“There are just too many great things going on in our city for each season to choose!” Pickett says. It’s true; there’s no bad time to visit. Still, both Pickett and Baumann agree that the winter months are particularly nice in Mesquite. Both longtime locals specifically mention Christmas in the Park at Westlake Park as one of their favorite annual events. This extravaganza includes free carnival games for the whole family, pictures with Santa and stories with Mrs. Claus, and hot cocoa and other holiday treats galore.
“Being a northern transplant, I enjoy the mild winters and not having to shovel snow to get out of the driveway,” Baumann adds.
The warmer months are lovely in Mesquite, too. Summer kicks off with food trucks, art vendors, and fireworks, and the Mesquite Arts Center hosts a series of outdoor music events. Things also get cozy in the fall, when there’s a barn dance at the Opal Lawrence Historical Park and PumpkinFest, which includes live jousting, falconry, an archery show, trick-or-treating, and a pumpkin pie eating contest.
Best Events to Attend
There’s always something going on in Mesquite. “We are blessed to live in a city where there is always something special going on, and our community seems to love coming together both to celebrate the good things and support one another in hard times,” Pickett explains.
Baumann is partial to the annual Rodeo Parade, which honors Mesquite as the Official Rodeo Capital of Texas declared by the State Senate. Tons of community members participate in the Rodeo Parade each year; it’s a local favorite. Bands, drill teams, and cheerleaders march and perform, and people ride in the parade on homemade floats, horses, motorcycles, and classic cars. Speaking of rodeos, Pickett adds that Mesquite is home to the world-famous Mesquite Championship Rodeo, which is housed in an air-conditioned arena that can also be used for concerts and other events.
Looking for a great way to kick off your weekend in Mesquite? “Of course, this is Texas, so Friday Night Lights is the place to be for high school football,” Pickett says. “With five high schools in Mesquite, there is always at least one local game to attend.”
There are countless reasons Baumann and Pickett have both stuck around for all these years. As both point out, it doesn’t hurt that Mesquite is very conveniently located; it’s only 15 minutes east from downtown Dallas and sits at the intersection of four major highways, so you can get just about anywhere you need to be. Of course, when your town is this friendly and welcoming, why would you need to be anywhere else?