Open Streets is a four-hour Sunday event which closes Magnolia Avenue and other adjacent streets to traffic and opens them up to cyclists, food trucks, dog-walkers, skateboarders, yoga classes, face-painters and much more. 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 about street closures and detours; and dozens of community partners take ownership of key planning details such as routes and activities, temporary public art projects, pet adoptions, bike safety courses, setting up and breaking down barricades on event day, and much more. Open Streets was presented by Near Southside, Inc. and the City of Fort Worth for the first time in 2011 and drew hundreds of participants. Since then, the event has grown to be one of the Near Southside's most beloved community events with attendance in the thousands and more than 120 community partners providing free activities.

Open Streets is a national movement with more than 90 documented initiatives in North America. Open streets events are increasingly common in cities seeking innovative ways to achieve environmental, social, economic, and public health goals by temporarily closing streets to automobile traffic, so that people may use them for walking, bicycling, dancing, playing, and socializing.

WHAT IS OPEN STREETS?

Non-motorized rolling fun Bicycles, boards, roller skates & scooters

Healthy ways to get people moving 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

Locally-made products Limited space is reserved for a market featuring handmade items by local artisans. Preference is given to Near Southside residents and business owners.

Open Streets is not solely about promotions, products or sales. It is not a market, music festival, beer bash or street fair.

Open Streets is a community play-day dedicated to neighborly interaction, healthy activity, and complete streets awareness. Learn more about complete streets here.

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***2020 Near Southside Community Events Update***

Our spring event season of Friday on the Green and Open Streets was cancelled in March.

We've monitored conditions, taken guidance from public health officials, and consulted with our production partners for many months. With an abundance of caution for your safety, today we are announcing the cancellation of our remaining 2020 outdoor community events including ArtsGoggle, PARK(ing) Day, and the September and October Friday on the Green concerts. We're disappointed that we aren't sharing better news, but we remain hopeful that we will return for a dynamo 2021 season.

Despite the cancellations, the fall still offers exciting opportunities for our Near Southside community including NEW PROJECTS PLANNED in lieu of our regular programming with artists remaining front and center. Learn more athttp://campaign.r20.constantcontact.com/render?m=1101457583102&ca=a866de6f-3362-400c-aece-c8b0c6365581

If you would like to stay apprised of any new information, please follow us on Facebook at Near Southside, Fort Worth and sign up for our newsletter by clicking the “GET UPDATES” button in the top right menu of this page.

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DATE Sunday, May 17, 2020 - event date is subject to postponement or cancellation due to public health concerns related to COVID-19

REGISTRATION is not open at this time due to public health planning. Please check back later for updates. If the event is able to move forward, applications will open on this website at our events calendar.

TIME Noon to 4 PM

LOCATION Magnolia Avenue from Hemphill to 8th Avenue

COST Free to the public

PRODUCER Open Streets is presented by Near Southside, Inc. and Historic Southside, Inc.

TAX INFORMATION

Historic Southside, Inc., managed by Near Southside, Inc., is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Sponsorship contributions made to Historic Southside, Inc. are deductible as charitable donations. W-9 forms will be provided at your request.

Near Southside, Inc. is a private, member-funded, non-profit 501(c)(4) development company dedicated to the revitalization of Fort Worth’s Near Southside. NSI began as a small coalition of Near Southside businesses and community leaders and has grown dramatically over the last decade. We invite you to join us as we promote the redevelopment of Fort Worth’s Near Southside as a vibrant, urban, mixed-use neighborhood.

SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITY

NSI is seeking sponsorship for the 2020 Open Streets. Open Streets event offers the opportunity for community-minded businesses and institutions to gain publicity through their support of an exciting neighborhood street festival that has garnered widespread attention by both the media and the public. The event that has become a treasured component of life in the Near Southside. Terms and benefits of sponsorship are listed below.

FIRST RIGHT OF REFUSAL

All sponsors will receive a first right of refusal opportunity for 2021 Open Streets presented in January 2021.

CONTACT

Megan Henderson Director of Events & Communications

Near Southside, Inc. 1606 Mistletoe Blvd. Fort Worth, Texas 76104

megan@nearsouthsidefw.org | cell 817.966.1880