The Wildflower Arts & Music Festival is a 3 day celebration of local art as well as national and…read morelocal musicians. It's always held on the third weekend in May, rain or shine. The location can't be beat - centrally located right around the Eisemann Center at US 75 and Galatyn Parkway. Plenty of parking - free at surrounding businesses and paid at the Eisemann. Richardson residents can buy advance tickets at a lower rate. This year, tickets were on sale for Friday and Saturday and admission was free for Sunday. This year I happened to win free admission tickets! I always find several bands I'm interested in seeing. For almost the past 20 years, I have attended Wildflower, except for starting the year or two before Covid. About 7-8 years ago, I was at one of the main headliners and it was so crowded, that I did not feel safe. There were way too many people crammed in to the outdoor space and I thought if there was a true emergency, it would be really hard to get out safely. So this year, I checked the band line up and decided Friday night looked good. We met up with some friends and had a great time! I went to the country stage to see Jackson Dean and Justin Moore, visiting Blues Traveler at the main stage in between their showtimes. It's great to be able to have so many choices and genres available. Some singers are inside the Eisemann, so when it's really hot outside, it's so refreshing to go into the air conditioning and sit in nice comfy seats. For the outdoor shows, you can bring a blanket or lightweight outdoor chairs. There is a wide range of food and beverage options and lots of porta potties set up all around. You can shop at the various vendor tents sprinkled throughout. I always enjoy seeing the decorated guitars that are up for auction that are displayed in the Eisemann lobby. Thank you City of Richardson for putting together such a wonderful event every year! I know it must take A LOT of people and planning to pull off an event of this magnitude. There was a huge police, SWAT and volunteer presence and I am happy to report that I felt very safe at this year's event!

The cheapest, fun filled weekend in Richardson is at the Wildflower Arts & Music Festival. It's…read morethree days in May and includes live music on six different stages. Music genre varies, but there is usually a headliner or two that everyone knows. If you are a Richardson resident you can buy a ticket online in advance for $15 for the day. The headliner in 2026 was George Thoroughgood and the Destroyers, and the opening act was Blues Traveler. They performed on Friday night starting at 8:30 pm until nearly midnight. There were other musicians that performed throughout the day and evening on the various stages. Lots of vendors setup tents and sold or exhibited their items. There were local businesses, artisans, and food & drink vendors. You can easily spend the entire day and night here and be entertained, but if you only have an hour, you are still sure to have fun. Parking is free in the Blue Cross Blue Shield parking garages north of Lookout off Greenville. The street and festival have a lot of volunteers and police directing people. Signage was easy to follow. There is a bag security check at the entrance. Also, there are rules about what is and isn't permitted into the venue. You can bring a foldable lawn chair, blanket, one manufactured sealed water bottle with you. I recommend wearing a good pair of shoes because there is a lot of walking and standing around. The event is rain or shine, so your shoes might get muddy and wet in f there is inclement weather. There are paved sidewalks in a lot of areas, but there are also grassy areas that you might walk through. Most vendors take credit cards. There are activities for both adults and children. If you get really hot, you can seek shelter in the Eismann Center and enjoy the A/C. They have activities inside, too. I bought tickets for all three days because at the time of my advanced purchase, I didn't know who the bands were or what my availability would be that weekend. I only ended up going on Friday night. I was told that the event was free on Sunday, which surprised me since I had purchased tickets in advance for that day as well. I won't make that mistake again! If you volunteer, they give you a t-shirt for working the event and free admission on Sunday so that you can enjoy the event because you won't have time on the day you volunteer. I've only been to this festival about three times in the 9 years I have lived here, but I have enjoyed it each time. I especially love that I can enjoy inexpensive, live music in the city where I live. I've seen some great bands each time and always look forward to returning.

