April is the month when Dentonites emerge from the shadow of winter to celebrate all that is beautiful in our beloved hamlet: Arts & Jazz Fest, the opening of the Denton Community Market, and the cherished Redbud Festival—an endeavor perfected and perpetuated by Keep Denton Beautiful.

Denton Redbud Festival originated in the 1930s as a beautification effort by Texas Woman’s University, and has sprouted into a collaboration between Keep Denton Beautiful, and various non-profit and sustainable organizations in Denton. The following sponsors helped to underwrite this year’s festival: Denton Watershed Protection, Denton Municipal Electric and Parks and Recreation, Denton Record Chronicle, Denton Solid Waste and Recycling, and Huffines Subaru. This year’s celebration will continue the long-honored celebration of Arbor Day with a myriad of activities and aesthetics that reflect the natural beauty of sustainable Denton.

What makes Denton Redbud Festival distinctive to Denton is the collaboration between non-profit organizations that serve to enhance Denton Redbud experience. SCRAP of Denton will host a “TRASHion Fashion Show” at noon, and will feature entirely sustainable clothing and accessories. Keep Denton Beautiful will collaborate with Denton Libraries to provide “Tree-Themed Story Time” at 11:00 am; this is an educational effort for children about the importance of trees and the value of Arbor Day. The first 50 children to arrive for the story time will receive a copy of the children’s book, The Happiness Tree. Finally, it would not be a Denton party without stellar musical entertainment from Denton’s finest collection of artists. 

A.M. Ramblers will start the Redbud party at 10:30am. Denton Redbud Festival is fortunate to have the unique harmony and rich instrumentation of this Denton-favorite band yet again as they begin the music festivities on Saturday. A.M. Ramblers—featuring Brandyn Littleton, Andy Cox, Mark Moncrieff, Daniel Pietzsch, Nick Groesch, Cory Coleman, and Jordan Batson—have performed at this volunteer event for 5 years.

Additionally, wildly-talented bassist and singer Tony Ferraro will perform at 1:30pm. Ferraro—who is a current member of Hares on the Mountain, Smoke Paint, and Daniel Markham Band—has been performing as both a supporting musician for others since 2006, and is a front-man in his own right. Ferraro will perform new material from his recent release, A Parrot Buys a Hotel, for fans at the festival.

Kim Nall—formerly of Levi Cobb and the Big Smoke—has formed her own unique sound, and features the sublime talents of: Matt Shasteen, Petra Kelly, Josh Kitchens, Taylor Sims, and Charley Moore; they will perform at 3pm.  

New to Denton Redbud Festival this year will be the “Free Tree Giveaway” for Denton residents. Brief workshops offering instruction about planting and care of trees will be offered at multiple times throughout the festival, and—upon completion of the workshop-- Denton residents will be able to take home a free 3-gallon Oak tree to be planted within Denton city limits. Workshop times are: 10am, 1pm, 2pm, and 3pm on the day of the festival. This new program will be implemented at the festival courtesy of The Denton Tree Initiative.

As if the music, workshops, giveaways, and children’s educational programs were not enough, there will also be booths featuring local arts and crafts for sale, a children’s bounce house, and a variety of food trucks to complete the unique aesthetic to this famed festival.

Denton Redbud Festival will be held from 10am to 4pm on Saturday, April 23rd, at Denton Civic Center – 321 E. McKinney Street. This is a family-friendly/dogs-on a leash-friendly/free event. Join fellow Dentonites and lovers of sustainable Denton to celebrate our city’s brilliant natural landscape.