Happy Holidays! Shows + Performances to Ring in the Season in the Arlington Area

Nothing delights this time of year like a holiday performance. If you are looking to spread some holiday cheer by seeing local performance of one of your favorite holiday shows, look no further! EA has your comprehensive guide to Arlington-area holiday shows.

I can still remember my favorite holiday show I've ever seen live- The Radio City Rockettes at the Rosemont Horizon in the Chicagoland area. I must have been 13 or so the first time we went, and, WOW, those high kicks! As someone who grew up dancing, I love nothing more than watching those talented women dance their hearts out in flashy, sparkly dresses up on stage. I hope to take my own daughters to see the Rockettes some day.

Until then, though, I love seeing all the fun performances of my holiday favorites all around the Arlington area. Forget professional actors- I adore nothing more than seeing a local student (or young child!) tackle the role of Buddy the Elf or Tiny Tim. And to see tiny dancers perform The Nutcracker... It's truly what the holiday season is all about! 

This year we are lucky enough to have multiple performances spanning multiple weeks of some of our favorite holiday shows right here in the Arlington area. Whether you want funny, or serious, or heartfelt, you are sure to find something that will give you the warm fuzzies this December and leave you ready to spread some holiday cheer. No need to drive to Fort Worth or hoof it all the way to Dallas- Arlington and the surrounding area has tons of opportunities for you to see your favorite shows.

So dust off your Sunday best and get ready to get in the holiday spirit!

Holiday performances in the Arlington area

The Nutcracker

Leap of Faith Dance & Performing Arts presents The Nutcracker- 

Friday, December 3 at Arlington Music Hall. Tickets start at $15. 

The United Performing Arts Guild presents The Nutcracker- 

December 3 & 4 at the AISD Center for Visual and Performing Arts. $20 per ticket. 

Art Ballet Academy presents The Nutcracker-

Saturday, December 18 at the Mansfield ISD Center for the Performing Arts. Tickets start at $20. 

Rhythmic Souls Tap Company presents The Nutcracker Untapped-

Monday, December 20 at Uptown Theater in Grand Prairie. Tickets start at $10. 

Elf

Grand Prairie Arts Council presents Elf the Musical-

Weekends, December 3 & 10 at Uptown Theater in Grand Prairie. Tickets start at $13.

Kennedale Wildcat Theater presents Elf Jr.- 

December 16-19 at the Kennedale Performing Arts Center. Tickets start at $15. 

A Christmas Carol

Kennedale Community Theatre in the Park presents A Christmas Carol-

December 11 &12 at Kennedale Town Center. Free. 

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever

Mainstage Classic Theater presents The Best Christmas Pageant Ever-

December 3 & 4 at First Methodist Mansfield. Tickets start at $8. 

Everything Arlington's Fall Festival Guide for Arlington, Mansfield, Kennedale & GP 2021

Eep!

Not only is this weekend a four-day weekend if your kids attend AISD, but it's the start of all the amazing Fall Festivals in the area!

This is the most comprehensive list I can come up with. This includes all events that I have been sent, told about or found on the interwebs. If I miss any, please send them my way and I will do my best to get them added.

Happy Fall Festival Season y'all!

Fun Fall Festivals in Arlington Area for October 2021

Fall Festival Guide 2021.

Weekend of October 9

River Legacy Fall Festival- Saturday, October 9, 11am- 9pm. Arlington. $8/person, some activities extra.

Animal encounters, live music, climbing wall, food trucks and much more!

Weekend of October 23

Arlington FFA Booster Club Fall Festival- Saturday, October 23. 9am-12pm.

Crafts and more. 

Advent Lutheran Church Drive-Thru Trunk or Treat- Saturday, October 23, 4-6pm. Arlington. Free.

Candy, toys, hot dogs and more. First come, first served. 

Trinity United Methodist Church Trunk or Treat- Saturday, October 23. 5:30-7:30pm. Arlington. Free.

Candy, pizza, bounce houses and more! 

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

North Davis Church Fall Festival- Sunday, October 24. 4-6pm. Arlington. Free.

Food trucks, trunk-or-treat, inflatables and much more. 

Trunk or Treat & Fall Festival with Mansfield Church of Christ- Sunday, October 24. 5:30-7:30 pm. Free. 

Candy, games, activities and food trucks. Feel free to wear your costume!

Halloween Tot Party at Dottie Lynn- Wednesday, October 27, 10-11 am. Arlington. $6 per child.

Fun indoor party for little ones. You must pre-register. 

 Weekend of October 30

Trunk or Treat- Friday, October 29, 4-6pm. Arlington. Free.

Drive through trunk or treat with a local senior center. 

Trunk or Treat at Revive Church- Friday, October 29, 6:30-9pm, Arlington. Free.

