Sure. I know, I know. TECHNICALLY there’s still a week or so left until children get to yell out that age-old rhyme–“No more pencils, No more books, No more teacher’s dirty looks.” But truth be told, you and I both know that for kids everywhere, summer officially starts when the school bell rings this Friday afternoon.

Besides breaking out the sunscreen, firing up the grill, and blowing up the pool floaties, you should definitely welcome the season with one of these cool (long) weekend events.

Photo: City of Grapevine Convention and Visitor’s Bureau

If starting off summer with a bang is your objective, there’s nothing better than a good old fashion fireworks display. Load up Granny and the kids and head to Lake Grapevine this Friday night for their SummerBlast Fireworks Show. The weekly 12-minute show runs Friday nights until the end of August and can be viewed from the as parks around Lake Grapevine. Best of all, it’s free!

Let the Dallas Arboretum help you kick off the lazy days of summer with one of their weekend outdoor concerts. Hear party band The Grooves on Friday, TexMex Zydeco group Squeezebox Bandits on Saturday, and rock-n-roll band the Empty Pockets on Sunday. The celebration continues on Memorial Day with face painting, a petting zoo and kid-friendly tunes from Eddie Coker.

photo: Therese Powell

This weekend is the last ‘Huzzah’ for the annual Scarborough Renaissance Festival in Waxahachie. The festival features music, artisans, humongous turkey legs and fun man-powered “Renaissance era” rides.  There are also strolling costumed entertainers (Queen Margaret of Scotland and the Isles is our favorite), mermaids perched in shells, and handsome knights your tiny Lords and Ladies will thoroughly enjoy meeting.

Honor America’s veterans and first responders with a free Memorial Day concert Monday evening at Flag Pole Hill in Dallas. The Dallas Symphony Orchestra will perform a variety of patriotic songs the whole family will enjoy. The concert concludes with a fireworks display. Bring your blanket and picnic dinner to make it the perfect evening under the stars.

photo: shutterstock.com

Everyone knows when you’re planning for Memorial Day weekend it’s always good to have a rainy day option just in case. Rain or shine you won’t want to miss the NY Cat Film Festival this Saturday at the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth. You can enjoy a variety of short films–documentary and narrative– featuring an assortment of fascinating felines. Not a cat person? Then check out the NY Dog Film Festival June 2.