Fort Worth’s Fourth celebration among several 4th of July events Sunday, Monday
Many North Texas cities are preparing for their Fourth of July celebrations Saturday night and Monday.
FORT WORTH, Texas – Many North Texas cities are preparing for their Fourth of July celebrations Saturday night and Monday.
That includes Fort Worth, where Panther Island Pavilion will be packed with North Texans celebrating the holiday Monday night.
Panther Island Pavilion, along the Trinity River, was mostly empty Sunday, but some were setting up early ahead of Monday’s Fourth of July celebration.
“We’re here just to have some fun, watch this beautiful fireworks display,” Tracy Torres said.
Torres runs the food truck, TNT Roasted Corn. He was getting ready to sell his dishes.
Old Fort Erie will be rockin’ when the Trews come to town.
The Juno Award-winning band is a part of the 13 For 13 Cultural Festival taking place at the Old Fort on Aug. 12 as a part of the Niagara 2022 Canada Summer Games.
The festival, which runs from 3 to 10 p.m. that day is Fort Erie’s contribution to a series of events taking place during the games. All 12 municipalities and Niagara Region are collaborating with all 13 provinces/territories to showcase the unique cultural heritage, entertainment, art, and culinary experiences of each pairing during their assigned special night. The 13 For 13 Cultural Festival will rotate, changing from one municipality to another over 13 days in August.
For the purposes of the festival, Fort Erie has been paired with Nova Scotia. This one-of-a-kind initiative has never been done before by any other Canada Games host. Admission to each of the 13 municipality events will be free.
In partnership with host sponsor Niagara Parks and provincial partner Tourism Nova Scotia, the Fort Erie event will offer food trucks, local vendors, a liquor licensed area, children’s programming, Scottish heavy sports demonstrations, the Creator’s Game, musical entertainment culminating with the Trews concert.
“What an amazing opportunity for our community to celebrate athletic excellence, cultural heritage, arts, and entertainment on the historically significant grounds of Old Fort Erie,” said Mayor Wayne Redekop. “The history of our nation unfolded here.”
On July 2, the Games torch will be coming to Fort Erie from 9 to 11 a.m., starting with a pep rally at the Crystal Ridge Arena at 99 Ridge Rd. South and conclude with an end-of-run party at the Fort Erie Leisureplex at 3 Municipal Centre Dr.
Niagara 2022 Canada Summer Games take place Aug. 6 to 21 at sites across the region.
In celebration of Pride Month, a livestream panel discussion about bringing your authentic self to work will be presented from noon to 1 p.m. Thursday, June 23. The discussion will feature LGBTQ city employees and allies.
Pride Month was first celebrated in 1970 to honor the 1969 Stonewall Uprising in Manhattan. The Stonewall Uprising was a tipping point for the Gay Liberation Movement in the United States. In the United States, the last Sunday in June was initially celebrated as Gay Pride Day, but the actual day was flexible. In major cities across the nation, the day soon grew to encompass a monthlong series of events.
Today, celebrations include pride parades, picnics, parties, workshops, symposia and concerts, and LGBTQ Pride Month events attract millions of participants around the world. Memorials are held during this month for members of the community who have been lost to hate crimes or HIV/AIDS. The purpose of the commemorative month is to recognize the impact that lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals have had on history locally, nationally and internationally.
In 1994, a coalition of education-based organizations in the United States designated October as LGBT History Month. In 1995, a resolution passed by the General Assembly of the National Education Association included LGBT History Month within a list of commemorative months. National Coming Out Day (Oct. 11), as well as the first March on Washington in 1979, are commemorated in the LGBTQ community during LGBT History Month.
Photo:The City Council presented a proclamation for Pride Month in Fort Worth during Tuesday’s meeting.
Richardson Backcountry in Fort McMurray Wood Buffalo
“Photo provided by Ride North Moto”
Fort McMurray Wood Buffalo Economic Development & Tourism (FMWBEDT) has teamed up with Ride North Moto, to deliver their first-ever off-road motorcycle event to the area.
Together, they’re launching “Boreal Royale”, a dual-sport motorcycle adventure taking place June 24-26.
Tyler Cole, Sports & Events Economic Development Officer with FMWBEDT describes it as not being a race, but more of an opportunity to responsibly welcome the motorcycle community to the beautiful backcountry areas of Wood Buffalo.
The event includes four nights of camping at the motocross track and three days of competition that will see competitors use the WANDURO app to find waypoints and collect Quest Points.
The press release describes the event as being similar to geocaching, which is where individuals hunt for hidden objects by using GPS coordinates, but with motorcycles.
