Art for sale, live music and local eats come together at both the Main Street Arts Festival and the Fort Worth Art Fair.
These festivals are not associated with one another, they just both happen to take place on the same weekend, in the same area. The main difference is that the Main Street Arts Festival features national artists, whereas the Fort Worth Art Fair will have only Texas artists. Both are free to attend, so why not check out both?
The 39th annual Main Street Arts Festival will feature more than 200 artists from across the country. This year, it will take place from Thursday, April 16 until Sunday, April 19 in downtown Fort Worth.
The 5th annual Fort Worth Art Fair will bring more than 100 local and Texas artists to Fort Worth. This, too, will run from April 16 to 19, but only in Sundance Square, within the Main Street Arts Festival.
Here’s what to know about the two events.
Main Street Arts Festival goers take photos in front of a sculpture at the 2025 Main Street Arts Festival in downtown Fort Worth. Hannah Borer Courtesy photo by Main Street Arts Festival Main Street Arts Festival
The Main Street Arts Festival will feature artists from all around the country and an estimated $4 million of art will be sold, according to a news release. With more than 200 artists featured, there will be works in all media – sculpture, painting, photography, jewelry and mixed media, just to name a few.
Festival hours for 2026 are:
Thursday, April 16: 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.Friday, April 17: 10 a.m. to 11 p.m.Saturday, April 18: 10 a.m. to 11 p.m.Sunday, April 19: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
There are four stages that will feature cover bands, local artists, an Austin rock band, country and R&B singers as well as DJs.
For refreshments, there will be a wine patio located at 2nd and Main, four food courts and food trucks. To see the extensive list of vendors for practically every type of cuisine, visit the Main Street Arts festival website here.
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An artists live painting at the Fort Worth Art Fair in Sundance Square. Courtesy photo by Sundance Square Fort Worth Art Fair
The Fort Worth Art Fair will be located in Sundance Square plaza, featuring all Texas artists.
The fair will run from April 16 to 19, starting at 10:30 a.m. and ending at 9 p.m. daily.
Local musicians will perform from 10:30 a.m. until 11 p.m. on Thursday and Sunday, and until 1 a.m. on Friday and Saturday. Entertainment include mariachi bands, solo artists, jazz bands, country trios and more.
All restaurants will be open in Sundance Square for food and drinks. Drinks can be walked around with, as long as they remain in the fair premises.
Visitors crowd downtown Fort Worth during the second day of the Main Street Arts Festival on Friday, April 21, 2023. Amanda McCoy amccoy@star-telegram.com Parking, maps and road closures for the downtown Fort Worth art events
The Main Street Arts Festival will close down several streets, beginning on Monday, April 13 until Monday, April 20. There are too many to list, so see a full detailed list of road closures here.
Main Street Arts Festival will take up all blocks of Houston Street, Main Street and Commerce Street between the Fort Worth Convention Center (9th Street) until the Fort Worth Courthouse (E. Weatherford Street). See the festival map here.
The Fort Worth Art Fair operates within Sundance Square. Sundance Square plaza is from Houston to Commerce Streets between E. 3rd Street and E. 4th Street.
Parking for both festivals:
Parking is free at downtown parking meters after 6 p.m. on Thursday and Friday, and all day Saturday and Sunday.Outside of free parking hours, the next cheapest option would be metered parking. Download the FW Park app to pay a few dollars for a few hours.If all else fails, there are over 60 parking garages with paid options. See a full list of garages here.If you visit a Sundance Square business (see list of eligible businesses here), you get 2.5 hours of free parking in garages located at 345 W. 3rd St. and 265 W. 5th St. Otherwise, they cost $25 flat rate.
To avoid parking headaches, ride-sharing or public transportation is encouraged.
The TEXRail and Trinity Railway Express go right into Fort Worth Central Station which is just two blocks from the event.Trinity Metro’s Bus routes – 1, 2, 5, 6, 11, 46, 89, and the Orange Line – also go to Fort Worth Central Station. The blue line will have extended hours during the Main Street Arts Festival — running until 10 p.m. on Thursday, 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and 8 p.m. on Sunday.
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Ella Gonzales is a service journalism reporter for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. She is part of a team of local journalists who answer reader questions and write about life in North Texas. Ella mainly writes about local restaurants and where to find good deals around town.