Reports indicate that Fort Worth’s fine-arts scene generates $507 million in annual economic activity. More than 7,000 regional jobs and more than $300 million in employment wages mingle with attendees spending ~$44 per person beyond the cost of admission on food, drinks, lodging, and retail. Fort Worth cultural events draw nearly 6 million attendees every year. The arts are big business in the Great 817. Now, using numbers to bolster greatness can also work against you. Some philistines in power will spout b.s. like, “Well, why aren’t revenues higher? Why are expenses so big?” What’s not tabulated is the cultural cache our city now has because of its fine-arts scene. It needs to be said: Fort Worth takes a backseat to no other Southwestern city when it comes to the arts, including — and especially — Dallas, Austin, Houston, and even New Mexico and Los Angeles. True, we have about the same number of art galleries we’ve always had, but our symphony, ballet, and theater remain world-class. And that’s something to raise a glass to.
Art Gallery
Readers’ Choice: William Campbell Gallery (217 Foch St, Fort Worth, 817-737-9566)
Critic’s Choice: Fort Works Art (2100 Montgomery St, Fort Worth, 817-759-9475)
In a time and place when art is not appreciated or supported by the philistines in charge, that this elegant slice of New York City near Dickies Arena in the Cultural District has survived for a decade means we art lovers aren’t going anywhere anytime soon. Happy birthday, Fort Works Art, and congrats.
Art Gallery Exhibit
Readers’ Choice: Still Life by Billy Hassell at William Campbell Gallery (217 Foch St, Fort Worth, 817-737-9566)
Critic’s Choice: TEN at Fort Works Art (2100 Montgomery St, Fort Worth, 817-759-9475)
With the utmost props to Artspace111, William Campbell, and other art-forward galleries, we like that the good folks at Fort Works Art seem to go out of their way to display pieces that can’t just be hung over the sofa. Example A: Crystal Wagner’s immersive lightshow as part of the gallery’s titular 10th anniversary group exhibit. A gathering of some of the best artists in the great 817 and others, TEN not only boasted that interactive element but brought together progressive, intense, mostly representative painting to reflect not only the gallery’s ethos but the region’s immense, diverse talent.
Courtesy the artist, Fort Works Art
Artist
Readers’ Choice: Bethany Joseph (@BJoFineArt, BethanyJosephFineArt.com)
Critic’s Choice: Kerri Menchaca (KerrisMenchaca.com, @Kerriasm)
Fort Worth native Kerri Menchaca studied under legendary Fort Worthian Dennis Blagg, and it certainly shows. In her photorealist paintings, she tackles wild terrain kissed with surrealism. A circular flock of buzzards here, a giant-size moon there, a massive lollipop suspended over a quiet landscape. The sweat equity in every piece demands close viewing, and what we like best about her approach is that it encourages mystery and more than a hint of the supernatural, which is appropriate for an area as vast, untamed, and spiritual as the deserts of the Southwest and the mountains of Colorado and New Mexico. The tack also differentiates her precise paintings from journalistic photographs of the same matter, and we’re all grateful for that. Fort Works Art represents Menchaca locally.
Courtesy JanRigginsArt.com
Street Artist
Critic’s Choice: Jan Riggins (JanRigginsArt.com)
You may have been introduced to Jan Riggins’s art in Sundance Square during the World Cup, but she’s placed her works on pavements across the area and beyond. You’ll marvel at her ability to create a three-dimensional feel on a piece of flooring. Her pieces are full-color and fully interactive — people will look at your photos posing with her pieces on Instagram and do a double-take. She even provides guidance on the best place to stand for an ideal image. An Oklahoman now based in Fort Worth, Riggins also creates murals.
