JUNE

  June 7 - McKinney
“SWEET NECTARS OF SUMMER” HOME AND GARDEN TOUR… The McKinney Garden Club’s 2008 tour presents five charming gardens and homes on Saturday, 10am-4pm. Tickets: $15. For more info, visit www.mckinneygardenclub.org, or call 972-547-4839 or 972-529-1470.

  June 7-8 - Waxahachie
40th ANNUAL GINGERBREAD TRAIL TOUR OF HOMES... Tour five historic  homes, and enjoy an antique car show, arts & crafts fair, and courthouse tours.  (888) 428-7245.

  June 19-21 - Wichita Falls
21st LEGENDS OF WESTERN SWING MUSIC FESTIVAL... Dozens of western swing musicians gather for 3 full days of performances: RAY PRICE, John England & the Western Swingers, Bobby Flores Band, Eddie McAlvain, Jody Nix, Ted Scanlon, River Road Boys, Justin Trevino, and Swing Ambassadors—the top WS band from England. Events Center. (972) 612-9598. www.legendsofwesternswing.com.

  June 21 - Stephenville
DAIRYFEST... Celebrate Dairy Month in June at DairyFest—a family fun event celebrating the largest economic influence in the tri-county area. Enjoy live music, games and milk, cheeseburgers and ice cream on Saturday at Stephenville City Park. 11am-4pm. Vendor booths available. www.tricountyag.com. (254) 965-2406.

  June 27-28 - Greenville
AUDIE MURPHY DAYS... A two-day celebration honoring the most decorated hero of WWII. Ceremonies, music, dignitaries, static displays, memorabilia/stamp sales, and more. For more information, contact Audie Murphy/American Cotton Museum: www.cottonmuseum.com or (903) 450-4502.

  June 27-28 - Celina
3rd ANNUAL CELINA BALLOON FEST... Join us for a weekend of high flying fun in Celina! Witness colorful hot air balloon ascensions, key-grab contest, night-time glow, and other special festivities at Old Celina Park. For more info: call (972) 382-3600, or visit www.celinachamber.org.

  June 28-29 - Rowlett
14th FESTIVAL OF FREEDOM... Join over 30,000 people celebrating freedom in the City of Rowlett’s beautiful Pecan Grove Park. Fireworks extravaganzas and head-liner entertainment Sat & Sun nights, arts/crafts, local entertainers, expanded kid’s area, carnival, huge food selection. Vendor space available. FMI: www.rowlett.com, dperrin@rowlett.com, (972) 412-6192.

JULY

  July 3-4 - Waxahachie
11th CRAPE MYRTLE FESTIVAL... Experience a wonderful driving trail of historic homes and blooming crape myrtles in celebration of the 4th of July in the “Crape Myrtle Capital of Texas”. Celebrate freedom with the H-E-B fireworks display and tail-gate party on July 3, followed by a hometown parade on July 4 on Main Street. (972) 937-2390. www.waxahachiechamber.com.

  July 4 - Bedford
WILD WEST 4thFEST... Enjoy a family friendly Independence Celebration with Wild West twist on Wednesday, July 4th. Bedford’s SPLASH aquatic Park, culinary delights, carnival, children’s activities and live music by King Creole, along with the mid-cities largest fireworks extravaganza. Hours: 11am-11pm. Most activities are FREE. 817-952-2222, ext. 514. www.ci.bedford.tx.us.

  July 4 - Garland
STAR SPANGLED 4TH... It’s a Celebration with Kool and the Gang at Garland’s Star Spangled Fourth Festival on Friday, July 4 from 10am to midnight at Firewheel Town Center. Enjoy a full day of free activities and entertainment and watch a spectacular fireworks display. Call (972) 205-2749 or visit www.starspangledfourth.com.

  July 4 - Cleburne
FOURTH OF JULY CELEBRATION ...Friday. Live entertainment at 7:30pm on Lake Pat Cleburne. Parade starts at 6pm. Fireworks show over Lake Pat Cleburne at dusk. (817) 645-2455. For details, email info@cleburnechamber.com.

  July 4 - Granbury
OLD-FASHIONED 4TH OF JULY... Over 100 arts & crafts booths, hometown parade, live entertainment, Ranch Rodeo, car show, carnival, games, country music & fire-works over Lake Granbury. (817) 573-1622. www.granburychamber.com.

  July 12 - Weatherford
PARKER COUNTY PEACH FESTIVAL AND PEACH PEDAL BIKE RIDE... Historic downtown features over 200 arts, crafts, food & activity vendors, plus special continuous stage entertainment & children’s events. (888) 594-3801. For more info:  www.peachpedal.com or www.visitweatherford.com.

  July 23-26 - Hico
OLD SETTLERS REUNION... Since 1882, Hico has been celebrating the area’s heritage at one of the oldest settlers reunions in the state with carnival, food and crafts vendors, musical entertainment, and dancing at Hico City Park. (800) 361-4426.

AUGUST

  August 5-9 - De Leon
PEACH AND MELON FESTIVAL... Seed-spitting contest, parade, carnival, tractor pull, vendor booths and more. (254) 893-6600 or pmdeleon@cctc.net.

  August 11-16 - Alvarado
PIONEERS & OLD SETTLERS 116th REUNION... Parade, queen, baby & Fiddler contests, country-western bands, big carnival, “The Premier Homecoming Event of Texas.” Write P. O. Box 217, Alvarado, TX 76009. Wando Scarberry, Pres. Free Admission. $2 Parking. (817) 790-3503.

  August 15-17 - Highland Village
LIONS HOT AIR BALLOON FESTIVAL ...Enjoy morning and evening lift-offs, main stage entertainment, and a new children’s area. Copperas Branch Park off I-35 North on the shores of Lake Lewisville. 972) 317-9073.

