The City of Southlake’s annual Stars and Stripes 20th Anniversary recently received recognition, winning multiple awards from the Texas Festivals & Events Association (TFEA) for the 2019 event.

TFEA hosted the annual Kaliff Marketing Awards for events held throughout the state before the pandemic and virtually after the pandemic began from June 1, 2019, through May 31, 2020. Southlake earned the top honor, first place, in the Best Miscellaneous On-Site Décor for the City’s photo booth display, in its respective budget category. The City also was chosen for two bronze awards in the Best Event Video Promotion and Best Giveaway categories.

Kaliff Gold Award - Best Onsite Decor - 20th Anniversary Photo Frame

“It is our goal to create memorable experiences for our City, its residents, and visitors alike,” said Daniel Cortez, Southlake’s director of economic development and tourism. “We can bring forth these exemplary events like our signature Stars and Stripes because of our community support. We can’t thank our sponsors enough for seeing and believing in our vision for events and joining us in our efforts to help create those memories.”

The award competition, which recognizes marketing and promotion campaign excellence, highlights the TFEA’s annual summer conference. Although the meeting was postponed in 2020 due to the pandemic, the awards competition still took place with 395 submitted entries.

“The goal for festivals and events is to create memorable experiences and signature destination events that are unrivaled in their entertainment value, as well as all the other elements associated with such programs,” said TFEA Executive Director Kay Wolf.

Kaliff Bronze Award - Best Giveaway - 20th Anniversary Chair

TFEA is a professional trade association for festival and event planners, volunteers, and suppliers from across Texas. It is an official affiliate of the International Festivals & Events Association, the premier professional association supporting festival and event leaders worldwide.

February is Black History Month! Join us at the Bob Jones Nature Center and Preserve on Saturday, February 15 from 11 a.m. – 12 p.m. to honor the legendary Bob Jones. Guest speakers will discuss his legacy and ties to the Southlake community.

Jones was a former slave, husband and father who became a prosperous landowner and rancher in the Roanoke-Southlake area.

He and his brother purchased 60 acres of land now known as Roanoke from their father in the early 1860s. He later relocated to Denton Creek where he started a cattle and farming operation.

Between the late 1860s and early 1870s, Jones was one of the largest landowners in the area, owning over 1,000-2,000 acres on the Tarrant-Denton County line. Some of that land is located under Lake Grapevine.

By 1875, Jones married Almeady Chisum and they had 10 children together.  Due to ‘Jim Crow’ laws, his children could not attend schools with white children.

In the 1920s, Tarrant County created districts for “colored” schools. Jones donated an acre of his own land and built Walnut Grove School.  The school later closed around 1951 because the seven students enrolled eventually had to attend junior and senior high schools, which were located in Fort Worth.

Jones was held in high esteem by both whites and blacks throughout the area. His legacy will always be remembered throughout Southlake and Tarrant County.

The Legacy of Bob Jones event is FREE, but registration is required, please register online here.

Apex Arts League and Texas Winds Musical Outreach announce an upcoming Chamber Music Concert.

“Mozart and More: Musical Gems for Oboe and Friends”
Sunday, Feburary 9, 2020
6 p.m.Grace Chapel at White’s Chapel UMC

Tickets, $20 adults, $15 seniors/Apex members, $10 children/students, are available online at apexartsleague.com or at the door.

The concert will feature Eric Barr, Principal Oboe Emeritus of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, performing famous works of the Classical repertoire, including a movement from the Mozart Oboe Quartet; as well as melodies by Gershwin and Berlin that will encourage humming or singing along.

This program will then travel to several North Texas nursing homes, hospitals, cancer clinics, and Head Start centers as part of Texas Winds Musical Outreach. The mission: to engage, comfort and celebrate the spirits of isolated seniors, hospital patients, veterans and children in North Texas through live, professional musical performances.

Join us for this “Gem” of a performance and learn more about how Texas Winds “turns dining halls into concert halls,” taking live music out of the concert hall and bringing it directly to people who have little opportunity to experience it.

About Apex Arts League
Now in the 13th season, Apex is dedicated to presenting world class arts talent to Northeast Tarrant County. Variety, close to home, affordable. Apex is also looking at potential arts space in the community.

Apex Arts League and OnStage in Bedford are pleased to announce “Radio Theater Live.”

The dinner theater will take place Thursday, January 30 at 7 p.m. at The Marq Southlake. Doors will open at 6:45 p.m. Seats will be assigned.

The theater will bring back the days when families sat around the radio. Historically, radio drama depended on dialogue, music and sound effects to
help the listener imagine the characters and story. With the addition of the finest local thespians on the stage, it is sure to entertain. Expect drama, intrigue, humor, cool sounds and old tim advertisements.

A full dining experience hinting to 1940s family dining with a contemporary twist will be provided by City Kitchen. Wine will be included.

Get your tickets at Apexartsleague.com for $45, $40 for Apex members.

Apex brings excellence in the arts to Northeast Tarrant County. Music, dance, theater, art, film. Something for everyone. Close to home. Affordable.

ONSTAGE in Bedford is a volunteer-based theater providing accessible, diverse and high quality live entertainment to North Texas.

For details, ticket sales and more, go to ApexArtsLeague.com