40th North Texas Irish Festival - Back in Fair Park March 4-6

The North Texas Irish Festival makes its jubilant return to Dallas’s Fair Park March 4-6, bringing with it all the music, dance, culture and excitement that this well-loved, family-friendly event creates to celebrate the rich tradition of Irish and Celtic culture. In celebration of this 40th festival, the event’s theme, “40 Shades of Green,” recognizes the rich culture of Irish music and the organic growth of this Irish tradition in North Texas, made possible by 40 years of volunteers dedicated to keeping traditions alive to share with all. Tickets are on sale now.

This family-friendly event features live music, dancing, storytelling, chef demonstrations and more on multiple stages, both indoors and outdoors, throughout Fair Park. Attendees will also enjoy horse shows, fencing demonstrations, sheepherding demonstrations, beer and whiskey tastings, genealogy research opportunities, shopping, animal rescue groups, child-friendly entertainment, and free arts and crafts for the kids.

“We are elated to be back in person, sharing our love of Irish music and tradition with everyone,” said Sheri Bush, president of the Southwest Celtic Music Association Inc., the organization that produces the North Texas Irish Festival and provides music and dance scholarships to local students. “The heart of our festival is our volunteers who take this opportunity every year to create a truly Irish experience for everyone.” Unique as the largest cultural celebration in DFW, the North Texas Irish Festival is produced annually by almost 1,000 volunteers, some of whom have volunteered for decades, often alongside generations of their families.

The indoor-outdoor festival takes place rain or shine. Masks are strongly recommended but not required when visiting indoor spaces, and all festival volunteers will be masked. Hand sanitizer stations are available throughout the festival.

Hours, Admission and Location

Gates open on Friday evening, March 4, at 6 p.m. Hours are 6 to 11 p.m. on Friday; 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 5; and 11:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Sunday, March 6.

Tickets for the North Texas Irish Festival are available online. Admission is FREE on Friday from 6 to 7 p.m.; $10 after. A one-day ticket is $25 on Saturday and $20 on Sunday at the gate, while a weekend pass is $40. Discount tickets are available at area Tom Thumb and Albertsons stores for $15 for a one-day ticket. Children 11 and under are FREE when accompanied by adult family member. Seniors over 65 or current military members (with valid military ID) receive $5 off all gate prices. Dogs are allowed in on a short leash with a $1 requested donation to animal rescue groups supported by the festival. Leprechauns (in full ceremonial dress and carrying pot of gold) are FREE.

Parking is available in and around Fair Park, or attendees can take DART (take the Green Line!) to the front entrance of Fair Park and the North Texas Irish Festival. Detailed directions and parking tips are available online. The public can call (214) 821-4173 or visit www.ntif.org for more information or to volunteer to work at the festival.

Olde Town Christmas Arts and Crafts Fair 2018

Join us for the Annual Christmas Craft Fair at Dottie Lynn Recreation Center, Olde Town Christmas, November 30 & December 1. It will be a festive time filled with shopping, goodies and more!

Craft Fair Hours:
Fri. November 30 - 12:00-7:00 PM
Sat. December 1 - 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM

Saturday will include a performance from Arlington High School Show Choir and a special visit from Santa Claus!

Food Trucks will be on site both days!
Friday, November 30: Chicago's Taste & More & Yummy Food Truck Group - Pizza
Saturday, December 1:Connie's Louisiana Kitchen & What's Cook-N Chef

Admission is FREE.

Rock Your Holiday Shopping at Funky Finds

Shop Local, Shop Handmade at the Funky Finds Holiday Shopping Experience

The Funky Finds Holiday Shopping Experience will be November 7th & 8th at the Will Rogers Memorial Center in Fort Worth. This free indoor event provides shoppers with the unique opportunity to keep their home decor, fashion, and gift giving purchases on point by providing stylish, original items created by over 100 independent artists, crafters, designers, & food makers.

As this event's following continues to grow each year, so does the competition among vendors of quality handmade crafts and artisans for the juried spaces at this show. One look and you'll be hooked! This season's market will welcome back familiar favorites along with a host of new handmade tastemakers sure to make you the standout star of this year's holiday gift exchange! Many vendors accept debit & credit cards, but it’s best to bring plenty of cash to make purchases.

WHEN:  10am-5pm, Saturday, November 7th and 11am-4pm, Sunday, November 8th

WHERE: Will Rogers Memorial Center, 3409 Burnett-Tandy Dr., Fort Worth, TX 76107
Small Exhibits Building (marked Poultry Barn)

ADMISSION: FREE! All ages and pets welcome! Parking fee payable by cash or credit card.

EVENT WEBSITE: www.funkyfinds.com/fall

The event will also feature a charitable raffle with all proceeds benefiting The Humane Society of North Texas and Toys for Tots. Each vendor, sponsor & other generous business owners have donated high-quality raffle prizes to be given away throughout the event. Raffle tickets are $1.00 each and the first 75 attendees each day to purchase ten or more tickets will receive a Funky Finds shopping tote filled with tons of funky products, coupons & more!

The Humane Society will be facilitating on-site pet adoptions and the United States Marine Corps will be accepting donations. To date, Funky Finds has raised over $25,000.00 for local charities and over 100 animals have found a forever home at Funky Finds events! Santa Claus will also be in attendance! Children AND pets are welcome to snap a pic with Santa with a $5+ donation to the charities.

Funky Finds provides area residents with the opportunity to support a large number of local independent business owners & charitable organizations, as well as the chance to purchase unique items that are uniquely hand-crafted. This is a wonderful opportunity to support the local economy, local arts community, and purchase one-of-a-kind holiday gifts! The event is generously sponsored by Quackerbox Creations, Ltd., wildtoad toffee, Fort Worth Makerspace, Quirk Books, Plaid Enterprises, Brandy Austin Law Firm, PLLC, The Artful Village, and Right On! Graphics.

 For more information about this event, please contact Jessica Dougherty at 903-665-7954 or via e-mail at handmade@funkyfinds.com.

Happy Holidays Gift Market and More

Stroll through the festive trees and Santa art at the Arlington Museum of Art, 201 West Main Street, and shop from local artisans on three floors of the museum this Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 7-8 at the Happy Holidays Gift Market. In addition to the 15 local artisans' work that can be found in the Happy Holidays Gift Store on the mezzanine level of the museum, you will find almost 30 additional artisans and their creations and collections for this market weekend. Come out and meet the artists in person and ask about their work. Many great gifts can be found for a variety of people on your list. There will be art for your walls, jewelry, woodwork, metal sculptures, handmade soaps and much more.

American illustrator Tom Newsom is expected to be at the museum this weekend to sign autographs. Some of his Santa art (prints for your wall or on puzzles and cards) will also be available for sale. When holiday music is not playing over the intercom, live entertainment will also be part of the Festival of Trees this weekend. All of this is at the Arlington Museum of Art from 10am-5pm Saturday, Dec. 7 and 1-5pm Sunday, Dec. 8. The Arlington Museum of Art and hence the Happy Holidays Gift Market will be closed on Saturday, Dec. 7 due to hazardous travel conditions. Dec. 7 UPDATE: While it is unknown at this point whether the museum will open at 1 pm on Sunday, Dec. 8, due to the logistics of setting up the market and the forecast of when weather conditions are likely to improve, the second day, Dec. 8, of the Happy Holidays Gift Market has been cancelled as well.

While you are in Downtown Arlington on Saturday you can also watch holiday entertainment at the Levitt Pavilion in the afternoon and the Holiday Lights Parade which starts at 6pm.