Fans of Fort Worth’s ArtsGoggle need to make sure they attend on Oct. 24 because the popular street festival will pause in 2027.
Major underground repairs on Magnolia Avenue are expected to begin in the spring, impeding organizers’ ability to host the 23-year-old festival next fall, Near Southside Inc. president Megan Henderson confirmed to the Fort Worth Report.
It is unclear when the festival will return after construction ends.
The Fort Worth Water Department is replacing old and deteriorated cast iron pipes beneath Magnolia Avenue and six other major Near Southside streets as part of a large initiative to reduce the amount of main breaks throughout the city, according to an online project overview.
Magnolia Village was identified as a critical location because pipe conditions in the historic neighborhood are “so poor,” Henderson said.
The project — occurring in phases — is expected to end in spring 2029, but the timeline could change based on the contractor, according to a city presentation. Project bids will begin in November.
“We will be providing a recommended phasing plan to bidders at the time (the) project is advertised for bid in an attempt to minimize disruption during construction and to accommodate proposed events on Magnolia Avenue,” the presentation reads.
The Open Streets event — which was canceled in April due to financial challenges — will also be placed on hold in spring 2027.
Organizers are calling on the community to attend this month’s ArtsGoggle festival and support the more than 800 artists who will sell their original art and handcrafted goods across 21 blocks of Magnolia. The event will also feature 64 free music performances and more than 50 local food vendors.
“(Artists and businesses) really need strong sales this year to help bolster their budget, so that they can go into the spring with some surplus reserves to make sure that they are financially stable,” Henderson said.
If you go
What: ArtsGoggle
When: Noon-10 p.m. Oct. 24
Where: Magnolia Avenue, Fort Worth
Admission: Free
The West Magnolia Avenue portion of the cast iron project is expected to begin in May and conclude within a timeframe that allows for ArtsGoggle’s return in October 2028, according to the presentation. The East Magnolia phase will begin next December.
A final decision on whether the festival will return that year has not been made, Henderson said.
Clayton Torrance, project manager with the water department, did not respond to a request for comment.
Instead of moving ArtsGoggle to another Near Southside street, the nonprofit managing the district wants to use festival funds to support businesses impacted by street closures.
Some Magnolia Village business owners are skeptical about whether their shops can survive the anticipated two-year project, Henderson said. The nonprofit is brainstorming smaller events to organize in the interim.
“This is a neighborhood that took us 30 years to turn into a vibrant, culturally rich destination street for the city,” she said. “We are dogmatic that we are going to support these businesses through construction, and we’re really calling upon the community to start that support.”
Near Southside’s bimonthly Third Thursdays art walk and Lost ’N Sound music event in November are continuing as planned in South Main Village.
Editor’s note: This story was updated at 1:02 p.m. Oct. 5 to clarify Megan Henderson’s comment about supporting artists and businesses.
David Moreno is the arts and culture reporter for the Fort Worth Report. Contact him at david.moreno@fortworthreport.org.
The Fort Worth Report’s arts and culture coverage is supported in part by the Meta Alice Keith Bratten Foundation and the Virginia Hobbs Charitable Trust. At the Report, news decisions are made independently of our board members and financial supporters. Read more about our editorial independence policy here.
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