Arts & Crafts Event
Readers’ Choice: ArtsGoggle on the Near Southside (ArtsGoggle.org)
Critic’s Choice: Makerspace Classes at The Welman Project (2109 S Main St, Fort Worth, 817-924-4000)
Along with providing supplies for local educators at a deep discount, the Welman Project has a resale shop and classes for the general public. If you’re new to arts and crafts, start with the Secret Society of the Imaginari, where you can learn to use maker tools, like drills, simple saws, and more. Soon, you’ll graduate to other adult classes and workshops, like the Hot Mess Craft Club. For info on upcoming classes, visit My.TheWelmanProject.org/adults.
Bass Art
Critic’s Choice: Tanner Leaser (@Tanner41gb)
Professional pinstriper and custom painter Tanner Leaser is also a bassist for long-running local punkers 41 Gorgeous Blocks, and his collaborations with Bomber Basses — the California-based custom shop of Lagwagon/RKL bassist Joe Raposo — are stunning works of playable art.
Burlesque
Readers’ Choice: Circus Bitties at Meow Wolf (3000 Grapevine Mills Pkwy, Ste 253, Grapevine, @CircusBitties)
Critic’s Choice: Nightshade Burlesque at The Cicada (1002 S Main St, Fort Worth, @The_Cicada_FTW)
In Fort Worth, the reigning queens of cabaret are the outrageous, vivacious vixens of Nightshade Burlesque. Their monthly residency at The Cicada is not to be missed, and their rotating cast always keeps the show fresh.
Concert
Readers’ Choice: Resistance Rock on Mar 29 at The Cicada (1002 S Main St, Fort Worth, @The_Cicada_FTW)
Critic’s Choice: Empty Shell Casing on Aug 28 at Tulips FTW (112 St. Louis Av, Fort Worth, 817-367-9798)
If that Empty Shell Casing show at Tulips FTW is any indication, nü-metal is back. Tulips holds something like
500 people, and that place was full-on raging, pretty much a constant pit. The next day, Tulips’ staff all had the astounded smile of someone who managed to live through a tornado. More shows like that, please!
Courtesy St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church
Culinary Event
Readers’ Choice: Priory Beer Dinners at Southside Cellar (125 S Main St, Fort Worth, 682-703-2184, @PrioryBeer)
Critic’s Choice: Fort Worth Greek Festival at St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church (2020 NW 21st St, Fort Worth, 817-626-5578)
This fall, the Fort Worth Greek Festival will be celebrating its 58th anniversary. From Nov 13-15, you can attend the festival, eat some of the most delicious Greek food in town (prepared by church members), and buy frozen meals to take home. Trust us. It’s worth it. We highly recommend the Athenian chicken plate. You can also drink Greek beer and wine, tour the gorgeous church, and enjoy traditional dance performances. This is a free event and absolutely a must-see.
Cultural Event
Readers’ Choice: Trinity Pride Fest on Jun 27 on the Near Southside (TrinityPrideFW.org)
Critic’s Choice: Sundance Square Car & Culture Show on Sep 19 in Sundance Square Plaza (420 Main St, Fort Worth, 817-222-1111)
For the fourth year in a row, Sundance Square kicked off Hispanic Heritage Month with a free celebration of Latin culture and the lowrider car community. All day long, the plaza and surrounding streets were filled with live music, Folklorico dance, local food, market vendors, and a car show. As it was also Fall Gallery Night, there was much to see at the galleries along Houston Street as well.
Dance Troupe
Readers’ Choice: Studio of MoveMINT (5512 Bellaire Dr S, Ste 140, Fort Worth, 682-312-0442)
Critic’s Choice: Ballet Folklorico Azteca (4200 S Fwy, Ste 1830, Fort Worth, 817-454-2778)
This dance organization was established in 1975 and just celebrated its 50th anniversary last year. It grew from a community effort to give children an after-school activity and preserve Mexican cultural traditions to becoming one of Fort Worth’s most recognized Mexican folk dance organizations. With about 95 dancers, ages 3 to 65, it isn’t simply a children’s dance school or a group of young competitive dancers. Multiple generations participate in the same cultural tradition, but if you have kids who want lessons, Ballet Folklorico’s studio is on the lower level of La Gran Plaza de Fort Worth shopping mall and holds open registration in January and July. The group’s current director, Carol Alvarado, is the daughter of founder Angelina Morales. Alvarado was one of the organization’s earliest students, and 11 family members currently participate, including daughters who teach and a granddaughter who dances. So, it’s a family affair.
