We had the best tour guide, DJ, when we took our group of autistic adults and their parents to tour this beautiful park treasure in downtown Dallas. She was so full of information, stories, patience and joy. We learned a lot about how the park came to be and its history. Great way to spend the afternoon. read more

Old City Park is a charming little piece of Dallas history. I enjoyed walking around and seeing the historic buildings, which give you a glimpse of what life was like in Texas years ago. The grounds are peaceful, and it's a nice change of pace from the busier parts of the city. I wish there had been a little more to explore, but overall, it's a lovely place to visit if you enjoy history and old architecture. read more

This is a great spot to visit especially as a first-timer or with those that want to have a taste of the Dallas Heritage Village to learn more about historic buildings and furnishings dating back to the 1840s. Besides being a park, it's a place where it holds special events throughout the year that may be worth checking out. The park has a free parking lot just off the to side and it is easily accessible. I appreciate that it also has a picnic area, garden areas, benches, water fountains (though I doubt anyone uses it), and restrooms. It is quite well maintained and a sweet spot in Dallas for some fun photos. A few historic buildings I visited include the Alamo Saloon, Blum Bro. General Store, and Renner School. Per their website educational tours/ school field trips are welcome, plus reservation facilities for those interested. read more

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This review is for Movies e Night Location South east Dallas-below Deep Ellum Parking Street/lot. I recommend street as the lot gate may be locked necessitating contacting security. .Atmosphere Historic western town-like a moving e set. The city had a big inflatable movie screen, popcorn, karate group exhibitions. Seating Bring your own chairs, blankets Venue City of Dallas offers a family movie night throughout the summer. Bring bug spray/ repellent. It doesn't get dark initially but gets better as the evening progresses. See City of Dallas events for more info. Summary Interesting western town/ park where you can sit outside and watch movies. read more

Old City Park - Gisnt movie screen - Museums Near Me - Dallas, Texas

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What a hidden gem--literally hidden in plain sight! When we asked a 29-year veteran of the city Parks and Rec department (busy with Christmas lights), he admitted he didn't even know this (privately funded?) park existed until a few years ago. The website boasts '22 acres,' but the part with all the charming structures feels a bit cozier. Perfect for a leisurely stroll lasting just over an hour. If I were managing this park, I'd slap QR codes for donations on every sign--it's got that endearing "needs-a-little-love" vibe. I would've gladly donated $20 to help restore those adorable, albeit crumbling, porches and windows. You can't deny the charm, especially on a cool November Saturday with only about 15 other visitors. It feels like your own secret garden. This place screams 'storybook wedding venue,' and if I were in charge, I'd offer 'engagement experiences'--think: cute setups with champagne, a picnic basket, personalized decorations, and a photographer. Genius additional revenue stream, right? Despite its clear need for restoration, the park has an undeniable charm. It's an affordable outing, perfect for a relaxing stroll or letting the kids run wild and burn off energy. A little love, some creativity, and maybe a few QR codes could make this park even more magical. Oh, AND, TWO sets of clean restrooms. read more

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What an amazing idea for a park! Stumbled upon this spot looking for an after dinner walk upon a visit to Dallas and we caught the tail end of an event (after some research it was a Family day out put on by the Parks Dept, who are the new overseers of the park as of May this year) there was live music as we walked around exploring the historical buildings. A lot of what seemed to be under construction, it felt a little like Disneyland and I can only imagine how cool it would be to see if the park was alive and operating (with actors?) as you run around the main street downtown liquor store, schoolhouse, railroad, dentist, bank, entertainment building, saloon, hotel and general store! It almost makes me nostalgic for a time I never knew. Would def recommend a stroll around this park or tour if they're giving them. If it hadn't been so hot out I would've loved to look up the history and location behind each of the original spots! Hope to see this park flourish in the coming years and more cities follow suite! read more

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Let me just say I was surprised a place like this existed. I visited this park with no expectations. The restroom was conditioned perfect and had great AC. The park was clean and green. The fountain in the entrance was active and full of water. So many people taking pictures. Definitely a great experience to be part of here in the DFW area. read more

