Memorial Day the day when we remember the brave men and women who have given their lives defending our country. We should all take time out to honor these fallen heroes, especially since so many members of our Armed Forces continue to serve in combat zones today. Many churches will hold special Memorial Day services on Sunday, May 25th, and there will be various other parades and services around the country.
Memorial Day weekend is also the official start of summer, and in addition to the typical activities at area lakes, there are a wide variety of family-friendly Memorial Day weekend events in Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex this year. Here are some of the more notable celebrations and festivities:
Memorial Day Family Picnic in the Garden – May 26 (Dallas Arboretum, Dallas, TX)
From 10 am to 2 pm on Monday May 26, the Dallas Arboretum will host a Family Picnic featuring a concert by Sara Hickman. Bring chairs, blankets, and your picnic basket for lunch on the lawn. There will be several activities for the kids, including face painting, a petting zoo, and lots of crafts. Be sure to check out the Arboretum’s May Flowers Festival as well. Admission is $8 for adults and $5 for kids, and onsite parking is $5. The Arboretum is located at 8525 Garland Road in Dallas.
Six Flags Over Texas – May 24 thru 26 (Arlington, TX)
Memorial Day weekend is traditionally when Six Flags kicks off the summer, and this year is no exception. With thrill rides that include the Aquaman Splashdown, Batman: The Ride, Mr. Freeze, and Superman: Tower of Power, most of your comic superheroes are well represented. For the smaller kids, there are numerous Looney Tune options: Elmer Fudd’s Railway, Bugs Bunny Spirit of St. Louie, Yosemite Sam’s Gold River Adventure, and Taz’s New York Adventure, to name a few. Great roller coasters include the Titan, the Shock Wave, and the Judge Roy Scream. There are also numerous shows, including The American Music Awards Rewind and Cirque Dreams Coobrila. General admissions tickets are $46.99 for adults, but can be purchased online for $29.99. Tickets for kids under 48″ tall are $29.99.
Artfest 2008 – May 23 thru 25 (Fair Park, Dallas, TX)
Artfest 2008 is the 39th annual celebration of artists from around the country. The festival also includes food, live bands, and a children’s interactive area (Artfest for Kids). Artfest 2008 is a juried event featuringr over 200 artists displaying, demonstrating, and selling their one-of-a-kind creations. Proceeds of the event benefit The 500, Inc., a volunteer organization that has supported over 35 local arts organizations over the past 40 years.
Artfest kicks off with the Wine Stroll Preview Party on Friday evening, which includes an art preview, “meet and greet” with the artists, a weekend pass to ARTFEST, complimentary wine and hors d’oeuvres. Tickets for the Wine Stroll are $20. The main event will be held from 10am – 7pm on Saturday, May 24 and from 10am – 6pm on Sunday, May 25. General admission is $6 per day for adults; children under 6 are free. Parking is also free.
American Heroes 10k/5k Run/Walk – Monday, May 26 (Rangers Ballpark in Arlington)
Last year was the first Memorial Day Tribute for our American Heroes held at the Ballpark in Arlington. For the 2008 run, Apache Helicopters will lead the race as well as the Marine Corps Hummers. There will also be a beer garden, and a Military Expo. The event will be held in South Parking lot of the Ballpark. Thanks to the help of Vicky Field (Texas State Representative for the Severely Wounded), this year will include the participation of many wounded troops who will join in the run. The schedule is as follows:
6:15 – 7:30 AM: Registration ($30), Chip and Packet Pick-Up
7:30 – 8:00 AM: Memorial Day Tribute
8:00 AM: L’il Heroes Troop Run led by U.S. Army
8:15 AM: 10k and 5k start
10:30 AM: Awards Ceremony
Cowtown Warbird Roundup – May 30 & 31, 2008 (Fort Worth, TX)
The annual Cowtown Warbird Roundup will be held at Veteran’s Memorial Air Park at Meacham Field in Ft. Worth May 30-31 this year. While this event actually falls on the weekend after Memorial Day, this year’s e theme of “A Salute to Veterans, Past, Present, and Future” is in keeping with spirit of the holiday. The event is designed to provide an educational experience for the community and to inspire our local youth to seek careers in aviation. Dana Bowman, local motivational speaker and former member of the Golden Knights U.S. Army Parachute Team is the featured speaker. The Warbird fly-in is all day on May 30th, and Saturday, May 31st is the day for family activities. Other activities this year include a Runway Fun Run, a Mustang auto show, airplane rides, and many other activities and events.