Bounce houses, games, food for purchase and more. 

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Trunk or Treat with First Presbyterian Church Arlington- Saturday, October 30. 3pm. Free.

Games, prizes, bubbles, sidewalk chalk and more. 

Fall Festival & Trunk or Treat with City Chapel- Saturday, October 30. 4-6pm. Arlington. Free.

Petting zoo, bounce houses, candy and more. Some events may cost money. 

Drive-Thru Trunk or Treat at UTA- Saturday, October 30, 4-7pm. Arlington. Free.

Free food giveaway open to everyone. You must pre-register. 

TownCenter Trunk or Treat- Saturday, October 30, 5-7pm. Kennedale. Free.

Candy and trunk or treating. 

Fall Family Extravaganza with First Methodist Mansfield- Saturday, October 30. 5-7pm. Free.

Games, hayrides, burgers and more. 

Inspired to Live Church Fall Festival- Saturday, October 30. 5-7:30pm. Arlington. Free.

Games, prizes and much more. 

Pantego Trunk or Treat- Saturday, October 30, 6-8pm. Pantego. Free.

Costumes contests, trunk or treat and more.

St. Barnabas UMC- Saturday, October 30, 6-8pm. Arlington. Free.

Outdoor fun and games. (I can't find a link for this one!)

Trail or Treat- Friday, October 29, 6-8pm. Arlington. Free.

Register in advance and receive a free dinner! Bounces houses, games, candy and more. 

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Connect Church Arlington- Sunday, October 31, 4-6pm. Free.

Games, prizes, candy and much more. 

Fall Festival with Missionary Baptist Church- Sunday, October 31, 4-6:30 pm. Arlington. Free.

Candy and more. 

Trunk or Treat with Community of Hope Methodist Church- Sunday, October 31. 4-8pm. Mansfield. Free.

Trunk or treating plus a showing of Coco. 

Best Places to Shop for Patio Furniture in Arlington

Looking to spruce up your backyard to entertain guests this summer? Here are the best spots in the Arlington area to find patio furniture!

Summer is almost here! The air feels warmer, the kids are counting down until school is out and the pool is calling my name (although ours is still broken from the deep freeze- if anyone knows where to get parts for broken pumps, please please tell me!). My husband is redoing our entire back patio area so it is ready for guests for Summer 2021!

He has tasked me with picking out patio furniture. I've been on the hunt for a table we can place permanently outside to enjoy meals al fresco. I'm looking for something fun and fresh that will compliment our three-piece couch and fire pit table we already have. So I've been running all over town deciding what I like- and what's within our budget! Fun times!

I just did a whole article for Zulily about must-have patio furniture. Zulily also has tons of cute patio options for you that can be delivered right to your door! Check out Zulily for lots of great pieces including chairs, umbrellas and more. I have my eye on this awesome three-piece patio set right now!

The cutest patio set I have my eye on from IKEA in Grand Prairie.

If you are on the hunt for patio furniture and want to see it in person in the Arlington area, here are the best spots I've found to get your hands on great furniture in the area! 

7 Great Spots to Shop for Patio Furniture in the Arlington Area

1. The Backyard Store, Pantego: This is the only spot I've found that is truly a local business. Tons of great styles of patio furniture on Pioneer Parkway in Pantego. They also do outdoor kitchens! Bucket list item for me for sure!

2. The Chair King: The Chair King is actually a Texas chain that started in Houston. Lots of gorgeous patio furniture plus grills and outdoor accessories. I'm shopping here for a grill for hubby for Father's Day... Now I just need someone to tell me which type to get! 

3. Big Lots: Okay, so Big Lots is just a nationwide retailer. But have you seen their patio furniture? If you are on a budget, Big Lots is a great place to start! Lots of great furniture, and sometimes you can find coupons online to apply toward your purchase! 

4. At Home, Mansfield: At Home, at 287 and Broad in Mansfield, can be a bit overwhelming. This home superstore will have you wandering for hours, questioning whether or not you need pot holders or rugs or decorative trinkets. I have to go in here with my eyes on the prize. But if you want a one-stop shop for all of your outdoor needs, this might just be the spot for you! Decent prices, too. 

5. Homegoods, Mansfield: I love wandering through the HomeGoods at 287 and Debbie looking for great homewares. This store tends to get some fantastic pieces you might not find elsewhere. The only downside? You can't waffle at this store. Items will be gone before you turn around! If you see something you like, grab it and don't look back! I still have major regrets over the absolute cutest cooler I saw there last summer and didn't snag when I had the chance... 

6. Lamps Plus: I never would have thought to stop into Lamps Plus to look for patio furniture. Because, hello, it's called LAMPS Plus. Not Patio Furniture Plus. But they have some great outdoor options and reasonable prices, to boot! Definitely check them out.

