttle runs both days, 9 a.m. - 9 p.m.

The artists’ works are available for purchase, as are food and beverages, and some children’s events require a fee. Festival merchandise vendors and most artists accept major credit cards. ATMs are located outside the permanent pool house by the concession area on festival’s main street.

See www.cottonwoodartfestival.com for more information--and to download the festival’s free app.

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Need more outside time? Celebrate Native Plants and Prairies Day Saturday, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., at the Bath House Cultural Center on the shores of White Rock Lake, 521 E. Lawther Drive in Dallas.  Free.  See
www.ntmn.org/ for additional event information.

　

And visit ten backyard urban coops at the annual Peep at the Coops tour Sunday, 11 a.m. - 5 p.m., in East Dallas features ten backyard urban coops. Besides chickens, this year’s tour includes duck and bunny coops. Maps are $10 (only one needed per group), available at tour headquarters, Stonewall Gardens, Stonewall Jackson Elementary School, 5828 E. Mockingbird, Dallas. Drive or join the bike tour of the nearest coops, leaving the gardens at 12:30 p.m. Sunday. See www.apeepatthecoops.org/.

(Next Friday: Promise mom a rose garden--and more--for her special day.)

Totally Texas -- Fall festivals flutter like leaves in North Texas

As seasons go, spring gets most of the poetry. But after a summer of sizzling heat, fall’s moderate temperatures are like a second spring to Texans. And we celebrate the season with an outburst of fairs and festivals. Following is a far from complete list of some of my favorites. I’ll post separately about Halloween and events related to the 50^th anniversary of President Kennedy’s assassination.

September 14 - February 2, 2014 -- Okay, the Heard Natural History Museum’s exhibit of animatronic dinosaurs isn’t exactly a festival, but who cares when we’re strolling the trails, searching for nearly a dozen giant moving, roaring dinos? Take your picture with the 46-foot T. rex if you dare, or with the child-size models if you don’t dare. At 1 Nature Place, McKinney. For hours, ticket prices, and more, see www.heardmuseum.org/.

September 19-22 -- Oktoberfest in Addison, 4970 Addison Circle Dr. (Addison Circle at Arapaho). Yes, there’s beer. Lots of beer. And sausages, crafts, music, a carnival and children’s play area. Dress the kids in clothes they can get wet in, to enjoy Addison’s beautiful fountain area. Tickets are free September 19, from 6 -11 p.m. For more information, discounts, and parking, see www.addisontexas.net/

September 21-November 7 -- Autumn at the Arboretum, 8525 Garland Road, Dallas. A storybook pumpkin village, hay bale maze, and more in addition to the Arboretum’s seasonal beauty. This is also the opening of the Rory Meyers Children’s Adventure Garden. My family got a sneak peek, and it’s truly amazing. I’ll blog later about the children’s garden, which requires a $3 timed admission ticket in addition to the Arboretum’s regular admission. For information and to reserve tickets, see
www.dallasarboretum.org/.

September 27-29 -- Greek Food Festival, at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, 13555 Hillcrest Road (Hillcrest and Alpha), Dallas. Opening 4 p.m. September 27. But wait an hour and get in free, September 27 from 5-7 p.m. Otherwise tickets are $6 for those age 13 and older, but still free for kids. Food, wonderful and varied, plus cooking demonstrations, music and dancing, marketplace and children’s activities. See
www.greekfestivalofdallas.com/.

September 27-October 20 -- State Fair of Texas, Dallas Fair Park. Can the new Big Tex really replace the beloved old giant that went up in flames during last year’s fair? Watch the new guy’s unveiling at 2 p.m. opening day, September 27. The Chinese Lantern Festival returns (through January 5, 2014). And of course there’s the world’s weirdest fried food. I was appalled to find last year that friends were buying full-price tickets. Please check out the numerous discounts and a complete schedule at www.bigtex.com/.

October 5-6 -- Cottonwood Arts Festival, 1321 W. Beltline Road, Richardson. So here’s your chance to walk off some of the calories from the State Fair’s fried food -- or indulge in more goodies while listening to local musicians and visiting the more than 200 booths of juried artists and craftspeople at this twice-yearly festival. Children’s activities and play area on the grounds of Richardson’s Cottonwood Park. Free. For information, see www.cottonwoodartfestival.com/.

