Great weather boosted crowds who found fun and good times in The Shops at Lakeside
With a crowd estimated at 3,500, the St. Paddy’s Festival in Lakeside Village on a sunny Saturday, March 14, was declared a success. Attired mostly in green, they came for the fun, the live music, the food, and adult beverages. And they came to celebrate the blue skies and warm temperatures.
“A lot of folks said they were just stopping by to check it out,” said Dave Coussirat, owner of The Tavern at Lakeside. “They will be back for future events now.”
Others stayed longer.
“We got there about 5 and stayed till the end,” said Betty Becker, who came with her husband and neighbors from just north of Lakeside Village. “We enjoyed ourselves – it was a very high energy group.”
“I stayed for over four hours,” said Lakeside Village resident Doug Josvoll, who joined some neighbors in the VIP tent. “We had a great time.”
Emerald City Band served as the primary attraction, performing from 4 to 7. The 13 -piece party band — widely recognized for their high-energy mix of Motown, Top 40, Classic Rock, and oldies — kept the crowd energized and dancing.
“Tina Rateliff at Elora didn’t receive a single complaint from her residents,” Coussirat said. “There were a lot of patio parties going on and I imagine it’ll increase next year. They had a fantastic view of the stage.”
Meanwhile, a combination of tents and food trucks provided drinks and food. The food trucks included Fletcher’s Corny Dogs, Hook & Ladder Pizza Co., and Big Greg BBQ.
Some of the family fun activities included ax throwing (including a child’s version), mechanical bull ride, corn hole, and more.
Coussirat believes the food and activities will improve next year.
Merchants see a bump in sales
“It was a great event,” said Laura Black, owner of Clink Wine Bar + Bites, whose patrons had ringside seats near the stage. “The music was wonderful.
“It was crowded but customers were kind, happy and nothing was out of control. Honestly it was so much busier than I thought it would be.”
Black was excited about another aspect of the St. Paddy’s Festival.
“Events like this not only drive traffic and sales but also strengthen Lakeside’s identity as a gathering place.”
— Clayton Flurry,
Flurry’s Lakeside
“I loved having an event actually at our end of The Shops at Lakeside Village,” she emphasized. “I would love to see this become an annual thing.”
“We had more folks in the door than usual (68 separate sales),” said Kay Thibodeaux, owner of The Touring Chocolatier. “That helped us raise awareness. We do not have a liquor license, but we had mocktails available for sampling and purchasing.”
Across the street, Drew Flowers at Trailhead Running Supply saw “a bump in sales, along with some new visitors who came in out of curiosity. Hopefully, that exposure will translate into new customers over time.”
According to Clayton Flurry, owner of Flurry’s Lakeside, “The St. Patrick’s Day event was a clear success.
“While we had already planned a crawfish boil on our veranda, the increased neighborhood traffic drove a 50% increase over our typical event revenue.
“Equally important was the feedback from the community. We consistently heard variations of, ‘Lakeside should host events like this on a quarterly basis.’
“We couldn’t agree more,” Flurry added. “Events like this not only drive traffic and sales but also strengthen Lakeside’s identity as a gathering place.”
Future events in the cards
The St. Paddy’s Festival was spearheaded and orchestrated by Dave Coussirat, owner of The Tavern at Lakeside, and his team.
An experienced restaurateur with ties to liquor and beer sponsors, Coussirat also brings experience with such events. As the franchisee and operator of Slater’s 50-50 on Greenville Avenue in East Dallas between 2017 and 2021, he participated in the block party that follows the annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade.
Coussirat was eager to bring a slice of that excitement to Lakeside Village and Flower Mound. And start a new tradition.
Like many in the community, he envisions a future where seasonal events attract people from miles around, offering good times and boosting awareness of The Shops at Lakeside Village.
“The first year is always the toughest,” Coussirat acknowledged. “All of our reps said they’d only be able to support once we provided proof of concept. Mission accomplished.”
“I’m confident we’ll see more support next year.”
Anyone up for Octoberfest?
I had an amazing time photographing this event. Everywhere I looked, there were big smiles and incredible energy. The kids had plenty of activities to keep them entertained, while the parents enjoyed a wide variety of delicious food.
Emerald City Band was absolutely top-notch, delivering an impressive mix of pop, alternative, country, and rap that had everyone singing along and dancing.
I’ve lived here for six years, and this is the first event that truly blew me away—from the thoughtful planning to the safe, family-friendly atmosphere. Can’t wait for the next event!