Spring has officially sprung, and with it comes a strong lineup of area festivals. Whether you want to peruse art and vendor booths, listen to live jazz or don your best period costume or kilt, our list of the best North Texas festival offerings will surely have something to tickle your fancy.
Brandon Wade/Special Contributor
Arts in the Square
This 10th annual juried fine arts and crafts festival showcases paintings, graphics, pottery, textiles, glass, jewelry, photography and more by 120 local and regional artists. There’ll also be interactive art activities and performances by Frisco ISD students.
March 30-31 at Frisco Square. friscosquare.com/aits.
Lewisville Colorpalooza
Amazingly detailed sidewalk chalk art by professional and amateur artists is the highlight of this festival, which is designed to show off the city’s cultural, artistic and eco-friendly spirit. There’ll also be interactive art activities including a do-it-yourself tie-dye station, art demonstrations, live music and performances by cultural groups.
April 6 in Old Town Lewisville. lewisvillecolorpalooza.com.
Scarborough Renaissance Festival
Join in the mirth and merriment of the days of King Henry VIII at this festival that runs for eight weekends with colorful characters such as knights, villagers, fire jugglers, jousters, sword fighters and turtle racers there for you to meet. You can also eat a giant turkey leg, buy a longbow or some jewelry at the shops, watch a village artisan at work or stop in the Fat Friar’s Tavern or Dirty Duck Pub.
April 6-May 27 at Scarborough Renaissance Festival Grounds, Waxahachie. srfestival.com.
Main St. Fort Worth Arts Festival
Billed as the largest four-day festival in the Southwest, this fair in downtown Fort Worth spans 18 blocks of music, food and art, with 223 artists participating in this year’s show. The festival’s three stages will host more than 100 performances.
April 11-14 in downtown Fort Worth. mainstreetartsfest.org.
Ennis Bluebonnet Trails Festival
Photo ops abound along 40 miles of beautiful wildflowers on a route that is officially open April 1-30. The three-day festival celebrates the state flower of Texas and includes arts and crafts, food, live music including a performance by Le Freak, a wine stroll, kids’ activities, and plenty of bluebonnet-themed souvenirs.
April 12-14 in downtown Ennis. bluebonnettrail.org.
Arts in Bloom
Fine artists, Texas wineries, food vendors, dancers, musicians and other performers come together for this three-day art and wine festival that also features plenty for kids to do.
April 12-14 in historic downtown McKinney. downtownmckinney.com.
Grand Prairie Main Street Fest
Expect three nights of live music including a performance from headliner Kody West; novelty shows; carnival rides; arts and craft vendors; a business expo; food and beer gardens; a kids’ zone; and more. Admission is free, but some activities carry a fee.
April 26-28 on Main Street in Grand Prairie. mainstreetfest.com.
Cottonwood Art Festival
Browse museum-quality works by more than 240 artists during the 50th anniversary edition of this juried show, which is held twice a year. You can also check out the ArtStop Children’s Area and plenty of local music and food.
May 4-5 at Cottonwood Park, Richardson. cottonwoodartfestival.com.
Texas Scottish Festival and Highland Games
Break out the kilt for a weekend featuring plenty of Scottish music, Highland dance and athletic competitions, a Scottish-breed dog show, a clan village and Scottish foods and quaffs (including a whiskey tasting).
May 10-12 at Wise County Fairgrounds in Decatur. texasscots.com.
DFW Dragon Boat, Kite and Lantern Festival
Check out dragon-boat races, kite-flying, a lantern display, face painting, children’s activities and more.
May 19 at Lake Carolyn, Irving. dfwdragonboatfestival.com.
Other upcoming festivals
Big Texas Beer Fest
March 29-30 at Fair Park, Dallas. bigtexasbeerfest.com.
Bedford ArtsFest
March 30 at Boys Ranch Park. bedfordtx.gov/274/artsfest.
Festival of Joy
March 30 at Klyde Warren Park, Dallas. fojdallas.com.
Fort Worth Food and Wine Festival
April 4-7 at various locations. fortworthfoodandwinefestival.com.
Deep Ellum Arts Festival
April 5-7. deepellumartsfestival.com.
Dallas Arts District Spring Block Party
April 13. dallasartsdistrict.org.
Japanese Garden Spring Festival
April 13-14 at the Fort Worth Botanic Garden. fwbg.org.
Oak Cliff Earth Day
April 14 at Lake Cliff Park, Dallas. facebook.com/oakcliffearthday.
Easter in the Park
April 21 at Oak Lawn Park, Dallas. facebook.com/oaklawnparkdallas.
Art in the Square
April 26-28 in Southlake Town Square. artinthesquare.com.
Denton Arts and Jazz Festival
April 26-28 at Quakertown Park. dentonjazzfest.com.
EarthX Expo
April 26-28 at Fair Park, Dallas. earthx.org/expo.
Arbor Daze
April 27 at Midway Park, Euless. arbordaze.org.
Hops and Props
April 27 at the Fort Worth Aviation Museum. fortworthaviationmuseum.com.
ArtScape
April 27-28 at the Dallas Arboretum. dallasarboretum.org.
Plano Artfest
April 27-28 in downtown Plano. planoartfest.com.
Mayfest
May 2-5 at Trinity Park, Fort Worth. mayfest.org.
Murphy Craft Beer Festival
May 4 at Murphy Central Park. murphycraftbeerfest.com.
Art on the Greene
May 10-12 at Richard Greene Linear Park, Arlington. artonthegreene.com.
Frisco Streats Gourmet Food Truck and Music Festival
May 11 in downtown Frisco. facebook.com/friscostreats.
Events editor Shannon Sutlief contributed to this report.
