Art&Seek Jr. is one mom‘s quest to find activities to end the seemingly endless chorus of the “I’m Bored Blues” while having fun herself. Impossible you say? Check back on Tuesdays for kid-friendly events that are fun for adults, too.
The great State Fair of Texas opens this Friday for its annual run. But did you know there are several other events this weekend heralding in the fall season? Give Big Tex a raincheck and try one of these family friendly festivals on for size.
“Hey everyone! Fall is here!” Photo: Dog Days of Denton
The calendar may say fall but we still have a few dog days left before the frost is on the pumpkin. Speaking of dog days, the quintessential celebration for pups and their people, the Dog Days of Denton, happens this Saturday from 9 to 3 at the North Texas State Fairgrounds in Denton. You and Fido can enjoy live music, craft vendors and delicious food and drink. You can also sniff out valuable information on pet care, pet rescue groups, and get a “Glamfur” photo. There will be a variety of canine contests like a Dog Singing Contest, How Obedient is Your Dog, the Spokesdog Pageant, and for haute dogs–a canine couture fashion show
Corral the little buckaroos and head to Western Days Festival in Lewisville this weekend for a whole heap of fun. Highlights for kids include Old West style gunfight reenactments, bounce houses, a barrel train that makes the rounds on Church Street, and a temporary pond where mini-anglers can catch (and release) catfish. Young rodeo fans can test their skills at the stick horse rodeo event just for kids ages 1 through second grade, with medals awarded to the top three contenders in each of three age divisions. The rodeos will be held at 2:30, 4 and 5:30 p.m. Saturday, with registration starting half an hour in advance.
Everyone say “Opa!” Photo: Greek Food Festival of Dallas.
Yippe! Or should I say, “Opa!” It’s time again for the annual Greek Food Festival of Dallas at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church. In addition to the weekend, the festival is also open for Friday lunch, so if you can’t make it on Saturday or Sunday grab a co-worker or two for a mid-day break. Everything from gyros to spanakopita will be on the menu so be sure to come hungry. Besides all the good grub, there’s also a children’s area for the kiddos with sand art & crafts, caricature artists and face painting. But the best part of the Greek Festival is the music and dancing. I highly encourage you to get in touch with your inner Zorba and let loose on the dance floor. Go on! It’s fun!
Check out the Oom Pah Pah beat at McKinney’s Oktoberfest. Photo: Allen Rich
If you prefer the Oom Pah Pah beat, dust off your lederhosen and head to downtown McKinney for Oktoberfest. This family-friendly event has something for everyone. Mom and dad can check out the beer garden (which covers 14 blocks of McKinney’s Historic Downtown square), there will be ‘kinder’ activities especially for the wee ones, and everyone can enjoy the German music, traditional costumes, and of course, dancing! Also, no German festival would be complete without weenie dog races. You can see the doxies dash all day Saturday beginning at 11 a.m. and again on Sunday starting at noon.
You know how you’re always saying you and the kids need to check out the museums in Fort Worth? Well, Saturday is Fort Worth’s annual Day in the District and it’s the absolute perfect time for you and the family to peruse 10 of Fort Worth’s cultural organizations for free. The Fort Worth Museum of Science and History, the National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame, and the Kimbell are just some of the museums whose doors will be open for exploring. There will also be performances in and around each destination. Be sure to stop by the Amon Carter Museum of American Art as they unveil their recently renovated digs for their Party on the Porch event. Most of the venues are close to one another, but to make it easy on you, there will be free transportation within the Cultural District so you won’t miss a thing.
