The Samurai Spirit

Combining artistry, craftsmanship, and functionality, Japanese samurai armor reflects the valor of the historic warrior class. The Kimbell Art Museum in Fort Worth explores this legacy through August 31 with Samurai: Armor from the Ann and Gabriel Barbier-Mueller Collection. The traveling exhibition—the first in the Kimbell’s new Renzo Piano Pavilion—showcases more than 140 pieces collected by the Barbier-Mueller family of Dallas. The intricate armor, masks, and weapons date from the 12th to the 19th centuries.

Shake your Shell

Celebrate Mom this Mother’s Day weekend at the Texas Crab Festival, which takes place May 9-11 at Crystal Beach on Bolivar Peninsula. The 29th edition of the event packs in the fun with attractions ranging from wiener-dog races to a carnival midway and musical acts, including Cajun rocker Wayne Toups. Crabs enter the picture with a crab gumbo cookoff, a crab dish contest among the food vendors, and live crab races.

Flower Power

We’d all love to roam the Texas back roads on an unbridled wildflower hunt, but life’s pesky realities often interfere. Luckily, you can soak in the state’s wildflower diversity with one simple stop at Texas Highways’ retrospective of wildflower photography—40 Years of Oohs and Ahhs—which runs April 19–May 25 at The University of Texas at Austin Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center as part of the center’s Wildflower Days™. And don’t forget to enter our wildflower photo contest (send entries April 7-May 5), cosponsored by Precision Camera & Video, which is providing a $350 gift certificate to the winner. www.wildflower.org.

Road Trip!

There’s never a bad time to hit the road, but the first full week of May will offer added benefits as the Texas travel industry celebrates Travel and Tourism Week. Congress established the event to promote the power of travel, from economic development to the positive effect on relationships. On May 4, take advantage of free entry to the Texas Historical Commission’s historic sites. Also during the week, TxDOT’s 12 Texas Travel Information Centers around the state will feature promotions, such as giveaways and local speakers.

Texas Thunder Music Festival

Set on beautiful farmland in Gardendale, Texas Thunder Music Fest is a two-day camping and music festival featuring country acts including The Band Perry, Lee Brice, Wade Bowen, Randy Rogers Band, and others.

The Richard and Pam Salmon Sculpture Competition

The San Angelo Museum of Fine Art hosts the Richard and Pam Salmon Sculpture Competition through August 11. The yearly exhibit of 12 to 15 large-scale sculptures in the park is in cooperation with the City of San Angelo Public Art Commission and the city government.

Mediterranea: American art from the Graham D. Williford Collection

The Tyler Museum of Art hosts Mediterranea: American art from the Graham D. Williford Collection from May 1–June 29. By the late 19th century, American artists began to show an expanded interest in points beyond the traditional cultural centers of France, Italy and Germany—casting an eye on Spain, the Holy Land, Egypt, and much of northern Africa.

Mediterranea distills this fascination for contemporary viewers in one stunning exhibition, offering a unique exploration of the ways American artists understood, interpreted, and portrayed Mediterranean culture in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Photos (from top): Brad Flowers/© The Ann & Gabriel Barbier-Mueller Museum, Dallas; Kevin Stillman; J. Griffis Smith; Kevin Stillman

Big Bend
No place to think small. Mountain, desert , river, big sky and over a million public acres to play with

Mount Pleasant Rodeo
The Mount Pleasant Rodeo will be held May 29-31, 2014, including live rodeo action each night, family fun, shopping and great food! Top ranked cowboys!