Open Streets Homepage

OPEN STREETS WILL PAUSE FOR 2026

Open Streets was founded in 2011 to achieve environmental, social, economic, and public health goals by temporarily closing Magnolia Avenue to automobile traffic and reopening the street to the community for walking, bicycling, dancing, playing, and socializing. This once-small event has now grown into a huge day for the Near Southside. Now in our 15th year, Open Streets is navigating a few growing pains in funding, production timelines, partnership expansion and infrastructure needs. As we plan for the future of this important annual festival, we're taking a 'gap year' to rethink, retool, and build momentum for an even stronger Open Streets upon its return. During this planning period we are excited to work closely with Magnolia Village stakeholders, longstanding OS partners, and new friends who are eager to invest in strengthening the festival. Watch for a call to action later this spring on the OS website and social media channels for ways that you can contribute to shaping the event moving forward.

OPEN STREETS IS:

Non-motorized rolling fun on bicycles, skateboards, roller skates & scooters.

Healthy ways to get moving such as fitness, martial arts, yoga, pilates, obstacle courses, bike safety training, breakdancing, etc.

Environmental advocacy to ensure a healthy sustainable neighborhood.

FREE family-friendly fun from more than 100 activity providers. Learn how you can get involved below!

Locally-made products offered by market collectives featuring handmade items by local artisans.

A community play-day dedicated to neighborly interaction, healthy activity, and complete streets awareness.

But it's also important to remember,

Open Streets is NOT dedicated to sales but does include sales. Food vendors, market vendors, and local retailers participate in Open Streets as merchants, but do so in the spirit of community investment and local retail incubation over monetary motives.

Open Streets is NOT a music festival, art fair, or beer bash

The event is an expression of the Near Southside's community spirit in every way: local businesses set up activities along the route; neighborhood residents help spread the word; and dozens of community partners take ownership of key planning details such as promotions, activities, temporary public art projects, pet adoptions, bike safety courses, and much more.

MAGNOLIA AVENUE

8TH AVE. TO HEMPHILL ST.

Open Streets closes Magnolia Avenue from 8th Ave. to Hemphill Street. The street will close on 6:00am on event day (Saturday) to begin set-up. Block numbers begins on the west at 8th Avenue (Block 1) and moves east to Hemphill (Block 14).

RIDE & ROLL ZONE

The entire westbound travel lane of Magnolia Avenue is dedicated to rolling fun of all types such as scooters, skateboards, rollerblades, roller-skates, bicycles, and more! Move up and down Magnolia Avenue without a car in sight. The street belongs to you on Open Streets day!

BRING YOUR BOARD TO THE SKATE JAM

Sponsored by Dickies and constructed by the team at Magnolia Skate Shop, we are stoked to bring back a temporary skate park to Magnolia Avenue on Open Streets day. You couldn’t miss this block of skate ramps, rails, and platforms if you TRIED - but we suggest you don’t! Even if you’re not a skater yourself, the Open Streets Skate Jam is a sight to behold. This year we’re adding tables and chairs for you to hang and watch the fun. Skate Jam is one of the most exciting parts of Open Streets so bring your board to ride the ramps - skaters of all ages and abilities are welcomed. OR hangout as a spectator and watch the tricks, flips, and kicks of the Open Streets Skate Jam!

Find the Skate Jam on Block 3

from 7th Ave. to Fairmount Avenue

100+ ACTIVITY PROVIDERS

STROLL ZONE THE ACTIVITY ZONE

The center turn lane is dedicated to pedestrians, strollers and pups. Enjoy slowing walking the street to scope out all the great activities, food vendors and markets while also just enjoying the community and beauty of Magnolia Avenue.

The east-bound traffic lane and southern bike lane will be reserved for all of our free community activities. ENJOY 100+ FREE ACTIVITIES provided by local businesses, non-profit organizations, schools, libraries, and more.

2025 PARTNERS

PRESENTING SPONSOR

Trinity Metro is proud to be the public transportation provider for Tarrant County. Our services include a bus network, TEXRail commuter rail line, ACCESS paratransit, Trinity Metro On-Demand ride share services, Trinity Metro Bikes, and vanpools. We also jointly own and operate Trinity Railway Express with Dallas Area Rapid Transit. At Trinity Metro, we strive to deliver our customers safely to their destinations in a reliable and timely manner. We know that riders have important places to be and they rely on us to get them there, whether it’s work, school, a doctor’s office or other essential stops.

Our goal is to always provide an exceptional customer experience. If you ever find that not to be the case – or if you want to pass along a compliment or ask a question – call one of our customer care representatives at 817-215-8600 to share your feedback.

Whether you’re traveling for business or leisure, we’re glad you’re on board with Trinity Metro. Thanks for riding!

Visit website

SKATE JAM SPONSOR

A century ago, Williamson-Dickies was just a small Texas company making bib overalls. Built with quality, grit, and quiet pride, every pair that came out of the shop embodied the spirit of the American worker. While their workwear is now available in more than 100 countries across the world, they're not all that different from when they first opened our doors. They still make bib overalls. They still embody that spirit of the American worker. The only difference is they get to do what we do for more hardworking people than ever before. Founded Fort Worth, Texas, Dickies is a proud Near Southside partner. Their support of the Dickies Skate Plaza at Fire Station Park has created a legendary space for Fort Worth's community to ride, roll, and stroll.