“We are working towards this event becoming a staple in the dual-sport and adventure sport motorcycling event calendar going forward,” explained Cole.
McMurray Dirt Riders Association and the WANDURO Adventure Moto Navigation events team from British Columbia will also be hosting Boreal Royale in partnership with the event.
Mike Haberoth, Founder of Ride North Moto says, “We are very excited to see the 1st Annual Boreal Royale come together and to share our passion for motorcycle sport with others in the community. Our local partners have been the key to helping us explore the region’s backcountry and inspiring us all to be proud of the place we call home.”
FMWBEDT stated in a press release that the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation has given permission to the group to allow competitors on their traditional territory in the Richardson backcountry north of Fort McMurray.
KALAMAZOO, MI — After two years without many Memorial Day ceremonies and activities taking place due to the pandemic, parades and services are returning to Southwest Michigan in 2022.
Two of the weekend’s marquee events will occur at Fort Custer over the weekend, beginning with a flag-placing ceremony Saturday, May 28 at the Fort Custer National Cemetery, 15501 Dickman Road, in Augusta.
By day’s end, over 23,000 flags are expected to have been placed on the graves of veterans who are interred at the cemetery, a news release from the cemetery states. The public is welcome to attend and help place flags. Those wishing to help are asked to arrive by 8 a.m.
The annual Memorial Day event, for the first time since 2019, will then take place at the cemetery grounds at 2 p.m. Sunday, May 29. Included in the program will be patriotic music by the Cereal City Concert Band and the Kalamazoo Area Pipers, a flyover by the renowned Hooligans Flight Team, a speech from Ret. Navy Lt. Com. T. R. Shaw, Jr., the laying of wreaths to fallen heroes and numerous other events.
“As we reflect on the cost of freedom we know how important it is to honor those individuals who have preserved that special gift for us,” said Deborah G. Owens, chairperson of the Fort Custer National Cemetery Advisory Committee. “That is what we do at the Fort Custer National Cemetery.”
Owens said she hopes those who attend this year’s events will not only honor those sacrifices but leave with a warmth in their heart for those who made them.
The Military Color Guard participates in a ceremony at the Riverside Ceremony following the 2019 Memorial Day Parade in Kalamazoo, Michigan. (MLive file photo)
The parade begins at 10 a.m. Monday, May 30 in front of the Kalamazoo County courthouse at 227 W. Michigan Ave., heads east down Michigan Avenue, north on Riverview Drive and east on Gull Road, ending at Riverside Cemetery at 1015 Gull Road, where a ceremony will follow the parade’s conclusion at 11 a.m.
“We are very, very excited,” said Charles Parker, executive director of Charlie’s P.L.A.C.E. and incoming president of Kalamazoo Sunrise. “It’s been two long years of nothing going on.
“It’s important to celebrate our veterans, both fallen and present, who served our country well, so we can have the rights and the freedom we have today.”
Parker said while Memorial Day is traditionally a day to honor those who have fallen it is important to take the time to honor those veterans who are still with us as well.
“We sometimes take them for granted, so it’s important to let them know that we appreciate them,” he said. “I always tell people that it’s good to give people the flowers while they’re alive, to let them know we really appreciate them.”
Among the highlights at the ceremony will be a musical presentation from a combined band made up of the Kalamazoo Central and Loy Norrix High School bands, Parker said.
Masks and hand sanitizer will be provided for those who need one, he said.
Some other events happening in the Kalamazoo area include:
Portage Memorial Day Service: Hosted by American Legion Post 207, the service will take place at 11 a.m. Monday, May 30 in Veterans Memorial Park, 300 Library Lane. The Portage Memorial Day Parade, traditionally hosted by VFW Post 5855, will not be held for the third consecutive year.
South Haven Memorial Day Parade: The South Haven Memorial Day Parade will commence at 9 a.m., Monday, May 30 at the intersection of Center Street and Michigan Avenue, head north to Phoenix Street and east toward Lakeview Cemetery, 191 Bailey Ave., where a ceremony will be held to remember fallen veterans.
Hickory Corners: A pancake breakfast will get the day started from 7-9:30 a.m. at the Hickory Corners Fire Department, 14505 Kellogg School Rd. and be followed with the parade, which will begin at 10 a.m. sharp. The parade begins at Cadwallader Park, proceeds east through town and ends at the East Hickory Corners Cemetery, where a ceremony will be held to honor fallen veterans.
Major tourist attractions in the city of Kingston opened for the season Saturday.
