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arts entertainmentThings to Do

5 fun fests this week: Summer at Southfork, Christmas in July, a cowboy celebration and more

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Indie Summer Fair at Southfork Ranch

Embrace the beauty of the countryside, the enjoyments of a carnival and a chance to be close to the Ewing house at this two-day, multicultural family event. Designed with shopping, food and entertainment for all ages, the Indie Summer Fair will offer classic fair foods like funnel cakes without the hassle (or the unholy prices) of going to the State Fair. Live entertainment at the event will include local bands, dance groups and magicians, and you can keep your kids busy with a petting zoo, rock climbing walls and bounce houses.

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July 23 from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. and July 24 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Southfork Ranch, 3700 Hogge Drive, Parker. $10 adults, $5 seniors and disabled, free for kids 12 and younger. 

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Christmas in July

It's not fair that Christmas only comes around once a year, so don't miss out on a couple of chances to celebrate it this July as well.  There will be snow, visits by Santa and winter characters, a pajama contest, story time with Mrs. Claus, Charles Dickens readings, a live performance of Merry Christmas Charlie Brown, shopping, specials at restaurants and more at the Bishop Art District's annual Christmas in July celebration. Festivities are free, family-friendly and start at 6 p.m.

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In Grand Prairie, a Christimas in July Celebration sponsored by Prairie Lights at the Farmers Market will feature Christmas and island-themed music, Christmas-themed events, holiday treats and (if he can take a break) Santa Claus himself as well as live music from steel drummer Charlie Duhon.

July 23 starting at 6 p.m. in Bishop Arts District, and from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Market Square in Grand Prairie. Both festivals are free. 

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National Day of the American Cowboy

Release your inner cowboy or cowgirl as you take on hay-milking and cowstacking contests -- wait, we meant haystacking and cow-milking. This annual festival includes more than half a dozen contests to test your skills, from watermelon-seed spitting all the way to guessing the length of cows' horns. Take your kids to for the Fort Worth Herd Cattle Drive and Cowboy Celebration Parade at 11:30 a.m., and then head to the Pawnee Bill Wild West Show at Cowtown Coliseum at 2:30 p.m. to experience the wonders and thrills of the untamed frontier.  After you test your cowboy skills at the Fort Worth Stockyards with watermelon-seed spitting and other Western fun, head to Riscky's Barbecue at Stockyards Station to gorge on ribs (or watch others gorge on them) in the restaurant's 10th annual rib-eating contest.

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July 23 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Stockyards Station, 130 E. Exchange Ave., Fort Worth. 

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JB Kustoms Lowrider Car Show

Come see at least 300 cars at this annual car show, this year themed East Meets West. Custom cars will be on view in the Automobile and Centennial buildings and outside in Big Tex Circle. There will also be a dance performance at 1 p.m., a mariachi band at 2 p.m., and headliner Los Garcia Brothers will perform at 5 p.m.

July 24 from noon to 6 p.m. at Fair Park, 1300 Robert B. Cullum Blvd., Dallas. $25 in advance, $30 at the door. Free for kids 12 and younger and seniors 65 and older.

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White Rock Zine Machine Launch Party

What is a White Rock Zine Machine, you ask? To find out in person, celebrate its unveiling at not-for-profit literary publisher Deep Vellum. Here's the background: Lisa Huffaker, a local poet, opera singer and teacher, got a great deal on a Craigslist posting for vending machines. She purchased three and is turning them into "zine" machines. (So, you ask, what's a zine? A noncommercial, often homemade magazine that's typically dedicated to a specialized subject.) This first zine machine, an old baseball card machine, can hold 12 zines, each of which will be sold for a quarter. There will be 100 editions of each zine. Contributing poets are members of Cloudwerks Poetry Workshop.

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July 22 from 7 to 9 p.m. at Deep Vellum Publishing, 3000 Commerce St., Dallas. Free (but bring a quarter). 

Compiled by Sara Frederick Burgos, S.M. Chavey and Chase Karacostas.