Day Trip
Readers’ Choice: Palo Pinto Mountain State Park (100 Park Rd, Ste 77, Strawn, 254-672-5684)
Critic’s Choice: Denton
Much like Fort Worth, Denton has a very active music scene. Several notable bands from there make our annual Music Awards roster in the regional category. The city’s independent spirit also gives Austin vibes. In fact, Austin-based Alamo Drafthouse has a Denton location, which houses one of North Texas’ best film events: Thin Line Festival. Small businesses thrive there, and UNT gives it a college-town feel. Keep on keeping on, and we’ll keep visiting. We love you.
Dog Park
Readers’ Choice: ZBonz Dog Park (6950 Camp Bowie West Blvd, Fort Worth, 817-392-5700)
Critic’s Choice: The Bark Park at Bear Creek Park (3230 S Hwy 360, Grapevine, 817-410-3450)
No matter the size, shape, or behavior of your beloved four-legged companion, there is a place for all to play at the Bark Park at Bear Creek Park in Grapevine. There are two designated “paddocks,” one for large dogs and one for small furballs (under 25 pounds) to roam around off leash. The large paddock features an agility course along with a motion-activated splash pad. Small dogs also have plenty of opportunity for play, with ample room to run around on the turf field. For each dog’s human, there are plenty of shade structures and benches within each paddock. Since your canine may have a tendency to roll around in something they shouldn’t, the Bark Park also provides a washing station.
Drag Performer
Readers’ Choice: Arsenic Aney (LinkTr.ee/ArsenicAney)
Critic’s Choice: Deja Dubois (@DejaD_Dubois)
The outgoing Texas Entertainer of the Year from 2025, Dubois is a natural choice as she’s ruled the drag pageant circuit as well as any stage she graces as a commanding performer, style goddess, and MC. She recently hosted the wildly successful ALT GLAM Drag Brunch at Tulips FTW. No audience member is safe from her charms, nor will they want to be. Her statewide title, local presence, and experience leading large-scale productions make her our choice in a competitive and talented field of fabulousness.
Entertainment Spot
Readers’ Choice (Top 3): Electric Starship Arcade (5620 Denton Hwy, Haltom City, 817-479-6366), Mule Alley (122 E Exchange Av, Fort Worth, 817-994-9567), and Tulips FTW (112 St. Louis Av, Fort Worth, 817-367-9798)
Critic’s Choice: Southside Preservation Hall and Rose Chapel (1519 Lipscomb St, Fort Worth, 817-926-2800)
To qualify as a contender for best entertainment spot, a business or organization needs to go above and beyond its core entertainment purpose by offering a variety of interesting activities and events. Southside Preservation Hall certainly applies. In addition to hosting concerts in its beautiful, historic facility, it is also home to Southside Monster Market, a monthly nighttime event with 40 vendor booths, live music, and film screenings. Other upcoming events include the Fort Worth Zine Fest in October and the Fort Worth Songwriter Festival in November. Any given evening, you can see themed performances like the Candlelight Concerts in the Dark series, take swing dance lessons, or meet up at community gatherings like yoga classes and open drum circles. There’s much to see and do at the hall, and it’s all quite entertaining.
Festival
Readers’ Choice: Fort Worth Oktoberfest at Trinity Park (2933 Farmhouse Way, Fort Worth, FortWorthOktoberfest.com)
Critic’s Choice: JAMBALOO (Feb 7-15, various locations)
Held in venues across Fort Worth, Dallas, and Grand Prairie, the second edition of the annual music festival presented by personal injury firm Mullen & Mullen featured even more local bands and an informative symposium about mental health resources for local musicians, and it brought legendary alt-rockers Tripping Daisy to play a sold-out show at Tulips FTW. By showcasing local talent and keeping the shows free, JAMBALOO is helping to grow this region’s music scene and elevate it on a national level.
