10 bluegrass bands will perform on the Main Street Stage,

competing for cash prizes – winners chosen by the audience

Dallas Heritage Village and the Bluegrass Heritage Foundation will present the 2^nd Annual Front Porch Showdown, Saturday, May 30, at Dallas Heritage Village, 1515 S. Harwood, Dallas, 75215. Gates open at noon and all historic buildings will be open for touring until the showdown begins from 4 -7 p.m.  Ten bluegrass bands will perform on the Main Street Stage, competing for cash prizes, with winners chosen by the audience.  Each audience member with a paid admission will receive a ballot at the entrance to vote for their favorite band.   Picnics, blankets, and lawn chairs are welcome.   Children are invited to participate in a craft activity of making musical instruments to play in their own pint-sized jam from 4-6 p.m. and along with the bands.

“For the second year, we are excited to bring this type of musical event to Dallas Heritage Village and want to thank the Bluegrass Heritage Foundation for their continued partnership,” said Melissa Prycer, president and executive director, Dallas Heritage Village.  “We encourage you to bring the family, come early to explore our historic buildings. It’s going to be another great event!”

The performing bands are: Acoustic Sound Hounds (Scurry), Bluestem (Dallas), Blue Valley Tradition (Rockwall), Bobby Giles & Music Mountain (Fort Worth), Pearl & The Polka Dots (Weatherford), Philip Ferguson & Texas True (Wylie), Pine Island Station (Waller), Runnin’ Ragged (Gunter), Southern Anthem (Goldthwaite), Strings of Faith (Plano). Each band will have 15 minutes to take the front porch, play a couple of songs, and entertain the crowd before the next band begins.  All bands play only acoustic instruments into a microphone.

“What a fantastic setting to enjoy a family-friendly day of acoustic music and fun!” said Alan Tompkins, president of the Bluegrass Heritage Foundation.  “We’ve got another great lineup of bands to play in the contest, and we expect to have hundreds of bluegrass musicians jamming all around Dallas Heritage Village.  Bring your fiddle, banjo, guitar, mandolin, Dobro, or upright bass and join the fun.  You won’t be disappointed!” 

Kids 12 and under free with parent or guardian.  Advance tickets are $10 at dallasheritagevillage.org or by calling 214-413-3674, and tickets at the gate are $12.  Proceeds benefit Dallas Heritage Village and the Bluegrass Heritage Foundation.  Contest winners will be announced at 6:30 p.m.

For more information on the Bluegrass Heritage Foundation: www.bluegrassheritage.org 

Watch a Civil War Re-enactment at 2 p.m.; learn the history of stamps; participate in a scavenger hunt, earn scout badges;

and much more!

“In the 1860s, the only way to visit with friends and family was to take pen to paper, slip your letter in an envelope and add a stamp,” said Melissa Prycer, president and executive director, Dallas Heritage Village. “But who would guess something so small could contain so much history and be one of the most valued and collected items in the world today?  This event will take our guests from the early forms of communication and how we delivered mail then as compared with today – all in a fun, interactive format.”   

Dallas Heritage Village invites the community to History Quest – The Great Stamp-ede on Saturday, May 2, 2015, from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., 1515 S. Harwood Street.  Spend a day uncovering tales of greed, intrigue, forgery, and discovery and learn about fastest, most modern mode of communication in the country at a critical point in our nation’s history. 

Guests may learn about the art of collecting (known as Philately) and create and print their own postage stamps.  Discover the history of Texas Stamps during the Civil War and pick out forgeries in a Texas Stamp Lineup.  Explore early communication methods from town criers and community bulletin boards to texting and telephones of today.  Join the pony express and compete in a stick horse race to help search for lost Confederate stamps and participate in a postage stamp scavenger hunt around the village, ending at the General Store post office.  Build paper airplanes and try flying them cross country just like the Curtiss-Jenny, which flew the first U.S. Air Mail in May 1918. The day will wrap up with a Civil War Re-enactment on the grounds of Dallas Heritage Village at 2 p.m.

