With school starting and summer winding down, there are not as many Labor Day activities as you typically find on Memorial Day or the 4th of July. But there are still a great many fun things to fill your Labor Day Weekend in the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex. Here are a few suggestions:
Annual Western Day Festival – Lewisville, TX (Sep. 1)
The Old Town Business Association, in conjunction with the City of Lewisville and other community groups, will present the popular Western Day festival on Saturday, Sept. 1, in Old Town Lewisville. Headliner for this year’s event is the Randy Rogers Band, scheduled to perform from 6:30-8 p.m. Other planned activities at the family event, designed to showcase Lewisville’s rich history, include a Main Street parade, two festival stages of live music, arts and crafts vendors, gunfight re-enactments, trick ropers, car show, Longhorn cattle drive, three nights of the annual Labor Day Rodeo and the third annual World Tamale Eating Championship. For more information please check the city’s website.
Labor Day Parade – Fort Worth, TX (Sep. 1)
The Second Annual Party in the Yards will be held in the historic Fort Worth Stockyards on Sep. 1. Stockyards Station exemplifies Texas by providing an exciting blend of old and new with Historic Walking Tours that visit the Texas Trail of Fame, The Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame and more, over 25 unique shops including a winery, art gallery and great restaurants that offer anything from ribs to enchiladas. Bring the entire family for a Texas-sized festive parade with horseback riding clubs, antique cars, local radio stations and more. There will also be live music from local bands throughout the day. Information can be found at the Stockyard Station website.
Star Wars: Where Science Meets Imagination – Fort Worth, TX (thru Sep. 3)
The special traveling exhibit ends its Southwest run on Sep 3rd, moving on next to Chicago. The first exhibition of its kind, Star Wars: Where Science Meets Imagination, combines costumes and props from all six Star Wars films with real-world technologies, video interviews with filmmakers, scientists and engineers, and two large Engineering Design Labs where visitors can build and test speeders and robots. For a complete review of the exhibit click here.
13th Annual Cowboys of Color Rodeo – Fort Worth, TX (Aug. 31 – Sep. 1)
The Cowboys of Color Invitational Rodeo serves as unique family entertainment and features over 300 African American, Hispanic, Asian, European and Native American Cowboys and Cowgirls competing for $25,000 in prize money. This fast-paced sporting event is also an educationally enlightening experience that provides many of its viewers with their first glimpse of Cowboys of Color, while learning about their historical contribution to the settling of the western United States. The rodeo is held at the Will Rogers Memorial Center. Ticket information can be found at group’s website.
Rescheduled 4th of July Fireworks – Rockwall, TX (Sep. 3)
Due to wet conditions and heavy rains earlier in the summer, Rockwall’s Independence Day fireworks display has moved to Sep. 3rd. The display will begin at 9:30 p.m. at Harry Myers Park. See the city’s website for more information.
Best of Texas Festival – Arlington, TX (Weekends Sep. 1- 16)
Six Flags Over Texas kicks off the fall season with an event guaranteed to delight all tried-and-true Texans down to the soles of their cowboy boots. The Best of Texas Festival brings together a truckload of Lone Star State traditions ranging from entertainers to one-of-a-kind crafts to delicious foods prepared with a western flare. Visit the park’s website for details.
Dallas D.A.N.C.E. Swing Competition – Dallas, TX (Aug. 30 – Sep. 2)
Dallas D.A.N.C.E. will host the biggest and most exciting Swing dance competition in the country on Labor Day Weekend. Held at the luxurious Fairmont Hotel and Towers in downtown Dallas, the event features a 5,000 square foot dance floor, colored skyline backdrop, projection TV monitors, superb sound system, and open seating at cozy 18″ wide tables that allow close-up viewing of all the competitions. Visit the group’s website for more information
Westfest – West, TX (Aug. 30 – Sep. 2)
This annual event is a bit outside of the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex, but it’s worth the drive just for the kolaches. Every year the town of West, Texas (ninety miles south of Dallas and just north of Waco on Interstate 35) hosts its “Westfest,” which is one of the largest Czech Polka fests in the state. The event is held over the first weekend in September and features polka bands, dancing, Miss Westfest contest, parade, baking contests, fun run, horseshoes, arts & crafts and more. Visit the festival’s website for more information.