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2023 was my second time attending (first post-COVID) CFF. It's worth the price (general and VIP). You'll leave full and tipsy. We skipped about 1/3 of the tents and all of the wine (the plan was to make a second walk around). My tummy just wouldn't let me be great (I should have worn something with a stretchy waist... LOL). Each serving was two to three bites. Sweet, savory, and everything in between. Vegetarian and mocktail options. Adequate seating, adult games (think blown up beer pong), and clean restrooms added to the A+ experience. The greeters and security were quite efficient to ensure the line moved quickly at check-in. Go. You won't be disappointed. read more

Old City Park - Chef for Farmers 2023 - Museums Near Me - Dallas, Texas

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AMAZING EXPERIENCE!!!! Betty and Rilley mad the experience that much better !!! We took a field Trip with a group of 12 kids and their experience was everything... they actually had a chance to see what it was like if you were a kid back in the 1800s. The only thing is the city need to go back in and stage more house like back when I went before they took over . .... THANKS RILLEY FOR GOING OVER AND BEYOUND!! read more

It is an area in Dallas where you can go to walk around and explore. It was not busy we only saw a few other families. There are old homes and businesses a school and even a church, some of the buildings you can go inside and look around. It is a lot of walking. You can explore at your leisure. Just wished more buildings were available to explore inside. read more

Definitely worth a visit to get some sense of life from various eras in Dallas history. Great variety of buildings have been moved here, and wonderful knowledgeable staff are happy to share more depth. And it's free! read more

This place is amazing and the City of Dallas employees onsite are super helpful. The city just acquired the park back from another organization and they are remodeling the homes and making them safe to go. There were several buildings open and they have onsite security so you can feel safe. read more

What a fabulous indoor/outdoor museum of 19th century Texas life. These are ACTUAL historic buildings that have been moved from their original location throughout North Texas. Most of the buildings are open and staged so you can walk through and get a feel for how they were used. They day we went, they were washing wool behind the farmhouse. Our kids had the opportunity to see and touch the wool at each stage of the cleaning process - and to feed the newly sheared sheep! They were also given (free) food to feed the chickens and got to stop and pet the mammoth donkey, Waylon. My husband I particularly loved talking to the blacksmith and learning quite a bit about metal work both then and now. It was a small crowd there on a Tuesday morning, which provided us all the time we wanted in each building. My kids liked the general store best since you could actually go behind the counter and touch the register, but really the entire grounds were exciting to them. They ran from building to building looking inside and pointing out all the interesting things they saw. So fun! Pack and lunch and plan to spend a good 3-4 hours here. The entire park is beautiful, with many shaded areas and lots of open space for kids to play. FYI they have shut off their drinking fountains so be sure to bring your own water. The prices are VERY reasonable- Adults: $8 Kids: 5-12: $4 Kids 4 and under: Free We will absolutely be back. read more

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The first year I moved to Texas back in the 80's, a friend took me there to get a feel of what Dallas had grown from. It was like taking a step back in time. From the 1800s to 1900s. I'd have related it somewhat to Greenfield Village (but not as large) of Henry Ford's Museum in Dearborn, Michigan. It was full of friendly & informative staff. I'd heard that It was taken over by the City of Dallas several years ago. So, when taking visitors there around 2015, I was sad to see its decline. Even though it's interesting to see the houses & buildings near the original Dallas began, several of the buildings were locked up and there are far fewer staff & guides to help you. It's still a great place to visit, but it really needs financial help to restore it, and one of the City of Dallas' Crown Jewels to the real showplace it once was! I think the City Council of Dallas need a field trip to show them what is needed, for it to continue to educate & impress! read more

My family and I went to candle light this year and we were very disappointed. First off you couldn't go inside and tour the buildings like you could in past, there was ONE vender leaving the vender space empty, they got rid of all the animals except for two sad reindeers you couldn't interact with, there were no blacksmiths, no performers, and Santa was sitting in a depressing blank white room. The magic of old city park is gone and all that's left is its lifeless exterior. Maybe that might have been tolerable if it wasn't POURING the entire time. We won't be going back next year and I expect other people won't either. read more