Scouts are invited to attend as the event will satisfy several BSA requirements, electives, achievements, and the Stamp Collecting Merit Badge, as well as GS activities towards petals, leafs, and badges.  Discount tickets ($5 each) available online through April 29.  Gate: $10/adult, $6/child and $8/senior, 65+ Patches available for $3/each.

“History Quest: The Great Stamp-ede promises to be a great day of fun and learning,” added Prycer.  “Come join us!”

 Visit www.dallasheritagevillage.org

Brought to you by Dallas Heritage Village and the Art Deco Society of Dallas, the 2^nd Annual Dallas Jazz Age Sunday Social promises to be one of the largest, grandest vintage-inspired events Dallas has ever seen. New York and Los Angeles both proudly boast large scale lawn parties such as this, and it’s time Dallas has such an event to call its own!

The Jazz Age Sunday Social is a throwback to a simpler time in America’s past. A full day is planned to take all who attend back to another time and place - to an era of flappers and sheiks.

Guests will know that they’ve come to the right place, as the sounds of Bill Flynt and his 1923 Tangley steam calliope fill the air with a joyous, happy sound. As guests enter the grounds, they will walk past a collection of antique automobiles, including an assortment of Model A Fords from Vintage Coach, a locally based classic automobile association. These cars will be available for rides, too!

As the guests proceed out onto the lawn, they will be greeted by the sight of the newly restored Van Cleave bandstand… and on that bandstand? The 18-piece Singapore Slingers. The Singapore Slingers feature a repertoire of traditional jazz from the 1920s and 1930s, and their upbeat music is guaranteed to put a smile on everyone’s face. The grounds surrounding the bandstand will be filled with the sight of the crowd enjoying their picnic lunches on blankets and lawn chairs. A portable dance floor will be set up for those who wish to dance to the joyous sounds of the Singapore Slingers. Razzmajazz Dixieland band will also perform! For those who’d like to brush up their dancing skills, Elaine Hewlett from the Rhythm Room dance studio will be teaching everyone the Charleston and other era dances.

Guests will be encouraged to check out the vendors who will be present including Savannah Hoffman Designs and Ahoy Cruises (vintage-inspired cruises). Guests are also welcome to wander Dallas Heritage Village and tour the historic buildings on the grounds.

Carnival Barker’s Ice Creams will be on hand with their delicious frozen confections, made right here in Dallas. Dallas Heritage Village will be selling soft drinks and lemonade, as well as popcorn and cotton candy from their vintage popcorn wagon.  Easy Slider Food Truck will also be on site. After the guests have enjoyed their lunch and ice cream, we invite them to return to the lawn and try their hand at a game or two of croquet and horseshoes.

All guests are encouraged to dress in the finest whites and/or vintage duds. There will be a costume contest in addition to the afternoon’s festivities- a chance to win prizes from area shops and restaurants like Curiosities and St. Martin’s.

Dallas Heritage Village is the ideal setting for the event, with its lush greens, new bandstand, and historic setting. The Jazz Age Sunday Social takes place at 1515 S. Harwood St. in Dallas, 75215. The event runs from noon to 4 p.m. Sunday March 22, 2015. Admission is just $10, and children 12 and under are free. This year, a limited number of patron tickets ($25) will be available including entry at 11 a.m. (an hour before event begins), a more exclusive dance lesson with Elaine Hewlett of the Rhythm Room at 11:30, and a code for $10 off tickets to Dallas Heritage Village’s April 25 fundraiser History with a Twist. Patron tickets must be purchased by Friday, March 20 and will not be available at the door.

 This will be one of the biggest vintage-inspired events Dallas has ever seen.  Won’t you be a part of it?

 A message from Melissa Prycer, President and Executive Director, Dallas Heritage Village...

For 43 years, Candlelight has captured the hearts of many Dallas families and couples. This winter celebration invites visitors to explore the museum at night, lit by the glow of countless candles, all against the backdrop of the modern Dallas skyline. The period buildings are decorated for the holidays in historical fashion, and you can find the various ovens being put to use with cooking demonstrations. Local performers fill three different stages, and carolers roam the candlelit paths.  But out of all the things to do in Dallas, why should you make Candlelight a holiday tradition for your family? Members of the DHV staff are happy to explain!

