Happy St. Paddy’s Day! Even if you aren’t Irish there’s plenty to celebrate this week. It’s spring break, we have an extra hour of sunshine, and best of all, we’re right in the middle of the best weather we’ll get all year. In fact, you could say that St. Patrick’s Day is the official kick-off of the outdoor festival season here in Texas. Here are just a few happenings going on in this debut weekend of festival season.

Photo: Fort Worth Stockyards

Plenty of Irish eyes will be smiling in Fort Worth this Saturday when the Stockyards hosts Cowtown Goes Green. It’s the city’s largest and most family-friendly St. Patrick’s Day celebration and features tons of free activities for your little leprechauns including face painting, cow camp, live music, gunfights, and more. Stick around after the 4 p.m. cattle drive for the Western/Irish themed Cowtown Goes Green parade.

J. Gilligan’s Bar & Grill in Arlington is also putting on the green for their 39th Annual St. Patrick’s Day Street Party. At this daytime celebration from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. kids can enjoy face painters, leprechauns, and other fun events geared towards the wee ones, while mom and dad enjoy some Irish nachos and a green beer (or two). There will also be live music from local favorites like Don McCloud Bag Pipes, Stingrays, Jay B & Zydeco Posse, and Morning People.

Photo: World’s Only St. Paddy’s Pickle Parade & Palooza

For a truly one-of-a-kind St.Patrick’s Day experience head to downtown Mansfield this Saturday for the 2018 World’s Only St. Paddy’s Pickle Parade and Palooza. The parade portion of the event is actually a three-parter. It kicks off at 10 a.m. with a baby parade for little gherkins ages 6 months to 4 years old, then a pet parade at noon, followed by the headliner parade at 1 p.m. It will feature more than 90 floats, the Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders, and, of course, the World Famous Mansfield Pickle Queens who will lead the parade with their red hair and big smiles. The Palooza portion of the festivities includes a free concert with country star Coffey Anderson, pie-eating, pickle eating and pickle juice drinking contests, and a community stage with local acts. There will also be tons of activities for the littles like bounce houses, a petting zoo, and face painting.

Photo: shutterstock.com

Usher in spring with color at Dallas Holi Celebration. At this Hindu festival in Dallas’ Fair Park, you and your family can mark the beginning of spring by dancing to festive music in clouds of brightly colored powder. Presented by Radha Krishna Temple of Dallas, the fun-filled color throw also features a DJ, games, food and an Indian bazaar.

Pinball wizards won’t want to miss a chance to check out 400 new and vintage pinball machines and a classic arcade at this year’s Texas Pinball Festival. You can enjoy free play on the games and test your mean pinball skills at a variety of adult and kid tournaments throughout the weekend. Other highlights include vendor demonstrations, a presentation by a pinball artist, and, just because it’s St. Patrick’s Day and there needs to be a little green, an appearance by the Incredible Hulk himself, Lou Ferrigno.  It’ll be buzzers, bells, and lights a-flashin’ this Friday through Sunday at the Embassy Suites in Frisco.

Head out to Sandy Lake Park this weekend for Santa Fe Days in the Park, a Native-American Indian Arts event.  The family-friendly, outdoor event celebrates Native American Indian culture through jewelry, children’s crafts, dance, music, food, games and interactive education.