March 28-29: Gotta Go to Glen Rose
Visit Glen Rose is hosting its inaugural Spring Fling Music Festival on the town square in Historic Downtown Glen Rose (101 NE Barnard St, 254-396-9856). Beatles tribute band Hard Nights Day will play Friday, and Austin cover band Suede will play hits from the ’80s and ’90s on Saturday. The music starts at 6:30pm on both days. Enjoy a wide variety of delicious food from local vendors, shop for unique crafts and goods, and participate in family-friendly activities throughout the weekend.
For an added dose of nostalgia, make your way over to Shoo-Fly Soda Shop (102 Walnut St, Glen Rose, 254-396-2546) while you’re in town and congratulate owners Jerry and Tammie Stone on their upcoming retirement. In April, their daughter and son-in-law, Jaci and Chase Shelby, will be taking over. Along with old-fashioned hand-mixed sodas, 15 flavors of Blue Bell Ice Cream, and nostalgic candy, Shoo-Fly has a food menu with cleverly named items like the Little Richard fried bologna sandwich, The Fonz chili-cheese Frito pie, Marty McFly mini corndogs, and more.
For more ideas on visiting Glen Rose, see Getaways on pg. 26. As they say, you’ve #GottaGotoGlenRose.
April 2-4: Dixie’s Last Stand
With the iconic Tupperware brand in bankruptcy, Dixie is also calling it quits. Dixie’s Tupperware Party is returning to Fort Worth for its final season. “When we heard that Dixie would be hanging up her apron after almost 20 years on the road, we just knew we had to bring her back to [Bass Hall’s] McDavid Studio one last time,” said Performing Arts Fort Worth President and CEO Dione [cq] Kennedy. Dixie and her Tupperware have been a staple of the Popular Entertainment Series for many years, leaving your heart a little bigger and your food a little fresher.
Dixie Longate is the fast-talking, gum-chewing, ginger-haired Alabama gal who brought your grandma’s Tupperware party into the 21st century. Along with demonstrating the many alternative uses for the iconic plastic kitchen staple, she tells outrageously funny (but adult-oriented) tales and enlists audience members to participate. Performance times include 7:30pm Wed-Fri, Apr 2-4; 3pm and 7:30pm Sat, Apr 5; and 3pm Sun, Apr 6. Tickets start at $55 at BassHall.com.
Courtesy Dixie Longate
April 5: Come as You Are
Last year, the Arlington Museum of Art moved to the Entertainment District, leaving behind an amazing building in Downtown Arlington at 201 W Main St. Enter: Create Arlington. The organization, which was formed to develop an economy where creatives can live and work in Arlington, has opened the Create Wellspring Gallery in the 3,000-square-foot space that comes with co-working spaces and shared artist studios.
The inaugural exhibit is Come as You Are, featuring oil painter Wes Coke, self-described “free spiritual art painter” Justin Simmons, and street artist Trey Wilder. The opening reception is 6pm-8pm Sat, Apr 5, when complimentary Texas wines and local beer will be served, plus gourmet appetizers made by members of the Create Arlington community. The event is free, but donations are always appreciated.
April: Tulips FTW/Low Doubt
Now’s the right time to check out Tulips FTW (112 St. Louis Av, Fort Worth, 817-367-9798) and its on-site Low Doubt Bar (right out back, y’all). That’s where local chef Scotty Scott and his fan-favorite Abe Fromage have recently set up. Dig into his signature cheesy, flavor-packed dishes while checking out all the great music coming through, including JD McPherson on Wed, Apr 2, and Shannon & The Clams on Sat, Apr 5. Doors open at 7pm, and shows start at 8pm.
When Shannon Shaw of Shannon & The Clams sings “meet me in the bean fields,” it’s a moment of triumph in an otherwise tragic story. In 2022, Shaw’s fiancé and fellow Clam, Joe Haener, died in a car accident in front of his family’s vegetable farm in Oregon. From the shock and trauma of that tragedy comes Shannon & The Clams’ latest album, The Moon Is in the Wrong Place. Tickets for the show with opener Being Dead are $28 at Spune.com/shows.
Local rap artist 88 Killer says he has a Low Doubt show on Sat, Apr 26, and The Plum Boys are set to play Tulips’ main room sometime in mid-April as support for the Chicago-based Clementines (date pending).