The Cottonwood Arts Festival is a biannual, 2-day event at the Cottonwood Park in southwest…read moreRichardson, TX. This is a juried event, so artists apply and a jury reviews and selects about 200+ artists to display and sell their impressive work. There is always a featured artist whose art is displayed on an event poster and a t-shirt for that spring or fall event. I can't usually afford any of the professional art pieces that sell for thousands of dollars, but I can always get the $20 t-shirt with a replica of one of the pieces of the featured artist. Some artists are aware that not everyone can afford the original on canvas, so they make smaller giclées that are more affordable for the masses. Even if you don't have the money or space in your place to buy, you can come and look for FREE! There is no cost to enter the festival. Plus, there are two stages of live music being performed all day Saturday and Sunday. Even parking is free across the street at the Richardson High School. You can also park in the neighborhood, but it isn't necessarily more convenient. Food often includes a few local places like Tongue and Cheek ice cream as well as a Gyro place. Of course you can also find a Fletcher's corn dog, and you didn't even have to drive to Fair Park for the State Fair. I love this festival and will always make a point of going and supporting artists if I can.

I really enjoy this arts festival. Each year brings both returning artists and new faces as well…read more We have been coming for many years. We always find something new to bring home. This year was the only exception. It looks like all the pricing rose out of our budget. But we still enjoy visiting all the booths especially the talented student artists, and seeing the live music. Park over at the school and take the free shuttle! Enjoy some delicious local beer while you browse!

Tons of fun and lots of activities for everyone…read more Live music all over the area. Tons of food trucks, from bbq, hot dogs and burgers, Popcorn, funnel cakes, desserts, to pastries oh goodness. Alcohol tasting, horse and carriage rides. I love seeing all the vendors show casing their arts. homemade candles, honey, bracelets, hats, u name it.

This was a delightful art festival for a small town community. It was well organized with…read moreactivities for all. The weather was cool and comfortable Friday night for walking around downtown Plano and checking out the numerous vendors. Since this event takes place in the spring the weather can be somewhat unpredictable, but it was lovely the evening we went. The main street in downtown Plano is closed for pedestrian traffic only. vendors line the center of the street. Stores and restaurants are open late too trying to take advantage of the increased foot traffic. Parking was free in nearby surface lots. If you get there early enough, you might find street parking. In addition to the main street, there is also a kid zone and a food truck area setup in a street lot. More artists and vendors can be found as you wander around Haggard Park. Let's talk about the art: -Artistic - real photographers, painters and crafts people had their wares on display. I enjoyed the dog silhouettes out of license plates, the lights made from car hub caps, chains and metal bits, and the digital light show put on by UT Dallas students at a warehouse on the main strip. -Unusual - artists spray painting large banners of what appeared to be plastic saran wrap strung between trees. The local maker space advertising some of the cool things that can be done at there 24-hour facility. One guy was making leather jewelry and giving it away to those who stopped by to chat. -Educational - attendees were invited to pick colored caps from a bucket and arrange them into a canvas with sectioned off walls to define the piece. It was visually interesting and educational as it was encouraging the reuse of plastic. Interactive - Invite your dog to have its paws dipped in paint and then run across a white festival shirt as your keepsake. -Dangerous - There was a blacksmith on site welding and shaping iron pieces. There was also a wood worker who was carving his sculptures with a chainsaw. The Usual - face painting, henna hand designs, jewelry vendors, the latest health massage technique hocus-pocus vendors, and size-zero, tie-died, flour sac type dresses, scarves, and bags for the rare young person with the money to buy it and body type that can wear it. This was a fun, free event for an evening out. It went on all weekend, so you could pick the day that worked best for you and your family. My hubby and I made it our Friday date night, and it was a success.

