Lone Star Travelers Blog

On October 17th, 2008 Jessica Simpson brings her Country Tour to the State Fair of Texas for a performance at 8:3o P:M on The Chevrolet Main Stage.  The concert is free with your paid admission to the State Fair of Texas.

The city of Southlake is holding it’s 7th annual Octoberfest Friday October 3rd through Sunday October 5th.  This three day event is free and parking is free.  The festival features arts and crafts booths (handmade items only) the popular weiner dog race on Saturday Oct 04 at 11AM for the canines and a bratwurst and nugget eating contest for the humans.  There will be a special area for children’s activities, food, live entertainment and of course German beer.  The Southlake Octoberfest will be open on Friday the 3rd of October from 5PM-11PM, on Saturday the 4th of October from 10AM-11PM and Sunday the 5th of October from 12Noon-5PM.  More than 50,000 people are expected to attend.  www.southlakechamber.org

The 17th annual Boo At The Zoo will be held at the Fort Worth Zoo in Fort Worth Texas beginning Friday the 24th of October through Wednesday the 29th of October.  Come in costume for 6 nights of wild, crazy spooktacular fun.  Starting at 5:30PM the Zoo will turn into a landscape filled with pumpkin patches, treats and trails to follow.  This Halloween Fall event will entertain the entire family with carnival games, pumpkin carvings, shows and a hay maze and hay house.  Live animals will be out and about mingling with the spooks and goblins until dusk.  General admission is $12 for adults, children 3 and up and seniors.  Toddlers 2 yrs of age and under pay $4.  Discount tickets for $1 off will be available at Albertson’s Stores in the Dallas/Fort Worth area beginning October 3rd.  Parking is $5.  Allow 1 hour for parking.  

The 75th annual Texas Rose Festival will take place Thursday October 16th through Sunday October 19th, 2008 in Tyler, Texas.  Known as the Rose Capital of the World Tyler Texas is home to the Tyler Municipal Rose Garden, 35,000 bushes with more than 500 varieties of roses growing on 14 acres.  One acre contains the Heritage Rose and Sensory Garden with over 30 varieties of roses some dating from before the Civil War.  The Texas Rose Festival officially opens at 10:00AM Thursday the 16th of October with a ribbon cutting ceremony by Rose Queen Sarah Elizabeth Clyde.  Festivities continue each day from 10:00AM-6:00PM with art and crafts shows, floral displays, and special events such as the Queen’s Tea on Friday the 17th of October from 3:ooPM-5:ooPM when the Queen will be in the Rose Garden in full costume greeting visitors who may stroll through the gardens with their free refreshment.  The Queen’s Coronation, an impressive theatrical style event takes place on Thursday the 16th of October at 130PM (all tickets are $21.50), on Thursday the 16th of October at 7:30PM (ticket prices range from $31.50-46.50) and on Friday evening the 17th of October (ticket prices range from $26.50-46.50).  If you miss the coronation you may view it free on video Saturday the 18th of October from 9:ooAM-6:00PM at the Rose Garden Center.  The spectacular Rose Parade takes place on Saturday morning the 19th of October at 9:30AM.  Preferred seating on the west side of the Trinity Mother Frances Rose Stadium ranges from $5-$10.  Seasting on the east side of the stadium is free.  The Tyler Rose Museum showcasing the history of the rose festival and the rose industry will be open.  Admission is $3.50 for adults and $2.50 for children ages 3-11.  Note:  Over one half of all commercial rose bushes marketed annually in the United State are shipped from Smith County and the Tyler Texas area.  

Shakespeare in the Park takes place on October 19, 2008 at Addison Circle Park from 5PM-8PM.  This is a free event sponsored by Shakespeare Dallas in cooperation with Target Corp.  From 5PM-8PM there will be hands on art activities, interactive performances and live music.  From 8PM-10:30PM the free performance of The Merchant of Venice takes place.  This event is produced in association with the University of North Texas Department of Dance and Theatre.  Addison Circle Park is located west of the Dallas Tollway in Addison.