The Wells Report

CITYARTS FESTIVAL PRESENTED BY BIG CITY CRUSHED CONCRETE RETURNS TO HISTORIC FAIR PARK MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND MAY 27 – 29

Free festival will feature a Friday night film under the stars, rooftop fireworks Saturday, ongoing entertainment, ARTFEST, kids activities, free museum visits at select times, a culinary area, “dancing water” shows and more.

DALLAS (May 24, 2011) – Moving to Memorial Day weekend May 27 – 29, CityArts Festival presented by Big City Crushed Concrete will offer a spectacular mix of activities and entertainment for families and art aficionados alike to enjoy against the backdrop of historic Fair Park, a national landmark featuring the world’s largest collection of art deco exhibit buildings, art and sculpture. Free and open to the public, CityArts Festival will feature an outdoor film Friday night, rooftop fireworks Saturday night, plus ARTFEST will return to its traditional outdoor setting over Memorial Day weekend featuring art by nearly 150 renowned juried artists. Other holiday-weekend highlights will include ongoing entertainment; free visits to Fair Park’s eight museums at select times, including the new Texas Museum of Automotive History; an indoor culinary showcase; a super-sized children’s area featuring interactive activities, crafts and entertainment with more than 20 of Dallas’ most prominent arts organizations; CityArts Marketplace; multi-disciplinary demos; “dancing water” shows at the Esplanade Fountain; and more.

We’re thrilled to be part of such a huge and diverse event as CityArts Festival,” said Trey Brown, vice president of Big City Crushed Concrete. “As a Dallas-based company with offices near Fair Park, we have a long-standing fondness for the historic landmark. I predict Fair Park is going to be THE place to go this Memorial Day weekend!”

ARTFEST, the juried art show coordinated by The 500, Inc., will be outdoors at CityArts Festival, showcasing fine art and original pieces by nearly 150 renowned Texas and national artists, all while raising money for cultural arts organizations in the Dallas area.

“From an outdoor film on the lawn to rooftop fireworks, there are a lot of new and exciting activities this year that really make CityArts Festival a unique event,” said David Luther, chair of Friends of Fair Park. “With all the great space at Fair Park, it’s clear this is an ideal setting where the festival can naturally grow and thrive. In just its second year at Fair Park, CityArts Festival is already seeing an impressive jump in community involvement from arts and cultural groups. We appreciate all the wonderful support and look forward to a truly memorable weekend!”

Free museum visits at select times Saturday and Sunday

Thanks to Atmos Energy, Fair Park’s eight museums will offer free admission on Saturday and Sunday (at select times) including the African American Museum, Children’s Aquarium at Fair Park, The Women’s Museum: An Institute for the Future, Dallas Historical Society/Hall of State, the new Texas Museum of Automotive History, Texas Discovery Gardens, Museum of Nature & Science and Museum of the American Railroad. Check cityartsfestival.com for the latest schedules.

In addition, Dallas Summer Musicals will present 9 to 5: The Musical at 8 p.m. Friday, at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. Saturday, and at 2 p.m. Sunday at the Music Hall (tickets required).

Outdoor film, ongoing entertainment on three stages, plus rooftop fireworks to rock Fair Park

Sponsored by Capital One Bank and hosted by the Dallas Film Society, a FREE outdoor film screening of the 1961 classic “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” will take place at 9 p.m. Friday on the lawn next to the WRR 101.1 building.

The Main Stage sponsored by MetroPCS will be hoppin’ with hot headliners outside the Cotton Bowl. On Friday, the Inner City All-Stars will get jazzy for the opening act at 6 p.m. Then the get-up-and-dance group Synergy will take the stage at 8 p.m. On Saturday the internationally acclaimed 150+ male chorale group The Vocal Majority Chorus will perform at 7 p.m., followed by a rockin’ show by the nine-member Trubone Band at 8:30 p.m. Afterward, rooftop fireworks sponsored by Gold Metal Recyclers will light the skies above the Cotton Bowl Plaza at 10 p.m. On Sunday at 3 p.m., Havana NRG! will have the crowds boogying to their high-energy Latin dance beats.

A variety of multicultural musical, dance and performing arts acts will be on tap throughout the weekend. Friday’s line-up will include the Allegro Guitar Society; Destiny Tabernacle of Worship Youth Department; Latin Sensassions; Ray Baker Project; TangoAmor; and The Mambos. Saturday’s schedule will include shows by Anita Martinez Ballet Folklorico; Bandan Koro African Drum & Dance Ensemble; Bowie Salsa; Contemporary Ballet Dallas; Contemporary Dance/Fort Worth; Daniel de Córdoba Bailes Españoles; Orquesta Cervantes; School of Contemporary Ballet Dallas; Shakespeare Dallas; SIMA Ballet Folklorico; South Dallas Concert Choir; Strings of Color; The SmeeTones; and the University of North Texas African Ensemble; and more. Sunday’s schedule will include 5 Second Rule; Ballet de Force; Ballet Folklorico Huehuecoyotl; Dyaaly Kunola West African Drum; Events in Motion; Inner City All-Stars; iNStep; Japan-America Society of Dallas/Fort Worth; Lady Diamond; Skyline High School Urban Dance Theater; The Jasmines; and more.

