Most visitors heading to Fort Worth go straight to the Stockyards. That is a good instinct, but it is not the full picture. Sundance Square is a 35-block pedestrian-friendly district in downtown Fort Worth that offers a completely different experience: performing arts, fountains, rooftop dining and a walkable urban plaza that feels like the city’s living room.
If you want Fort Worth without the cowboy hats and cattle, this is where you go.
Sundance Square is a 35-block downtown district named after the Sundance Kid (Harry Longabaugh, the partner of Butch Cassidy, who once hid in the area). The district was redeveloped starting in the late 1970s by the Bass Brothers and has grown into a walkable mix of restaurants, performing arts venues, hotels and shops.
The anchor is Sundance Square Plaza at 420 Main Street, an open-air space with a fountain, live music and events. Live music plays Thursday through Sunday from 7:00 to 10:00 p.m. CT. Admission to the plaza is free.
TEXRail runs from DFW Terminal B to Fort Worth T&P Station in downtown Fort Worth, about 50 minutes. T&P Station is within walking distance of Sundance Square.
The Trinity Railway Express (TRE) connects Dallas Union Station to Fort Worth Central Station in about 55 minutes. A TRE single-zone ticket costs $2.50. The Regional Day Pass ($12) covers DART, TRE and TEXRail for the full day.
A rideshare from the Arlington Entertainment District to Sundance Square takes about 25 to 30 minutes and costs $20 to $35.
Bass Performance Hall is one of the finest performance venues in the country. The exterior features two 48-foot angels with trumpets carved in limestone, and the interior seats over 2,000 across four levels. The hall is home to the Fort Worth Symphony, the Texas Ballet Theater, the Fort Worth Opera and the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition. It opened in 1998 and sits within the Sundance Square district.
Check the performance schedule for shows during your visit. Events range from symphonies and ballets to touring Broadway productions.
A five-minute walk south of Sundance Square, the Fort Worth Water Gardens are a free, open-air engineered oasis designed by architect Philip Johnson. The gardens opened in 1974 and feature three distinct pools: the Active Pool (a stepped cascade of water flowing down terraced concrete), the Quiet Pool (a still, reflective surface) and the Aerating Pool (fountains and sprays).
The Water Gardens are open from 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. CT daily and are free to enter. The Active Pool is especially dramatic and one of the most photographed spots in Fort Worth.
Reata serves Texas ranch cuisine with a rooftop patio overlooking the plaza. Grace is an upscale option for special-occasion dining. 61 Osteria serves Italian. Little Red Wasp is a cocktail bar with a neighborhood feel. Casual options, coffee shops and fast-casual restaurants fill the side streets throughout the district.
Parking in Sundance Square is free after 5:00 p.m. CT on weekdays and all day on weekends. During weekday business hours, validation for up to two and a half hours is available at participating garages. This makes an evening visit to Sundance Square one of the most wallet-friendly activities in the DFW area.
If you have time for only one Fort Worth destination, the choice depends on what you want. The Stockyards deliver cowboy culture: the cattle drive, honky tonks, rodeos and western shops. Sundance Square delivers urban culture: performing arts, fine dining, architecture and a walkable plaza.
If you have a full day, do both. The Stockyards are about five minutes north of downtown Fort Worth by car. Start with the 11:30 a.m. CT cattle drive at the Stockyards, eat lunch there, then head to Sundance Square for the afternoon and evening.
Fort Worth and the Arlington Entertainment District are about 30 minutes apart. A day in Sundance Square pairs well with an evening Texas Rangers game at Globe Life Field. Get tickets to see the Rangers in 2026 and end your Fort Worth day at the ballpark.
Sundance Square is a walkable downtown district with performing arts, restaurants and a plaza. The Stockyards are the historic Western district with the cattle drive, honky tonks and rodeos.
The plaza and Water Gardens are free. Restaurants, performances and shops have their own pricing. Parking is free after 5:00 p.m. CT on weekdays and all day on weekends.
TEXRail from Terminal B to Fort Worth T&P Station, about 50 minutes. T&P Station is within walking distance.
Yes. Bass Performance Hall sits within the 35-block Sundance Square district.
The performance schedule varies. Check the hall’s website for events during your visit.
About 30 minutes by car. A rideshare costs $20 to $35.