Haunted Attraction
Readers’ Choice: Hangman’s House of Horrors (4400 Blue Mound Rd, Fort Worth, Hangmans.com)
Critic’s Choice: Scarborough’s Hollow (2511 FM 66, Waxahachie, @ScarboroughsHollow)
For the past two years during late summer/early fall, lovable Scarborough Renaissance Festival has transformed into a vibrant yet spooky Halloween fantasy. Scarborough’s Hollow offers more than 20 live acts, 70 artisan shoppes, and a wild lineup of drinks and eats, including apple-pie nachos, s’mores funnel cake, hot-chocolate bombs, pumpkin-pie fluff, soups served in bread bowls, and, indeed, gigantic turkey legs. Scarborough’s Hollow is open every Sat 1-9pm now thru Halloween, Oct 31, with a special Día de los Muertos celebration on Nov 1.
Kids’ Activity
Readers’ Choice: Riding Lessons or Trail Rides at Benbrook Stables (10001 Benbrook Blvd, Fort Worth, 817-249-1001)
Critic’s Choice: Rockwood Go-Karts & Mini-Golf (700 N University Dr, Fort Worth, 817-626-1913)
For those with older elementary-aged kids, Rockwood is a natural choice if you want to party like it’s 1999. Their go-karts are well-maintained and faster than most, and the course is an easy layout to floor the gas and have fun, rather than having to think too much about racing lines. Miniature golf is the real standout for this facility, with a course that more resembles an actual miniaturized proper golf course rather than something that feels like a playground with crappy green carpet. Texas-themed with waterfalls, hazards, and removable pins, Rockwood’s course feels more like training for your next weekend getaway than doing something specifically for the kids. Rockwood is open every day until at least 10pm and also hosts parties and events.
Place to Take Kids
Readers’ Choices (tie): Fort Worth Museum of Science and History (1600 Gendy St, Fort Worth, 817-255-9300) and Fort Worth Zoo (1989 Colonial Pkwy, Fort Worth, 817-759-7555)
Critic’s Choice: DFW Car & Toy Museum (2550 McMillan Pkwy, Fort Worth, 817-834-3625)
Eager to appeal to kids as well as the inner child in adults, the DFW Car and Toy Museum, northeast of the Diamond Hill area, offers a mind-boggling collection of rare and antique toys, some automotive-centric and some not, as well as a collection of more than 200 vehicles that the word “eclectic” does not effectively describe. Enthusiasts and curious onlookers alike can experience everything from 1980s Ferraris to a replica of the van from Scooby-Doo, all the way to a tractor built by Lamborghini, all within the same 150,000 square-foot facility. Vintage toy cars, Monopoly boards, personal banks, and robots are all on display. The best part is that this experience is 100% free, thanks to the life’s work of Ron Sturgeon, who turned a small auto-salvage operation into the largest in the country, making him a multimillionaire and able to lean into his love of cars and collectibles. The museum is open six days a week and closed only on Mondays. Check their calendar as they do rent the facility for events.
Place to See Movies
Readers’ Choice: AMC Dine-In Clearfork 8 (5015 Trailhead Bend Way, Fort Worth, 817-769-6762)
Critic’s Choice: AMC The Parks at Arlington 18 (3861 S Cooper St, Arlington, 817-505-4517)
Dolby, laser, and IMAX options are all within their capabilities at AMC The Parks, and there’s something comforting and nostalgic about seeing a movie at the mall. Open-air retail malls are the new norm, but a few spots still let you hit the food court, shop for new kicks, do some ice skating, and see the latest blockbuster all within the great indoors (which is great since it’s still so hot out there). AMC The Parks is multi-level, with the ticket office on the first floor by the ice-skating rink and a small escalator to the theater lobby. All of the above makes for an … elevated experience.
