Collin County Living Well Magazine March/April 2020 | Page 9

The free Deep Ellum Arts Festival is a
rockin’ good time in a neighborhood
famous for its creative spirit. On the
weekend of April 3-5, six blocks off
Main Street are lined with hundreds
of sculptors, painters, jewelers and
crafters, some creating art on the spot.
There’s plenty of food and drink to be
had. And it wouldn’t be Deep Ellum
without music; some 100 acts perform
on several stages. To get there, take
the Green Line to Deep Ellum or Bay-
lor University Medical Center stations.
deepellumartsfestival.com
TIP: While kids and teens are
welcome, this one’s a pretty
grown-up affair; there are no
kids’ activities, and things can
get mildly raucous after dark. 
For a big-bang kind of Earth Day, head
to EarthX, one of the world’s largest
gatherings of its kind. The free festival
takes place the weekend of April 24-
26. Find live music, food, beer and
other festival fare, along with various
environmental organizations. Appro-
priately enough, the Green Line gets
you there. Get off at Fair Park Station.
earthx.org
TIP: If you’re true-blue
about going green, the event
includes a film festival and
conference where you can
learn about everything from
clean energy to urban design.
Check the website for times
and places.
L
ooking for a spring festival in
North Texas? Our region is burst-
ing at the seams with them. How
to survive so many weekends of
fun in the sun? Sunscreen and
lots of water! How to get there? Here’s
a hot tip: The DART System takes you
right to the fun and delivers you in a
festive mood – no traffic or parking
headaches. Check out this roundup of
DARTable spring shindigs, plus a few
other tips we’ve picked up.
A Guide to DARTable
Spring Festivals
On May 2, Plano AsiaFest fills Hag-
gard Park with the food, colors and
culture of the Earth’s biggest continent.
Learn more about Asian languages,
medicine, music and fashion. Rich
and distinctive cultures are yours to ex-
plore, with cultural performances and
vendors from Japan, Korea, China,
Vietnam and Nepal – and points in
between. Discover Asia next to Down-
town Plano Station on the Red Line.
asianamericanheritage.org
TIP: If a culture or cuisine
sparks your curiosity, re-
turn to Plano for more; the
city has the region’s largest
concentration of Asian im-
migrants, and the authentic
restaurants to prove it.
In Texas, spring is synonymous with
wildflowers, and Wildflower! Arts &
Music Festival is a celebration where
springtime fun flourishes. From May
15-17, Galatyn Park Urban Center
comes alive with a bouquet of musical
acts and a profusion of exhibitors and
vendors. This year’s headliners include
Collective Soul and Joan Jett and the
Blackhearts. One of the region’s best
music festivals blooms adjacent to the
Red Line’s Galatyn Park Station. wild-
flowerfestival.com
TIP: If you want an up-close
spot on the lawn of the Main
Stage, arrive early to stake
your turf with a picnic blan-
ket or beach towel.
DFW Dragon Boat, Kite and Lantern
Festival features spectacular kite fly-
ing, exciting dragon boat races, beau-
tiful Asian dance performances, lion
and dragon dances, plus food, arts
and crafts, and educational activities.
The event happens May 17 at Irving’s
Lake Carolyn, near Las Colinas Urban
Center Station. dfwdragonboatfesti-
val.com
TIP: You can partake in a
2,000-year-old tradition in an
exhilarating way by partic-
ipating in the Dragon Boat
races. Visit the website to
register.
Taste Addison is a food and music
extravaganza from May 31-June 2 in
Addison Circle Park. The event bursts
with flavor and musical talent from
North Texas and beyond, and offers
chef demonstrations, wine tastings,
face painting and more. Numerous
bus routes serve Addison Transit Cen-
ter, which is right next to the action.
tasteaddisontexas.com
TIP: Lawn chairs are not
permitted at this event, but
blankets are welcome.
With the University of North Texas, one
of the world’s premier jazz schools,
within its borders, Denton has the most
musical talent per capita this side of
Nashville. See for yourself at the Den-
ton Arts & Jazz Festival. From April
24-26 at Quakertown Park (just north
of the square), expect offbeat vendors,
a collegiate atmosphere and serious
jazz chops on display. To get there,
take – what else? – the A-train. DCTA’s
commuter rail service connects with the
Green Line at Trinity Mills Station.
TIP: The festival allows out-
side food and drinks.
COLLIN COUNTY Living Well Magazine | MARCH/APRIL 2020
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