7. IKEA, Grand Prairie: Nothing like furniture from IKEA to test a marriage, amiright? I was wandering through IKEA last week and fell in love with the cutest outdoor set (pictured at the top of the article). My husband gave me a firm maybe and said he won't consider saying yes until I let him know exactly how many pieces the set comes in... I just keep reminding him we need to show off the deck he is working really hard to rebuild this spring!

Where do you go to shop for great patio furniture in the Arlington area?

Adorable patio set like I want for my own backyard!

Summer Camp Round-Up! 10 Summer Camps for Kids in the Arlington Area

Looking for Summer Camps in the Arlington Area? Everything Arlington has you covered!

I grew up going to a sleep-away camp in East Troy, Wisconsin. I started there when I was 8 and didn't know anyone. I was a fairly shy kid, so, I must have loved it to ask my mom to send me every year. But I went back every summer, and, at 14, I became an LIT (Leader in Training). During high school I was an ACL (assistant cabin leader) and then a CL (cabin leader). Some of my best friends in high school I met at summer camp. To this day, I can't hear "These are the Days" by 10,000 Maniacs without being transported back to Camp Edwards in the late 1990s. Those really were the days!

My kids take after me and love summer camp. They have attended Camp Thurman each year since they've been old enough and started at Sky Ranch in Van, Texas, after they each completed first grade. They talk about Sky Ranch all year long and have been counting down to Summer 2021 and their week at Sky Ranch since I picked them up last year. There is nothing like sleep-away camp to give you your first taste of true away-from-your-parents freedom!

Sleep away camp isn't for everyone, though, and it isn't always super affordable. Luckily the Arlington area has lots of awesome camps for kids with tons of different interests. If you are looking for fun activities for your kids this summer that are close to home, read on!

And, if you are looking for some fun toys to add to your summer rotation to keep your kids happy and playing in your own backyard this summer, click here to read the article I did for Zulily about must-have kids toys for summer!

Get ready for a fun summer with these awesome summer camps for kids in the Arlington area. 

Top Summer Camps for Kids in the Arlington Area

1. Summer 2021 Skate Camp

    If your kiddos want to learn how to skateboard like Tony Hawk (is my age showing?), check out this fun skate camp in Grand Prairie! Kids can learn the basics and maybe even pick up a few tricks. 

2. River Legacy Summer Camp 

    Does your child love critters and being outside? Look no further than summer programming at River Legacy! They even have Girl Scout and Boy Scout programming that will help the kids earn badges.

3. Lindsay's Art Cart Summer Camps

    Get your child's creative juices flowing with summer art camps from Lindsay's Art Cart. Camps take place at Legal Draft in downtown Arlington and there is a sibling discount available!

4. Viridian Sailing Camp

    I have absolutely no idea how to sail a boat- but wouldn't it be cool if I did? What a neat summer skill for kids to learn for a few hours a day right here in Arlington!

5. Spirals Edventure Camp

    This adventure camp in Mansfield allows kids to pack a lot of fun into a week! Kids play games, learn about horses, rock climb and more at this day-long camp.

6. Theatre Arlington Summer Camp 

    Have a drama queen or king in the family? Yeah, us either. Put your child's flare for the dramatic to good use at summer camp with Theatre Arlington.

7. Bricks4Kidz Summer Camp 

    Have a Lego lover at home? Send your little builder to Lego Camp this summer and let your child put their building skills to the test. Each week has a fun new theme to keep your child entertained. 

8. Code Ninjas Summer Camp

    Let your child play while they learn this summer at a coding camp at Code Ninjas in Mansfield. Whether your child wants to learn to design an app or wants to learn coding secrets for Roblox, there is a camp for everyone at Code Ninjas. 

9. La Puerta Spanish Center Camps

    If your is interested in learning Spanish, check out the in-person camps in Arlington this summer from La Puerta Spanish Center. This particular spot comes highly recommended by scores of Arlington mamas. 

10. Mansfield Music Mentors Summer Camp

    Let your child unleash their inner rock star with summer music camp. These music camps meet in Mansfield and run all week, and then Friday night your child gets to impress you with a live performance! How cool. 

Kids can learn new skills at these fun summer camps in Arlington!

Get Your Sweat On: Fun Spots to Workout in the Arlington Area!

I'm a runner.

Not a fast runner or a professional runner, but a runner. I love to log miles all over Arlington and beyond. I'm training for the Cowtown Half (I was *supposed* to run the full this year even though I swore I would never run another full... I think the Universe is sending me a message!), and I'm following Peloton's Road to 26.2 (and adapting it to the half). I love that the program integrates weight training into the plan.