Place to Never See Movies Again
Critic’s Choice: Coyote Drive-In (223 NE 4th St, Fort Worth, 817-717-7767)
R.I.P. to our beloved Coyote Drive-In. Thanks to the next phase of the Panther Island project, which will involve the 18-acre drive-in property, the last picture show was Labor Day weekend. The experience of sitting in a comfy folding chair under the stars, noshing on popcorn or burgers, sipping adult beverages, and taking in a blockbuster with the Fort Worth skyline as your backdrop will be greatly missed. Thanks for 14 years of fun 🙁
Courtesy Abeeku Yankah
Museum Exhibit
Readers’ Choice: A Poem for Deep Thinkers by Rashid Johnson at the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth (3200 Darnell St, Fort Worth, 817-738-9215)
Critic’s Choice: Black Photojournalism at the Amon Carter Museum of American Art (3501 Camp Bowie Blvd, Fort Worth, 817-738-1933)
With work by more than 60 photographers across the United States between 1945 and the mid-1980s, the 250-plus photos comprising Black Photojournalism at the Carter spanned from major historical events to everyday life in Black America, offering as much deadly seriousness as unbridled Black joy.
Music Lessons
Readers’ Choice: Music Junkie Studios (1701 Enderly Pl, Fort Worth, 682-499-5732)
Critic’s Choice: Creative Soul (five area locations)
At its locations in Fort Worth, Colleyville, Keller, Southlake, and Lewisville, Creative Soul Music School offers classes intended for everyone from toddlers to adults across all skill levels, as well as a bunch of different camps that get kids jamming together, and the school even does a Band Date Night, in which an instructor shows you and your friend(s) how to play a song together.
Courtesy the artist
New Mural
Readers’ Choice: “Panther” mural by Juan Velazquez at Panther City Law Group (1413 Rio Grande Av, Fort Worth, 817-534-8000)
Critic’s Choice: Dolly Parton mural by Juan Velazquez at The Stagecoach Ballroom (2516 E Belknap St, Fort Worth, 817-831-2261)
When you get a moment, swing by The Stagecoach to see the new Dolly Parton mural, recently completed by Juan Velazquez, who painted it for his daughter, Anavea, who was sad about Dolly’s recent passing. It’s timely, and it’s the best. And it wasn’t projected. It was outlined, then hand-painted stroke by stroke. This is not really a surprise, as Velazquez is a consummate professional, so much so that one of his commercial endeavors, the Panther City Law Group mascot mural, was our readers’ choice this year, too.
Old Mural
Critic’s Choice: Dolly Parton mural by Katie Murray (@KatiePaintbrush)
Fort Worth is also home to another Dolly Parton mural. Local Katie Murray created one on the side of The Market at Ridglea (3400 Bernie Anderson Av, Fort Worth, 817-744-8630) many years ago. It is also beautiful and worthy of your attention and ours.
Nonprofit Organization
Readers’ Choice: LGBTQ Saves (@LGBTQSaves)
Critic’s Choice: Fort Worth Community Collaborative (8645 Camp Bowie West Blvd, Fort Worth, 682-338-3765)
Fort Worth Community Collaborative (FWCC) is an absolute pillar of the community. At their location, they provide people with access to free clothing, food, and hygiene products. They regularly host community events, like their back-to-school bash, and through their mutual aid actions, FWCC provides support to anyone who needs it. Their Cowtown Closet is also cool, too.
