There are a lot of things that spring brings to Dallas-Fort Worth, and at that top of that list are festivals.
Moderate temperatures provide the perfect setting for people to gather outdoors, even more so in the post-pandemic world (although DFW loves its festivals so much that there are indoor versions, too). In April, it seems like there's pretty much a festival every day.
They cover a wide range of categories, from film to nature to food to music to the environment, giving everyone a chance to get on the festival bandwagon.
Below are 28 of the best festivals taking place throughout the remainder of spring in Dallas-Fort Worth, arranged in chronological order:
Ennis Bluebonnet Trails Festival
Taking place April 14-16 in Ennis, the 71st Annual Ennis Bluebonnet Trails Festival features an abundance of activities and live music throughout the weekend, as well as a spectacular array of Texas bluebonnets across 40 miles of trails.
Fort Worth Tattoo Arts Festival
Taking place April 14-16 at the Fort Worth Convention Center, the Fort Worth Tattoo Arts Festival will feature dozens of tattoo artists and tattoo contests, entertainment, and special guests, including various contestants from the reality competition show
Ink Master.
Festival of Joy
Taking place on April 15 at Klyde Warren Park, Festival of Joy is a fun-filled day of bright colors, flowers, traditional street food, and a free vegetarian feast, along with music, dance, and interactive holistic living and cultural activities.
Syndicate Smokedown
The Fort Worth Stock Show Syndicate's 2nd Annual Smokedown is Cowtown's premier music festival and BBQ competition. Performers at the one-day event will include Josh Abbott Band, Kevin Fowler, Bri Bagwell, Jacob Stelly, Randy Brown, and Clayton Mullen.
Big Texas Beer Fest
Taking place on April 15 in the Automobile Building at Fair Park, the Big Texas Beer Fest will feature 100+ breweries and 500+ beers, ciders, hard seltzers, hard kombuchas, meads, and more. There will also be local food trucks and vendors and performances from local bands.
Dallas Festival of the Arts
Taking place on April 15 and 16 at Reverchon Park, Dallas Festival of the Arts (formerly known as Turtle Creek Spring Arts Festival) is a fine art outdoor festival featuring approximately 125 local and regional painters, photographers, sculptors, metalwork, glass artists, jewelers, and more.
USA Film Festival
Taking place April 19-23 at Angelika Film Center, the USA Film Festival is the first of two big film festivals in Dallas this spring. Highlights include opening night films
Chevalier and Judy Blume Forever, Flamin' Hot, Little Richard: I Am Everything,The Pod Generation, and Master Gardener. The festival will also present its Great Director Tribute to Lasse Hallström.
Main St. Fort Worth Arts Festival
Taking place April 20-23 in downtown Fort Worth, the Main St. Fort Worth Arts Festival showcases 215 jury-selected visual artists, live music on two stages, local cuisine, the family-friendly “TCC Makers Zone,” craft beer, wine tastings, and more across 18 square blocks,
Dallas Art Fair
Taking place April 20-23 at Fashion Industry Gallery, the Dallas Art Fair offers collectors, arts professionals, and the public the opportunity to engage with a rich selection of modern and contemporary artworks presented by leading national and international galleries.
EarthxExpo
Taking place April 21-23 at Fair Park, EarthxExpo features hundreds of exhibitors with products and solutions focused on benefitting humans and the planet. There will be hands-on activities and crafts for children, an adult playground, an XR installation, a fuel car show, and eight stages packed with
speakers, panel discussions, short films, and more.
City of Grand Prairie presents Main Street Fest
Taking place April 21-23 in downtown Grand Prairie, the City of Grand Prairie Parks, Arts & Recreation Department will present the annual Main Street Fest. The event will include live music performers, carnival rides, arts & crafts, food & beverage gardens, a Kidzone, and more.
The Range Vintage Trailer Resort presents Bluebonnet Food + Wine Festival
Taking place on April 22 at The Range Vintage Trailer Resort in Ennis, the inaugural Bluebonnet Food + Wine Festival will feature a wide range of flavors from talented chefs, paired with a selection of wines. The festival will also feature tours around the resort, music, a resort-style pool, ponds for fishing, and outdoor games.
Fort Worth Botanic Garden presents Japanese Spring Festival
Taking place on April 22 and 23 at Fort Worth Botanic Garden, the Japanese Spring Festival features performances by Taiko drumming groups, traditional dances, karate experts, displays of bonsai trees, demonstrations in Origami, Calligraphy, and Japanese Games, and more.
