JUNE

   June 4-5 - Denton
DOG DAYS OF DENTON CELEBRATION… “Texas’ Original Celebration for Pooches and Their People”. Live entertainment, canine contests, freestyle/frisbee/flyball demonstrations, Glamfur photos, arts & crafts, games, live music, festival foods. Free admission. Quakertown Park (north end). www.dogdaysdenton.com.

   June 5-6 - Waxahachie
42nd ANNUAL GINGERBREAD TRAIL TOUR OF HOMES... Tour five historic homes, and enjoy an antique car show, arts/crafts fair and courthouse tours. (972) 937-0681.

   June 11-12 - McKinney
MCKINNEY GARDEN & HOME TOUR ... Experience a variety of “Summer Scented Splendors” at homes and gardens on Saturday, 10am-4pm. Also an evening garden party Friday, 7-9pm. Presented by McKinney Garden Club. www.mckinneygardenclub.org (214) 912-7302.

   June 17, 18, 19 - Wichita Falls
23rd LEGENDS OF WESTERN SWING MUSIC FESTIVAL... Hundreds of western swing musicians gather for 3 days of performances: Bob Fjeldsted, Bob Wills & The Texas Playboys with Leon Rausch and Tommy Alsup, John England & the Western Swingers, Bobby Flores & The Yellow Rose Band, Ted Scanlon & The Desperados, Dennis Ivey Band, Eddie McAlvain. Events Center. (972) 612-9598. www.legendsofwesternswing.com. 

   June 25-26 - Greenville
AUDIE MURPHY DAYS... A two-day celebration honoring the military and Audie Murphy—the most decorated hero of WWII. Ceremonies, music, dignitaries, static displays, memorabilia/stamp sales & more. For info, contact Audie Murphy / American Cotton Museum. Visit www.cottonmuseum.com, or call (903) 450-4502.

   June 25-27 - Celina
5th ANNUAL CELINA BALLOON FESTIVAL... Join us for a weekend of high flying fun in Celina! Witness colorful hot air balloon ascensions, night-time glow, over 100 vendors, live music and other special festivities at Old Celina Park. For more information: call (972) 382-3600, or visit www.celinachamber.org.

JULY

   July 2-4 - Granbury
36th OLD-FASHIONED 4TH OF JULY CELEBRATION... Families celebrate the 4th and honor pioneers and patriots with Texas country music concert, over 100 arts/ crafts booths, ranch rodeo, fireworks over Lake Granbury, carnival rides, car show, hometown parade, old-fashioned games & more. www.granburychamber.com. (817) 573-1622.

   July 3 - Waxahachie
13th ANNUAL CRAPE MYRTLE PARADE & FESTIVAL... Experience a wonderful driving trail of historic homes & blooming crape myrtles in celebration of the 4th of July in the “Crape Myrtle Capital of Texas.” Celebrate freedom with a hometown parade on July 3 on Main Street followed by the HEB fireworks display and tailgate party at Lumpkin Stadium. (972) 937-2390. www.waxahachiechamber.com.

   July 4 - Cleburne
FOURTH OF JULY CELEBRATION... Sunday. Boat parade and fireworks show at Lake Pat Cleburne at dusk. (817) 645-2455. info@cleburnechamber.com, or visit www.cleburnechamber.com for details.

   July 4 - Bedford
4thFEST ISLAND ADVENTURE... Bedford’s Independence Day Celebration goes on an Island Adventure with a full day of family fun, including live entertainment, limbo, hula lessons, lei making, and of course, a spectacular fireworks show when the sun goes down. For info & complete schedule of activities, visit www.ci.bedford.tx.us, or call (817) 952-2128.

   July 10 - Weatherford
PARKER COUNTY PEACH FESTIVAL AND PEACH PEDAL BIKE RIDE... Historic Downtown features over 200 arts, crafts, food and activity vendors, plus special continuous stage entertainment & children’s events. 8am-5pm. (888) 594-3801. For info, visit www.peachpedal.com or www.peachfestivaltx.com.

   July 21-24 - 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 & dancing. Hico City Park. (800) 361-4426.

AUGUST

   August 9-14 - Alvarado
PIONEERS & OLD SETTLERS 118th 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. Bill Gray, President. Free Admission. $2 Parking. (817) 517-9920.

   August 28 & 29 - Granbury
PIRATE FESTIVAL... Professional Pirate Invasion & shows, treasure hunts, costume contests for all ages, cardboard boat races, vendors, Saturday nite dinner/dance/costume gala. Held on the historic square & city beach. For  more info: sara@pomhouse.com or (817) 279-7412.

SEPTEMBER

   September 4 - Hamilton
39th HAMILTON COUNTY DOVE FESTIVAL... Celebrate the Labor Day Week-end at Fair Park! Festivities include parade, softball tournament, 5K run, Saturday evening dance, carnival, arts & crafts, quilt show, pageant, food, kids events, live music. Free Admission. (254) 386-3216.

   September 4-5 - Bedford
CITY OF BEDFORD LABOR DAY BLUES & BBQ FESTIVAL... Music lovers with an appetite for tasty blues & mouth-watering barbecue enjoy great stage performers, including legends Robert Cray & Taj Mahal and the Phantom Blues Band, as well as a $10,000 BBQ cook-off. Sat & Sun, 2pm-11pm. 1613 Hospital Parkway in Bedford (Hwy 121/Airport Fwy). $5-$10 admission. www.bedfordbluesbbq.com (817) 952-2128.

   September 4-5 - West
WESTFEST... Labor Day weekend festivities with Czech foods, music, international entertainment, dancing, pastries, costumes, arts & crafts, horseshoe tournament, Polka Mass, races, sports, children’s area, kolache baking contest. Rodeo & Fair Grounds. In its 32nd year! www.westfest.com. (254) 826-5058.

   September 16-18 - Henrietta
79th CLAY COUNTY PIONEER REUNION... Share in this tribute to the area’s frontier heritage with rodeo performances, reunion, parades, barbecue, children’s activities, and art & crafts fair. Henrietta & Clay County Chamber: (940) 538-5261.

   September 17-19 - Cleburne
WHIPP FARM ANTIQUE ALLEY SHOW ... Discover almost 180 vendors at Whipp Farm on FM4 South during the community’s bi-annual Antique Alley that extends for miles. Also held April 15-17, 2011. FMI: www.whippfarm.com. Vendor Inquiries Welcome! Contact Debbie Whipp at whipp@hughes.net or (817) 641-0183.

   September 17-19 & April 15-17 - Grandview -
Maypearl - Cleburne - ANTIQUE ALLEY & 25-MILES OF SALES... Shop the 25-mile long Antique Alley with antiques, arts & crafts, yard sales, festival foods and entertainment! Ranches rent pastures to hundreds of vendors. www.AntiqueAlleyTexas.com. (817) 240-4948. Vendor inquiries welcome!

   September 25-26 - Comanche
COMANCHE COUNTY POW-WOW... 29th annual heritage festival, entertainment, food, artisan & commercial vendors, art show, photography show, state sanctioned BBQ cook-off, antique tractor show, largest car show in Central Texas. Approx. 15,000 in attendance at beautiful, shaded City Park. For info, visit www.comanchechamber.org or call (325) 356-3233. 

OCTOBER