Can I see some fun festival trivia?
Sure! We love to show our fans how much we have grown and the many ways in which we support our community, with your help.
- In our first year, Art in the Square was a little different. We had 40 participating artists and donated $40,000 to local charities. We had only one stage offering entertainment. And Southlake Women’s Club members flipped burgers to sell! There was no Le Bistro area!
- Art in the Square came about as an alternative community fundraiser for the Southlake Women’s Club. Prior to the festival, the SWC hosted a city-wide spaghetti dinner to raise money for charity.
- In 2011, we had 140 artists and raised $165,000 for our beneficiaries!
- We regularly accept between 140-150 artists, but it’s typical for us to receive 700 artist applications. Jury selection is tough, as you can imagine.
- Art in the Square is the only local arts festival completely powered by volunteers and giving all proceeds to charity. In 2011, we relied on the help of 600 volunteers to run our event.
Are dogs allowed at the festival?
We strongly discourage people from bringing dogs to the festival due to safety concerns. Guide and service dogs are permitted.
What kinds of bands perform?
Over the years, we’ve had quite a variety. The Gazebo Stage tends to feature local entertainers or acts, while the Main Stage hosts our primary musical groups. Our Saturday night headline performers can be country or rock stars, and they have included such prominent names as The Randy Rogers Band, Jewel, Derek Sholl, and Blue October.
What kinds of beverages do you serve?
We sell all kinds of beverages, including water, Coke, beer, and wine. We are very strict about checking IDs for anyone intending to purchase alcoholic beverages, and no alcohol will be permitted outside the festival gates. Our beer selection promises to be outstanding, as usual! We’ll have a specialty English pub tent, and we’ll sell a variety of popular brews at tents around the festival. Last year’s taps featured Sierra Nevada Pale Ale, Real Ale’s Fireman #4, and crowd pleasers like Budweiser, Michelob Ultra, and Bud Light. Please drink responsibly. Cheers!
What's up with featuring a pub? What's a pub?
A public house—informally known as a pub and sometimes referred to as the “local”—is a licensed drinking establishment which has been part of British culture for many years. The inhabitants of Great Britain have been drinking ale since the Bronze Age, but it was with the arrival of the Romans and the establishment of the Roman road network that the first inns, in which the traveler could obtain refreshment, began to appear.
After the departure of Roman authority and the fall of the Romano-British kingdoms, the Anglo-Saxons established alehouses that grew out of domestic dwellings and hence the pub was born! Pub names are used to identify and differentiate each public house. As many public houses are centuries old, many of their early customers were unable to read, and pictorial signs could be more easily recognized. The emblem featured on our tent for the weekend depicts the royal coat of arms!
Can I help out?
Absolutely! We need many volunteers to produce the event. You can find sign up information under our Volunteers tab on the menu. And women can also join the Southlake Women’s Club and be a part of our dedicated, fun group throughout the year. Learn more about us under the About tab on the menu. We sincerely appreciate your support.
