Bedford Blues and BBQ
It’s all right there in the name. The Bedford Blues and BBQ festival runs from Friday to Sunday over the Labor Day weekend, and the two main reasons you should show up are right there in the name. For the blues, the festival hosts 18 acts through Saturday and Sunday, and while general admission is $7 for one day and $15 for both days when you buy online, you can pay extra for a spot in one of the party tents or the reserved seating right in front of the stage.
The festival has two levels of competition for BBQ: professional teams and backyard amateurs. Whether you compete or just eat, you can also stop by the Marketplace area to see all the interesting items that Texan artisans offer.
Eye of the Collector at the Perot Museum
The Perot Museum of Nature and Science is a fun place to spend time with the whole family and learn something about the natural world, and right now it’s running a special exhibit called Eye of the Collector. This exhibit combines nine collections by several collectors, including prehistoric artifacts, Dallas Cowboys memorabilia, PEZ dispensers, and Star Wars merchandise. There’s something to interest just about all walks of life, and the exhibit demonstrates how collecting enough of anything can become impressive.
Adult admission is $19 to the front door and an extra $5 to the Eye of the Collector exhibit. Labor Day is the last day to see it, so it’s a good idea to stop by over the long weekend before the collectors take their things and go home.
Vaquero: Genesis of the Texas Cowboy at the Hall of State
The Hall of State in Fair Park is currently showing an exhibit on the lives of the vaqueros, the Mexican cowboys who first herded cattle across what would become the plains of Texas. The exhibit runs through October, so you can take a look if you decide to visit the Texas State Park. You can also stop by sometime this Labor Day weekend between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m.
Labor Day is when America celebrates workers’ rights by giving most of them the day off. That makes it an excellent day to do what you want, to enjoy the long weekend by spending time with your friends or family or by exploring the Dallas area on your own.