Kids and family events in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, May 13-19

by Alex Bentley

See all kids and family events.

With the weather heating up, this week might be one of the few left before outdoor activities get a little unbearable. With that in mind, lets (mostly) focus this week's activities that take advantage of Mother Nature, shall we?

For starters, there is the Wildflower Festival 2009 held at Galatyn Park in Richardson. The festival will start on Friday, May 15 and continue on Saturday and Sunday. Each day will feature two main outdoor performance stages, the family friendly Kidz Korner, Teenz Zone, strolling entertainers, buskers and acrobats, the Taste of Texas Food Garden, the City of Richardson Petting Zoo, the Art Guitar Auction, and lots of interactive displays and exhibits.

Also on Friday, May 15th is Mesquite's monthly Movie Madness in the Park at City Lake Park. The movie, Adam Sandler's Bedtime Stories, will start at dusk (I'm guessing sometime after 7:30).

Though it's not technically outdoors, Allen's Joe Farmer Recreation Center offers kids in 3rd-6th grades an opportunity to get active with their Saturday Night Rec-N-Roll. Kids can enjoy an evening of games, contests, gym activities and dancing featuring a live DJ, prizes and more.

On Sunday, May 17, Lake Carolyn in Irving will play host to the 2009 Annual DFW Dragon Boat, Kite and Lantern Festival. The festival features colorful kite flying and exciting dragon boat races, cultural performances, a lantern festival, plus traditional Asian Food, arts and crafts and educational activities.

Finally, after all that sun, why not celebrate a world where there are two suns? Bowles Life Center Branch Library in Grand Prairie will host Star Wars Day on Tuesday, May 19. Costumed characters from the 501st Legion (Vader’s Fist) and the Rebel Legion will be on hand from 4 - 6 pm.

Know of any kids and family events we should have mentioned? Tell us about them in the comments section below.