Cooking demos with some of Texas’ top chefs, plus beer, wine and liquor tastings at Culinary Showcase.  Foodies and wine enthusiasts can convene at the Culinary Showcase led by Lisa Chamberlain of Chamberlain’s Restaurants inside the Texas Museum of Automotive History. Throughout the weekend, festival goers ages 21 and up (with valid ID) can enjoy cooking demos and samplings by some of Texas’ most celebrated chefs including Executive Chef Blythe Beck of Central 214; Chef Richard Chamberlain of Chamberlain's Steak and Chophouse and Chamberlain’s Fish Market Grill; Regional Executive Chef David F. Holben of Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steak House; Chef/Owner Brian C. Luscher; Executive Chef David McMillan of Screen Door; Chef/Owner Janice Provost of Parigi; Executive Chef Jim Severson of Sevy’s Grill; Corporate Chef Aaron Staudenmaier of Abacus; plus, author and award-winning artisanal cheesemaker Paula Lambert, founder and CEO of The Mozzarella Company.

Guests can try out an assortment of craft beer, wine and liquor, learn the latest wine-pairing tips, and awaken their taste buds with tequila and vodka tastings (supplies limited). Outside the Culinary Showcase, all ages can enjoy mouth-watering meals, snacks and refreshments from various restaurants and vendors including Fletcher’s Corny Dogs, Ain’t No Mo Butter Cakes and dozens more.

Kids fun, crafts, shopping and “dancing water” to delight all ages.  The Prudential Children’s Area will be chock-full of arts and crafts, interactive activities and family-fun entertainment. More than 20 prominent arts organizations and nonprofits will be on site including Big Thought; Crow Collection of Asian Art; Dallas Contemporary; Dallas Film Society; Dallas Holocaust Museum/Center for Education and Tolerance; Dallas Museum of Art; Dallas Public Library; Dallas Summer Musicals; International Museum of Cultures; Japan-America Society of Dallas/Fort Worth; Museum of the American Railroad; Musical Angels; Nasher Sculpture Center; Old Red Museum of Dallas County History and Culture; Sip-n-doodle; Texas Discovery Gardens; Texas Museum of Automotive History; The McKinney Avenue Contemporary; The Women’s Museum: An Institute for the Future; and more. Plus, the Dallas Zoo will present Animal Adventure, an interactive live animal show at 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. The Big Thought Touring Art Exhibit presented by Prudential will feature art created by students in the Thriving Minds After School program at John W. Carpenter Elementary School. Artwork will include fabric weavings, ceramic sculptures and stained glass murals focused on the meaning of community.

NOTE: The Prudential Children’s Area will be open Saturday and Sunday until 6 p.m.

CityArts Marketplace will feature unique gifts, clothing, collectibles and other eclectic items suitable for bargain shoppers and high-end buyers. “Dancing water” shows choreographed to music at the Esplanade Fountain will dazzle crowds at the top of every hour! Four songs will be featured including Yellow Rose of Texas and Aaron Copland’s Hoedown of the popular Rodeo suite, plus two new songs Somewhere Over the Rainbow and Stars and Stripes. (Dancing water shows will run at the top of the hour from 6 – 9 p.m. Friday; 11 a.m. – 9 p.m. Saturday; and noon – 5 p.m. Sunday.)

Sponsors and general information for CityArts Festival
The presenting sponsor for CityArts Festival is Big City Crushed Concrete. Major sponsors are Atmos Energy, Capital One Bank, Gold Metal Recyclers, MetroPCS and Prudential. Other sponsors are Baylor Healthcare System, Ben E. Keith Beverage Company, Budweiser, City of Dallas Office of Cultural Affairs, Coca-Cola, Constellation Brands, Dallas Film Society, Kroger, North Texas Tollway Authority, Republic National Distributing Company, Statewide Remodeling, Ultimat Vodka, Texas Museum of Automotive History, The Patrón Spirits Company and VIKING. Media partners are Fox 4 and My27, Univision 23, 98.7 KLUV, WRR Classical 101.1 FM, 97.9 The Beat, 94.5 K-Soul, 1270 AM La Voz del Pueblo, 107.9 La Kalle, Al Dia, Downtown Business News, The Greensheet and Yelp. DART is the Official Transportation Provider. Founded by the Dallas Convention & Visitors Bureau in 2004, CityArts Festival is now presented by Friends of Fair Park in collaboration with a variety of cultural, civic and arts organizations.

Free and open to the public, CityArts Festival will run Friday, May 27, from 6 – 10 p.m.; Saturday, May 28, from 11 a.m. – 10 p.m.; and Sunday, May 29, from noon – 6 p.m. Activities will take place outdoors along the Lagoon, Cotton Bowl Plaza and the Promenade at Fair Park (1300 Robert B. Cullum Blvd, Dallas 75210). Parking will be available at gates 2 and 6. The City of Dallas charges $10 to park within the gates of Fair Park, or visitors can ride DART’s Green Line Rail to the Fair Park Station.

For details, call 214-421-9600 or go to cityartsfestival.com.