The State Fair starts today. But since we’ve already gotten an eyeful of the new Big Tex, we should all just stay home, right? Right??? So wrong.
Friday
I made you a nice guide to the first week of the fair, which you can find right here. Today happens to be a two-parade day, which, trust me. It’s not often you get a two-parade day, unless you’re at Disney World or something and you’ve got parades coming out your ears. The first parade is through downtown Dallas, around noon. If you drop by Pegasus Plaza (Akard and Main St.) between 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m., you’ll get a “Taste of the Fair” courtesy of Downtown Dallas Inc. That includes corn dogs, cotton candy, and roasted corn. Bring cash.
The second parade, of course, finishes the day with floats and puppets winding through the fairgrounds. Western swing band Asleep at the Wheel kicks off the main stage concert series.
Another, different option for evening involves someone getting eaten by a bear. Sort of. It’s Shakespeare Dallas’ production of The Winter’s Tale, though it does not yet feel like winter. Is it a comedy? A romance? Both? Whatever it is, the play involves the land of Bohemia, intricate plots, jealous kings, babies, and clowns. And the bear thing. Pack yourself a picnic consisting entirely of spinach if you also plan on visiting Option No. 1 anytime soon. Wine is made of fruit, so you can have that too.
Saturday
Blondie plays the State Fair’s main stage at 8:30 p.m. These concerts are free with State Fair admission, which is, no disrespect to Ben Affleck, getting pricey. Though the $17 bucks might seem much more well spent if it also comes with a real-deal rendition of “Call Me.”
I also recommend stuffing yourself with souvlaki at the Greek Food Festival of Dallas and pretending you’re on vacation in a country that has nice beaches and severe debt problem. Wait. After inhaling the fresh-baked baklava, don’t miss art activities for kids as well as traditional music and dance demonstrations.
Sunday
There’s a nice classical music program happening at the Meyerson this weekend, called Mahler 4. A violin-playing coworker whose name rhymes with Beryl told me that Mahler is “usually long and boring.” In this instance Beryl is wrong, as this is the composer’s shortest, smallest, happiest work. Well, happiest may be a bit of a stretch. But shortest, yes. The Dallas Symphony Orchestra program also includes Samuel Barber’s Piano Concerto. You can totally make this work with your big plans to learn how Breaking Bad ends because the matinee is at 2:30 p.m.
Speaking of that show, you can watch how things play out at the Granada Theater on big screens for free. You don’t have to cry alone.
For more to do with your weekend, go here.