Spring Break is a time when we can take a deep breath from the daily grind. A week of solitude, fun, or a great getaway. Recharge, reinvent or reimagine.
Adventure.
When I say the simple phrase, “Let’s go on an adventure,” my five-year-old son Aiden perks up like our dog Hank when I crinkle the treat bag. Whether we’re going across state lines or down the street, my plans for setting out on said adventure is simply that we have goals. Nothing is too far-fetched, and NO is not an answer. Aiden says, “Let’s ride Octopus!” and I say, “Height requirement met – check! – that roller coaster is calling our name.” We take what the road throws our way knowing we may not have the chance to try it again.
We hop into “mommy’s monster truck,” this ridiculously lifted F-150 that has those quintessential Texan mud tires that can be heard half a mile away, and off we go, windows down. Freeeeedom! Freedom, however, isn’t free of learning in our family, but since it is spring break after all, the educational occurrences are interlaced and unbeknownst.
As we come to a fork in the road, for instance, we can choose between two directions: East vs. West maybe, or North vs. South. “Aiden, do you want to head in the direction the sun rises or sets? Do you feel like visiting Santa by traveling North, or should we drive South towards Antarctica?” It’s memorable and magical because it’s just us and the road, and isn’t that what the “break” in spring break means? Stopping for a moment in time, and simply living. No wrong answers.
Our explorations are anchored by a theme. Just as some fathers travel with their sons to visit baseball or football stadiums, the mother/son tradition we’ve embraced is visiting historic downtowns across the United States and beyond. The historical uniqueness of these destinations is beyond compare. Watching my son touch walls of buildings that have been standing for decades or hundreds of years, taste traditional dishes only found in that one region, hear stories of merchants past and how the town formed, then share those stories in his own little five-year-old way – it’s mesmerizing.
This spring break will be no different, so we’re going to check out what’s going on in our own backyard! Downtown Arlington, Texas is a great starting place as you check off your lists of downtowns to visit, and spring break will not disappoint!
SPRING BREAK IN DOWNTOWN ARLINGTON
March 13-21, 2021
Downtown Outdoors highlights all of the public art, parks, outdoor spaces and hidden gems that can be found around Downtown Arlington. Aiden and I will take one or more of the Abram Street, North or South Mural Walks, three walking/biking tours through Downtown’s cultural and commercial district. I can’t wait for my son reenact each of Downtown’s 25 murals in his own creative way!
Aiden will play T-Ball for the first time this spring, so what better examples than NCAA Division I athletics? From Friday, March 12 – Sunday, March 14, our hometown UT Arlington men’s baseball team is at home and taking on Lamar University. 6:30 p.m. on Friday, 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, and 1:00 p.m. on Sunday. Get your tickets here. Go Mavericks!
Gary Morris will be on stage at the Arlington Music Hall 8:00 p.m. Friday, March 12.
On Saturday the 13th, UTA Softball has a double header against Troy at 1:30 p.m. and 4:00 p.m., then Sunday’s first pitch is at 12:00 noon. Get your tickets here.
How about finding Pikachu and making wild 3D glasses? After going through the program list with Aiden, he agrees you don’t want to miss out on the spring break activities taking place at George W. Hawkes Downtown Library:
- Starting the 13th through the 21st, if you can catch them all, you get a prize during the Pokemon Hunt!
- If your teen (13-17 years old) loves to craft, Makers Teens on Saturday the 13th should not be missed. They’ll be making melt-and-pour soap that no matter how “unique” it turns out, grandma will love for her birthday! The class takes place from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m.
- On Monday the 15th, get creative with the 3D Pens class from 3:30 to 5:30 PM for kids age 5-12.
- Tuesday, March 16-19, anyone 13 or older can try out one or all the kits of Makerspace Kit Week, including Mandala Paint Kit, Macramé Key Chains Kit, Crazy Like a Fox Felt Sewing Kit, Pop Up Card Kit, or Gnome Clay Sculpture Kit.
- You can always count on Wednesday afternoons at the Downtown Library to entertain your little ones with their Create Hour. Between 4:30 to 5:30 p.m., come and go as you please and watch the innovation pour out of your child (age 5-12).
- If that tweenager in your life needs help getting those emotions on paper, the Diary Makers class on Thursday the 18th from 4:00 to 5:00 p.m. lets kids aged 10-13 explore daily life through journal keeping.
- On Friday the 19th from 10:00 a.m. until noon, Little Art is perfect for the tiny ones up to 5 years old. Watch them get creative and messy at someone else’s place for a change!
- Saturday, March 20 from 2:00 – 4:00 p.m., Maker Teens: Wooden Stamps shows your creative teens how to make their own wooden stamps on the Carvey machine!
Bedtime can be pushed back a little later during spring break, especially for the Michael Martin Murphey show on stage at the Arlington Music Hall 8:00 p.m. Friday, March 19.
Thursday evening is a personal favorite for our dog Hank, who loves checking out the artists (really it’s the extra pats and attention J) at Create Arlington during their monthly Third Thursday Pop Up Art Show on March 18 from 5:00 – 8:00 p.m.
UTA Softball welcomes the ULL Ragin Cajuns to Allan Saxe Field for the weekend. Friday the 19th at 7:30 p.m., Saturday the 20th at 2:00 p.m., and Sunday the 21st at 12:00 noon. Get your tickets here.
Meanwhile, South Alabama comes to town to take on UTA men’s baseball Friday, March 19 at 6:30 p.m. and Saturday, March 20 at 2:00 p.m. Get your tickets here.
Last day of Spring Break = First day of Spring! Downtown Arlington is making the day memorable with the kick-off of a Health and Wellness Series. For four Saturdays in a row from 10-11:00 a.m. starting March 20, you can take a free wellness class in person on the Levitt lawn (social distancing will be enforced) or join in the fun through live-streaming. The March 20 class will be taught by an instructor with the Arlington Yoga Center.
Last but certainly not least, we’re pumped to get out and dance the night away to a live performance by Wade Bowen with special guest Justin Ross! Don’t miss this ticketed concert at the Levitt Pavilion Saturday, March 20 at 7:00 p.m.
Needless to say, Downtown Arlington will be the place for spring break, and Aiden and I sure look forward to seeing you out and about!
