Six Dallas-area festivals that make May awesome

Clear your schedule now.

Dallas Wine and Food Festival

Time flies. As soon as everyone finished recovering from April’s incredible line-up of festivals, it’s time for May and six more can’t-miss fests to entertain you during May’s glorious weekends. Rather than give you an earful here, read on to plan your month with some local favorites.

Dallas Wine and Food Festival 2012 - The first in our May festival highlights is for the thirsty (and hungry) among us. Dallas Wine and Food Festival takes place May 2–6 at locations throughout Dallas. This year, the festival is composed of five signature events held at a variety of great locations including Mockingbird Station, the Nasher Sculpture Center, and the Dallas Farmers Market. Enjoy food from local and national chefs as well as, of course, award-winning wine. Tickets for some of the events are steep but I’m sure it will be worth it. Click here for the full schedule.

Cottonwood Art Festival 2012 - While not technically in Dallas, it might as well be. Cottonwood Arts Festival is actually a juried art festival which this year received about 1,400 submissions. Only 240 were selected to exhibit at this bi-annual festival located in Cottonwood Park in Richardson. It doesn’t cost anything to enjoy the art and the music from local bands this weekend, May 5 and 6. More information here.

Dallas Asian Festival 2012 - This year, the Greater Dallas Asian American Chamber of Commerce celebrates the 22nd year of its annual Asian Festival, which lays claim to being the largest Asian cultural celebration in the area. This year it’s a one-day festival on May 12th held in Main Street Garden in the heart of downtown. Visitors can enjoy authentic cuisine, cultural performances, bands, children’s activities, and much, much more. Full details here.

Photo by Elliott Muñoz

A few thousand fans enjoy Casey James at Wildflower Festival 2010 in Richardson.

Wildflower Arts & Music Festival 2012 - I can’t tell a lie so I’m going to admit that in years past I have been guilty of dismissing the Wildflower Arts & Music Festival as irrelevant, but this year I’m actually having trouble deciding which stage I'll be frequenting. Wildflower is at Galatyn Park in Richardson (again I know, not technically Dallas but y’all can make it) and is an award-winning arts and music festival. This year the fest runs May 18–19 and apart from a whole lot of art, there is also great food and an awesome music line-up including the Commodores, Nelly, Dashboard Confessional, Augustana, and a whole heck of a lot more. Full concert line-up here.

CityArts 2012 - You might remember the annual CityArts festival from its days in the Arts District, but just as every other major festival seems to be doing, the fest has relocated to Fair Park (a great move if you ask me). CityArts goes down this year over Memorial Day weekend, May 25–27 and it offers everything from chef demonstrations, to art classes to film to yes, art. This year there is a juried art show component added to the already fantastic event so you won’t want to miss some of these incredibly talented artists. More info here.

Homegrown Music and Arts Festival 2012 - Now in its third year (wow time flies), Homegrown Music Festival is destroying the notion that we can’t host an awesome music festival in Dallas. Last year saw exponential growth for this all-Texas music festival, and with the line-up this year, we’re betting it will be even bigger. Eisley, Ben Kweller, and the Octopus Project are just a few of the bands scheduled to appear on May 26 at Main Street Garden. Personally I can’t wait for Black Joe Lewis and the HoneyBears. My hat is off to the Homegrown team for an incredible line-up. Clear your schedule now.