Bring the Whole Family to Wildflower! Art & Music Festival :: May 16-18

Dallas Moms Blog has partnered with Richardson’s Wildflower! Arts & Music Festival to bring you this sponsored post and giveaway. Read on to discover how the Wildflower! Festival is so much more than music and the wide-variety of ways your family can enjoy a weekend close to home!

I grew up in Richardson. Attended Yale Elementary, Apollo Junior High, and then graduated from Berkner along with 700 others in the Class of 2001. While I did leave the area for college, it was within two of being married that I found myself back in Dallas teaching for Richardson ISD.

If there’s an event in Richardson, I’ve probably been and can tell you all about what it’s like….without kids.

Growing up here, you reach a point where you think you’ve “been there, done that,” but it’s only been within the last three years, that I’ve begun to rediscover so many great events in the area that I thought I knew — like the Wildflower! Arts & Music Festival.

I LOVED this event in High School for the late night concerts with some AMAZING acts like Splender, Shawn Mullins and Collective Soul (Does that bring back memories?!) But now that we have two little ones, we might relive our youth by getting a sitter for a few of the late concerts, but this year, I’m more excited to experience all the new family-friendly activities Wildflower! has to offer!

Kids Korner

Don’t be surprised if you find most families spending a majority of their time in the Kids Korner. Designed for kids of all ages, there’s a little bit of something for everyone.

Younger ones might enjoy the COR Petting Zoo, Face Painting, Sand Pit, and FREE Balloon Art. The older ones might enjoy the YMCA Bounce House, Climbing Wall, and Crafts.

One of our favorite activities is the Wildflower! Butterfly Habitat. Over 150 butterflies are fluttering around the Butterfly tent and docents are on hand to help you identify some of the species. They’ll also provide instruction on how you can plant to attract butterflies in your own backyard!

The Kids Korner is located just south of the Amphitheater and near the Will Call Gateway Entrance. 

Concerts/Performances for Families

If you enjoy concerts, Wildflower! is definitely the place to be in Dallas! There’s over 4 stages with live performances going on all day and through the weekend; from cover bands to well-known, popular artists. Prior to having kids, I’d run from stage to stage to catch some of my favorite bands perform…often having to choose between my favorites who were playing at the same time.

Parents, this year you might enjoy: Vertical Horizon, Joan Jett & The Blackhearts, The Wallflowers, Cheap Trick, Jolie Holiday, Kool & The Gang, Jack Ingram, and Lonestar.

If you’re heading to Wildflower! for the day with your whole family, stop by one of the stages and listen to some great cover bands and rising singer/songwriters. But while you’re there, check out Performance Row for some amazing kid entertainment! Our fabulous local high schools have brought in dance teams and troops to perform as well as some incredible street performers and acts like Flippenout. Your kids will be amazed!

Food

There’s a wide assortment of vendors available for food, drink, and dessert purchases. (They take cash; not tickets!) Many are local restaurants (Sonny Bryan’s, Jersey Mike’s, Raising Cane’s, Tiff’s Treats, etc.) providing samplers off their normal menus and others are “pop-ups” for this event–there’s something for everyone!

While they ask that you not bring in food for public safety, each patron can bring in one factory sealed water bottle up to 1 liter. Snacks and drinks for toddlers will be allowed.

The Cost

Tickets for Friday and Saturday are $20/adult per day, but kids ages 5-12 are only $3! (4 & Under are FREE)

If you attend Sunday, May 18 Tickets are half off –$10 each and Kids ages 12 and under are FREE!

But it does get better!

If you’re a Richardson Resident, stop by a few select businesses to purchase your tickets with proof of residency (current City of Richardson water bill, a utility/phone bill with a Richardson address, or valid driver’s license with a Richardson address) and your tickets are only $10 each–half off admission Friday & Saturday! (See the list of Richardson ticket vendors here.)

All concerts and entertainment are included in the cost of admission.

* * * * *

If you haven’t rediscovered the Wildflower! Arts & Music Festival yet as a family, this is the year to do so — especially since that other festival across town is now 21 and up.

The Wildflower! Arts & Music Festival (located near Galatyn Parkway and Central Expressway) will be taking place Friday, May 16 – 6PM. to 12AM, Saturday, May 17 – 11AM to 12AM, and Sunday, May 18 – 12:30PM. to 8PM which means we have three days of family entertainment to choose from! We hope to see you there!

Thanks to the City of Richardson, Dallas Moms Blog is thrilled to be giving away a Family 4 Pack to the Wildflower! Arts & Music Festival for the day of your choice!

Simply use the Rafflecopter form below and you’re automatically entered to win 2 adult and 2 kids passes to Wildflower! (A $46 value). The Drawing will end on Tuesday, May 13th at noon. Winners must respond to info(at)dallasmomsblog(dot)org to claim your prize.

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*Photos provided by Richardson Wildflower! Arts & Music Festival. 

** Disclosure: This post was sponsored by the Richardson Wildflower! Arts and Music Festival; however all opinions are 100% my own. I really am a native Richardson resident and love this festival!