Apr

12

2018

Main St. Fort Worth Arts Festival Bringing The “Art and Soul” Of Texas to Downtown Fort Worth For 33rd Year on April 19-22

Texas’ largest arts festival will bring together thousands in attendance to experience the finest in arts, music, food and culture

FORT WORTH, TEXAS (February 12, 2018) — MAIN ST. Fort Worth Arts Festival (MAIN ST.) will hit the streets of Downtown Fort Worth on April 19-22, 2018, for its 33rd year, bringing together tens of thousands of people to celebrate the sights, sounds, and tastes of the highest-ranking arts festival in Texas. Spanning more than 27 city blocks from the Tarrant County Courthouse to Sundance Square Plaza to the Fort Worth Convention Center, MAIN ST. will feature 223 juried artists from across the U.S., chart-topping entertainers, authentic Texas cuisine, and arts-and-crafts activities for the whole family.

Ranked by the ArtFairSourceBook.com as #4 fine art event in the U.S., MAIN ST. has gained both local and national recognition year-after-year. The annual, free event is a three-time recipient of the “Grand Pinnacle” award and back-to-back winner of the “Zenith” award from the International Festivals and Events Association over the past several years. Last year, MAIN ST. received Fort Worth Magazine’s Best of Fort Worth “Readers’ Choice – Festival” award, and was listed as one of InStyle’s “under-the-radar arts festivals you need to start planning for now.”

“MAIN ST. is one of Fort Worth’s most anticipated and well-attended events,” said Becky Renfro Borbolla, chairman of the Festivals and Events Committee for Downtown Fort Worth Initiatives, Inc. “It brings together people from all walks of life to our award-winning Downtown business district to celebrate incredible art and music in an urban setting.”

GET INFORMED

1,273 artists applied to exhibit this year, and only 223 were selected. Last year’s Best of Show-winner Marvin Blackmore and Best Emerging Artist-winner Matt Tumlinson will be returning, along with People’s Choice-winner Tai Taeoalii and other festival favorites. Approximately $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. Over 25 aspiring local artists will also be featured on 3rd and 4th Streets, sponsored by Frost, with a focus on Texas art. For more information, visit “Fine Art Showcase.”

This year’s musical lineup features hundreds of performers across a variety of genres, ranging from country, rock ‘n’ roll, jazz, soul and R&B. Festivalgoers can enjoy musical performances on the UTA Main Stage and Sundance Square Stage, along with plenty of street performances throughout MAIN ST.’s “magnificent mile.” Headliners include folk music group Jamestown Revival, contemporary swing band Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, Latin Jazz ensemble Pacific Mambo Orchestra, Americana group Shane Smith & The Saints, and many more. For more information, visit “Music on MAIN.”

MAIN ST. attracts many of the region’s top culinary artists to the streets of Downtown, and features a wide variety of food and beverages, including crawfish, turkey legs, bratwurst, gourmet hamburgers, funnel cakes, frozen treats and more. Festivalgoers can also enjoy local, national and international craft beers in the “Craft Brew Pavilion” or wines by-the-glass in the “Wine Experience” tasting tent. For more information, visit “Culinary Arts.”

Also returning for 2018 is “MAIN ST. Creates!,” presented by Wells Fargo, an outdoor arts-and-crafts studio for children and families featuring balloon design, face paint, mural walls, jewelry, sand art, and more. Opening at 10 a.m. daily at the north end of the festival, “MAIN ST. Creates!” is also home to the Tarrant County College’s “Young People’s Art Fair,” showcasing art from more than 200 emerging, young artists. For more information, visit “MAIN ST. Creates!.”

GET INVOLVED

MAIN ST. couldn’t take place without the tremendous support and dedication of more than 1,200 volunteers, sponsored by Frost. Volunteers assist with all festival operations, from hospitality to merchandise sales, and receive perks including free t-shirts, food and beverages, merchandise discounts, and more. Those interested in being a part of this year’s festival can get involved by simply signing up online.

The new, enhanced Friends of the Festival program is another great way to get behind-the-scenes and participate in an upgraded MAIN ST. experience, while supporting the efforts to maintain the John F. Kennedy Tribute sculpture in General Worth Square. The Friends of the Festival program provides businesses with networking opportunities and exposure through logo placements, dinners, VIP Pavilion access, special receptions with invited artists, and more.

GET CONNECTED

MAIN ST. is annually produced by Downtown Fort Worth Initiatives, Inc., and is free to the public. The official hashtag for 2018 is #MainSt2018. Festival hours for 2018 are:

  • Thursday, April 19, 2018: 10 a.m. – 10 p.m.
  • Friday, April 20, 2018: 10 a.m. – 11 p.m.
  • Saturday, April 21, 2018: 10 a.m. – 11 p.m.
  • Sunday, April 22, 2018: 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 is celebrating its 33rd year in 2018. Official sponsors for 2018 are Sundance Square, The University of Texas at Arlington, Tarrant County College, Michelob Ultra, and Wells Fargo. Media sponsors are Trinity Metro and 360 West. Radio sponsors are 92.1 HANK FM (KTFW-FM) and 95.9 The Ranch (KFWR-FM). Supporting sponsors are Chloe Wine Collection, Frost Bank, and the Music Performance Trust Fund. Hotel sponsors are Aloft Fort Worth Downtown, The Ashton Hotel, Courtyard Fort Worth Downtown/Blackstone, Sheraton Fort Worth Downtown Hotel, and TownePlace Suites Fort Worth Downtown. 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. by providing a funding pathway for charitable, educational and public-purpose activities, such as community festivals, affordable residential development, park improvements and management. Downtown Fort Worth Initiatives, Inc. produces the MAIN ST. Fort Worth Arts Festival each fall and Parade of Lights during the holidays. These events have an economic impact of more than $28 million annually and attract hundreds of thousands of visitors to Downtown Fort Worth each year. For more information, visit www.DFWI.org.

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