Cottonwood Art Festival – Richardson

It’s a been a few years since we have made it to the Cottonwood Art Festival in Richardson, but since we now live only a few blocks away from Cottonwood Park and can walk to the festival, we were excited to attend again this year. The festival is held twice a year (spring and fall), outdoors   at Cottonwood Park, which is right on the edge of the Dallas/Richardson border (and right next to the courthouse where we were married, but that is another story…). Tons of artists from all over the country attend to exhibit and sell their art. The art includes paintings and sculptures, as well as handmade jewelry, clothing, and music.

She Is Dallas info: The 2011 Cottonwood Art Festival will take place May 7-8, 2011 from 9:00 am – 6:00 pm at Cottonwood Park, centrally located in the metroplex at 1321 W. Belt Line Rd. Richardson, TX (just one block east of Coit Rd). The bi-annual Cottonwood Art Festival, features works from more than 240 of the nation’s top visual artists. The prestigious show is rated the fifth-best art festival in the United States, and is the premier fine arts event in North Texas. It is now in its 43rd year.   For more information, please visit the Cottonwood Art Festival website.   You can also find them on Facebook.

The rows of artist booths are placed on the green grass and have wide passageways that easily accommodate strollers and pedestrians, as well as having regularly placed patio chairs and pavilions for sitting and resting.   Of course, the park is big and there are plenty of places to sit down and rest. We spent a while on a grassy hill and then stopped to drink a bottle near the pond with the ducks.

As promised, and in a nod to the pro-babywearing campaign going on right now, here’s a shot of Christian wearing Little Sir in the Ergo – he gets restless in his stroller and he’s so heavy that the back-carry is the easiest and the most fun for him!

Across the pond from the cafe is the children’s area, ArtStop. Little Sir was too young to participate in the arts and crafts, but there were plenty of blackboards to draw on and interesting shapes to run through for free.

 

ArtStop Activities for 2011: Paint on a HUMONGOUS Monster Mural. Let your imagination run wild making your signature Cottonwood Cool Cap. Throw lots of mud onto a pottery wheel with ArtStop’s “Masta Potta.” Design your very own Cottonwood drawstring bag, a one-of-a-kind masterpiece forever. Other activities include CastAway, Tile Painting, Chalk Board Easels (for young children), Chisel Away (chisel on a large block of plaster) and Magnetic Personalities (make faces and scenes using magnets on large magnetic boards). ArtStop is a unique experience available only at Cottonwood. Who knew art could be so much fun?

  In addition to art, there is plenty of food! I will admit that half the reason I go is for the funnel cake and other fair-like food. Christian enjoys a giant hot dog. If you want to be a little more high-brow about the food you’re eating, there is also a cafe area with outdoor tables next to the live music pavilion. Overall, we always enjoy the Cottonwood Art Festival, it’s been one of the great things about moving to Richardson. The next Cottonwood Art Festival will be May 7-8, 2011 at Cottonwood Park – see you there!