Ubbi Dubbi Festival
Taking place April 22 and 23 at Panther Island Pavilion in Fort Worth, the annual Ubbi Dubbi Festival will feature an expanded festival site and a new fourth stage. There will be performances by over 40 electronic music artists, including Adventure Club, Bonnie x Clyde, Fairlane, Kaskade, Slushii, and more.
Dallas International Film Festival
Taking place April 28-May 5 at Violet Crown Cinema in West Village, the Dallas International Film Festival will screen more than 100 feature films, documentaries, and shorts. The full lineup has not yet been revealed, but
the first 17 films include a number of films with local connections.
Southlake Women's Club presents Art in the Square
Taking place April 28-30 in Southlake Town Square, Art in the Square will be a weekend of art, music, food, spirits, and children’s activities. The artwork of 200 juried renowned, emerging, and high school artists will be showcased, and there will also be entertainment from schools, performing art studios, dance groups, and more.
Fort Worth Aviation Museum presents Hops and Props Beerfest
Taking place on April 29 at the Fort Worth Aviation Museum, Hops and Props Beerfest will feature local brewers, live music, food, family-friendly vendors, airplane rides, games, activities, and more. The event is the annual fundraiser for the museum, with proceeds supporting their educational and preservation programs.
Mayfest
Taking place May 4-7 at Trinity Park in Fort Worth, Mayfest features four days of live music, festival food, carnival rides, performing arts, pet adoptions, more than 60 Art and Gift Market vendors, children's activities, special attractions, and more.
Dallas International Guitar Festival
Taking place May 5-7 at Dallas Market Hall, the Dallas International Guitar Festival is the largest and oldest guitar show in the world, blending musicians, fans, collectors and celebrities together into one huge musical extravaganza. There will be over 50 live performances, including ones by headliners Eric Johnson, Orianthi, and Philip Sayce.
Create Arlington presents West Main Arts Festival
Taking place on May 6 along Main Street in Arlington, the West Main Arts Festival will be a six-block street scene that includes over 100 art/vendor booths, 12 food trucks, and food vendors. There will also be an interactive kids area, four stages featuring 30 local bands, and buskers playing along West Main.
The Other Art Fair
Taking place May 11-14 at Dallas Market Hall, The Other Art Fair is a global art event dedicated to showcasing independent artists. It will feature a mix of 130 local and internationally-based independent and emerging artists. Visitors can meet artists in person and discover thousands of original artworks and limited edition prints across various media.
H-E-B presents Allen Food + Wine Festival
Taking place on May 13 at The Village at Allen, the Allen Food + Wine Festival will feature wine tastings, craft beer, cuisine, live music, shopping with local boutiques, photo ops, and more. Wineries will be set up at the festival and throughout the local shops at The Village at Allen.
Wildflower! Arts and Music Festival
Taking place May 19-21 at Galatyn Park Urban Center in Richardson, the Wildflower Arts and Music Festival features live performances by national, regional, and local bands, including headliners X Ambassadors, Joan Jett & The Blackhearts, and Jimmie Vaughan & The Tilt-a-Whirl Band. There are also a variety of other family-friendly activities.
39th Annual Main Street Fest: A Craft Brew Experience
Taking place May 19-21 in Historic Downtown Grapevine, Main Street Fest: A Craft Brew Experience features a carnival, artisans, shopping, food, craft brews, and live music will from a variety of bands, including headliners Vertical Horizon and Little Texas.
City of Carrollton presents Chalk Art Festival
Taking place on May 20 at Mary Heads Carter Park in Carrollton, the Chalk Art Festival features talented contestants turning sidewalks into works of art. The event will feature music, food, games, and lots of chalk, with awards given to the best chalk artists.
Tacos & Tequila Festival
Taking place on May 20 at Panther Island Pavilion, the Tacos & Tequila Festival will feature some of Dallas-Fort Worth’s best taco chefs, Lucha Libre wrestling, an exotic car showcase, and more. In addition, there will be a huge live music showcase, including performances by Flo Rida, Ja Rule, Fat Joe, Bones Thugs-N-Harmony, and more.
Deep Ellum Community Arts Fair
Taking place May 27-29 in Deep Ellum, the Deep Ellum Community Arts Fair — a grass-roots event replacing the now-defunct
Deep Ellum Arts Festival — will be a weekend filled with curated exhibits, concerts, and food showcasing the talent and businesses inside the community.
Taste Addison
Taking place on June 2 and 3 in Addison Circle Park, Taste Addison is a celebration of food, music, and fun that includes national music artists, Addison eateries, wine and spirits tastings, special performances, family activities, and more.
The Wildflower! Arts and Music Festival takes place May 19-21 at Galatyn Park in Richardson.
Casa Brasa, coming to Preston Road. Courtesy rendering