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There Really Is a Festivus for the Rest of Us! MayFest, Cinco de Mayo, Asian Festivals and MORE


by Cindy Chaffin 30 Apr 2010 3:49 PM

It’s festival time in North Texas, and there is most definitely something for everyone. May is always chock full of festivals ranging from Cinco de Mayo celebrations to the African Cultural Festival.

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It’s festival time in North Texas, and there is most definitely something for everyone. May is always chock full of festivals ranging from Cinco de Mayo celebrations to the African Cultural Festival to the Asian Festivals and so many other fun festivals from which to choose.

We here at Art&Seek love us a good festival, so we were first in line at Mayfest in Fort Worth yesterday just as the event was opening and and brought you back a few tips:

~Wear comfortable clothes and shoes. Mayfest is spread out over 33 acres on the banks of the Trinity River, so there’s a lot of territory to cover.

~Purchase tickets for rides, attractions, food and drinks before you wait in line holding cash. There are ticket booths scattered throughout the festival grounds.

~Opt for the free shuttle from TCU’s Amon Carter Stadium. There’s a large paid paid parking lot ($5), but it’s a bit of a haul if you’ve got small children in tow.

~Come hungry, there’s tons of great food!

~Be sure and check out the petting zoo. The bunnies are absolutely the cutest thing you’ll ever see.

~Be sure and spend some time watching the wake boarders, and just enjoying the Trinity River.

We caught up with organizer Darcy Harrell and she shared a little bit of what to expect at this year’s Mayfest. Enjoy the above video. Mayfest 2010 runs through Sunday, May 2.

Ready for more? Here we go!

Cinco de Mayo Celebrations on May 1:

Cinco de Mayo in the West End: The West End comes to life with ballet folkloric dancers, mariachi bands and pinata parties! The Bud Light Main Stage headliner is Chickenfoot. Radio Disney will host family fun with games, prizes and music.

Cinco de Mayo in Historic Oak Cliff: Cinco de Mayo Big Parade and Festival is the largest parad in North Texas with over 20,000 in attendance. This colorful event includes marching bands, folkloric dance groups, school groups and much more! This event will also feature three bands including Latin, jazz, Tejano and Spanish rock.

Cinco de Mayo at the House of Blues: There will be live performances by Mariachi Juvenil Jaguar and Mo-Set AllStarz of Molina High School, W.T. White HS Mariachi Band, Mariachi Los Unicos de Greiner MS and Anita N. Martinez Ballet Folklorico. $20 ticket includes entertainment and light Mexican fare.

Folklorico Festival of Dallas: (May 1-2) The Annual Folklorico Festival, held at theLatino Cultural Center, is a two day bilingual event in Spanish and English. The event is free and open to the public and will bring together a multi-ethnic group of local and international artists to share their traditional folkloric music, dance and customs.

Discover Dallas Days: Cinco de Mayo at the Old Red Museum: Old Red will host its very own Cinco de Mayo party complete with games, activities, and piƱatas. Explore the rich Mexican history that helped Dallas become the city it is today.

Mariachis in the Plaza in Fort Worth: live Marachis, ballet folklorico, face painting and local artisans selling their work along with food from local Northside restaurants. Perfect for the entire family!

Asian Festival Celebrations on May 1:

2010 Asian Festival in the Dallas Arts District: This fun, colorful and festive event will unite Asian cultures while creating a diverse marketplace featuring native arts & crafts, music, dance, food, martial arts and children’s activities. Unique cuisine from Indonesia, Korea, China, India, Laos, Vietnam, the Philippines and other countries will be sold by independent vendors. The children’s area, Passport to Asia for Kids, will provide activities culturally relevant to the traditions of the arts of Asia such as origami, face painting, henna painting, jewelry making, and many more.

7th Annual Plano Asian Heritage Festival: Celebrating the Asian American Heritage Foundation, a fun-filled day with kite flying, lion dances, marital arts, Asian food, arts and crafts, a fashion show, cultural booths, ethnic dances, children’s activities and more!

Richardson – Grand Prairie – Denton

Cottonwood Arts Festival (May 1-2): I’ve attended this little shindig many a year and can attest to it’s high fun factor. It’s wonderful to wander the event and finding new and exciting treasures and artwork. Cottonwood isn’t just about the art, though. The festival also features local bands who perform the best in rock, country, jazz, blues, swing and folk. Be sure to check out the courtyard, where you can sit in the shade by the lake and relax while you enjoy the music. Food and spirits are also available in the courtyard.

13th Annual Big Mamou Cajun Festival: Enjoy free toe-tapping Cajun music each day from 1 PM to 5 PM. The band will make you jump out of your seat and you won’t be able to stop your feet from dancing to the crazy Cajun beat. Authentic Cajun foods, featuring traditional Louisiana favorites such as: red beans and rice, gumbo and hundreds of pounds of spicy boiled crawfish.

Denton Mudbug 2010: Another festival I can’t get enough of every year. Sit in the shade and feast on crawfish, corn on the cob, ‘taters and listen to the sounds of such great local bands as The Heelers, The Von Ehrics, The King Bucks, RTB2, Big Daddy Alright and The Shed. There will be tons of food and drinks, children’s play area, silent auction and a great time can be had by all!

There are tons more festivals coming our way in May, so keep checking back here at Art&Seek!

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