Thank you to the many volunteers who orchestrated an amazing Greek Festival. I've been to Greek…read moreFests in AZ, HI, WA and TX, but I would have to say this one was by far the most organized. All of them have a common theme, raise money for the Greek Orthodox Church by selling Mediterranean food as well as arts, crafts, and books while educating the public about the church and the Greek culture. This festival stood out because the volunteers focused on every last detail. Usually you have to stand in one line after another to get anything, but that wasn't the case here. There were so many options for buying tickets and so many volunteers working every station, that we easily spent more time enjoying ourselves than we did standing around in queues That wasn't the case in Honolulu, Hawaii. Trashcans were everywhere and refuse was regularly collected. There is nothing more unappealing than an overflowing trashcan with flies and bees buzzing around the leftovers and then visiting your drink can and the bite you are about to take. Thankfully this festival had a dedicated crew regularly pulling out the trash bags, and carting them away. The place stayed meticulously clean and bug free which is more than I can say for the small one I attended in Bellingham, Washington. Food choices were plentiful and it was served hot and fresh. The standards were on the menu such as gyros, dolomades, and baklava, but you could also get Greek lasagna, lamb chops and Greek sausage. Signs clearly indicated the ingredients of each dish and the number of coupons to purchase them. These were also listed in the lovely program guide. The event took place regardless of rain or shine. Thankfully plentiful seating was available in the shade of a tent as well as en plein air. Entertainment could be heard throughout the venue with loudspeakers positioned everywhere. The stage was a raised platform so that you could see the dancers and musicians perform. The band on Sunday midday was quite good. The male singer had an amazing voice. The children's area was secure and provided an array of activities for the kiddos. They could run around and play without bumping into the public. Lots of kids had face painting done. Parking was nearby and free. I read that you could also pay for valet or take a shuttle bus. We managed to find a free place across the street. I bought tickets online through Eventbrite. General admission was $7 and food coupons were sold in packs of 20 coupons for $20 plus tax. This made it easy to bypass the the lines at will call or the lines for those needing to purchase their tickets and coupons with cash or credit card in person. I loved the wide variety of items in the Agora (marketplace). They sold baby olive trees! There was soap, incense, potpourri, gold and silver jewelry with gemstones, light cotton clothing, intricately carved wooden boxes, beautifully painted nesting dolls and wooden eggs, oil paintings, lamps, etc. We had fun weaving our way through the souk. The aisles were narrow and the tables were packed with unique finds. The history room had maps, art and some explanations of Ancient Greek. There was also a tour of the church were you could learn about some of the iconography, alter setup, clergy vestments, and Greek Orthodox practice. The attention to the details was evident by this amazing group of church volunteers. They demonstrated their passion and friendliness from the moment you walked in the door to the final exit. We were able to find someone to answer our questions every step of the way with the handy guide book, and information desks setup throughout. A woman in a wheelchair even thanked everyone for coming as they left the venue. What an absolutely pleasurable experience.

I am glad I waited 3 years to write this review. This…read morefestival is getting worse and worse and we won't return next year. We are lucky we live close by so we always bike here, so at least we can beat the traffic and the horrific price for parking. First year they ran out of gyros, no joke!!! Second year, no baklava sundae , ran out. This year, not enough that the prices skyrocketed, some vendors didn't even make an effort to print new menus, they literally just crossed prices and put whatever they wanted. Or, they wanted to go with the last year price but seeing all other vendors increased theirs... hmmmm ,, yeah !! Us too! We tried the gyro, no flavor, mediocre at best, so expensive , $12 for just the pita and the meat. No side, and they all wrapped up on trays, God knows how long they stay there. Lamb sliders and fries was our next choice, nothing special there either. Again, store bought slider buns and not enough meat, not tasty, fries also stay under a heat lamp, the frozen type of course. Like can you guys make some effort at least??? Fast paced, long lines, order, pay, GET OUT!!! We were not impressed at all. Best thing was the baklava sundae for sure. So... bye bye OPA! Greek festival. We had enough of your traps.

Great local art show with food trucks and musical stage. Local artists perform over the weekend…read more They encourage pets and family fun.

