Syndicate Smokedown Pit Village at Fort Worth Stockyards is an IBCA BBQ competition each April with 100 or more teams and free brisket samples noon to 4pm.
Editorially verified June 26, 2026 by Lewis Vaughan, TableJourney editor. Source.
Must order: Free BBQ samples from 20 or more Texas pitmasters during the competition sampling window.
Tip: The free pitmaster sampling runs noon-16:00 for ticketed festival attendees; competition awards follow in the late afternoon.
Address: Stockyards Station, Fort Worth, TX 76164
The Clearfork Farmers Market in Fort Worth runs Saturdays at The Trailhead with 30 or more local farmers, ranchers, and artisan vendors year-round.
Order: Seasonal produce from Tarrant County farmers; local eggs and raw honey from rotating vendor stalls.
Tip: Nov through Mar the market opens at 09:00 instead of 08:00; closed when temperatures fall below 40F.
Fort Worth Community Market at South Main Micro Park gathers local producers, food trucks, artisan vendors, craft sellers on the second Sunday each month.
Order: Artisan bread and baked goods from rotating vendors; locally produced salsa and preserves.
Tip: Runs only on the second Sunday of each month; summer hours shift to 09:00-14:00. Free admission.
Cowtown Farmers Market near Fort Worth is a producer-only Saturday market established in 1986 with a SNAP and WIC programme accepted at the information booth.
Order: Tarrant County produce from producer-only vendors; summer peaches and squash from area farms.
Tip: A mid-June to mid-August Wednesday session is added seasonally; check cowtownmarket.com for confirmed dates.
Central Market Fort Worth on West Freeway is a specialty grocer with a cooking school, catering, and an imported cheese and charcuterie counter.
Order: Imported cheese counter selections; in-house bakery loaves and seasonal fruit tarts.
Tip: Cooking school classes book out fast; reserve via Eventbrite under the Central Market Cooking School Fort Worth organiser page.
La Gran Plaza de Fort Worth on South Freeway is a Latin mercado housing regional Mexican, Salvadoran, Gulf seafood food stalls, plus a fresh produce section.
Order: Seafood tostadas from the Mercado food court; pupusas from the El Salvador counter.
Tip: Sunday hours are 12:00-18:00 for most tenants; the food court opens earlier than anchor stores.
Farmers Market Fort Worth on East Belknap Street is a family-run produce market open Monday through Saturday with fresh fruit baskets and bulk items.
Order: Custom fruit baskets assembled to order; fresh bulk nuts and dried fruit sold by weight.
Tip: Saturday hours are 08:00-17:00; closed Sunday. Not a seasonal market, it operates year-round.