But I've decided to look into other workout options in the area. I love to run- but I need to add weights. I realize that weight training will make me a stronger and better runner. So I've rounded up some awesome workouts in the Arlington area that offer more than just cardio and weight machines!

Check out my article for Zulily here about ways to workout at home! 

Great spots in Arlington, Texas, to get your heart pumping!

Unique Workouts in the Arlington Area

 1. TexasFitt- This local spot offers onsite childcare during select hours as well as classes and personal training. There are yoga classes, classes just for women and a few just for seniors, as well as a Butt & Gut class that is calling my name...

2. Momentum Fitness- Momentum offers private training as well as small group sessions and boot camps. Yoga is also offered onsite. 

3. CrossFit Power Method- CrossFit is one of those workouts that totally intimidates me. It looks downright tough and exhausting, but I can only imagine how accomplished you must feel at the end of a grueling workout! One of these days...

4. PureBarre- Barre workouts are low-impact but so powerful! I tried a class here when they first opened and fell in love. If I didn't live 30 minutes from this spot I would absolutely have a membership. This workout is intense! 

5. The Epic Grand Prairie- I wish I lived closer to The Epic- you'd find me there every day for sure! Group fit classes, CrossFit, Aquatic workouts. This spot offers something to all fitness levels and has something for everyone. I love swimming laps- being near a pool like this would be great!

6. Fit4Mom Arlington/Mansfield- If you are a mom of young kids, you need to join Fit4Mom. Not only will you meet a bunch of awesome moms (like you!), you'll get in a great workout WITH your kids! Seriously. I loved this group when I was the mom of little ones. Workout and socialize with your kids!

7. Camp Gladiator- CG is an outdoor workout with friends. Bring your own yoga mat and free weights and your trainer will whip you into shape with an hour-long bootcamp workout. 

8. OrangeTheory Fitness- This spot in the Highlands puts you through an hour of HIIT (high intensity interval training) to get your heart pumping and blood flowing. This workout is aimed at getting your metabolism going!

9. HotWorx- Workout in an infrared sauna 24 hours a day. Do a 15-minute HIIT session solo or a 30-minute isometric session at this new Viridian-area spot.

10. Premier Yoga & Fitness- This Mansfield spot offers everything from Zumba to barre and yoga to HIIT. You won't get bored with workouts at this spot because the schedule has such a variety of activities to choose from! 

Have fun and get fit at these local workout hot spots.

Everything Arlington's Easter Guide 2021

We are super excited for Easter 2021.

We figure it has to be better than Easter 2020, right? Maybe I shouldn't count my chickens before they are hatched...

Anyway, grab your planner and pick out all the fun things you want to do with your kiddos this Easter in the Arlington area.

And if you need advice on what to put in your kiddo's Easter Basket, check out my article about how to make the perfect Easter Basket for Zulily here!

Easter Bunny Photos from 2019 at Reunion Tower in Dallas.

Easter 2021 Activities in the Arlington Area

Dalworthington Gardens Private Easter Egg Hunt- if you live in DWG and have kids 10 and younger, find details here on getting the city to deliver eggs right to your yard! 

Easter Bunny Photos & Easter Egg Hunt at 287 Nutrition- March 27, 287 Nutrition, 9:30 am. 

Snap a photo with the bunny and stay for an egg hunt at 1 pm. 

Easter Egg Hunt & Family Fun Event at Grace Covenant Church- March 27, Grace Covenant Church, 1 pm.

Easter Egg hunt for the kids and a special activity for families. 

Glow in the Dark Easter Egg Hunt with North Elevation Church- April 2, North Elevation Church, 7 pm.

Games, food and prizes. Plus coffee for the parents! Don't forget your Easter basket. For kids in grade 6 and younger. 

All Saints Lutheran Church Easter Extravaganza- April 3, All Saints Lutheran Church, 10 am.

Bunny hop egg hunt in the parking lot plus a petting zoo on the lawn. 

Easter Egg Scavenger Hunt by Trinity Children's Ministry- April 3, starts at Trinity UMC, 10 am.

Easter Egg Scavenger Hunt! Gather goodies from your car. You will drive around collecting clues that lead you to a prize. 

St. Barnabas UMC Easter Egg Hunt- April 3, St. Barnabas UMC, 10 am. 

Snap a photo with the Easter Bunny, and kids in grades six and under can participate in an egg hunt broken up by age.

Pantego Easter Celebration- April 3, Bicentennial Park, 2 pm. 

Craft tent, face painting, egg hunt, bunny photos and more!

Southeast Arlington Community Easter Egg Hunt- April 4, Vandergriff Park, 1 pm. 

Free Easter Egg Hunt. Hot dogs will be served and there will be prizes given away.

Looking for professional pictures with the Easter Bunny? 

Parks Mall has you covered!