The Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge Celebration is the debut of Dallas' newest architectural icon connecting Downtown Dallas to West Dallas over the Trinity River. The Santiago Calatrava-designed bridge is a landmark, and the festivities will be fittingly spectacular.

It's a once-in-a-lifetime chance to walk, party or run on the bridge and toast to the best new view in town. The weekend celebration starts with a ticketed fundraiser Friday evening with Lyle Lovett and His Large Band, performers and fireworks.

Saturday begins at 8 a.m. with the 8th MWH Annual Trinity River Levee Run, followed by a free street fair from noon to 9 p.m. featuring favorite local bands, costumed performers, food vendors, fireworks and more. Bands include Larry g(EE) Band, Lauren Adelle, The Burning Hotels and Jonathan Tyler and the Northern Lights.

Sunrise Blessing and Ribbon Cutting

On Sunday at 6:50 a.m., the public is invited to watch the sun rise and attend a special Sunrise Blessing and Ribbon Cutting. The program begins at 7:30 a.m. with elected officials, special music by Orchestra of New Spain honoring the Spanish naming of the Trinity River, Street Corner Symphony singing the National Anthem, and a nontraditional ribbon cutting that includes hundreds of Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts. For more information: 214.740.1616 or mhhbridgecelebration.com

Location:

Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge connecting Downtown Dallas and West Dallas over the Trinity River, Woodall Rodgers Freeway and Riverfront Blvd., Dallas, TX 75207

Friday, March 2, 2012 - Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge Celebration Party:

7 p.m.- 11 p.m. Ticket Price: $200. The Trinity Trust 1444 Oak Lawn Ave., Suite 200 Dallas, TX 75207 thetrinitytrust.org 214-740-1616

Between the glowing Dallas skyline on the eastside and the vibrant festivities of Bridgeo-Rama in West Dallas, party guests (2,000 expected) will experience the beauty of Santiago Calatrava's design up close as they enjoy celebrity chef creations, specialty drinks, headliner entertainment, and dance the night away on the bridge.

Headliner: Lyle Lovett and His Large Band

Lyle Lovett and His Large Band will headline this memorable evening as guests and supporters dance the night away on the bridge. Lovett debuts his new album on February 28th.

Fireworks and Other Entertainment

DJ Lucy Wrubel will spin bridge tunes for the guests.

Trinity Groves celebrity chefs will serve delectable delights.

Dallas Pedicabs rides.

Designs by Sean is creating Calatrava-inspired architectural costumes that are up to 14 feet tall and will be a part of Friday night and Saturday's festivities.

Award-Winning Street Corner Symphony sings.

The evening culminates under the glow of fireworks and the dramatic lighting of the bridge. Hosted by The Trinity Trust.

Saturday, March 3, 2012 | MWH Trinity River Levee Run (5K and 10K)

8 a.m. - 12 noon. The eighth annual MWH Trinity River Levee Run starts on the West Dallas side of the Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge and proceeds across the bridge, through the Design District and back, ending in West Dallas. Hosted by the Trinity Commons Foundation.

Saturday, March 3, 2012 | Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge Celebration Street Fair

Free and open to the public | Noon to 9 p.m.

On this day, the bridge is the star attraction. The Saturday street fair is one of the few opportunities for citizens to walk across Calatrava's vehicular bridge, the first in the United States. Simple pleasures weave along the bridge in seemingly spontaneous fashion. Favorite local musicians and bands play on multiple stages as sidewalk artists, dancers, street food vendors and Calatrava-inspired architectural costumed performers interact with thousands expected to attend. Jonathan Tyler & The Northern Lights play just before the fireworks finale.

Art and Culture Across the Bridge:

Douglas Rouse Chalk Artist

Designs by Sean: Calatrava-inspired costumes

Trinity River Corridor Photo Contest winners’ work featured

Trinity River Student Art Contest winners’ artwork featured

Face painting

Known for his large-scale portraitures, Chance Foreman, duct tape artist, will have a large-scale display of the Trinity River, 16 feet by 8 feet, made completely out of duct tape.

Booths, Rides and More

Live radio shows present including KKDA, K104, CBS Radio and Radio Disney

Dallas Pedicabs rides

Interactive Booths:

The Trinity Trust - Film works by Emmy Award-winning Judy Kelly, the Calatrava Student Constructors education film, video haikus by Oak Cliff artist Wheeler Sparks and kid-friendly maps.

City of Dallas & Trinity Commons Foundation – map and information on The Trinity Wind Festival and Trinity Levee Run.

Trinity Strand Trail - construction plans, including first installation of trail for this year

Groundwork Dallas – information on trail building, maintenance and clean-up work, and sign up sheets for future workdays.

Trinity Waters – information on Trinity River watershed with rain simulation machine and native grasses.

CityDesign Studio – urban design maps and future plans to help City Hall engender creative conversations.

Trinity River Audubon Center - educational programming on birds and the center

Food/Concessions:

Concessions and food trucks will be available with food and beverages for purchase. Food trucks include The Butchers Son, Gandolfo’s, Jack’s Chow Hound, Nammi’s, Ruthie’s Rolling Café and Trailercakes.

Sunday, March 4, 2012 Meadows Museum Exhibition Opens – Calatrava and SMU: A Decade in Motion
1 p.m. - 5 p.m. Ticket: Free
Information: www.meadowsmuseumdallas.org
Santiago Calatrava’s sculpture Wave (2002) has become one of the most recognizable symbols of both the Meadows Museum and Southern Methodist University. Timed to coincide with the opening of Calatrava’s new Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge over the Trinity River, this exhibition will commemorate the continuing symbiosis between the artist and the university. On display will be sculptures and works on paper from the museum’s collection, many of which were generous gifts from Calatrava himself, including several preliminary sketches for Wave that are seldom on view. Additional ep hemera collected over the past decade, including correspondence, personal inscriptions, photographs and mementos, will also be shown. Exhibition continues through April 22, 2012.
February 29-March 5, 2012 Haley-Henman Gallery "Focus on The Bridge"
Opening Reception Thursday, March 1 from 6:30 - 7:30 p.m.
Information: http://www.haleyhenman.com/events.html
A special exhibition of photographs celebrating the opening of the Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge designed by Santiago Calatrava featuring the work of David Clanton, Cecelia Feld, Bob Johnson, Michael Lyon, and Alan Robertson. 2335 Hardwick St., Dallas.