The Dallas Convention & Visitors Bureau is providing travelers with an opportunity to experience the “Big D” Easter weekend! Together with the Holiday Inn Dallas Market Center, one lucky winner will win a three-night hotel stay in Dallas.

For my friends who live outside of North Texas, this is a great opportunity for you to enter to win a chance to stay in Dallas for free.  For those in North Texas… Hello! Staycation anyone? Oh, and before I hear smack about a Holiday Inn, this isn’t just a regular one you see along I-30.  The Holiday Inn Dallas Market Center is a pretty large hotel with great amenities. It’s free too! What the heck?!

“Easter is a fantastic time to visit Dallas as the city bursts with springtime excitement,” said Phillip Jones, president and CEO of the Dallas Convention & Visitors Bureau. “LGBT travelers will especially enjoy Easter in the Park, which represents the 25 year tradition of one of Dallas’ largest and most diverse outdoor celebrations.”

Easter in the Park attracts thousands of attendees to celebrate the holiday with food, fun, music and a healthy dose of camp. Organized by the Turtle Creek Association, the 25th Annual Easter in the Park celebration will be held on Sunday, April 4, 2010 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The event will be held at Lee Park, located at Turtle Creek Boulevard and Lemmon Avenue.

Easter in the Park is a popular celebration that features beautiful scenery, priceless entertainment, a live classical music concert by the Dallas Symphony Orchestra and fashionista pooches in the Pooch Parade and Costume Contest. Attendees can bring their own picnic items or enjoy the variety of foods offered by vendors. In addition, both local and national organizations will be present with booths and tents for spectators to visit.

The Easter celebration is popular in the local gay community, attracting large groups of friends dressed in colorfully coordinated outfits and elaborately decorated bonnets. Many attendees even set up tents and decorate them with fabulous Easter décor, inviting other attendees to stop by and mingle.

Easter in the Park festivities include a Pooch Parade and Costume Contest, which features more than 150 dogs and their owners vying for awards and prizes. All attendees are welcome to bring their dog, but animals must remain on a leash at all times.

Contestants can enter the parade for a small fee and compete for best-dressed dog, best large dog, best little dog and best owner/pet look-alike. The contest is preceded by an SPCA of Texas parade of adoptable dogs.

In addition, the Dallas Symphony Orchestra will perform live in the park at 3 p.m. The Easter in the Park performance is a wonderful opportunity for patrons to experience the world-renowned Orchestra with a concerto of sound.

Many in the LGBT community continue the celebration at bars and clubs along the Cedar Springs strip in Oak Lawn, where prizes will be awarded for best bonnet. Other festivities include events and services at Cathedral of Hope, the largest LGBT church in the world. Admission to Easter in the Park is free, and street parking is available on a first come, first served basis.

If you are looking for a weekend getaway, the Dallas CVB has you covered. Visit www.glbtdallas.com March 1-24, 2010 to enter to win a three-night stay in Dallas on Easter weekend. Accommodations are provided by the pet-friendly Holiday Inn Dallas Market Center, conveniently located near the Oak Lawn neighborhood.

Win a trip to Dallas during Pride Weekend in September

This September, the Dallas lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community will celebrate 26 years of pride. To commemorate, the Dallas Convention & Visitors Bureau (Dallas CVB) is inviting LGBT travelers from across the U.S. to visit www.glbtdallas.com to enter for a chance to win a trip for two to Dallas during Pride weekend, September 18-21, 2009. 

“Dallas is an affordable destination getaway that offers much to see and do for LGBT travelers, and what better time to visit our city than during Dallas Pride,” said Phillip Jones, president and CEO of the Dallas CVB. “From incredible dining, exceptional arts, unrivaled entertainment and the best shopping in the Southwest, Dallas is truly a destination that delivers.”

Roundtrip airfare is provided by American Airlines, corporate sponsor of the Dallas CVB. Accommodations will be provided by The Joule, Dallas and include breakfast at the luxurious Charlie Palmer restaurant. The winner also receives passes to Gay Day at Six Flags Over Texas, compliments of the Dallas Voice. 

Dallas Pride weekend offers several events that showcase the city’s diverse and eclectic LGBT community. The highlight of the weekend is the annual Alan Ross Texas Freedom Parade.  Now in its 26th year, the parade features more than 2,200 marching participants and thousands of spectators.

In addition to the numerous Pride weekend activities, Dallas visitors discover a city with exclusive shopping destinations, a leading arts district, a thriving culinary scene and vibrant nightlife.

Entries for the sweepstakes will be accepted through July 31, 2009, and a winner will be announced shortly thereafter.  The sweepstakes is open to legal residents of the U.S. at least 21 years of age or older at the time of entry.  For official rules and to enter, please visit www.glbtdallas.com.

Photo by Jason Vincik

Springtime officially begins with Easter in the Park, one of the largest annual outdoor events in Dallas, attracting thousands of attendees to celebrate the holiday with food, fun and music.  Organized by the Turtle Creek Association, the 24th annual Easter in the Park celebration will be held on Sunday, April 12, 2009 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Lee Park, located at Turtle Creek Boulevard and Lemmon Avenue in Dallas.

Easter in the Park is a popular, family-friendly celebration that features beautiful scenery, priceless entertainment, a live classical music concert  by the Dallas Symphony Orchestra and fashionista pooches in the “Pooch Parade and Costume Contest.” Attendees can bring their own picnic items or enjoy the variety of foods offered by vendors.  In addition, both local and national organizations will be present with booths and tents for spectators to visit.

The annual Easter celebration is popular in the gay community, attracting large groups of friends dressed in colorfully coordinated outfits and elaborately decorated bonnets.  Many attendees even set up tents and decorate them with festive Easter décor, inviting other attendees to stop by and mingle.

The day’s festivities include a Pooch Parade, which features more than 150 dogs and their owners vying for awards and prizes.  All Easter in the Park attendees are welcome to bring their dog, but animals must remain on a leash at all times.  

Contestants can enter the parade for a small fee and compete for best-dressed dog, best large dog, best little dog and best owner/pet look-alike.  The contest is preceded by an SPCA of Texas parade of adoptable dogs.

In addition, the Dallas Symphony Orchestra will perform live in the park at 3 p.m.  The Easter in the Park performance is a wonderful opportunity for patrons to experience the Orchestra with a symphony of sound.

“Easter in the Park has grown over the years to become one of Dallas’ largest and most diverse outdoor celebrations,” said Phillip Jones, president and CEO of the Dallas Convention & Visitors Bureau.  “It presents a great opportunity to book a trip and come explore all that Dallas offers, including incredible dining, exceptional arts, unrivaled entertainment and the best shopping in the Southwest.”

Many in the LGBT community continue the celebration at bars and clubs along the Cedar Springs strip in Oak Lawn, where prizes will be awarded for best bonnet.  Other festivities include events and services at Cathedral of Hope, the largest LGBT church in the world.  Admission to Easter in the Park is free, and street parking is available on a first come, first served basis.

Dallas is an affordable destination getaway that offers much to see and do for LGBT travelers.  For information and additional resources for planning your next trip to the “Big D”, please visit www.glbtdallas.com.  Better yet, please contact me.  I’ll be happy to help you plan your visit.