Took my grandkids during the summer. We were the only ones there . Buildings were locked up. If you look through the windows, most buildings were empty with no furniture . I realize it was free, but pretty disappointing. We just walked around in the heat and they were pretty bored. read more

You know sometimes , you just have to tour your own city . There are times when you want to explore . I was Dora the Explorer and stumbled upon this gem . I was never a big fan of History in school , but if I can learn it visually , it's a win win . The property is full of various historical homes , a train station , a bank , and many other fun viewings . It takes you right back to that time. The set up is very realistic . The highlight of my visit was the Millermore Mansion . It's an original home that was moved to this location. I found that pretty awesome . You are welcomed into the home by a lovely woman named Nancy . Nancy is the sweetest lady you'll ever meet ! She explained the entire history of the mansion . She knows her stuff ! Even if you don't care to see the property, just stop by to say hello to Nancy ! read more

This old town created on the south side of 1-30 was not well traveled during our Saturday visit, but is a jewel indeed. Apple Maps directions took us to a side entrance that was closed... main entrance is on Harwood. Plenty of parking. Our first stop was the visitor's center where we were surprised to find out that the visit is free. We got a campus map and started visiting. There are twenty-two buildings on site where most are open for visits. There is a working Saloon and General Store to buy snacks and drinks. The Worth Hotel is perhaps the creepiest building, but the upstairs guest rooms are open. There are a handful of event spaces for rent as well. We saw donkeys and sheep living on the farm, too. Yes, it was still very hot during our visit, but most of the buildings felt air conditioned. While there were some volunteers in the Saloon, Farmstead, and Sullivan House, Hubby and I were free to explore the grounds and buildings. What a fun exploration for history lovers! read more

We came here for the first time using our pogo pass! I'm glad they are on there because I wouldn't have known about this place or gone as we are closer to the Ft worth side of the metroplex. My husband liked reading the various information signs and talking with the staff. My daughter liked the Main Street area set up with the various examples of what the bank & shop looked like versus what we have today. My youngest loved the saloon because they had checkers and dominos he could play; as well as the chickens & donkeys. Blacksmith wasn't there unfortunately but I'm sure he would have loved that as well. I liked the variety in what they had from the Main Street, to the school house, big houses and log cabin set ups. Luckily a number of the building had some nice airflow which is very needed in the Texas heat. Be sure to bring a water with you; while they do sell them you will need it! read more

This place basically have banned American Civil War re-enactors because "they will loose their city funding" if they let us in there. A staff member once told me that American's aren't smart enough to tell the difference between the Union and Confederate soldiers!!! They manufacture the history of some of the buildings and they think that Americans are stupid! This is a no go for re-enactors and living historians as well as the general public. read more

I'm not sure why my friend and I decided to visit this place in the heat of the summer last year, but we still had a fun time. I think admission was about $7 or something cheap like that. We didn't really encounter many people, and that's probably because of the heat. So we were able to roam around the grounds and old buildings at our own leisure. The homes that had A/C were an added bonus. We kept hearing that there is a bar on the grounds, but it was either closed or just really not there. A cold beer would have been perfect on the day we went. This is a great way to check out some of the history of our fine city. read more

It was alot of fun. I went with a group of friends awhile ago, (back in around 2011) but I wasn't on Yelp yet. But we had a heck of a time. There is some walking involved depending on how much you want to see. When we went, we had a really cool time looking at all the historical homes and cottages and kitchenware. There was so much to see and we did not even get to see everything because unfortunetly we got there to late and they were closing. But I'd say we saw more than half. It's a good time. Absolutely recommended, especially for history buffs. It's a fun time. read more

Old City Park - Museums Near Me - Dallas, Texas

Went here yesterday for the Chefs to Farmers event and had such a wonderful time. This is definitely a hidden gem south of downtown. There are buildings and homes in the village that are over 120 years old! Each building has a little bit of history in English and Spanish. There is just so much history here and it makes you think about your families history and if someday someone will be looking at our homes, cars, etc and wondering about us. This is such a quaint place with lots of green and open spaces. You can really just take your time and walk around. I definitely recommend checking out Dallas Heritage Village for a walk down memory lane. read more

