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National Championship Indian Pow Wow
This annual Indian Pow Wow has been a highlight of the Dallas calendar for more than 40 years. Several hundred Native Americans, representing dozens of tribes from across the United States, take part in the two-day Pow Wow. Colourful tribal dance contests, Indian arts and crafts, tepees, ceremonies, food booths and much more characterise this event that not only brings tribes together, but also provides an intriguing insight for visitors into Native American culture. Most popular are the dance contests in which dancers, clad in feathers, buckskin, bells and beads, compete for prizes in 18 different categories, in age groups ranging from toddlers to grannies. Admission to the event is free. For more information, call (972) 647 2331.Venue: Traders Village, 2602 Mayfield Road, Grand Prairie
Date: 5-7 September 2008
Time: The dance contests, food booths and arts and crafts show are at various times
Website: www.tradersvillage.com

State Fair of Texas
The State Fair of Texas is more than just an event; having run since 1886 it is one of the oldest and most revered traditions in the Lone Star State, along with cotton candy and corndogs. 'Big Tex', a towering friendly-faced animated cowboy figure, greets the crowds who flock to the 23-day fair which offers an abundance of exhibits, entertainment, livestock events, contests, fun rides (including the massive Texas Star ferris wheel) and parades. For more information call (214) 421 8715 or email pr@bigtex.comVenue: Fair Park
Date: 26 September to 19 October 2008
Time: 10am to 10pm
Website: www.bigtex.com
North Texas Irish Festival
Over the past quarter of a century the North Texas Irish Festival has become a March tradition in Dallas. Featuring more than 50 different bands, a blend of traditional and modern Celtic groups and solo artists, it is now the largest musical festival in the state. Along with the music and dance performances comes a wide variety of exhibitors, workshops, plays and demonstrations. It is not all Irish, either. Local Scottish clans join in, demonstrating the strong bonds between Irish and Scottish heritage with the popular 'Scottish Village'.Venue: Fair Park
Date: February/March 2009, TBC
Website: www.ntif.org
Deep Ellum Arts Festival
The Deep Ellum Entertainment District is the hottest and most happening neighbourhood in downtown Dallas and a fitting setting for the adult-oriented street-party styled annual arts festival, which draws more than 100,000 devotees over the three-day run. The festival features three outdoor stages with non-stop band performances, numerous diverse visual arts exhibitions from murals to 'art cars', fashion shows, a pet parade and a poetry circus. Admittance to the three-day festival is free. For more information, email info@meifestivals.comVenue: Deep Ellum Entertainment District on Main Street between Good Latimer and Hall Streets
Date: 3-5 April 2009
Website: www.meifestivals.com/deepspr.html