KwanzaaFest 2008

Kwanzaa is an often misunderstood holiday-celebration-week of atonement.

Here's your (and my) opportunity to learn more about it.

KwanzaaFest is on Saturday, December 13 from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.and Sunday, December 14 from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. in the Automobile Building at Fair Park. Estimated attendees for both days exceeded 50,000 in 2007.

From http://www.dallasnews.com/ :

Dallas County Commissioner John Wiley Price will present the annual community festival on Saturday and Sunday at Fair Park. It will feature performances by R&B artists, gospel singers, dancers, jazz ensembles, drummers and more. The lineup will include Jazmine Sullivan, Plies, Baby Bash, Play N Skillz and Mary Mary. Other activities will include a health fair with screenings and information booths, a high school debate competition and a vendor fair. – NANCY MOORE / Staff Writer

This year's KwanzaaFest is noteworthy because a new event has been added to the festival. Inspired by the movie "The Great Debaters," debate teams from Carter and Roosevelt high schools will battle it out Sunday, December 14th at 2pm on the main stage.

http://www.johnwileyprice.com/kwanzaa-main.html

Feeling Charitable? Wine, Women & Shoes event November 20-21, 2008

Wine, Women & Shoes is a charity event benefiting The Women’s Museum at Fair Park. Wine, Women & Shoes is comprised of three separate events that range in price from $45 - $275 depending on seating and whether you’re a member of the museum.

Rather than give you all the details, I will whet your appetite (pun included) with the names of the separate events and encourage you to visit the website for more information. This event is too rich for my blood (recession remember?) but I would love to hear about your experience if you go and would be grateful for any pictures.

Sip, Savor, and Learn
November 20th 6:30pm – 8:30pm

Sip & Shop
November 21st 11:30am – 1:30pm

Sip & Dine
November 21st 7pm

TIP: If you can afford to attend, I suspect this is going to be an excellent networking opportunity for any young (or not), ambitious woman. You never know who might be sitting on your left/right.

For more info:

http://www.winewomenandshoes.com/dallas.html

State Fair of Texas - September 26 - October 19, 2008

Fair Park, Dallas

http://www.bigtex.com/

I have attended the State Fair of Texas (the largest state fair in the country, thank you very much) for most of my life. Even when I lived several states away, I made it a point to fly home for the Fair every year. Attending the Fair reminded me that no matter how far away I lived or how long I stayed away, Texas would always be in my heart. Now that I've moved back home to Dallas, the Fair hasn't lost its appeal. In fact, it has only risen in my esteem.

I've learned that there is more to the Fair than fried food, free concerts, livestock competitions, the auto show, and college football. There are museums, educational exhibits, cultural events, bird and dog shows, petting zoos and a mini-farm for the kids, and much much more.

I like to think of the State Fair of Texas as the great equalizer in Dallas. No matter the color of your skin, the language you speak, the amount of money in your wallet, or the year of your birth, the State Fair of Texas has something for everyone.

I invite you all to come out this year. Big Tex and I will be looking for you!

Tulisoma 2007: South Dallas Book Fair and Arts Festival

African-American Museum
3536 Grand Avenue – Fair Park
Dallas, TX

August 24-26

From the website:
Tulisoma, Swahili for "we read", is a community-based literary festival promoting literacy and the arts in the South Dallas/Fair Park area. Founded in 2003, by former City Councilman Leo V. Chaney, Jr., and Dr. Harry Robinson, President and CEO of the African American Museum, the goal of Tulisoma is to create a dynamic event tailored to engage local families, avid readers, aspiring writers and visitors to the city.

For more information: http://www.tulisoma.com/index.htm