Courtesy Jessica Oxley, TRWD
Park
Readers’ Choice: Trinity Park (2401 University Dr, Fort Worth, 817-392-5700)
Critic’s Choice: Airfield Falls Trailhead and Conservation Park (200 Pumphrey Dr, Westworth Village, 817-720-4551)
If monarch butterflies like Airfield Falls Trailhead and Conservation Park, that’s certainly a strong recommendation (and a great reason to visit as they pass through on their migratory journeys). The park includes Tarrant County’s largest natural waterfall, which you can observe via the 1.9-mile hiking trail. Located near the Naval Air Station JRB, the park features décor like part of a retired McDonnell Douglas C-9 and a pavilion occupying the site of the former Carswell base commander’s home. Between the tree cover and landscaping done with water conservation in mind, Airfield Falls offers a lot for any urbanite looking to bond with nature.
Podcast
Readers’ Choice: Panther City Rebellion Podcast (@PantherCityRebellion)
Critic’s Choice: 817 Podcast (817Podcast.BuzzSprout.com, @817Pod)
Hosted by a trio of local activists (E.J. Carrion, former city councilmember Ann Zadeh, and producer Wesley Kirk), 817 Podcast talks local politics from a progressive, for-the-people/by-the-people POV that provides actionable information on the issues that will impact this city and county for decades.
Soccer Art
Critic’s Choice (tie): Arlington Museum of Art (1200 Ballpark Way, Arlington, 817-275-4600) and Fort Worth Museum of Science and History (1600 Gendy St, Fort Worth, 817-255-9300)
They call soccer “the beautiful game,” and a couple of local museums leaned into that sentiment this summer in conjunction with the World Cup’s presence in Tarrant County. The Fort Worth Museum of Science and History staged American Tifo, a collection of large supporter-created artistic canvases showcased in the stands before games. They came from all over the country, including a number from Texas. … The Arlington Museum of Art actually offered four exhibits in one. More Than a Match included historic maps of countries whose teams competed in Arlington, artifacts showcasing historical craftsmanship present in the tools of the game, a set of innovative works of soccer art from around the world, and a set of scarves contributed by supporters. For Texans of all ages new to the sport, both exhibits provided entry points for deepening a nascent fandom fueled by the energy surrounding the summer tournament. For those who already had an affinity for association football, they could marvel at the many ways their game manifests itself beyond the pitch.
Theater Production
Readers’ Choice (tie): Oil’s Well that Ends Well at Texas Star Dinner Theater (816 S Main St, Grapevine, 817-310-5588) and The Shark Is Broken at Amphibian Stage (120 S Main St, Fort Worth, 817-923-3012)
Critic’s Choice: The Shark Is Broken at Amphibian Stage
Like Art and a gazillion other plays before it, The Shark Is Broken proves we’ll never tire of three smart people in a room verbally sparring. And in the case of this Amphibian Stage show, physically sparring — that’s what happens when Richard Dreyfuss (Brandon Wilhelm) tosses a bottle of booze belonging to Robert Shaw (Brandon J. Murphy) overboard in this fictional retelling of the downtime spent among the two actors plus Roy Scheider (Jakie Cabe) during the 1974 filming of the 1976 summer blockbuster Jaws. Shaw is just a little displeased seeing his beloved drink go into the drink, which is just one of many dramatic moments in an entire production of frustration, rage, and resentment among three acclaimed actors who generally admire and respect one another. There’s a lot of laughs, too, some joyous but many more of the dark kind. Directed by David A. Miller with a script by one of Shaw’s children, Ian Shaw, with Joseph Nixon, the Phibs’ version showed what really good theater can do: humanize and civilize us. And that’s why it’s the best.
Courtesy Hip Pocket Theatre
Theater Troupe
Readers’ Choice & Critic’s Choice: Hip Pocket Theatre (1950 Silver Crk Rd, Fort Worth, 817-246-9775)
What 13 souls put together is difficult to pull apart. This multitalented ensemble not only acts but sings, has some mad dance moves, and writes and creates together. Their ability to dream up new experiences as a collective while maintaining the personal sparks highlighted in their work is truly impressive. Hip Pocket weaves together original productions that keep theater feeling fresh and revive the depth and soul that theater arts fans deserve.