April 12 & May 17: Historic Hico
This year’s Sip & Savor Festival in Historic Downtown Hico (901 Cedar St, Hico, 254-485-4984) is 10am-5pm Sat, Apr 12, and will feature art, food, wine, and shopping. The Art & Wine Walk is from 11am to 4pm, with participating shops showcasing unique wine samples and artworks. The food sampling portion of the day, Taste of Hico, is 1pm to 3pm. Shop for handmade goods and crafts by local artisans and Texas vendors at the Outdoor Market throughout the day. Tickets start at $25 at HicoTXChamber.org.
Hico’s Original Texas Steak Cookoff promises steak, wine, and good times on the third Saturday in May every year. Backyard chefs from all over the Southwest descend upon Hico to compete for bragging rights and the title of Best Backyard Chef in Texas 11am-7pm Sat, May 17. There’ll be appetizers, a ribeye steak dinner, and a wine tasting, plus live music (including David Tribble at 3pm) and a vendor market. Ticket options range from $25 to $175 at TexasSteakCookoff.com.
Courtesy Visit Hico
April 19-20: Happy Easter Weekend!
Easter falls later in the season this year, so you’ve got a bit of extra time to plot things out for Easter brunch. For more ideas, read ATE DAY8 of Easter Brunch in our Wed, Apr 16, issue. Meanwhile, here’s one in-town and one out-of-town option for your consideration.
Easter brunch is an annual event at Blue Mesa (612 Carroll St, Fort Worth, 817-332-6372). The spread includes a wide range of options such as beef tenderloin chimichurri, ginger-chipotle-glazed ham, red chile salmon, a build-your-own street taco bar, and breakfast classics like made-to-order omelets, huevos rancheros, Belgian waffles with fried chicken, and biscuits with gravy. Signature dishes like blue corn cheese enchiladas, Chimayo corn, and adobe pie will be served alongside favorites like honey-chipotle-glazed carrots and jalapeño-bacon pinto beans, and a colorful selection of fresh vegetables, salads, and fruits will also be available. Cap off the meal with a dessert bar of mini flans, sopapilla cheesecake, warm churros, fruit cobblers, chocolate chunk cookies, and more. The $45 price includes mimosas, while kids ages 6-11 can enjoy brunch for $15, and children 5 and younger eat for free. Easter brunch will be offered all weekend with the extended hours of 10am-3pm Sat, Apr 19, and 8am-4pm Sun, Apr 20. For reservations, call the restaurant or book through the Open Table app.
You could also spend Easter Sunday at Southfork Ranch (3700 Hogge Dr, Parker, 972-442-7800), which is hosting a brunch and day party. Brunch offerings include sautéed chicken and grilled salmon, three carving stations, an array of side dishes, and an enticing array of sweets for dessert. After brunch, relax at the ranch with live music, take the kids on an Easter egg hunt, and get a 4-by-6-inch souvenir photo with the Easter Bunny. Tickets for the Easter Brunch are $90 for adults and $50 for children ages 6 to 12, plus tax. Kids 5 and younger are admitted for free. To purchase tickets, visit 2025easterdayparty.eventbrite.com.
May 16-18: Wildflower Festival
One of the biggest annual events in North Texas happens in May when the Wildflower Arts & Music Festival takes over Galatyn Park Urban Center (2351 Performance Dr, Richardson, 972-744-4580).
As you quench your thirst and sate your hunger with food and drinks throughout the event, be sure to spend some dollars in the Craft Beer Garden, at the Main Stage Bar, and at the Plaza Stage Bar, as these are dedicated NBP booths. The festival’s Nonprofit Beverage Program (NBP) provides an opportunity for six local nonprofits to earn money by providing volunteer staff in exchange for a percentage of the proceeds and tips.
This year, the live music is a blend of national bands and local favorites. Things kick off on Friday with Young the Giant, NeedToBreathe, Parmalee, and more. Saturday’s lineup features The Revivalists and Cold War Kids with the Spin Doctors and Sugar Ray, plus 22 other performers, including local favorites Darstar and Phantomelo. Then, on Sunday, finish out the weekend with Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears with The Spazmatics and the Texas Gentlemen plus 10 other bands, including Fort Worth’s Oatmeal Pizza. Tickets are $30 per day for Fri-Sat, $15 for Sun, or $65 for three-day passes at WildflowerFestival.com.
Nestled along the Paluxy River, the charming small Texas town of Glen Rose is 4 square miles of natural beauty, unique history, and big adventures. Read about it in our Zest cover story Dinos to Dinner.
