Vintage 78s ready to spin at Jazz Social

By Elizabeth Lenart

Don your best ’20s attire or walking whites and get ready to Charleston the afternoon away at the 5th Annual Dallas Jazz Age Sunday Social, at Dallas Heritage Village on Sunday, March 18 from noon – 5 p.m. Music begins at 12:30 p.m. at the bandstand. This jazz age-inspired lawn party, presented by Dallas Heritage Village and the Art Deco Society of Dallas, will surround the Van Cleave Bandstand with an afternoon of live music by the 18-piece The Singapore Slingers and The Matt Tolentino Band, playing a repertoire of traditional jazz from the 1920s and 1930s. Guests may enjoy dancing, picnics, games, antique cars, photo booth, vintage vendors, ice cream, a costume contest and more.

Amelia Fox Trot will spin 78 rpm records on vintage phonographs, and an array of Model A Fords will be on display from Vintage Coach (also available for rides). Guests may enjoy classic games such as croquet and horseshoes and tour the historic structures of the Village. The Victorian Fencing Society will also be on site, and Elaine Hewlett from the Rhythm Room will be teaching vintage dance steps in front of the bandstand. There will be a costume contest at 2:30 p.m. for best “Lawn Party attire.”

Picnic, blankets and lawn chairs are welcome. The Easy Slider Food Truck will be on site as well as Dallas Heritage Village’s vintage popcorn wagon, which will also be selling water. Vintage vendors to feature clothing, jewelry and antiques and include Ahoy! Cruises, Radio Dismuke, Savannah Hoffman Designs and Old Fashioned Sweet Shoppe.

“One of our favorite events every year, the Jazz Age Sunday Social, is the brainchild of our good friend Matt Tolentino (pictured at left) of the Singapore Slingers,” said Melissa Prycer, president and executive director of Dallas Heritage Village. “It transforms the Village into a 1920s lawn party and picnic — fun for the whole family. Even if you choose not to dress up, half the fun is seeing everyone else’s costume choices. The costume contest is definitely a highlight for me every year.”

“Both New York and Los Angeles host huge and amazing Jazz Age-inspired lawn parties, and it’s my hope for Dallas to be on the same page,” Tolentino said. “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.”

For the Jazz Age Sunday Social, kids 12 and under free. All other tickets are $12. Tickets can be purchased online at dallasheritagevillage.org or at the gate.

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