Kay Lewis, our volunteer coordinator and a guest services representative, explains: “Imagine walking into the colorful past with your family.  You see people walking about in period clothing, hear carolers singing about the season, smell wonderful scents of food, have a chance to make Yuletide crafts, ride on a hay ride, visit with Father Christmas, watch the trains go around the track at the American Flyer model train exhibit, and much more. Crisp weather with lighted candles everywhere. Make a new holiday tradition for your family.  Join with a family membership and enjoy Candlelight free, as well as other special events throughout the year.”

Another guest services representative, Joanna Shampine, describes her thoughts: “Candlelight always gets me into the Christmas spirit, working its magic on me every time.  There is a wonderful variety of entertainment including carolers and dancers, a delicious bake sale, people in period costumes, the skilled blacksmith, and wagon rides. The vintage buildings are on display with old-fashioned decorations, dinner is available and people with Christmas spirit are sharing their joy.  For the young visitors, there is a special area with crafts just for them and they can also visit St. Nicholas.  Now this is old-fashioned!  Candlelight warms the heart.  Come and see for yourself!” Sometimes experiencing the traditions of the past is a great way to create new traditions for your family now. Plus visitors young and old take joy in seeing St. Nicholas because you are never too old to be swept up in the Christmas excitement.

But St. Nicholas isn’t the only attraction at Candlelight that stays in people’s minds year round. As Racheal Fullerton, guest services representative can tell you: “Every year we have vendors who come in, and they make the most excellent kettle corn, and it is very cool to watch them make it.  I love the atmosphere of the Village at Candlelight, the cold air and the sights of the walkways lit by candles and walking into the homes where people are cooking in the kitchens.  Families should make this their holiday tradition because it is a truly unique event in Dallas and something to look forward to before Christmas – a chance to step away from the hectic crowded stores and enjoy an evening in our historic village.” As you can see even the kettle corn is reason enough to make this event a family tradition for years to come!

Finally Candlelight also has the ability to restore the holiday spirit for some visitors. Candlelight volunteer and former Guest Services Representative Elizabeth Qualia added: “The past few years haven’t felt like Christmas and the holidays for me because my sister and I are growing up, and our family traditions have had to change. Some of that child-like wonderment and magic had seemed to disappear especially since my sister moved so far away. Attending Candlelight brought back some of that holiday spirit and happiness for me. Plus there is NEVER a line to see Father Christmas.” Candlelight is not only a time to witness all the seasonal wonder, but also to spend quality time with loved ones away from all the hustle and bustle. Candlelight brings the holiday season back to its most simple element of simply being together.

Candlelight will be December 13 and 14 from 3-9 p.m. Discounted tickets for the event are available at www.dallasheritagevillage.org.  We hope you decide to make Candlelight your new holiday tradition this year!

“MAY YOUR CANDLELIGHT BE MERRY AND BRIGHT!”

Featuring a celebration of songs of the season, American Flyer model train exhibit, local artisans, holiday exhibits, traditional carolers, carriage rides, entertainment, & some of Dallas’ most popular food trucks

Begin the holiday season with Texas’ earliest residents and see how holiday traditions were celebrated in the late 1800s on December 13 and 14, 3 - 9 p.m., at the 43^rd Annual Candlelight Celebration at Dallas Heritage Village, 1515 South Harwood, Dallas, Texas 75215, sponsored by Baylor Scott & White Health.

“May Your Candlelight be Merry and Bright” will be this year’s theme, celebrating songs of the season  with performers, stories behind these holiday favorites, and crafts inspired by these treasured tunes.  Bask in the beauty of holidays past with seasonal décor and traditional celebrations featured throughout the Village.   Take a stroll and experience gleeful carolers, holiday storytelling, hand-weaving, blacksmithing, interpreters in traditional costume, and many other festive activities such as the popular American Flyer model train exhibit in the Depot, operated by the Lone Star Flyer Model Train Club.

“There are few places that get people in the holiday spirit like Candlelight, which sets a beautiful landscape for the season, honoring and creating memories,” said Melissa Prycer, president and executive director, Dallas Heritage Village.  “Candlelight is a magical event that has been a holiday tradition in Dallas for 43 years, and we welcome visitors from across the globe.”