Old City Park - Do not enter - Museums Near Me - Dallas, Texas

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Quiet during the weekdays and extremely hot in this summer heat. THANKFULLY most of the houses are air conditioned, except for maybe two. The restrooms throughout the park are clean and air conditioned. That made the visit even better. My children fell in love with the park. It was a travel back in time to the 1800s. The outhouses were a curiosity for the kids, as were the old log houses with all the old furniture inside. The fact that they could touch many of the old furnishings was fascinating for the kids, even touching raw cotton and wool. Walking through an outside kitchen and handling the old kitchen ware and sitting on the old wooden chairs at the kitchen table created so much excitement for the kids. The General Store was another highlight. They found the Catalog interesting. They were noticing the prices of fancy ladies dresses that sold for only $2.98. Donkeys are located by the Doctor's office. Extremely docile and friendly. They cried when we left. At the train station they had a lesson in Morse Code and children learn quickly. They had a few of the Morse Code alphabets memorized by end of lesson. The school house was fantastic. The volunteer that day gave them a wonderful lesson on school life in the 1800s. She quizzed the kids with questions. The slates with stories of life in the 1800s was a curiosity for the kids. They ran to ever desk reading the stories. The old lunch boxes hanging at the entrance was exciting for them. I've never seen my kids so excited to hold a lunchbox. I recommend wearing shorts or lightweight pants, no sandals. You'll be climbing many steps. Definitely light colored shirts because dark colors attract the sun's heat. An umbrella to block the sun is a great idea. My hat did not help with the heat. I just wish they had a few more history books in the gift shop. The kids were disappointed there weren't any replicated items from the 1800s to be sold as gifts. Not much of a selection. The kids didn't want to leave the park and wanted to sit under the shade by the visitor's office. There weren't any chairs out at the visitors office. Highlight for me as a parent were the air conditioned restrooms. The kids were touching so many things including petting the donkeys that we were able to stop twice to wash our hands and face. I highly recommend visiting. Weekends are busy. Weekdays are not. read more

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This was a great experience. We told some of our friends, dallas natives, and they laughed at us and asked why we were going there. They decided to join us anyway and guess what...they had a great time. The village was very cool and definitely worth the visit. The only reason it didn't get 5 stars is because some of the docents had to leave early and kicked us out of the house. If you haven't been I highly recommend it. read more

Time travel. Currently impossible to do, yet the thought of it still haunts our imaginations and influences everything we create: films, books, retro trends and futuristic designs. The possibility of being able to travel to a happier time or a time where we can learn more about our past would be greatly beneficial to humanity (or disastrous if you watch movies like the Butterfly Effect or The Terminator). Well dream no more! While you won't physically travel back in time, a visit to The Dallas Heritage Village is probably about the closest you'll get to accomplishing that feat! The DHV consists of a few structures from early 1900's Texas. These buildings come from all parts of the state, then they are fully restored, and finally reassembled here to create the village itself. Some of the structures are: a hotel, a common shotgun house, a doctor's office, a school, a church, a farm, etc. My favorite portion of the village was Main Street. It consists of the general store, the bank, the saloon, etc. The best part about it is that you can go into all of these buildings and roam around. You can go behind the counters, go upstairs in the hotels and check out the rooms. You really get a feel of how it was to live back in the early 1900's. Unfortunately I wasn't there at a time when they were doing the blacksmith demonstrations. Plus the Sullivan house was closed because the staff that monitored that house had gone home. (WTH?) But fortunately I was there at a time where there weren't any school tours! LOL So, it was a nice peaceful stroll for us at that particular time, but I will warn you, I've heard that there are tons of tours that consist of a lot of running and screaming kids that go through there, so look out! In addition, they have a nice Pavilion that you can rent out for virtually any occasion (weddings, a party, etc.) There is a small fee of about $9 bucks to get in, but it's well worth it. On a beautiful day, a trip to Dallas Heritage Village would be the perfect way to spend some time! I'm sure Marty McFly and Doc Brown would agree! read more

