Fort Worth’s Best Events — What You Can Do in July

As July heats up, there are a lot of fun events to enjoy around Fort Worth. From floating in the Trinity River to live music and foodie fun, there seems to be a Fort Worth event for almost everyone. These are the best things to do in Fort Worth this July:

Music at Fort Worth’s Best Hotel

Travel + Leisure’s 2022 World’s Best Awards named Hotel Drover the “Best Hotel in Dallas-Fort Worth.” Based upon its 2022 readers’ survey, the travel staple’s readers rated hotels on the following characteristics: rooms/facilities, location, service, food and value.

Nestled alongside Marine Creek in the Fort Worth Stockyards, Hotel Drover certainly proved its merits. The 2022 World’s Best Awards list will appear in the August print issue of Travel + Leisure.

But the fun at the hotel is going all summer long.

That includes live music with the Backyard Unplugged series at Hotel Drover, which runs Thursday through Saturday nights from 6:3o pm to 9:30 pm. Local musicians set to perform include Lacey Ingram, Trevor Tyrell and Clayton Farhat. And it’s also a chance to sip specialty cocktails under the stars. Pour House (Hotel Drover’s restored horse trailer bar) will be serving up a Texas summer smash and a mangonado.

Stockyards Happenings

The National Day of the American Cowboy means special events at The Fort Worth Stockyards on Saturday, July 23. Celebrating the history and heritage of the American Cowboy, this family-friendly day of events brings a cowboy celebration parade at 11:30 am, There will be a Cowtown Cowboy Rodeo, old West comedy gunfight shows, live music, calf roping training, chuck wagon cowboy poetry and armadillo races from 10 am to 8 pm.

The Stockyards is quickly emerging as the live music hub of Fort Worth.

This summer at Billy Bob’s, you can catch weekend shows from beloved artists such as Ted Nugent (July 29), Midland (August 5 and 6) and Brad Paisley (September 10).

Second Rodeo Brewing is both a brewery and bar garden with daily live music, good food and a large dog-friendly patio. Sidesaddle Saloon also hosts live music every Sunday from 2 to 4 pm. Tim Love’s forthcoming Tannahill’s Music Hall will join that powerful musical mix this fall.

Jazz on the Green

This Friday night, July 15,  you can bring a blanket or lawn chair, find a spot and listen to the sounds of talented local musician Tatiana “LadyMay” Mayfield. It all takes place on The Kimbell Art Museum lawn. Picnic blankets and lawn chairs are encouraged. A limited amount of seating will be available as well. No pets or outside food or drinks are allowed.

Free activity kits also will be offered for the kids, while supplies last. Light snacks and a variety of drinks will be available for purchase. Expect Salsa Limón, Luckey G’s Bistro, Melt Ice Creams and a Kimbell Cafe bar.

As an added bonus, admission to the The Kimbell’s special exhibition The Language of Beauty in African Art is free all day long Friday.

Fort Worth Food Fun

Richard Sandoval Hospitality’s Pan-Latin restaurant Toro Toro is serving a new Latin Lite menu through September 5. That means six exclusive menu items inspired by summer ingredients like mint, lime and watermelon, leafy spring mix, hearty kale, fresh tomatoes, cucumbers and savory corn.

This new array of light and fresh creations include a radish summer soup with grilled sourdough toast, pickled daikon and horseradish butter; a grilled cauliflower dish with kimchi salad, cashew lime crema and avocado foam; and a mango raspado dessert of a pineapple-coconut compote served over hibiscus tapioca.

Not be outdone, the bar has some cool new drinks too. Sol de Verano is made with rum, raspberry, mint, lime and sparkling water; the El Jardin is a combination of botanical gin, lime, simple syrup and mint; and the Palmera is reposado tequila, coconut, Cointreau and lime.

Get In The Water

Rockin’ the River kicked off Thursday, July 14, bringing music and inner tubes on the river together again. This summer’s lineup includes:

July 21 ― John Baumann with David Beck’s Tejano Weekend and Lorena Leigh

July 28 ―Triston Marez with Austin English and Squeezebox Bandits

August 4  ―Kyle Park with Seth James and BenCJones

August 11 ― Dirty River Boys with Peterson Bros and TBA

Gates open at 5 pm for these Thursday evenings on the river and attendees can bring a blanket and chairs or enjoy front row seats from the comfort of a tube. Expect live music on two stages, with food and drinks available for purchase. There are also tube and watersport rentals available.

It’s hot, but it’s also summer. It’s a busy time for Fort Worth events.