Sundance Square is a 35-block commercial, residential, entertainment, and retail district. | Photo by @chrisyforbesvandyck
Located in the heart of downtown, Sundance Square has been an entertainment hotspot for 40+ years with small theaters, events, and entertainment that embrace Cowtown’s Western flare.
Originally established in the late 1970s by Bass Brother Enterprises, the 35-block area was named after the Sundance Kid, or Harry Alonzo Longabaugh, who often visited Fort Worth with his famous partner, Butch Cassidy.
Whether you’re stopping by as a tourist or exploring a new side of town — here’s how to spend a day in the downtown destination.
Arts Dang Good Candy | Opened by local artist Jay Wilkenson, the art gallery and studio provides emerging artists with a place to showcase their work.
Sid Richardson Museum | Explore Western art including paintings by Frederic Remington and Charles M. Russell.
Entertainment Live music | Kick back and relax with live music in the plaza every Friday-Sunday, 7-10 p.m.
Hyena’s Comedy Club | Grab a table or sit at the bar at this intimate comedy club for up-and-coming acts.
The cowboy hat is on display in Sundance Square Plaza.
Activities Indulge | Embrace your inner Barefoot Contessa with a cooking class or sip some afternoon tea with your best pals.
Disco Cowboy Hat | It won’t be around forever — snag a photo with the 6-ft tall cowboy hat before it’s gone for good.
Eat 3rd Street Market | There’s nothing better than the smell of fresh-baked bread — grab a sandwich + soup for the perfect lunch pairing.
Istanbul Grill | This is the place to go for Turkish cuisine — our readers recommend the mixed cold appetizer made with humus, babaganoush, spicy ezme, dolma, and piyaz.
Kimpton Harper Hotel | Grab a bite to eat at the in-house restaurant il Modo or head upstairs to Refinery 714 for drinks and happy hour with some of the best views of downtown.
Help build a playground | Tuesday, June 6 + Thursday, June 8 | Times vary | Mary Louise Phillips Elementary School, 3020 Bigham Blvd., Fort Worth | Free | Help build a new KABOOM! playground for local students — lunch, water, gloves, and safety materials will be provided.
Bingo | Tuesday, June 6 | 10:30 a.m.-12 p.m. | Thomas Place Community Center, 4237 Lafayette Ave., Fort Worth | Free | Spend the morning sipping coffee with friends and playing the classic game of Bingo.
Texas Rangers | Tuesday, June 6-Wednesday, June 7 | 7:05 p.m. | Globe Life Field, 734 Stadium Dr., Arlington | $17-$570 | The Rangers will step up to the plate against the St. Louis Cardinals.
Wednesday, June 7
Summer Arts Program | Wednesday, June 7-Wednesday, June 28 | 1-2:30 p.m. | Lenora Rolla Heritage Center Museum, 1020 E. Humbolt St., Fort Worth | Free | Explore Tarrant County’s rich African American history through art, conversation, and activities during a four-week workshop.
Indoor Vendor Market | Wednesday, June 7 | 5-9 p.m. | Rahr & Sons Brewing Co., 701 Galveston Ave., Fort Worth | $20 | The market will feature live music, 25+ local businesses, food trucks, and an acrylic paint-pouring class — a ticket includes a souvenir glass and three beers.
Thursday, June 8
FWSO’s Concerts in the Garden | Thursday, June 8-Sunday, June 11 | 8:30 p.m. | Fort Worth Botanic Garden, 3220 Botanic Garden Blvd., Fort Worth | $28 | Dance under a starry sky to the music of Led Zeppelin, REWIND: Music of the 80s, or the music of Star Wars — don’t miss a special post-concert drone show.*
Friday, June 9
Koe Wetzel | Friday, June 9 | 6:30 p.m. | Dickies Arena, 1911 Montgomery St., Fort Worth | $49-$250 | The Texas-born artist will be joined by special guests Treaty Oak Revival and Huser Brothers during his “2023 Road to Hell Paso” tour.
Mouth-watering goodness only at Mama Angie’s. | Photo by Mama Angie’s
Have a party to plan? Whether it’s a family get-together, special dinner, or corporate event, Mama Angie’s Private Party Room or Patiojust might be the perfect venue.
Let them do the work, while you and the fam, friends, or coworkers have all the fun. To learn more about food options and booking your next event (fajita buffet or nacho bar, anyone?), just fill out this handy form.*
Calhoun Street from 7th to 12th Street will temporarily close on Thursday, June 8 as a new crane is brought to the construction site of Deco 969. The city said the downtown closures will begin at 9 a.m. and continue through Monday, June 12 at 6 a.m.
Open
There’s a new place to grab a cup of joe in Burleson. Roasted Beeanery opened last week near Bailey Lake Park (317 W. Hidden Creek Pkwy.). The coffee shop features a drive-thru and serves milk tea, coffee, matcha, cold brew, and more.
Civic
The city received $17.2 million in federal funds to build a new bridge over the train tracks at Bonds Ranch Road. The ~$23 million project will add a four-lane road over the BNSF tracks along with bike + pedestrian lanes. Construction is scheduled to begin in 2026. (Fort Worth Star-Telegram)
Coming Soon
We doughnut know about y’all, but we can’t wait to try the new doughnut cafe coming to the Westcliff Center. Batter & Beans will open south of TCU at 3548 South Hills Ave. later this fall and will serve coffee, miniature doughnuts, fresh lemonade, and ice cream. (CultureMap Fort Worth)
Festival
Glizzy Fest will return to Martin House Brewing Company this Saturday with State Fair treats, live music, and vendors. Head to the brewery from 12 to 5 p.m. to try the new mustard beer and partake in a corny dog-eating contest. A $15 ticket includes four beers and a souvenir pint glass.
Holiday
Juneteenth is Monday, June 19, marking the day slavery was finally abolished in the US, nearly two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation. Commemorate the holiday throughout June with a presentation from civil rights activist Donald Payton, the Freedom Fest Walk/Run, and JuneteenthFTW.
For Family
Hey, moms + dads — we know having kids can impact your savings. This card is extra helpful to on-the-go families, offering 2% flat-rate cash rewards and a generous welcome bonus. Learn more.*
Travel
It’s time to plan that last summer hurrah for Labor Day weekend. May we suggest a coastal getaway to the Outer Banks? Or maybe your dream destination is a rustic treehouse in the Adirondack Mountains. Wanna splurge? This modern farmhouse in Napa Valley is sure to be unforgettable.*
Construction is expected to start on The Harden at the Public Market in late June. | Rendering by Wilks Development
The Fort Worth Public Market will soon be brought back to life with the addition of a thriving senior living facility.
Crews will begin construction on a new, five-story residential community later this month called The Harden at the Public Market, which will back up to the original 100-year-old market at 1400 Henderson St.
The historic landmark opened on June 20, 1930, and was originally a public market with 145 vendor stalls and 30 permanent retail spots.
With a restorative approach in mind, Wilks Development along with local design firm BOKAPowell Architects will transform the historic structure and create a vibrant community with 199 rooms, a parking garage, a fitness center, and a cafe.
The project is expected to wrap up by late 2024 with pre-leasing starting this fall.
Click the button below to learn how to become a vendor in the reimagined space.
Get ready for the return of the scorching Texas heat — According to the National Weather Service of Fort Worth, temperatures this weekend will reach the mid-90s, but the heat index could make it feel anywhere from the high 90s to low 100.
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