For the third year in a row, the Main Street Arts Festival will share downtown space with the Fort Worth Art Fair. Both take place on the same days this weekend: April 18-21.
The first year of the Fort Worth Art Fair was held in 2022 and was created to showcase local Fort Worth artists and galleries. This year will mark 37 years of the Main Street Arts Festival, which features artist booths, food vendors, live music and more along Main Street from the Fort Worth Convention Center to the Tarrant County Courthouse.
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What to know about arts festivals in downtown Fort Worth
Anyone can attend for free during the four days. Food vendors include a variety of cuisines. Turkey legs, funnel cakes, gumbo or empanadas are sure to keep guests’ stomachs full. There are four different eateries scattered around the city center.
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2nd Street (North Food Court)
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4th Street (Festival Central Food Court)
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6th Street
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9th Street (South Food Court)
And of course, there are the artists — 90 percent of whom are from Fort Worth. All the different mediums make for a diverse panel of artists and their work. Last year’s ‘Best of Show’ artist, John Blackwell, will return to stand 720.
The 2023 festival had 350,000 guests and they expect the same this year. Here are some suggestions you should know before you enter the great crowd of guests.
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The festival starts at 10am and ends at 8pm every day except Sunday which closes at 6pm
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While the festival is outdoors, they ask guests to leave pets at home. If you do bring your pet, leashes must be 6 inches or less and kept away from art stands. Pets are allowed.
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Only credit cards are accepted in food stores. No cash.
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Free water stations are scattered throughout the festival area.
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There will be street closures for the festival. Double-check the map to make sure you don’t plan to park in a closed parking lot.
100 different musicians will participate. The music stage is located in Sundance Square and will run:
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11am-10pm, Thursday and Sunday
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11 a.m. – midnight, Friday and Saturday.
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Thursday, April 18, will feature country and western musicians.
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Friday, April 19, will feature singers, songwriters and storytellers.
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Saturday, April 20, will feature jazz and rhythm and blues.
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Sunday, April 21, features some of the best dance bands in Fort Worth and North Texas.
The schedule varies for musicians. To check who will be participating, check out this list on the Main Street Arts Festival website.
What is the difference between the events?
Although both art festivals happen on the same days, the Fort Worth Art Fair and Main Street Art Festival are run by different groups.
The Fort Worth Art Fair is hosted by Sundance Square and the Main Street Art Festival is presented by Downtown Fort Worth Initiatives Inc. in partnership with PNC Bank.
Until 2022, the Main Street Arts Festival uses Sundance Square Plaza, located in the middle of Main Street, as a venue for about 50 artist booths.
While the Main Street Arts Festival features an Emerging Artists category for Fort Worth-based artists, the heritage festival also gives space to national and regional art; the Fort Worth Art Fair focuses solely on local art.
