Road closures, parking and transit options: A guide to Fort Worth’s art fair weekend
Two art fairs are coming to Fort Worth this weekend from Thursday through Sunday: the Main Street Arts Festival and Sundance Square’s new Fort Worth Art Fair.
For longtime residents, the Main Street Arts Festival may be a well-known name — this year marks its 35th edition in downtown Fort Worth after a two-year hiatus caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The festival, located along Main Street, is free and features artwork available for sale with a variety of mediums from printmaking to ceramics, as well as music, food and family activities.
This year also marks the first Fort Worth Art Fair, hosted in Sundance Square Plaza. The fair will feature local art, musical talents, food and more. VIP passes are available at $100 a day for those wanting to partake in special tastings and private spaces away from crowds.
Representatives with the Fort Worth Art Fair said in an Instagram post that the inaugural fair is taking place during the Main Street Arts Festival to shine a light on Fort Worth-based talent.
“While everyone is downtown enjoying the national artists that Main Street brings, we want to give our community a chance to see the incredible local talent that Fort Worth has to offer,” representatives said in the comments.
Here’s what to know about road closures, parking and public transportation options to get in and around downtown.
Which roads will be closed in downtown Fort Worth during the art festivals?
A full list of closures throughout the week are listed on the Main Street Arts Festival website.
Here are the closures happening during the festival days.
April 7 from 12:01 a.m. through April 8 at 6 p.m.
- 6th Street and 7th Street from Houston Street to Commerce Street: two center lanes will be open until the end of evening peak hours at 6 p.m. Streets will re-open at 6 a.m. Friday, April 8 and then close at 6 p.m. for the duration of the events.
April 8, 6 p.m. through April 11, 6 a.m.
Main Street from Weatherford Street to 9th Street
1st Street-8th Street will be closed from Commerce Street to Houston Street
9th Street from Houston Street to Calhoun Street will also be closed
Houston Street from 12th Street to 9th Street will be open to local traffic only
Where can I park for free in downtown Fort Worth?
Free parking is available at downtown parking meters and in select garages weeknights after 6 p.m. and on weekends.
Here are the garages:
- Sundance Square garage at 345 W. 3rd St.
- City Center Garage at 400 Jones St.
- The Tower Garage at 400 Taylor St.
- 777 Main Parking Garage at 601 Commerce St.
What other parking is available in downtown Fort Worth?
Parking lanes on Weatherford Street, Commerce Street, Houston Street, 1st Street, 2nd Street, 4th Street and 8th Street will be closed as part of art festival road closures.
Sundance Square garage parking is free with validation from a Sundance Square business good for up to 2.5 hours on weekdays from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. The garages are at 345 W. 3rd St. and 201 W. 5th St. Parking rates in both garages are $5 per half hour and max out at a flat rate of $25 a day.
Will valet parking be available in downtown Fort Worth during the art festivals?
Valet parking will be available at the following locations:
5th Street from Commerce Street to Houston Street is among the downtown road closures, however Embassy Suites located at 600 Commerce St. will have its valet maintained through contra-flow from Commerce Street. AC Hotel at 101 W 5th St. will have its valet maintained by contra-flow from Houston Street.
Sixth Street from Commerce Street to Houston Street will also be closed, but valet at the Ashton Hotel, 610 Main St., and Grace, 777 Main St., will continue by contra-flow from Houston Street.
Kimpton Harper Hotel, 714 Main St., and Capital Grille, 800 Main St, will continue valet parking through contra-flow from Houston Street.
What public transportation options are available to get to downtown Fort Worth?
Trinity Metro will have multiple options to get to the festivals by bus or by train.
Bus routes that will take riders to Fort Worth Central Station at 1001 Jones St., about a block from the festivals, are routes 1, 2, 5, 6, 11, 12, 15, 46, 89 and The Dash. Laura Hanna, Trinity Metro director of communications, said Molly the Trolley will also be available to help people get around town when they’re tired of walking.
Both TEXRail and Trinity Railway Express will operate all four days of the festival, including a special TRE Sunday train, dropping off and picking up passengers at Fort Worth Central Station. Day passes start at $5 for adults and $2.50 for ages 5-19, 65 and older, riders with disabilities or Medicare card holders.
Bike sharing is also available around downtown with dozens of bike stands available for rides by the hour. Pay at a bike station kiosk or by using the BCycle app on your smartphone. A day pass is $8 for unlimited rides in hour increments. Bikes can be returned at any Fort Worth Bike Sharing station.
This story was originally published April 5, 2022 at 4:34 PM.