  August 15-23 - Denton
80th ANNUAL NORTH TEXAS STATE FAIR & RODEO... Celebrating the Cowboy Way since 1928! Join us for the largest livestock show in the area with championship rodeos, live music, carnival, food, exhibits, cook-offs and more. North Texas Fairgrounds. Visit www.ntfair.com for more information, or call (888) 381-1818 or (940) 387-2632.

  August 30-31 - West
WESTFEST... Labor Day weekend festivities with Czech foods, music, international entertainment, dancing, pastries, costumes, arts and crafts, horseshoe tournament, Polka Mass, races, sports, children’s area & kolache baking contest at Rodeo and Fair Grounds. In its 30th year!  www.westfest.com. (254) 826-5058.

  August 31 - Hamilton
37th HAMILTON COUNTY DOVE FESTIVAL... Come celebrate the Labor Day Weekend on the Square! Festivities include rodeo events Fri & Sat at Circle T Arena, 5K run, parade, softball tournament, car show, arts and crafts, pet show, pageant, quilt show, church relays, food, kids events & live music. Free Admission. (254) 386-3216.

SEPTEMBER

  September 1 - Elm Mott
LABOR DAY WEEKEND SORGHUM HARVEST AT BRAZOS DE DIOS... The Homestead at Brazos de Dios hosts a sweet sorghum harvest celebration with its Homestead Crafts Village, old-fashioned syrup-making, workshop tours, gristmill, traditional craft demonstrations, horse-drawn hayrides, family music & tasty foods. West off IH-35, five miles north of Waco. 254) 754-9600. www.cfee-school.com. 

  September 5-7 - Grand Prairie
46th NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP INDIAN POW WOW... Hundreds of Native American Indians from across the nation compete in eleven dance categories with full regalia of feather, buckskin, beadwork & bells. Also enjoy Native American foods, giant arts/crafts show, teepee display and heritage costumes. Traders Village, 2602 Mayfield Road. (972) 647-2331.

  September 13 - Denton
ARTS, ANTIQUES AND AUTOS EXTRAVAGANZA... Saturday on Denton’s historic downtown square, 110 W. Hickory St. FREE admission. Classic/hot rod/custom car show, juried art & craft show, antique “Attic Treasure” and sports memorabilia appraisals, Kid Zone, and festival foods make this event fun for the entire family. 10am to 4pm. For more info, call (940) 349-8529, or visit www.dentonmainstreet.org.

  September 20 - Sherman
26th ANNUAL SHERMAN ARTS FEST - CELEBRATE ART! ...Enjoy OLIVER on stage, a Short Film Contest, art shows, craft sales, entertainment, food, French Rockin’ Boogie Band, the 150th Anniversary of the Butterfield  Stage and more. 1-888-893-1188. www.shermantx.org.

  September 18 - Henrietta 
77th CLAY COUNTY PIONEER REUNION... Share in this tribute to the area’s frontier heritage with rodeo performances, reunion, parade, barbecue, children’s activities, and art and crafts fair. Henrietta and Clay County Chamber: (940) 538-5261.

  Sept 19-21 - Grandview-Maypearl-Cleburne
ANTIQUE ALLEY & 25-MILES OF SALES... Shop the 25-mile long Antique Alley with antiques, arts & crafts, yard sales, festival foods & entertainment! Ranches rent pastures to hundreds of vendors. Also held on April 17-19, 2009. (817) 240-4948. Vendor inquiries welcome! www.AntiqueAlleyTexas.com.

  September 19-21 - Plano
EDS CREDIT UNION PLANO BALLOON FESTIVAL... Join us for the fascination of balloons gracefully floating across the Texas sky! Thousands of smiling faces are awestruck by the vision of hot air balloons filling the sky with a kaleidoscope of colors & shapes. Also check out our food & merchandise vendors, Kids Fun Zone, concerts and fireworks. www.planoballoonfest.org.

  September 19-21 - Cleburne
WHIPP FARM ANTIQUE ALLEY & YARD SALE... Discover 180 dealer booths at Whipp Farm during the community’s bi-annual Antique Alley & Yard Sale. Also held next April 17-19, 2009. Whipp Farm is located at 1900 E. FM-4. Visit www.whippfarm.com for more info. Vendor inquiries welcome! Contact Debbie Whipp: (817) 641-0183 or whipp@hughes.net.

  September 20 - Springtown
24th ANNUAL WILD WEST FESTIVAL ...On the Square, 8am-5pm. Arts/crafts, parade 10am, info displays & freebies, live entertainment, food/drinks, mock jail, stagecoach rides, kid’s activities, petting zoo, pony rides, BBQ cook-off. Booths: $25-$35 + $5 elec. Food vendors: 10x10= $125, 20x10=$250 + $30 elec; no duplicate food items. Set-up 7am. (817) 220-7828 or www.wildwestfestival.org.

  September 27 - Mansfield
MANSFIELD PECAN FESTIVAL - A HOMETOWN TRADITION... Saturday, 9am-6pm. FREE ADMISSION. Bounce Houses, Battle of the Bands, Hometown Idol, 5K Run, Arts & Crafts, Farmers Market, Delicious Food, Petting Zoo, Horse Rides and more! Katherine Rose Park, 303 N. Walnut Creek Dr. Vendor applications and sponsorships available. Chamber of Commerce: (817) 473-0507 or www.mansfieldchamber.net.

OCTOBER

  October 18 - Whitesboro
43rd PEANUT FESTIVAL... Celebrate 43 years of family fun in downtown Whitesboro. Approximately 20,000 visitors visit the entertainment-filled day. Arts and crafts, food vendors, displays of all sorts, musical entertainers, drawings and lots of fun. Free to public. Vendor space available. Chamber of Commerce: (903) 564-3331.   v