During Candlelight, pioneer and Victorian Texas is brought to life by characters dressed in period costumes.  Guests may explore 38 historic buildings, circa 1840 to 1910, traditionally decorated by area garden clubs.  Different family holiday traditions and activities are celebrated at Candlelight by interpreters.  Visit with Mrs. Freeman in the Shotgun House and Mrs. de Léon in her two-room Tejano home, both preparing for the holidays.  At the 1860s Farmstead, see how early Dallas pioneers enjoyed a modest Christmas as the country approached the Civil War.  Listen to Cowboys tell tales around the bonfire, and stop by the Alamo saloon for a root beer and a game of dominoes.  Don’t forget to visit a special 19^th century guest, St. Nicholas, in the newly renovated Depot and snap a photo with him.  While there, stop by to see the American Flyer model train exhibit.

Also in Browder Springs Hall and the Law Office, kids may participate in hands-on holiday crafts inspired by treasured Christmas tunes. Decorate a song book with sheet music ornament cutouts then select a few favorite carols to add to the book. Other crafts include making jingle bell bracelets from chenille craft stems and jingle bells; paper chains from Christmas sheet music paper accented with glitter; and crystal music note ornaments made from the icicle beads.

Attendees may also ride around the Village in a surrey pulled by the Village’s loveable Mammoth Jack donkeys  Nip and Tuck ($5 per rider) or a hay wagon pulled by a vintage tractor ($3 per rider).  Local food trucks, such as Easy Slider, Rock & Roll Tacos, Ruthie’s, and more will have delicious food available to purchase.  Wine and beer, Kettle Korn, and roasted nuts will also be available for purchase.

Local musicians, dancers and storytellers entertain at the Renner School (circa 1888), on the Main Street (circa 1900) stage, in the Pilot Grove Church (circa 1890), on porches of Victorian homes and along the candlelit pathways of the Village.  Holiday tales will be recounted and seasonal songs sung by strolling carolers throughout the village.  Local entertainment groups include dance companies, musicians, bands, choirs, and many others.  Performers to date include Shufflin’ Shoes Cloggers, Wortham All-Honors Choir; Dallas Storytelling Guild; Heritage Fife Corps; Canterbury Episcopal School Choir; Lorenzo de Zavala Select Choir; Southwest Children’s Chorus; Charity Kountz; Buttermilk Junction; UU Carolers; Satisfaction!; North Texas Civilian Historians; Shandon O’Regan Irish Dancers; Lakewood Presbyterian Varsity Chorus; Creative Arts Dance Team; Old Crusty Minstrels; Metroplex Folk Music Societies; Dallas Old Time Jam; Preston Meadow Lutheran Church Choir. For a complete list of performers and performance times, please visit www.DallasHeritageVillage.org.

All proceeds from Candlelight, the museum’s biggest annual public fundraiser, benefit museum programs at Dallas Heritage Village.  General admission to Candlelight (gate prices) is $12 for adults, $10 for seniors 65+ and $8 for children ages 4-12. Children 3 and under and museum members are free. Tickets purchased online at www.DallasHeritageVillage.org by December 11 are $10 for adults, $8 for seniors 65+ and $6 for children.  Visit http://www.dallasheritagevillage.org/candlelight for more details or call 214-421-5141. Farmers Market, one block north of Dallas Heritage Village on Harwood Street, offers limited free public parking. Self-parking at the Village is available for $5 and valet-parking for $10 per vehicle. Guests with valid handicap tags will be able to valet park for $5.

Candlelight corporate and family sponsorship opportunities are available by contacting Lisa Simpson at 214-413-3662, lsimpson@dallasheritagevillage.org.  Various sponsorship levels are available with benefits as well as area and activity sponsorships.

Special Days during the Holiday Season

Decorated by local garden clubs and community groups, the Village’s 38 historic structures will be open for touring during regular museum hours throughout December.  Hours are Tuesday – Saturday, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.; Sunday, 12-4 p.m. (Closed on Monday).

 With the exception of December 13 and 14, free parking is available at the Village throughout the season.

# # #

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 19^th 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