Get ready to go back in time as the Junius Heights Saturday Stroll takes place this coming Saturday, Oct. 18, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The largest historic district in Dallas, the Junius Heights Saturday Stroll, formerly known as the home tour, promises to have something for everyone in the family.
You can look forward to touring three historic homes, seeing three inspiring gardens, enjoy two porch parties, attend the dedication of the 707 Streetcar mural and the kiddos can have fun with arts and crafts at the library.
“The stroll will begin at the Lakewood Branch Library where there will be a vendor fair, food vendors, a children’s area, and live music throughout the day,” said Shelley Vatzlavick, chair of the Junius Heights Saturday Stroll. “It promises to be a great showcase for the Junius Heights neighborhood.”
A Prairie-style home such as this one will be available to tour on the Junius Heights Saturday Stroll. (Photo by Mimi Perez for CandysDirt.com)
What one learns quickly when talking about historical neighborhoods is that there is always a renovation taking place. Funds raised from the stroll will go toward multiple projects, such as work being done at Lakewood Branch Library and Lipscomb Elementary School, among others.
Early bird ticket prices are $35. They can be purchased at JuniusHeights.org. Pricing will be adjusted on the day of the event, so don’t delay in buying your tickets.
“This is a great opportunity for people, regardless of where they live, to come see and learn some Dallas history and have a good time,” Vatzlavick said.
The homes selected for the tour include a Tudor, a Craftsman, and a Prairie. They were selected because their renovations stayed true to the style of when they were originally built, Vatzlavick said.
5634 Tremont is a Craftsman home that was recently renovated.
To make the Saturday Stroll stand out from other home tours, Vatzlavick said the organizing committee added tours for three different gardens as well as two porch parties where there will be live music.
“We added the gardens because we have three master gardeners that live in the neighborhood,” Vatzlavick said. “They are very focused on native plants and pollinators, and we wanted to bring attention to the effort they are making. And who doesn’t love flowers and plants? They are simply beautiful.”
You also do not want to miss the porch parties, which will provide a great respite from the stroll.
“The parties will feature local musicians and members of the Woodrow Wilson High School and J. L. Long Middle School bands and choirs,” Vatzlavick said. “These performers will be at the three porches as well as at the library. We will definitely have the front-yard party vibes going on during the stroll.”
While the home tour is meant to highlight homes and the overall vibe of the Junius Heights neighborhood, there is a special stop on the tour this year: the 707 Streetcar mural. Its dedication will be held during the stroll.
Mural Dedication Slated During the Saturday Stroll
The mural is the creation of Junius Heights resident Brian Jackson, who received a Love Your Block grant this past August. The 707 streetcar once ferried Junius Heights residents to and from downtown during its heyday.
“This is the actual street car that came through our neighborhood,” Jackson said. “The whole idea of the mural is to help find the 707 a home.”
“We have already had many donations to the ongoing efforts to fund the renovation of the 707,” Vatzlavick said. “It’s definitely been a community effort to bring this piece of Dallas history back home.”
Completed in September, the official dedication of the 707 mural will take place at the corner of Augusta and Tremont.
“We are inviting all Dallasites to come experience a part of historic East Dallas and the many offerings we have, such as the friendly porches and front yard parties,” Vatzlavick said. “The Junius Heights Saturday Stroll is a great way to experience the way Dallas used to look at the turn of the century.”
For more information on the stroll, head to JuniusHeights.org.