Main St. Fort Worth Arts Festival Returns on April 20-23 For 32nd Year

Thousands will gather in Downtown Fort Worth for arts, music, food and culture at Texas’ largest arts festival

FORT WORTH, TEXAS (February 2017) — On April 20-23, 2017, MAIN ST. Fort Worth Arts Festival (MAIN ST.) will bring the “art and soul of Texas” to Downtown Fort Worth for its 32nd year. Tens of thousands of spectators will gather to experience the finest in art, music, food, and culture at the #1 ranked arts festival in Texas. Spanning more than 27 city blocks, MAIN ST. will spotlight 213 hand-selected artists, showcase hundreds of performers across four stages, feature authentic Texas cuisine, and provide arts-and-crafts activities the whole family can enjoy.

Dubbed by In Style as one of this year’s “under-the-radar arts festivals you need to start planning for now,” MAIN ST. attracts a wide variety of artists, dancers, musicians and food vendors to Fort Worth year after year. The annual four-day celebration is a three-time recipient of the “Grand Pinnacle” award, and 2016 winner of the “Zenith” award from the International Festivals and Events Association. Gaining both local and national recognition, MAIN ST. has also received Fort Worth Weekly’s Best of Fort Worth 2016 “Readers’ Choice-Festival” award, and was listed as one of the nation’s 10 Best Art Festivals by USA Today in 2015.

“Over the past 32 years, MAIN ST. has evolved into one of the most distinguished and well-attended arts festivals in the country,” said Becky Renfro Borbolla, chairman of the Festivals and Events Committee for Downtown Fort Worth Initiatives, Inc. “We’re eager to see this year’s festival transform downtown into an outdoor gallery and stage, packed with fine art, food, music, and cowboy culture.”

GET THE VIBE

Honored by the Art Fair Source Book as the highest-ranking fine art show in Texas, MAIN ST. will exhibit a diverse blend of local, national and international artists throughout downtown’s “magnificent mile.” Of the 1,313 applications received, only 213 artists were selected to exhibit their work. Last year’s Best of Show-winner, John Deng, and Best Emerging Artist-winner, Danika Ostrowski, are returning, along with previous award-winners and festival favorites, Jeffrey Cannon and Marvin Blackmore, among others. By the end of the festival, more than $4.6 million worth of art is expected to be sold across 15 mediums, including ceramics, jewelry, mixed-media, printmaking, digital, fiber, leather, painting, sculpture, drawing pastels, glass, metalwork, wood and photography. Details such as artist statements, booth numbers, artwork examples, and more can be found online at MAIN ST.’s “Fine Art Showcase.

With hundreds of performers across four stages, the 2017 MAIN ST. musical lineup will offer an assortment of genres, ranging from country and rock ‘n’ roll to jazz and blues. Local, regional and national talent will occupy the UT Arlington MAIN Stage, Sundance Square Stage, Star-Telegram Performing Arts Stage, and Frost “Locals Only” Stage along the red bricks of Main Street. Headliners include folk music group Elephant Revival, Jamaican reggae duo Chaka Demus & Pliers, rock/blues guitarist Doyle Bramhall II, country singer-songwriter Rodney Crowell, “The Voice” finalist and Texas country artist Austin Allsup, and many more. The entertainment schedule, performance dates and times, and musician biographies can be found online at MAIN ST.’s “Music on MAIN” page.

MAIN ST. 2017 will feature a wide variety of culinary art to satisfy almost every appetite, including crawfish, turkey legs, bratwurst, gourmet hamburgers, funnel cakes, and frozen treats. Festivalgoers can also find local, national and international craft beers in the Craft Brew Pavilion, or grab wine by-the-glass at the “Wine Experience” tasting tent. A full list of participating restaurants and beverage vendors can be found online at MAIN ST.’s “Culinary Arts” page.

“MAIN ST. Creates!,” presented by Wells Fargo, will return for another year with arts-and-crafts activities for the whole family. Opening at 10 a.m. daily at the north end of the festival, MAIN ST.’s outdoor arts-and-crafts studio will feature balloon design, face paint, mural walls, jewelry, sand art, and more. Festivalgoers can also find Tarrant County College’s “Young People’s Art Fair,” featuring art from more than 200 emerging young artists within the “MAIN ST. Creates!” area. A full list of activities can be found online at MAIN ST.’s “MAIN ST. Creates!” page.

GET INVOLVED

Every year, MAIN ST. receives a tremendous amount of support from the Fort Worth community. Those interested in being a part of this year’s festival can get involved by volunteering or joining the Friends of the Festival program. Volunteers can assist with anything from hospitality to merchandise sales, and receive perks including free t-shirts, food and beverages, merchandise discounts, and more. The Friends of the Festival program provides businesses with networking opportunities and exposure through logo placements, dinners, Skybox access, commemorative merchandise, and more.

GET THE DETAILS

MAIN ST. is annually produced by Downtown Fort Worth Initiatives, Inc., and is free to the public. The official hashtag for 2017 is #MAINST2017. Festival hours for 2017 are:

  • Thursday, April 20, 2017: 10 a.m. – 10 p.m.
  • Friday, April 21, 2017: 10 a.m. – 11 p.m.
  • Saturday, April 22, 2017: 10 a.m. – 11 p.m.
  • Sunday, April 23, 2017: 10 a.m. – 8 p.m.

For more information, download the updated-and-free MAIN ST. iPhone or Android mobile app, or visit / follow MAIN ST. online at:

ABOUT MAIN ST. FORT WORTH ARTS FESTIVAL

The MAIN ST. Fort Worth Arts Festival celebrates its 32nd year in 2017 and is presented by Blue Moon Brewing Company®, which is distributed throughout the DFW Metroplex by Andrews Distributing Company. Official sponsors for 2017 are Sundance Square, The University of Texas at Arlington, Tarrant County College and Wells Fargo. Media sponsors are the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, the Fort Worth Transportation Authority (The T), and the Trinity Railway Express (TRE). Radio sponsors are 92.1 HANK FM (KTFW-FM) and 95.9 The Ranch (KFWR-FM). Supporting sponsors are the Fort Worth Convention & Visitors Bureau, Frost Bank, and the Music Performance Trust Fund. Hotel sponsors are Omni Fort Worth Hotel, The Ashton Hotel, Worthington Renaissance Fort Worth Hotel, Courtyard Fort Worth Downtown / Blackstone, Hilton Fort Worth, and Sheraton Fort Worth Downtown Hotel. For more information, visit www.MainStreetArtsFest.org.

ABOUT DOWNTOWN FORT WORTH INITIATIVES, INC.

Downtown Fort Worth Initiatives, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) organization formed in 1988 to complement the work of Downtown Fort Worth, Inc. and the Public Improvement District by providing a funding pathway for charitable, educational and public-purpose activities, such as community festivals, residential development and park management. Downtown Fort Worth Initiatives, Inc. produces the annual MAIN ST. Fort Worth Arts Festival and the annual XTO Energy Parade of Lights. These events have an economic impact of more than $28 million annually and attract thousands of visitors to Downtown Fort Worth each year. For more information, visit www.DFWI.org.

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