(October 19, 2004)- Slip on your boots and mosey down to Lone Star Park at Grand Prairie, 1000 Lone Star Parkway, for the Texas … The Experience festival Friday-Sunday, October 22-24, celebrating the 2004 Breeders’ Cup World Thoroughbred Championships. Texas … The Experience touts Texas traditions throughout the grounds of Lone Star Park with cowboys, trick roping demonstrations, longhorns, folkloric ballet, armadillo races, strolling musicians, a mechanical bull, Texas artisans, a hot air balloon glow, a Celebrity Chef Cook Off and Texas Beer and Wine Tasting.

Newly added to the festival line up are:

• Walt Garrison, Dallas Cowboys legend, will sign autographs Friday night.
• Texas A&M Wranglers Friday night at 10 p.m.
• The Front Porch Tellers, John and Ellen Armstrong Texas Storytellers will perform from 2-5 p.m. Saturday.
• Tanya Rene, Lone Star Music Association contest finalist, will perform at 3 p.m. Sunday.
• 12-year-old fiddling prodigy Chase Foster will play Saturday and Sunday nights.
• Noted authors from the Texas Writers Guild will sell books and sign autographs Saturday and Sunday.
• The University of Arizona will conduct a 30 minute interactive session on careers in horse racing, fun facts about racing and a history of the Breeders’ Cup at noon.
• Groom Elite will be conducting a 30 minute "behind the scenes look at a horse before and after a big race" on Saturday and Sunday at 12:30 p.m.
• Dixie Grand Cloggers Saturday and Sunday morning.
• Native American Dancers Saturday and Sunday afternoon.
• Ballet Folklorico Saturday and Sunday afternoon.
• The Chisholm Trail Cowboys all weekend long.
• The Long Tall Texan all weekend long.

Texas…The Experience also features a Taste of Texas celebrity chef cook off and Texas beer and wine tasting. Winning chefs will be selected by ballot. On Friday, Oct. 22, from 6 – 10 p.m. six chefs will compete for Tex Mex honors. From 1 p.m. - 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 23, chefs will whip up the best in BBQ and from 1 p.m. - 4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 24, chili dishes compete for “best of”. Competing chefs include Sevy’s Grill, Chamberlain’s Prime Rib and Steakhouse, the Anatole’s Nana grill; Yama Beef, Dallas Country Club, Nick and Sam’s, Dakota’s, Maguire’s, Kirby’s Steakhouse, Eddlemon’s and Culpepper Steakhouse. On all three days, ticket holders may also sample any six of the Texas wine and beer selections.

Tickets for each day’s Taste of Texas are $10 each and may be purchased in advance from the City of Grand Prairie Parks Department, 326 W. Main Street, Grand Prairie, or the day of the event at the entrance to the Taste of Texas tent. The Taste of Texas tickets are in addition to Lone Star Park general admission tickets of $3 a person.

Texas…The Experience coincides with live Thoroughbred horse racing on all three days.

The Texas…The Experience finale on Saturday, Oct. 23, will light up the evening sky with a Hot Air Balloon Glow at approximately 7 p.m. Hot air balloons will be tethered and lit up against the dark sky, providing a dramatic conclusion to the day’s activities.

Texas…The Experience festival hours are 6 p.m. - 10 p.m. Friday, Oct. 22, and 9 a.m. – 10 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 23, and 11 a.m. – 6 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 24. All activities will be conducted at Lone Star Park at Grand Prairie, 1000 Lone Star Parkway, on Belt Line Road north of Interstate 30 in Grand Prairie. Once inside the gates of Lone Star Park, the festival is free, with the exception of the Taste of Texas, which is $10 a person. General admission to Lone Star Park is $3 a person and general parking is $2.

Texas…The Experience is part of a month of Breeders’ Cup FanFest activities. For a complete calendar, visit www.gptexas.com or call 972-237-8100.