October 18-20 -- Historic US 80 Hi-Way Sale. I’m neglecting some of my favorite fall festivals in East Texas to mention this one. My daughter and I have driven about a hundred miles of this three-state long flea market, running from Mesquite, Texas, to Jackson, Mississippi. From Dallas, we took Highway 80 east, passing by literally miles of roadside sales to concentrate on the antiques district in downtown Mineola. From there, we continued to Gladewater, with an open air festival downtown, and ended in Longview. This drive may be a little too long for small children, but you can shop, stretch, dawdle and eat anywhere along the way. There’s a map, but just drive. See www.easttexasguide.com/US80Sale.php/.

Need more? See --

Tyler Rose Festival, October 17-19, www.tylertexasonline.com/texas-rose-festival.htm/.

Edom’s Festival of the Arts, October 19-20, www.edomfestivalofthearts.com/

Fall Festival in Fort Worth’s Japanese Garden, November 2-3, http://fwbg.org/events/

Heritage Syrup Festival in Henderson, November 9,
www.hendersontx.us/.

Totally Texas -- Cottonwood Fest springs anew

Richardson’s Cottonwood Art Festival

Cottonwood Park

1321 W. Belt Line Rd. (between Coit & Waterview)

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The view out my window as I wrote this was a cold spitting rain. Now it’s sunny and the Weather Channel forecasts temperatures for this weekend in the sixties to seventies -- great weather for the spring session of Richardson’s Cottonwood Art Festival this Saturday and Sunday, May 4-5.

My family has attended Cottonwood happily even in the rain, and even if the breezes are still chilly, a brisk walk in the park should get things warmed up. Cottonwood Park, that is. Or get out of the wind under tents with the art, sip something warming in the Lakeside Courtyard while listening to day long music by local entertainers. And bring treats for the park lake’s fearless ducks and geese, who gobble treats no matter what the weather.

With more than 240 juried artists exhibiting, there’s something for everyone to like. The boys are partial to giant animal sculptures, preferably moving ones. Most of the art is on the east side of the lake. Across the bridge to the west is the ArtStop children’s area, with arts and crafts activities for children, including a chance to sculpt clay on a potter’s wheel.

The festival is open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. Music is 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, 10:40 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday.

Although admission and parking are free, you will need money for food, drinks, some children’s activities, and of course, art. Vendors generally take credit cards.  ATMs are available at nearby shopping centers. Park on side streets or behind Cottonwood (where the playground is always open). Best parking is early in the morning, but whether you come early or late, you’ll do a lot of walking, so wear comfortable shoes.

More information, entertainment schedule and list of participating artists, see www.cottonwoodartfestival.com/.

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Also this weekend -- Sunday’s A Peep at the Coops tour of urban chicken keepers. Maps of tour sites are available for $5 at Stonewall Garden, Stonewall Jackson Elementary School, 5828 East Mockingbird Lane in Dallas, beginning at 11 a.m. Sunday. Tour proceeds benefit the school’s learning garden. For information, including tips on chicken etiquette, see
www.apeepatthecoops.org/.

Totally Texas -- Festivals spring up like flowers

It’s spring in Texas -- and that means bluebonnets and festivals. Here’s a sampling of festivals with leanings toward arts and crafts from my part of North Texas, so you can enjoy yourself outside before the thermometer hits those triple digits. Some events are free, some not, so please check the individual sites for details.

March 23 - April 8. Tyler Azalea and Spring Flower Trail. What bluebonnets are to Central Texas, azaleas are to East Texas. The festival opens with the Azalea Quilt Show 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. this Friday and Saturday, March 23-24. Harvey Convention Center, 2000 W. Front St., Tyler. See www.qget.org/ and www.tylerazaeleatrailcom/ for additional information and events. (To get to Tyler, take I-20 east from Dallas for about 90 minutes, and follow exit signs. For more Tyler attractions, see posts dated May 9, 2011, and October 10, 2011.)

March 24 - 25, and Saturdays and Sundays through April 24. While you’re in East Texas, Four Winds Renaissance Faire includes handcrafted items along with jousting, jugglers, and more. Highway 110 South, near Tyler between Whitehouse and Troup. See www.fourwindsfaire.com/.