STREET SPONSORS

As the festival has grown, so have our precautions to ensure that all attendees of Open Streets have a safe and healthy day. You never know when life might throw a wrench in your health. From falls to low blood sugar, heat exhaustion to more serious medical events, we're fortunate to have the emergency medical services of CareFlite on hand at Open Streets.

CareFlite is a Texas, 501(c)3 nonprofit corporation that partners with Baylor Scott and White, JPS Health Network, Methodist Health System, Parkland Health and Hospital system, and Texas Health Resources. CareFlite and its partner hospitals are nonprofit entities committed to high-quality patient care and community service.

CareFlite is the only fully-integrated medical transport company serving North Texas. It offers medical transport in helicopters, an airplane, and ground ambulances. It also provides wheelchair transport. Services are provided by over 650 EMS professionals who put the CARE in CareFlite.

Nicole Dawson is a wife and a mother to son Jace and son Radley. She met her husband, Sean, during an Alaskan adventure in 2012 and became a proud US Coast Guard Military spouse. They have two dogs, Piper and Gwen, who love to come to the office to see visitors. Nicole and her husband traveled with the Coast Guard but is now proud to be home in Fort Worth, serving the area where she grew up.

Nicole Dawson's team of licensed Insurance Professionals are here to help you get the most out of your auto, homeowners and life insurance. They also offer Financial Services and are able to assist small business owners with their commercial lines of insurance. Contact us today and see how we can help protect what matters to you.

Valliance Bank is a community bank focused on relationship banking, not transaction banking. Relationship banking is a principle by which we engender loyalty by understanding our customers’ goals and objectives. We also strategize with them to develop a plan to fulfill the vision for their businesses. We pride ourselves on being responsive and enthusiastic, always willing to work with our customers. More than a bank, Valliance is a partner that you can rely on.

Topo Chico has always been known for the legend surrounding its origins. Today, it is one of the world's largest and best sparkling mineral water brands, with several flavors and packages sizes to satisfy even the most legendary thirst. Whether you believe in the legend or not, you'll still be able to enjoy the crisp, no-calorie taste of Topo Chico.

Founded in 1984, Buyers Barricades is a customer-focused business, serving the great state of Texas from our locations in DFW, Houston, Austin, and San Antonio. Steve Buyers began his career as a construction superintendent servicing a project at DFW Airport where he hired a barricade company to handle traffic control. After days of poor customer service, Steve decided to take matters into his own hands. Within 24 hours, Steve started Buyers Barricades with nothing more than his ’65 Chevy pickup, a 16-foot trailer, and the vow to run his business by the golden rule.

While we’re proud of our steady growth over the years, we’re even more proud of our unwavering dedication to our customers. Steve’s commitment to run a service-focused barricade company lives on as our business has expanded to serve the entire state of Texas and beyond. Buyers Barricades is sharply focused on the importance of family, integrity, quality, customer dedication, and working hard to foster healthy, long-lasting relationships.

Our good buddy Austin Farley is a former Near Southside resident and still a close friend of the community. We are fortunate to have learned a great deal from Austin regarding commercial waste services and so each year, around the eve of Open Streets planning, we reach out again to ask one very important question...."Hey Austin, is there any chance that you could donate the dumpsters and trash cans needed to keep Magnolia shining on Open Streets day?" And friends, let's be honest. It is no small ask. With multiple dumpsters, some as large as 18-wheelers, needed to keep the street clean throughout a 6-hour event we're talking about a donation worth thousands of dollars. But Austin and the good-hearted folks at Waste Management come through every time, for more than a decade running. If you are looking for a commercial trash service, we can't recommend them more highly.

PRODUCER

NEAR SOUTHSIDE, INC.

Near Southside, Inc. (NSI) is a private, member-funded, 501(c)4 non-profit redevelopment organization created in 1996 by a group of dedicated community leaders. For more than two decades members of NSI have continued to guide the district's revitalization through their participation.

Your dues provide critical financial support for the ongoing work of our organization. NSI initiates marketing and redevelopment programs to create a vibrant urban village where people live, work, and play within an inviting and diverse community in Fort Worth's Near Southside.

Membership dues will be renewed annually in the month in which you have registered. A renewal invoice will be sent 30 days prior to the month of your membership anniversary. This is not a tax-deductible donation, but may be a deductible business expense. W-9 forms will be provided at your request. We thank you for your interest in membership. Our members are our most valuable resource in the ongoing exchange of information and ideas to build and sustain the Near Southside.

nearsouthsidefw.org

NEAR SOUTHSIDE ARTS

Near Southside Arts is a community-led effort to foster and celebrate the creative assets of Fort Worth’s Near Southside. We are a vibrant and diverse community exploring, discovering and connecting unique and personalized experiences.

For over two decades, the Near Southside has placed cultural investment at the center of its revitalization. The district hosts arts-centric community events including ArtsGoggle, Open Streets, Friday on the Green, and Park(ing) Day that together attract over 100,000 attendees from around North Texas and beyond annually. In addition, the Near Southside is home to many of Fort Worth’s notable live theaters, music venues, recording studios, film and video production studios, and art schools. As a state-designated cultural district, our specially-designated ecosystem supports all manners of creative pursuit. Your people are here.

www.nearsouthsidearts.org