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"That's a mighty strange hat you got on there? You a Native American?" They stay in character around the camp fire--those Cowboys reclining on their packs on a cold night after the herd is tucked away. I was imagining their tummies full of chili and a little bit of whiskey, but more likely they were full of cookies from the charity bake sale at the top of the hill. Either way, one played guitar and the other talked about hardships on the trail. It was a little chilly and the fire felt good. And even though the lights from the city made it to bright to see many stars, you sorta knew they were there. This was Old City Park on the Candlelight Christmas Weekend. I'd never gone before, but I will every year from now on. I won tickets from the Observer, and had to leave a wedding a few minutes early, but was glad once I got there and saw how pretty everything was. Sorry bride and groom...but that's what you get for having your wedding right before Christmas. Homemade baked goods in the pavilion, IBC Root Beer served in the Saloon, strolling singers in period attire, cowboys resting around the campfire, carriage rides, hay rides, traditional Hanukkah celebration in the George House, and displays of all kinds. You will want to make this a holiday tradition. And yes, we did wear the most ridiculous holiday hats we could find. We always do. Photographic evidence posted with OCP pictures. Old City Park almost always has something going on. I took a peek at the calendar of events for the rest of the year and they have something about every other week. I never went here as a child, and first went with my daughter's school group. Obviously I had a deprived-depraved childhood. The place is great and really does take you out of city rush and into another time when things were not so hectic. Did I mention that at least one of the buildings is haunted? The main building where they offices and gift shop is located has lots of stories. read more

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Talk about a hidden gem on the edge of downtown Dallas, Dallas Heritage Village is local time warp. I've lived in Dallas for years and this was my 1st visit here. The basic concept is Heritage Village is a living museum that you can explore and tour. There are area homes that have been moved on the property that are 100+ yrs old. The really cool part is, most of the homes are furnished with either original furnishings or time pieces. Everything from the stoves, dishes, china cabinet, rugs, and even the mirrors. Pictures really don't do it justice. With this Texas heat, it's really a challenge to enjoy it during the summer months. But some of the homes are air conditioned for our comfort. The history of this place is amazing! There are several volunteers that are across the property that can enlighten and educate you on all kinds of cool facts about the homes, the time in history and even some demonstrations. There is a working blacksmith and a woman who is spinning flax and/or wool. Beware of the donkeys. They will bite ( don't ask me how i know). I totally nerded out for a good 90 minutes. This collection of historical homes is from the surrounding counties of the DFW area. So how much does this cool experience cost? $9.00!! There is no rush or organized tour. There is a audio tour you can take by using your telephone and dialing the assigned prompts to hear the recorded history on each home & building. As a downtown Dallas resident, you can buy a membership that gives you after hours access to the village with your dog. I was told this is a popular item and since the village has 24 hour security, it seems to be something to consider. This place is a interesting walk in the park, with a twist. Check it out and learn something about the history of Dallas & surrounding areas. read more

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If you are a history buff at all, this place is wonderful. The village will take you back about 100 years in Dallas history. Lots of homes, businesses, shops, schools, and such that have been moved here and restored. Main Street is paved with brick, just like back then. We spent hours wandering through each and every building, amazed at what they did and didn't have back in those times. Several of the houses will take your breath away, they are so nice. Some of the houses and buildings have docents to tell you the history of that particular place. Loved this place and will probably go back just to take my favorite in laws. Check the website for hours. read more

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Lovely museum in the heart of Dallas. There is something of interest for everyone here: blacksmithing, gun fights on Main Street, root beer in the Alamo Saloon, special Christmas and 4th of July events, etc. Like their Facebook page for the most up-to-date info! read more

Old City Park - Main Street - Museums Near Me - Dallas, Texas

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Very disappointed with the customer service. Weren't even let in saying they were closing even though the sign clearly says it was open for an hour more. Lady was very rude, talking to us like we were dumb. We're from California. So next trip we aren't coming back here. read more

