Fort Worth Events, Things to Do and Festivals 2014 / 2015

(Fort Worth, Texas - TX, USA)

Being located so close to Dallas does mean that the calendar of events in Fort Worth is rather overshadowed by the numerous annual festivals staged virtually next-door.

The Dallas Mardi Gras carnival each February and the State Fair of Texas in September / October are particularly big draws for Dallas. However, that doesn't mean that there aren't plenty of things to do right here for much of the year, with many of the city's festivals drawing on its rich cowboy and cattle heritage.

There are often cultural performances and concerts staged at the city's plentiful theaters and halls. The acoustics within the Bass Performance Hall are especially impressive and this leading entertainment venue resides on Commerce Street, on the northern side of the city, where it can accommodate seated audiences of more then 2,000 people. Both the Fort Worth Opera society and the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra are based at this hall and regularly stage shows, along with the Texas Ballet Theater organisation. Of note, the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition is held here each year, from late May until early June.

Fort Worth Calendar of Festivals and Events 2014 / 2015

Touring shows and musicals from Broadway regularly stop by the Casa Manana Theater on West Lancaster Avenue, while more intimate productions can be enjoyed at the Circle Theater on West 4th Street, which is situated a little down from the Fort Worth Convention and Visitors Bureau, and comes with just 125 seats.

If you are planning a visit towards the beginning of the year, then do make a note of when the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo is likely to be in town. Also known as the Southwestern Exposition and Livestock Show, the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo has been held here since the last decade of the 19th century and usually takes place between the middle of January and the first week of February, or thereabouts.

Currently, a staggering 900,000 people come to the show grounds each year for these annual rodeo events, with the grounds being found on the northwestern side of the city, on West Lancaster Avenue and just past Trinity Park. This huge number of visitors means that the city of Fort Worth can understandably become a little congested during the festival. The main events include professional rodeo displays and competitions, such as calf roping and extreme bull riding. There are also livestock shows, a carnival parade, concerts galore and many themed Old West exhibits.

A few months later, mid-April sees the attraction of the Main Street Arts Festival, with its free attendance ensuring large crowds at all of the related events. These range from exhibitions and mouthwatering food (including crawfish, bratwurst sausages, funnel cakes and gourmet burgers), to concerts and sporting activities. And at the beginning of May, the annual Fort Worth Mayfest boasts four performing arts stages, a huge market, duck races and carnival rides.