by Carla Wittle
Don your best 20s attire or walking whites and get ready to Charleston the afternoon away at the 2nd Annual Jazz Age Sunday Social, at Dallas Heritage Village on Sunday, March 22, noon – 4 p.m., 1515 S. Harwood, Dallas. Presented by Dallas Heritage Village and the Art Deco Society of Dallas, this jazz age inspired lawn party will surround the Van Cleave Bandstand with an afternoon of live music by the 18-piece Singapore Slingers and Razzmajazz Dixieland Band, playing a repertoire of traditional jazz from the 1920s and 1930s. Guests may enjoy dancing, picnics, games, vendors, and more.
Learn vintage dance steps with instructor Elaine Hewlett of the Rhythm Room on the wooden dance floor set up on the lawn in front of the bandstand. Costumes are not required but necessary for those wishing to participate in the 2:30 p.m. costume contest for best “Lawn Party Attire.” (Think vintage bathing beauties, parasols, walking whites.) Participants will have a chance to win prizes from area shops and restaurants like Curiosities and St. Martin’s. Bring your cameras and pose in front of one of the Model A Fords (also available for rides) on display from Vintage Coach. Try your hand at a game or two of croquet and horseshoes, tour the historic buildings of the village and visit with vintage vendors featuring clothing, jewelry, and antiques.
Bring a blanket, lawn chairs and a picnic and soak up the atmosphere with your family. Enjoy turn of the century music by the Singapore Slingers, the fox trot orchestra that the Dallas Observer calls, “the city’s coolest, quirkiest, retro jazz group. Carnival Barker’s ice creams will be dishing up some delicious dessert, and Cokes, lemonade, water, popcorn, and cotton candy will be available, all for purchase. The Easy Slider food truck will also be on site.
“This event, which is the brainchild of our good friend Matt Tolentino of the Singapore Slingers, was so much fun last year,” said Melissa Prycer, President and Executive Director, Dallas Heritage Village. “This 18-piece jazz orchestra plays each year at our History with a Twist fundraiser and will again on April 25. Matt’s love for vintage is evident not only in his daily wear, but in his founding of the Art Deco Society of Dallas last year and in his ongoing efforts to preserve the music of generations past, bringing the music of yesterday to the modern audience of today.”
“For a couple of years I have wanted Dallas to get on the same page as some other big cities and host a big, vintage-inspired event,” added Matt Tolentino. “Both New York and Los Angeles host huge and amazing Jazz Age inspired lawn parties, and this event got off to a great start last year! It could easily become one of the biggest, grandest, vintage-inspired events that Dallas has ever seen. Dallas Heritage Village is the ideal setting with its lush greens, new bandstand and historic setting. The Jazz Age Sunday Social offers something for everyone – couples, families, and all lovers of things vintage.”
Kids 12 and under free. All others: $10. Tickets can be purchased online or at the gate. This year, a limited number of patron tickets ($25) will be available including entry at 11 a.m. (an hour before event begins), a more exclusive dance lesson with Elaine Hewlett of the Rhythm Room at 11:30, and a code for $10 off tickets to Dallas Heritage Village’s April 25 fundraiser History with a Twist. Patron tickets must be purchased by Friday, March 20 and will not be available at the door.