What a jewel for children and history buffs. The homes are like going back in time, I have never been in a historical town that has so many stories. I hope Dallas will always take care of this little village for future generations to enjoy. I was lucky to read about this on a random bloggers page on things to do in Dallas, so i would hope they advertise to more popular web pages so many others will be able to enjoy it. Oh and thank you to the kind older gentleman that took his time to give my son and i a few very interesting stories about some families who once lived there. read more

Between hockey games in Dallas, and right after a bahn mi sandwich (Sandwich Hag--not far from the museum) for lunch--a relaxing place for strolling! read more

Besides the fact that everyone loves the aged wood furniture and the antique relics, it is by far the most historical of depiction of Dallas we will get. For $9, adults can really get a glimpse of reality in the 1900s of Dallas. Lots of the buildings that stand in this village came from all around. Saved from being destroyed, each building was brought in different pieces and rebuilt in their new home on R L Thorton. They have great places for photography opportunities but it's real neat to see volunteers participate in real live action scenes inside the houses. Whether they are moving animals into a barn or sitting on a rocking chair crocheting, each person is filled with historical facts for visitors and they allow everyone to take a second a pause as past and present collide into one. Parking is free and it is right next to the entrance. You follow the signs and enter a small cottage and purchase your tickets. I recommend going on a Sunday at noon when not much is happening - the quiet solitude and the Texas weather also add to the reality of what once used to be in our city. read more

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I loved it! Be prepared to spend an hour and a half here. This was a hidden gem and so glad I saw it on my way to Deep Ellum. This museum truly takes you back in time and gives you a glimpse of Dallas in the the past. Any history buff would definitely enjoy this place. The village is comprised of homes from the area during that historic period. It also has a school, an apothecary, a doctor, a Main Street. This shows us what a school looked like, the doctor's office, their downtown. I loved every bit of this quaint self tour. I would go back should I find myself in Dallas again. read more

This is a wonderful step back into history, and a great way to spend an afternoon. My roommate and I attended an event being held here and took a long walk to the bathroom. On the way back we meandered through some of the old houses. We met a lovely docent who told us some interesting things about the house she was in, like the reason there was no kitchen and that it was the first house in Dallas with an indoor bathroom complete with tub. This is a great place for families to take their kids to see what life was like in the "olden" days. Me, I pretty much lived through some of those olden days, but I always enjoy the older olden days prior to my birth in the 50's. read more

The thing i Love most about this place is how they've rounded up all of these historical buildings(mostly homes) and put them in one place where you can walk through them. It kind of feels like you're time traveling when you go inside each house, as their furnishings are still the same. It's a must see for the historical nerds like me. The weather was perfect today, and it's Sunday, but it was pretty quiet. I thought it was the norm, but when I see the older yelp photos, I see that the place was once much more livelier. Some of the buildings were open and had volunteers to tell you about the place. You can paint with water color in the school, make corn dolls nearby, look at images through a stereo scope, and you can also feed the chickens there too. I was very pleased. read more

Wonderful place. I've grew up in Dallas and didn't realize this place was around. My dad tells me we came here as kids, but I don't remember. Regardless, as an adult, it's fantastic. I came with my 3 1/2 year old nephew and it was perfectly appropriate. The general store is great for kids. I love that they allow you to get involved by grabbing a basket and shopping. You can put on an apron, play around with a real antique register, wrap your purchases in twine and brown paper. I was especially impressed with the schoolhouse, the friendly donkeys you can pet, and the artifacts inside the houses. Plus, it's a great price! We had a coupon for buy one get one, and since under 4 is free, we paid only $16 for two adults, one senior and a toddler. I would even come to this place alone, so I could walk slowly, taking the "cell phone" tour and really soaking up the history. It's that good. read more

I always have a great time here. They host some wonderful events. Today was the Jazz Age Social which was a blast. I plan to attend next year. read more

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This place is awesome, its like a little town within a town!! Great place to have a picnic. There are 19th century homes to walk through and even an area that you can watch the blacksmith bang away on some iron! Eventually they will be having exhibits and also food trucks!! Best of all, its FREE!! read more