Play games at a circus-themed carnival; bring a wagon to decorate on site for the parade; pack a picnic; and make crafts, ice cream and special memories with your family
Deck the family out in red, white, and blue, grab your picnic basket and little red wagon and come celebrate the nation’s past at Dallas Heritage Village’s Old Fashioned Fourth and “Greatest Little Carnival on Earth” Friday, July 4, from 11 – 3 p.m., 1515 S. Harwood, Dallas, Texas 75215-1273.
Kids may decorate their wagons at the craft station for the patriotic parade at noon around the village, or if they don’t have a wagon, they may decorate themselves and march in the parade. Nip and Tuck, the beloved Village donkeys, will be offering wagon rides around the village in the morning prior to the parade. The Dallas Heritage Village Junior Historians will host a variety of games at “The Greatest Little Carnival on Earth,” including pick a duck, “go fishing” for prizes, bean bag toss, and the famous annual stick pony race for ages 3-11. Get your face painted with a mustache and see how many mustaches you can spot around the village. This year’s patriotic crafts will include making Yankee Doodle red, white, and blue macaroni necklaces and patriotic or friendship bracelets. Additionally there will be newspaper hat making complete with a feather on each. Pose for a patriotic picture with Nip and Tuck in the afternoon. Activities will be available throughout the day.
The whole family can play historic games like horseshoes and graces and, new this year, play a round or two in a mini checkers tournament with an opportunity to win prizes. All of the historic buildings will be open for touring, and costumed characters will be on hand to visit about what life was like during this time period. The saloon is a popular afternoon spot for a cold root beer and a game of cards or dominoes. The Dallas Heritage Village Guild will be selling popcorn, cotton candy, and water bottles at the popcorn wagon. Lemonade will also be available for sale.
“Each year, we look forward to this day, which has become a family tradition for so many,” said Melissa Prycer, president and executive director, Dallas Heritage Village. “It’s great to see all the families picnicking and enjoying quality time together. We offer our special thanks to the Junior Historians for all of their hard work and creativity with the carnival games, which are always a big hit with the kids. So come grab your “stache” and join the bash!”
Admission is $10 for adults and free for 12 and under. Children under 4 and members of Dallas Heritage Village are admitted free of charge. Tickets can be purchased at the gate. Don’t forget to bring a little extra cash for carnival fun. Tickets for carnival games are 25 cents each or 5 for $1. For more information call 214-413-3674 or visit www.dallasheritagevillage.org.
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Dallas Heritage Village, located at Old City Park, is a nationally accredited history museum, depicting life in Dallas from 1840-1910. It is one of only five museums in the Dallas area to have this distinction. The grounds showcase 38 historic structures, including log cabins, the pre-Civil War Millermore home, a Victorian Main Street, a railroad complex, an 1860s farmstead with livestock, a 19th century church, school and more. Visitors discover how crops were grown, animals cared for and how family living progressed from log cabins to grand manors and Victorian homes. Dallas Heritage Village is supported, in part, by the City of Dallas Office of Cultural Affairs and the Texas Commission on the Arts as well as individual and group donations. Dallas Heritage Village was nominated in 2011 and 2012 by D Magazine as one of the top Dallas-area family attractions. It is located at 1515 South Harwood, one block south of Farmers Market in Downtown Dallas. Hours of operation are Tuesday – Saturday, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. and Sunday, noon – 4 p.m. The Village is closed the months of January and August. Regular admission is $9 for adults, $7 for seniors 65+ and $5 for children ages 4-12. Children under 4 and members of Dallas Heritage Village are admitted free of charge. For more information call 214-421-5141 or visit www.DallasHeritageVillage.org