I look forward to this Huffhines Art Trail Festival every year! I can walk from my home to attend…read morethis Event. It's only 2 days long & is always in October. It's a great date for couples & families. Excellent shopping! One of my favorite booths for the pass 4 years has been Penny B Pottery. She's a true Artist! There always some awesome music to listen to and cold beer to sip, or glass of wine. If you can't make it to the State Fair you can get your corn dog fix here for sure! Make sure you mark your calendar every October for this one of a kind Art Festival!

A three day food festival that's hosted in Addison Circle Park. Entry fee is $10. The streets are…read morefull of food vendors offering free samples and lower prices samples as well. All the vendors are local so you really do get a taste of Addison. There's one main stage and then two smaller stages on campus where performances are going on through the festival. The mayor even came out to greet the people all 3 days on the main stage. There were also a bunch of art exhibits and vendors as well. Plus some carnival rides and games. So there's definitely a lot for family and friends to do out. My suggestion is come on an empty stomach so you can stuff your face

Fun three day event in Addison. Kid friendly and $15 ticket entrance fee. A lot of restaurants set…read moreup booths around Addison Circle for everyone to sample foods they haven't tried. Lots of random events and crafting to do, local artsy booths to purchase from, a petting zoo, and live music. My friend and I had fun and bought food faster than we can eat. Good for a first experience!

Always a great experience going here. Fun vibe and everyone is mostly pretty nice and giddy. Thurs…read moreand Sundays are usually free entry and fri and sat is ticketed. There's a good amount of food vendors and they take card. There's a couple of main areas with different shows, dancing, music, etc. Fun to come with friends or family and chill, eat good food, and drink beer. Something to look forward to every year and do on a weekend.

As an outdoor concert event planner, this event has been going downhill since 2018…read more Ticket buying process is terrible, vendors, tents shoved in the corner on the hot street, restrooms out of everything, no AC tents anywhere with temps in the low 100s....just poorly planned with little thought on the attendees. Sad, this use to be our families favorite DFW event.

Great start for this inaugural event! My family had a blast and all for charity! They had jumped…read moreand rad hatter for the kids, swag bags for the kidgits VIP program, and great representation of food in the area. Avocado California Roll & Sushi, Cristina"s, Edible Arrangements, Fuzzy's Taco Shop, Hyatt Place Garland, I Heart Yogurt, Nothing Bundt Cakes, OPA! Greek Taverna, Pete's, and The Flying Fish were some of our favorites! They also had a band playing hits from yesterday which even my kids were dancing to! Great job Simon Mall for a great food festival! Can't wait until next year! #amyrocks

Same as the previous poster they have refused to refund my registration fees even though they have…read morecontinually changed the event dates. Apparently because I registered before their "refund window". Horrible customer service. I will not be supporting their run in the future and would advise you to reconsider. ---- From: info CFF [mailto:info@colorfunfest.com] Subject: Re: Refund Request: FW: Event Information | Good and Bad News Hi Laura, Since you registered on March 7th, outside that given date range, we're unable to process your refund. We'll still waive your transfer fees if you would like to transfer your ticket to someone else. If there is anything else we can assist you wtih, please let us know. We'll be happy to help. :) We appreciate your support. Stay colorful!! -The Color Fun Fest Team ------------------------------------ On Fri, Oct 2, 2015 at 1:19 PM, wrote: Per the email I received below, I am due a refund. Please process my refund. " We are offering refunds to participants who are unable to make the new date who bought tickets between the dates of May 8th 2015 until August 18th 2015."

Horrible company SCAM!!!…read moreWe purchased tickets for April 2015 and they cancelled it due to possible bad weather that never arrived. They rescheduled it for October 10, 2015 and cancelled it because of a venue conflict. They rescheduled for October 24, 2015 and cancelled because of rain. They refuse to give me a refund.

We came back for a concert. See photos. Admission got one either hamburger or hot dog with chips…read more Band played for two hours and very loud.

Kids will enjoy , staff is super friendly and it's middle of the Plano …read more Has a Mule ride , chicken feeding pre historic house and live stock, robotic milking cow . A nice It's 2 hr visit .