Fort Worth's Ultimate Food & Wine Festival Dominates This Week's Scene

Food enthusiasts, rev up your engines: the Fort Worth Food + Wine Festival is officially kicking off this week.

The four-day gastronomic celebration, first held in 2014, has become the premier extended food event in the city. Spanning five paid events across four days and evenings, the festivity showcases Fort Worth’s leading chefs, barbecue experts, pastry makers, mixologists, and artisanal food creators against a backdrop of trees beside a river outdoors. Alongside lavishly equipped food stalls offering shared samples and drinks, the festival includes hands-on activity zones, numerous relaxation spots, and photography opportunities. This year introduces an exciting collaboration with Visit Fort Worth for live music performances. (For more details about notable bands playing at the festival, read further.)

The entire event will run from Thursday to Sunday at the Heart of the Ranch at Clearfork. Although two out of the five scheduled activities are now fully booked, you can still secure tickets for the remaining three. Each promises an exceptional showcase of Fort Worth’s food landscape. Prepare yourself with your most comfortable elastic-waist trousers and delve into all the delectable information provided here.

Thursday, April 3

Tacos + Tequila (Fully Booked)

The festival kicks off with Tacos + Tequila, an immensely popular event first held in 2018 that consistently sells out far ahead of time. Those fortunate 1,000 individuals who secured their spots early will enjoy dishes from newly participating vendors, including the recently launched restaurant. La Cabrona Cocina Mexicana , Shogun Taqueria , introducing an innovative idea shortly from "Paco" Islas of Paco's Mexican Cuisine, Three Friends Tacos and Tequila On West Magnolia Avenue, at Dos Mares, a new seafood concept will be launching soon from the team behind Don Artemio Mexican Heritage. Check out the list of restaurants and chefs involved. here In addition to an extensive selection of tequilas, spirits, wines, and regional beers. The early access starts at 5:30 pm, general admission kicks off at 6:30 pm, and the festivities will continue until 9 pm.

Friday, April 4

The Main Event (Sold Out)

The Main Event acts as the premier showcase for Fort Worth’s top culinary offerings, where local eateries put forth their finest dishes for an exceptional tasting experience. This event welcomes new participants, adding fresh talent from the city’s dining scene. Bocca Osteria Romana , F1 Smokehouse, and The Sicilian Butcher , will team up with prominent figures from Fort Worth's food and drink scene such as Marcus Paslay from Clay Pigeon Food & Drink, Molly McCook of Ellerbe Fine Foods, and Juan Rodriguez at Magdalena’s. Check out the lineup. here . Early entry begins at 5:30 pm, general admission at 6:30 pm, and the event will run until 9 pm.

Saturday, April 5

Rise + Dine

General admission tickets ($65) are still up for grabs at this brunch-themed affair, which will include brunch-inspired treats from almost every participating vendor. two dozen talented chefs accompanied by sparkling beverages such as brunch cocktails, spirits, beer, and wine. Joining them are new entrants including Flying Carpet Turkish Café, Fort Redemption , and James Provisions will include beloved returnees like Brewed, Dusty Biscuit Beignets, and Local Foods Kitchen. The general admission access begins at noon (with an earlier entry at 11 am for those who have purchased the sold-out early bird tickets) and continues till 2:30 pm.

Burgers, Brews + Blues

Brewers and hamburger legends will converge tonight beneath the starry sky to present their finest slider creations and craft beers. Celebrities will act as judges to select the top "Best Burger" contender, while attendees can cast votes for their preferred "Fan Favorite" in both categories: burgers and beverages. 17 burger contenders , new participants include NADC Burger , Walloon’s, Rogers Roundhouse, and The Hamburger Man will compete against past champions such as JD’s Hamburgers, Kincaid’s, and Tommy’s Hamburgers. Entertainment will be supplied by Visit Fort Worth, featuring opening act Michael Lee and the Wartime Limousine along with headline performer Danny Joseph. Tickets for general admission cost $95 and grant access starting at 6:30 pm (with an earlier entry option available for those who have purchased sold-out early bird passes) until the event concludes at 9 pm.

Sunday, April 6

Ring of Fire

The musical performances are equally impressive compared to the fiery treats set to be featured at this festival closing event. Headlining will be The Great Divide, following an opening act by Max Stalling—both notable figures in Texas country music. In terms of cuisine, competitors in the Ring of Fire must embrace creativity using smoke, which means skilled barbecue experts will showcase their talents next to experienced chefs. Among the 22 participating eateries, newcomers like the venerable Cattlemen’s Steakhouse, the trendy Cajun spot Terreone’s, The Original Roy Hutchins Barbecue, and The Tradition Clearfork join the fray. Meanwhile, returning crowd-pleasers consist of multiple award contenders for the CultureMap Fort Worth Tastemaker Awards wildcard category of Best BBQ For instance, you have options like Brix Barbecue, Dayne’s Craft Barbecue, Heim Barbecue, Panther City BBQ, and Smoke-A-Holics BBQ. The general admission ticket costs $95 and allows access starting at 2 pm; however, those who purchased an early-entry ticket can enter at 1 pm. The festivities will continue until 5 pm.

Produced by the Fort Worth Food and Wine Foundation The festival generates funds for local grant initiatives and culinary scholarships. To date, the foundation has distributed over $325,000. Additionally, the Fort Worth Food + Wine Foundation will be receiving support from the event scheduled for 2025. CultureMap Fort Worth Tastemaker Awards .