Get ready to pull on those cowboy boots and dust off your hat because Historic Mesquite, Inc. (HMI) is throwing a knee-slapping Barn Dance at Opal Lawrence Historical Park on May 18, starting at 7 p.m., it's an evening promised to be filled with classic country and western swing tunes. Featuring The Western Flyers—an award-winning band that champions a Texas-style sound—joins the shindig with Joey McKenzie on guitar and vocals, Ridge Roberts working the fiddle also doing vocals, and Matthew Mefford on the upright bass; attendees are in for some serious foot-stomping entertainment, the City of Mesquite, Texas states.
According to Suanne Toupal, the Chair of the HMI Board of Directors, "The Lawrence Barn is a one-of-a-kind venue like no other you will find in north Texas," which speaks volumes about the unique experience in store for those with a penchant for country music and history as Toyia Pointer, Mesquite’s Manager of Historic Preservation, points out, "This is an outdoor event, and the historic 1886 barn is not climate controlled," but she assures there's no need to worry because the barn has "plenty of air circulation," she said, as per the City of Mesquite, Texas, developers from yesteryear knew a thing or two about keeping a barn breezy without the modern-day A/C.
The hoedown serves not only as a night of entertainment but also as a fundraiser; tickets are going for $15 a pop for HMI members, and for the general public, they are set at $20—proceeds will support local historic preservation efforts, including those of the Florence Ranch Homestead and Opal Lawrence Historical Park, so it's a charitable cause that ensures you're giving back to the community while having a hoot of a time. Guests can expect complimentary snacks, and for those looking to buy, concessions will be available for purchase. It's an all-round family-friendly event so attendees are encouraged to dress in comfortable, layered attire; a smart move considering Texas weather's notorious unpredictability, and because no one wants to shiver or sweat their way through a fiddle solo.
