It’s been a long winter in Dallas, and cabin fever has reached its peak. One of the best cures for winter blues is to hit the road to explore, and this spring, you have several opportunities to do just that with a road trip to Corsicana, Texas, just a one-hour drive from Dallas.
No one can resist a good party, and Corsicana is throwing its biggest one yet this year to celebrate the city’s 175th birthday, with events taking place now through the end of October 2023. A full list of events can be found here to help you plan your trip. There are plenty of fun and educational opportunities to enjoy, but here are a few that you should make time for this spring.
125 & 175 Installation
February 25 | 411 North Commerce Street, Corsicana
The installation of the artist and writer residency, 125&175, commemorates Corsicana’s 175 years of history from the 125-year-old I.O.O.F. Lodge before it became 100 West studios. Artifacts include lodge furnishings, ephemera, banners, performance props, and a 1/16th-scale model of the Lodge as it was built in 1898 by historian Ron Maxfield. If you can’t make it to the unveiling, you can enjoy perusing it on your own from the studio’s front sidewalk 24/7.
Legacy Park Ribbon Cutting Ceremony
March 28 | 708 Martin Luther King Junior Boulevard, Corsicana
Join the citizens of Corsicana to celebrate the unveiling of Legacy Park. The scenic park was built to honor longtime Corsicana resident and legendary teacher G.W. Jackson who had a tremendous impact on education in Corsicana and throughout the state of Texas as an early childhood educator. The event is sponsored by the GW Jackson Multicultural Society. To learn more about the society, visit https://www.gwjacksonsociety.org.
175th Art Alley Mural Unveiling
March 30 | 112 West 6th Avenue, Corsicana
The Navarro Council of the Arts will unveil three new murals in Art Alley including a 175th celebratory mural in conjunction with the season event, Ruthie Foster, presented by the Corsicana Palace Theatre. Food trucks will be on the scene at 5:30 p.m., with the unveiling taking place at 6 p.m. The Ruthie Foster show begins at 7:30 p.m. Also that evening, Corsicana will receive its “Music Friendly” designation from the Texas Music Office from the Office of the Governor. Get your tickets to the show at https://corsicanapalace.com.
175 Minutes of Music
April 8 | Cassaro Wines and Tasting Room, 211 North Beaton Street, Corsicana
Cassaro Wines and Tasting Room joins Corsicana’s year-long 175th birthday celebration with a special live performance, “175 Minutes of Music” from 5 to 8 p.m. on Saturday, April 8 in the outdoor courtyard of the winery. Enjoy wine and appetizer specials and street dancing to live music.
Texas Veterans Parade
April 22
Honor veterans from Corsicana and throughout the state during this patriotic city-wide parade. Learn more at https://texasveteransparade.org/about/.
Derrick Days
April 28 | Downtown Corsicana
Since 1976, Derrick Days has been an annual tradition that commemorates the town’s rich oil history and its impact on the community’s development. The event now draws more than 10,000 people each year to Corsicana in search of authentic, small-town Texas fun for the family. Enjoy a hot dog lunch, sip and stroll, carnival, chili cook-off (Corsicana is home to the famous Wolf Brand Chili), battle of the bands, shopping, and entertainment. Plan your festival visit at https://www.derrickdays.com.
Corsicana has made its name on its rich oil history—the birthplace of oil west of the Mississippi River, home of the iconic Deluxe Fruit Cake®, and of course, most recently for its Navarro College cheerleaders featured on the Netflix hit series, “Cheer.” These are reasons enough to plan a day or weekend to visit. Add to this a city-wide, months-long birthday celebration, and consider your spring booked.
For more events and details about the Corsicana 175th Celebration, visit https://www.corsicana175years.com/.
