April Events: Live Music
You can get your entertainment for a song this spring — April is jam-packed with (mostly) free musical events taking place all across Texas. Dust off your lawn chairs, hop in the car, and travel down the road with the family to listen to the symphony under the stars. Feeling restless? You can help set the record for the largest couples dance in the world. Whatever your style, you’ll be fit as a fiddle at these events.
South Texas
The Grand Kids Festival, April 7, Galveston
If your kids love foot-stomping, hand-clapping, high-energy acts, look no further than The Grand 1894 Opera House’s Grand Kids Festival. Watch dozens of performances on four stages, and don’t miss the Missoula Children’s Theatre’s musical production of Treasure Island, which is sure to be solid gold.
Downtown Rhythms, April 26, Victoria
Head downtown for the Victoria Symphony’s free annual performance at O’Connor Plaza. Arrive with an empty stomach to sample delights from Victoria’s best selection of food vendors while you soak in three full hours of music along a serene backdrop — the setting Texas sun.
North Texas
Deep Ellum Arts Festival, April 6–8, Dallas
The Deep Ellum Arts Festival is your ticket to more than 150 bands and songwriters across six blocks of Dallas’ most eclectic neighborhood. Fine-tune your schedule to see your favorite bands from nearly every genre, from bluegrass to metal. Stroll by the 200 visual artists’ booths and pencil in the world-renowned pet parade or you’ll be singing a sad song.
Denton Arts & Jazz Festival, April 27–29, Denton
The magic of the Denton Arts & Jazz Festival is no secret — hundreds of thousands of people make the pilgrimage to the 20 acres of Quakertown Park every year. With seven music stages, more than 50 roving troubadours, rock-climbing, playgrounds, inflatables, and a “percussion petting zoo,” this festival strikes a chord for adults and children alike.
Central Texas
Llano Fiddle Fest, April 6–8, Llano
You don’t have to pull any strings to attend (or perform at!) the Llano Fiddle Fest. This homegrown festival has celebrated country-style, improvisational violin music since 1976. You can listen to competitors from all ages, walks of life, and schools of music. Dare you not to tap your foot.
Red Poppy Festival, April 27–29, Georgetown
Paint Georgetown red this spring to the tunes of Dysfunkshun Junkshun and Joe Nichols at the Red Poppy Festival. Bring your chairs to camp out at any of the three music stages, kid zones, or the sidelines of the annual 5K. Your kids can paint Georgetown red, too, in the kids zone coloring contest.
East Texas
Concert in the Park, April 8, 15, The Woodlands
Take note of Sunday night performances at Northshore Park. Grab your pup, blankets, coolers, and kids for a free concert series two weekends in a row. Indulge your nostalgia on April 8 jamming to the bodacious ‘80s cover band Time Warp, or take it down a notch for a delightful night of variety piano by Russell Boyd on April 15.
Caddo Culture Day, April 14, Alto
Educate yourself on Caddo Indian culture with a special performance at the 1,200-year-old Caddo Mounds State Historic Site. Bring your blanket, lawn chairs, and camera to capture majestic musical and dance performances. Then fuel up at food vendor booths before a guided hike along the Neches River.
West Texas
Abilene Cajun Festival, April 14, Abilene
Get your fix of crawfish and shrimp with a side of sizzling zydeco at the Abilene Cajun Festival. Past performances have included strings, jazz, and drum bands, and community and school bands. Eric Logan of eMotion Entertainment will emcee the event. Sign up for the Crawfish Crawl 5K if you prefer to earn your étouffée.
Fallstown Dancing Through History, April 21, Wichita Falls
Does dancing the night away have a nice ring to it? Swing on down to Wichita Falls with your sweetie, kids, friends, and neighbors to earn a spot in the Guinness World Records for the largest dance by couples. You’ll be do-si-do-ing to live music for a great cause; all proceeds go to Meals on Wheels. Admission is $5.
Hitting the road? Make the miles go by faster with the right tunes.
© 2018 Texas Farm Bureau Insurance
