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May Festivals in the Dallas Fort Worth Metroplex

by Heather Carr
for About.com

May starts out pleasant and ends up a little warm. These festivals will get you outside and enjoying the weather before it gets too hot in Dallas.

Mayfest

Cancelled Apr 30-May 3. Enjoy rides, games, art, and food along the beautiful Trinity River. Six stages will provide a variety of live music. A Battle of the Bands will be held for local talent. The Mayfest Run will be held on May 2 and has a USATF-certified 10k and 5k and a 1k fun run for the kids. Mayfest is celebrated in Trinity Park between I-30 and West Lancaster Avenue in Fort Worth. Admission costs $8 for adults, $5 for children 6-12, children 5 and under get in free.

Butterfly Festival

May 5-10. The Greater Plano Kiwanis Club is having a Butterfly Festival at Collin Creek Mall in Plano. To get there, take I-75/Central Expressway north to Plano and exit Plano Parkway or take DART's Red Line to the Downtown Plano station and catch the free shuttle to the mall. The butterflies will be on the right. Admission is $6 for adults and $3 for children. Call John Walsh at (972) 422-1390 or Iris Paul at (214) 514-3059 for information about tickets.

Cinco de Mayo Celebrations

May 3-9. Cinco de Mayo celebrates the defeat of the French at the Battle of Puebla in Mexico. Dancers, artists, and performers gather at various festivals throughout the Metroplex. Many restaurants also offer special deals on food and drinks during this time.

Frontier Forts Days

May 8-10. Experience Texas frontier life at the Fort Worth Stockyards. For three days, watch live demonstrations of frontier skills and arts and discuss what life was like back then with historical re-enactors. The Frontier Brass Band will play authentic nineteenth century music. Admission is free.

Taste Addison

May 8-10. Fri 5 p.m.-midnight, Sat noon-midnight, Sun noon-6 p.m. Enjoy food, music, art, and carnival rides. Taste Addison will be held in Addison Circle Park at 4970 Addison Circle Drive in Addison. Admission for adults is $10 after 5 p.m., $5 before 5 p.m. Parking is free at the corner of Dallas Parkway and Arapaho Road. Discount tickets can be purchased at Metroplex Tom Thumbs.

Swiss Avenue Historic District Mother's Day Home Tour

May 9-10, Sat 10 a.m.-6 p.m. and Sun noon-6 p.m. Ten historic homes and their gardens in the Swiss Avenue Historic District will be open to tour. There will be a parade at noon on Saturday and a champagne brunch on Sunday in Savage Park. Tickets for adults cost $20 at the door and $15 in advance. Children twelve and under are free.

Main Street Days in Grapevine

May 15-17. Main Street Days is one of Grapevine's big festivals, featuring a BMX bike show, Grapevine Vintage Railroad excursions, and gunfighter shows. Enjoy arts and crafts, winery tours, rides for the kids, and live music. Admission is free on May 15 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Otherwise, admission costs $7 for adults and $5 for seniors and kids; children under six get in free. Main Street Days is held on Main Street in Grapevine, between Northwest Highway and Dallas Street.

Wildflower Arts and Music Festival

May 15-17. Enjoy live music, including a local talent competition, street performers, acrobats, petting zoo, and food. A weekend pass costs $25. A day pass for an adult costs $15 and for kids 5-12 costs $3. Richardson residents get in for $7.50. Take DART's Red Line to the Galatyn Park station or go to I-75 at Galatyn Crossing.

Dragon Boat, Kite, and Lantern Festival

May 17, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Dragon boat races, dance performances, kite making demonstrations, and food and drink are at Lake Carolyn in Irving.

National Polka Festival

May 22-24. The National Polka Festival celebrates Czech heritage with dancing, a parade, and music in Ennis.
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