SL TidBits

Big Tex Choice Award 2023 Fair Food Competition

It’s now been more than a decade of decadence! Since 2005, the Big Tex Choice Awards contest has solidified the State Fair of Texas as the top Fair for great food creations. Each year, State Fair concessionaires fry up tasty and unique foods for a chance to become a finalist in the annual Big Tex Choice Awards competition. Everything from Fried Beer to Fried Peaches and Cream has made the cut to become a part of the exclusive club of fried food creations. Best of all, you get to enjoy the winning creations at this year’s Fair! It's the Fair food competition that defines our year, and it will have your mouth watering. The 19th Annual Big Tex Choice Awards offers another year of exciting bites for all appetites. Nearly 60 creative entries in the 2023 Big Tex Choice Awards were tasted and judged, with only 10 emerging as victorious Finalists. The 2023 lineup is bursting with flavor— whether you love savory or sweet, you’re in for a treat this year. Comprised of 19 savory and 17 sweet entries, those semifinalist contenders competed for one of three winning titles. The 2023 Big Tex Choice Awards has announced this year’s finalists! Now five savory items and five sweet items will battle it out, live, for the coveted awards of “Best Taste Savory,” “Best Taste Sweet,” and “Most Creative.” Who will win? You can find out August 27 live on the Fair’s Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube channels. Make sure to grab your tickets for the 2023 Fair season so you can try them all!

bigtex.com

VISIT THE KELLER FARMER’S MARKET EVERY SATURDAY NOW THROUGH OCTOBER 28TH PLUS CHRISTMAS MARKET

The Keller Farmers Market is a casual, open air, seasonal market located by the creek in beautiful Bear Creek Park that offers fresh Texas produce, meats, tamales, baked goods, artisan bread, cheese, salsa, pasta, pickles, jellies and jams, honey, baked goods, prepared foods, pet products and crafts—all from the state of Texas or within 150 miles. KFM is a convenient and safe place for the whole family. After your market visit, enjoy the relaxing walking trails and large parks surrounding the area. The market offers something different—whether it’s the freshest produce, live music, chef demonstrations, or health and wellness presentations—making it is as much a center of commerce as it is for the community to reconnect. KFM is open rain or shine, but may close without prior notice during extreme weather conditions in order to maintain the safety of shoppers and vendors. It’s a great place to bring the kids, throw a Frisbee, and pick up great local food products. Come experience the market. Learn from the farmers and wellness providers. Talk with local artisans. Make your own statement in support of local food!

The Keller Farmers Market, a nonprofit, non-governmental 501c3 organization, is the weekly local food source for our community. KFM operates with a vision of impacting the community’s health and well being. The mission of KFM is to enhance the lives of the community by creating reliable access to healthy and fresh locally grown food, delivering consistent wellness education, and generating much-needed income and support for local farmers, food producers and artisans by providing programs that foster social gathering. It doesn’t get any better than this! Produce at our market was often picked within 24 hours of sale. It cannot get any fresher than if you grew and picked it yourselves. Farmers are still the “salt of the earth” –very long, hard hours – they love bringing their goodness to Keller. When allowed to ripen on the vine, produce develops the full flavor nature intended. Produce starts losing nutritional value soon after harvest, so fresh, farmers market foods still retain nutrients. Many members of our community have discovered just how spectacular their Saturdays can be at KFM. Building relationships with vendors and neighbors, enjoying the beautiful music, fresh air, great food, pet days, artisan days, farm to table dinners – walking their dogs and watching their children have fun with face painting, story time, making healthy food choices, and getting to know the local chefs through the Chef Series makes for many enjoying our Keller community.

Vendors sell Texas-made products and original art items. All vendors meeting KFM criteria are welcome. Every Saturday from March to end of October, and their Christmas Market on the 9th of December. However, no markets on March 25th and April 1st. The Keller Farmers Market is conveniently located near the creek at the beautiful Bear Creek Park at 400 Bear Creek Parkway in Keller, Texas 76248.

North Texas Performing Arts

SOUTHLAKE GRANDE OPENING & RIBBON CUTTING

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North Texas Performing Arts, the largest nonprofit youth theatre in the country, recently hosted a Grand Opening & Ribbon Cutting ceremony of its exciting new location in Southlake. That evening NTPA Southlake opened its premiere production in the new theatre of Into the Woods JR. “I am proud of our Southlake community coming together to bring this exciting program to our city,” says NTPA Southlake Board Chairperson Dr. Deborah Obaid. “Southlake is home to so many talented youth that deserve the opportunity to take the stage.” NTPA plans to produce over 20 major youth theatre productions in their new Southlake location. NTPA’s new facilities, in the former Southlake ISD location, features a mainstage theatre seating 200 patrons and a Black Box theatre for smaller audiences. NTPA will also offer TV and film programs through its NTPA Studios film production troupe. For details: ntpa.org

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