Visitors spent the day flocking to places like Fort Henry and the Kingston Penitentiary, which launched the 2022 season.
At Fort Henry, the historic landmark is a former military fortress from the 1800s, which overlooks the St. Lawrence River.
This season, guided tours are back after they were paused during the COVID-19 pandemic. Guests can catch marching exercises, learn how people lived and learned at the time, and see how they dressed.
The Stott family was one of the first few in the door Saturday with their three kids, who found the rifle demonstrations a thrill.
Visiting from Trenton, Ont., they say it’s a great chance for their young children to learn about history.
“The outfits and the demonstrations and stuff it’s all very well done,” says dad Chris Stott.
Mom Collette agrees.
“I think it’s just nice to expose them to Canadian heritage as much as we can,” she says. “And just get (the kids) out of the house. We’re not house people, we’re outside people,”
While across town at the Kingston Penitentiary, Canada’s oldest prison also has some newer tours.
They include an architectural tour, as well as an entertainment tour, which tells visitors all about the Hollywood movie and TV shows that have been filmed on site.
For those like Annie Aube-Hardy, coming for the regular tours, it’s getting to learn all about the history of the Pen, and hear from former guards, who now work as guides.
“I think it was really amazing,” she says. “It’s not just someone reading a storybook.”
The attractions are now up and running through the summer, and with high demand, officials suggest getting tickets ahead of time.
Admission is free but donations are appreciated. Masks are recommended and attendance will be capped at the first 50 people to arrive. For more information, call 250-787-0430.
We were excited to host some programs and guided tours for camps over spring break and we have just released our program information to schools. Information on all our programs can be found at fsjmuseum.com.
Lastly, we are very happy to be updating our display case in the hospital lobby again with a brand new exhibit.
Access has been limited during the pandemic and we are thrilled to be teaming up with the Fort St. John Hospital Arts Committee once again. This new display looks at surgery in the North Peace from the 1930s to the 1970s through equipment, photographs, and stories. Look for it in the lobby between reception and Cool Beans Café.
After winter’s last gasp (hopefully) and yet another freeze to thaw out of, boy are we are ready for spring. Flowers blooming, birds singing, blue skies overhead, you know the drill. And after two years of COVID-related-closures, event postponements and outright cancelations, this spring in Fort Worth is going to be epic. That means major festivals, big events and a warm return to normality.
There is something for everyone to enjoy, from food and drinks to arts and sports. This year there are more reasons than ever to plan your calendar around enjoying one or all of these spring festivals and happenings. We’ll see you there.
This is your guide to Fort Worth’s Best Spring Events:
Van Cliburn International Piano Competition
The most dramatic event of the year has to be the famed Van Cliburn’s return. The once-every-four-years piano competition brings preliminary screening auditions March 6 through 12 at TCU’s PepsiCo Recital Hall. They are free and open to the public. The 72 selected pianists will perform 25-minute recitals before the competition whittles them down to just 30.
Van Cliburn International Piano Competition’s semifinal and final rounds are held at Bass Performance Hall.
This year’s diverse roster of hopefuls are being drawn from 22 countries. The final round runs from June 2 through 18, when Fort Worth, along with the rest of the world, learns the winner.
But there’s more major piano happenings in Fort Worth — including the opening of a brand new venue. TCU will open the Van Cliburn Concert Hall, with a special performance from Russian pianist Olga Kern on April 13. Kern was one of the 2001 Van Cliburn International Piano Competition winners and the concert will take place on the 64th anniversary of Van Cliburn’s famous Moscow triumph in 1958.
The concert hall is the newest addition to the $53 million TCU Music Center and another step forward for Fort Worth, which is benefitting from exciting new venues like Dickies Arena.
Flyfest
Tarrant Regional Water District’s trout stocking season culminates with TRWD FlyFest along and in the Trinty River on Saturday March 12. They stock nearly 3,000 native fish annually, including 1,800 pounds of rainbow trout, creating an optimal angling experience. This year will be the seventh Flyfest, which continues to grow in popularity.
So, don’t be alarmed by all the fisher folks donning their waders, and casting their lines in a rhythm ― 10 and 2, 10 and 2. . .
FlyFest 2022 promises a catch along the Trinity.
Along with open fishing in the river, there will be kids’ activities and presentations by experts. Orvis and Coffee & Caddis will be on hand with fly tying and casting instruction and gear. There will be plenty of beer, wine and food trucks on hand along with live music. For the kiddies, there will be face painting, a fishing tank to get them hooked early and a rock climbing wall.
