Things to Do in Carrollton

Returning for their fourth year of family fun, Dallas Kids Expo’s organizers thrill children and parents with a one-day whirlwind of activities, exhibition booths, and kid-friendly demonstrations at Dallas Market Hall. Amid the spacious expo grounds, a fleet of exhibitors—from pediatric dentists to craft stores—welcome wanderers into their booths, cordially introducing their wares and services via games of charades. Appearances by Bob the Builder bring smiles to kids' faces, and information sessions for parents on child-rearing topics are hosted by local child-rearing gurus. As the day continues, kids work off excess energy at the petting zoo or by starting their own five-cent tax-preparation-service booth.

Snapped Together's hand-built photo booths, armed with professional-grade cameras, lighting, and printers, spit out crisp, vivid photo strips within seconds while oozing retro charm. Its open-air booths made with mahogany and brushed aluminum channel the photo booths of yesteryear but without all the nasty chemicals and posing for days to get one picture. Staffers transport these open-air models—as well as traditional booths—to a cornucopia of events and stand by to help add photogenic pizzazz to weddings, birthday parties, and charitable fundraisers. After shindigs, hosts can bring home a flash drive brimming with images, a memento almost as priceless as a contact lens used by Ansel Adams.

The art connoisseurs at Creative Hands guide patrons of all ages through the artistic process with a cache of ready-to-paint plaster and ceramic items. Equipped with provided paints and glazes, budding Picassos can transform bare figurines, plates, bowls, and goblets into masterpieces as personalized as the Mona Lisa's thumbprint. Guests can tote away freshly decorated plaster pieces after a 30- to 45-minute glazing-and-drying process or enlist the warming powers of a kiln to seal in a ceramic creation's luster and then pick up the fired work of art a week later. Creative Hands' roomy studio fosters a suitable space for large groups or birthday parties and houses a ladies' night on the first Thursday of every month.

Sudsy brews slosh in clink-ready cups at the third annual North Texas Beer and Wine Festival, which takes up residence at the new Irving Convention Center on Saturday, May 12. Once the doors open to the general public at 2 p.m., imbibers can snack on high-end eats from the likes of Velvet Taco and The Ranch in Las Colinas, and sample the wares of local and international brewers from Imperial and Franconia. These brewmasters sling samples of hundreds of different beers, from classic signature brews to new, experimental creations. Just one of several enriching presentations on the schedule, Kelly Harris of Homebrew Headquarters edifies entrepreneurs and enthusiasts at 2:45 p.m. with an introductory course to home brewing. In a sprawling beer garden, live music from The Superkings and Dallas All Stars Blues Jam serenades sippers in the afternoon hours, easing eardrums into the VIP-only event featuring Band of Brothers and Zionaura.

Imagine Lifestyles equips its customers with the finer things in life, from chauffeured rides in Rolls-Royces to month-long stays in beachfront properties. The comprehensive menu of rentals includes exotic cars from Bentley and Lamborghini as well as luxury condos and mansions dotted along the sun-drenched sands of Miami. Personal crews transport passengers in comfort aboard charter aircrafts and yachts, and chauffeur services cater to customers’ needs, ferrying them to and from business meetings or to and from 7/11 to make a good impression on the new night manager.

Years before founding In Home Wine Tasting 4 You, Jeannine Jiral was just a girl of 5, living in small-town Texas, watching her family ferment various fruits into homemade alcohol. From those days she knows how much skill it takes to make a delectable drink. Now she puts that knowledge to use, helming In Home Wine Tasting 4 You's knowledgeable servers as they pour flights of quality wine suited to each patron's taste and style.

Before hosting custom parties, patrons fill out a questionnaire to declare their white and red preferences and ability to play Stairway to Heaven on half-full glasses. Then personnel supply the libations, including wine, beer, or a combination of the two, as well as tasting notes, food-pairing suggestions, and tips for hosting future tasting parties. Through its partnership with The Wine Therapist, In Home Wine Tasting 4 You also outfits clients with wine-drinking accessories such as tumblers, glasses, and cheese boards, and can host tastings for those who don't want to throw a party in their own home or who have recently misplaced their pet cobra.