More than 1,000 artists and musicians will set up this weekend on Fort Worth's Near Southside for the 20th ArtsGoggle. ArtsGoggle now covers 21 blocks around Magnolia Avenue and draws more than 60,000 visitors.
"The ArtsGoggle is the biggest event of the year on Magnolia Avenue," says SiNaCa Studios Executive Director Clifton Crofford. "The Near Southside Arts District does an incredible job of putting together the most grassroots, most locally focused arts festival."
Crofford says SiNaCa will be representing 70 artists on Saturday. He also gives demonstrations and lessons in glass blowing and designs at the studio at Magnolia and Washington. More information is available online.
"[The Near Southside] has a really strong art scene. Glass is an interesting component of it," he says. "We really want to try to bring it to everybody. That's our mission, but this weekend is really just about everybody and local art."
ArtsGoggle runs from 12 p.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday.
ONLINE: See more things to do around DFW this weekend
In addition to a spotlight on local artists, ArtsGoggle will include 50 bands playing on three stages. A complete schedule is available at ArtsGoggle.org.
With more people moving to North Texas, restaurants on Magnolia say ArtsGoggle can also help them learn about the Near Southside.
"That's what we love. The whole community kind of comes together," says Dave Garner, owner of Maggie's R&R restaurant at Magnolia and Lake. "We meet all kinds of people who had no idea we were there, no idea what a great event it is."
Garner opened the restaurant three years ago with indoor and outdoor seating and a performance space. He says the weekend of ArtsGoggle has become his busiest of the year.
"Magnolia is such a vibrant community," he says. "It's where the whole city comes together to celebrate. We have so many artists throughout, not just from Dallas/Fort Worth, but from the whole region who will come down this weekend."
In 2020, the Texas Commission on the Arts approved the Near Southside's application to become a cultural district.
"That's this neighborhood," SiNaCa's Crofford says. "This neighborhood is a neighborhood of makers, it always has been for a hundred years. Everything is art. That's what this event truly highlights."
ArtsGoggle is free to attend. A list of artists' locations and free parking lots is available at artsgoggle.org . ArtsGoggle has a free trolley to lots in South Main Village.
People who use Trinity Metro can get a local day pass for half price by using the GoPass app and promo code, GOGGLE23A, for adults and GOGGLE23R for reduced fares. More information is available at ridetrinitymetro.org .
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