April 1 - 30. Ennis Bluebonnet Trails. We’ve seen the pictures of Hill Country bluebonnets but blooms are not at their peak in North Texas as of this writing. Check www.visitennis.org for updates and mark your calendar for Ennis’s Bluebonnet Trails Festival April 21-22. Ennis is on I-45 south of Dallas, about a 45 minute drive.

April 7 - May 28. Scarborough Renaissance Festival, Saturdays, Sundays and Memorial Day Monday. Unique products and crafts, including gourmet food. Plus, of course, jousting and gigantic turkey legs. At 2511 FM 66 in Waxahachie. See www.srfestival.com/.

April 14, repeating second Saturdays, monthly. Highway 279 Art Jam in Ben Wheeler and Edom, with a “Flora Galore” theme. Shops open at 10 a.m. in the small towns along FM 279. See http://279artisanstrail.com/ or the February 6, 2012, post on this blog for additional information.

April 21-22. April in Edom. Street fair with handmade items (it’s Edom, so you know they’re good), children’s activities, including spinning and weaving. See
www.aprilinedom.net/.

April 28-29. Spring festival in the Japanese Garden, Fort Worth Botanic Gardens, 3220 Botanic Garden Boulevard, Fort Worth. Events 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Saturday, April 28; 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. Sunday. See http://fwbg.org/. For more about the Japanese Garden, see my
October 17, 2011, post.

May 5-6. Cottonwood Art Festival. At Richardson’s Cottonwood Park, on Beltline between I-75 and Coit Road. Juried arts show, with music, food, and ducks on the park’s lake. New, later hours -- 10 a.m. - 8 p.m. Saturday, May 5; 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. Sunday. See www.cottonwoodartfestival.com or Art Festival iPhone App or the September 26, 2011, post on this blog for more information.

May 5 - November 5. Chihuly at the Dallas Arboretum, 8525 Garland Road, Dallas. This is the big one. Glass artist Dale Chihuly brings his dramatic sculptures to the Dallas Arboretum. In addition to normal daytime hours, the Arboretum will open Tuesday through Thursday evenings for lighted views of the sculptures and gardens. Price is included in the admission fee.  See www.dallasarboretum.org/ for information.

Totally Texas -- Richardson rocks to Cottonwood art

Cottonwood Art Festival

Cottonwood Park, 1321 Beltline Road, Richardson

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It’s fall and temperatures are safely below the one hundred degree mark. That means it’s festival season in Texas. Richardson’s semi-annual Cottonwood Art Festival runs this weekend, October 1-2, at Cottonwood Park, located on 1321 W. Beltline Road, between Coit and Waterview.

A tent city transform the park twice a year as the festival selects more than 240 artists each spring and fall to exhibit -- and sell -- museum-quality work.

Although my grandsons loved last spring’s big metal animals and kinetic sculptures (that means, they move), for children, there’s also ArtStop. It’s an interactive children’s area where kids can paint a mural monstrous both in size and subject matter, throw clay on potters’ wheels, paint on tiles or draw on chalkboard easels, and lots more.

And Cottonwood is not just about art. Local bands performing rock, country, jazz, blues, swing and folk music will play from morning until 6 p.m. both days on the stage in the courtyard area near the park’s lake. Food and spirits are available in the courtyard. Outside, there’s always plenty of basic fair food and soft drinks.

The festival runs from 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. each day. It’s my favorite price -- free. Parking is also free, but mostly find your own along adjacent streets and shopping center lots. Bring comfortable shoes. And a well-behaved dog, if you have one. It’s a great time of year to walk around outdoors. For additional information and maps, see www.cottonwoodartfestival.com/

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Also in Richardson this Tuesday, September 27, author Jamie Ford discusses his bestselling novel, Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet. Ford will speak in the Richardson Reads One Book event in Richardson High School Auditorium, 1250 W. Beltline Rd., at 7:30 p.m. Doors open at 6:45 p.m. Complimentary tickets are available at the Richardson Public Library, 900 Civic Dr. For information, call 972-744-4350.

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Oh, and that other little event called the State Fair of Texas also opens this week. The gates of Fair Park open at 10 a.m. Friday, September 30, followed by a noon parade through downtown Dallas. The State Fair runs through October 23. See www.bigtex.com for details.