Magnolia at the Modern
This special film series runs from March 18 to May 1. The cozy auditorium at the Modern Art Museum has long brought rare art films to Fort Worth. Among the seven films in this year’s Magnolia at the Modern series is Breaking Bread, which follows Arab and Jewish chefs in Haifa, Israel as they collaborate in the kitchen.
Most movies featured in the series will be shown Fridays at 4 pm, 6 pm and 8 pm; Saturdays at 5 pm; and Sundays at noon (half-price show), 2 pm, and 4 pm (with a few exceptions). Ticket prices are $10 regular admission, $8 for Modern members and $7 for Reel People members. Advance sales begin two hours prior to each show at the admissions desk.
Fort Worth Food & Wine Festival
Fort Worth’s mouthwatering festival and its six exclusive ticketed events are finally returning. The venue will be the Heart of the Ranch, in its shady Clearfork setting, and the Nite Bites event will take full advantage of the skyline views from Whiskey Ranch.
Chefs, restaurateurs and local caterers will join bartenders, brewers and regional and international wine labels at this annual tour-de-force. The Fort Worth Food & Wine Festival takes place between March 31 and April 3. Check out some of the well-known names taking part this year and get your tickets or VIP passes secured before they sell out at Fort Worth Food & Wine Festival’s website.
Main Street Arts Festival returns to a waiting crowd this spring.
Main Street Arts Festival
Running from Thursday April 7 through Sunday April 10, Main Street Arts Festival touts itself as the largest four day arts event in the Southwest. It’s a chance for North Texans to indulge in art, music and food in one bonanza. This is the Main Street Arts Festival’s 35th year and fans can expect newentertainment venues. In all, more than200 local, regional and national juried artists will descend upon downtown.
Lining the red bricks of Main Street, this free event is a local tradition. There is even a craft brew garden and a wine pavilion, with hundreds of musical acts taking to the stage, providing a soundtrack all weekend long.
Japanese Garden Spring Festival is a cultural and natural wonder.
Japanese Garden Spring Festival
The Fort Worth Botanic Gardens has a hidden gem on its vast campus — The Japanese Garden. The garden, which will celebrate its 50th year in 2023, is a lush seven and a half acres filled with bamboo forests, cherry trees, Japanese maples, magnolias, arched bridges, raked rock gardens and ponds filled with koi fish. If you’ve never experienced it, the Spring Festival is the time to go.
While the fall festival highlights the ruby red Japanese maple leaves turning, the Japanese Garden Spring Festival (April 23 and 24 this year) is full of color and life. It’s also a cultural treasure with judo, sumo and karate exhibitions, traditional tea ceremonies, drummers, dancers and swordsmen. There will be Japanese delicacies to sample, bonsai trees and calligraphy. And that’s just a few of the Japanese art forms that will be showcased.
ArtsGoggle
For one day only — April 23 this year — Magnolia Avenue hosts its annual ArtsGoggle. The Southside is planning for an epic return to the festival this year. This free-to-the-public, family-friendly event brings more than 1,000 visual artists, 50 musical performances and artistic displays of every kind. Plus plenty of food and drink.
Many Magnolia Avenue businesses host open houses during ArtsGoggle, and the event spills into the open streets with more than a mile of exhibits to stroll.
MayFest
Generations of Fort Worthians have fond memories of MayFest. The 2022 edition marks the beloved festival’s 50th Anniversary. It all takes place May 5 through 8 in Trinity Park. Past years have included fireworks reflecting in the Trinity River. Exact details are still forthcoming about the events for this year’s milestone Mayfest.
Filled with food, arts and crafts, entertainment and music, Mayfest has it all, from ferris wheels to confetti eggs. You can expect plenty of activities and kids areas. There will be paddle boats along the river and, as always, an eclectic mix of vendors to explore and entertainment to revel in.
You never what you’ll see at Fort Worth’s Mayfest. Here’s hoping the waterskiing squirrel makes an appearance.
Charles Schwab Challenge
While last year’s Colonial Golf Tournament brought limited spectators under COVID conditions, full crowds will return to the oak lined wonder this May 23 to 29.
The winner receives a coveted Colonial Red Plaid Jacket. The oldest event on the PGA Tour has a lot in store, like its famous water-protected No. 13 hole, along the stretch known as (Ben) Hogan’s Alley. We can hardly wait for a few lazy days at Colonial this spring.
Jordan Spieth is just one of the big name golfers who love playing in Texas. (Photo by F. Carter Smith)
Hang in there, Fort Worth. Spring is on its way — and it has plenty of fun in store.
