The video above is a nighttime walking tour of the Fort Worth Stockyards, one of the best things to do in Fort Worth if you're into live music, honky tonks, and a good time. This particular walk was on a Wednesday night, which might sound like a slow evening, but the Stockyards had plenty going on — multiple venues with live music, people bar hopping up and down the strip, and buskers playing on the street. It's a real cowboy scene out here with hats, Wrangler jeans, western wear shops, steak houses, and enough cold beer to keep everything rolling well past midnight.
What live music venues are in the Fort Worth Stockyards?
Even on a midweek night, the Stockyards has a solid lineup of spots to catch live music. Here's what was open and playing on this Wednesday tour:
- Rhinestone Saloon — A good bar-hopping stop at the top of the hill with live music starting at 8 o'clock on a typical Wednesday night
- Little Red's Longhorn Saloon — A staple Wednesday spot where Landon Dodd and the Dance Hall Drifters play weekly, with a five-dollar cover that keeps a crowd of loyal older regulars coming back
- White Elephant Saloon — Home to the Chicksy Dicks every Wednesday with no cover charge, and one of those bands that's genuinely fun to watch — super talented and always a good time
- Filthy McNasty's — A spot further up the hill where Skylar Payne hosts a weekly song swap, which is what brought David Bridwell out to the Stockyards on this particular night
- Billy Bob's Texas — The world's largest honky tonk, located right in the Stockyards district, known for hosting major touring acts on its indoor stage
Beyond the music venues, the Stockyards area has the Cowboy Channel Bar with big screens, the RFD-TV store, the Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame Museum, and a real cattle drive that comes through once or twice a day. There's also the Stockyards Championship Rodeo, which holds the distinction of being the only year-round rodeo in the world.
A Wednesday night is more than enough
One thing this tour makes clear is that you don't have to wait for the weekend to enjoy the Stockyards. Wednesday had four different venues with live music going, no long waits, and a good crowd without being packed. David Bridwell sat in at Filthy McNasty's song swap, played some music, had some drinks, and still had time to walk the strip and check out multiple venues. If you're visiting Fort Worth and your trip falls on a weeknight, don't write off the Stockyards — it's one of those places that stays alive pretty much any night of the week. The tourist crowd is always around, and the regulars at spots like Little Red's keep the local feel intact. It's a heavy drinking scene, so plan your ride accordingly, but for a night of wandering between honky tonks and hearing live country music pouring out of every doorway, the Stockyards on any given night is hard to beat.