FWFWF Night Market Returns to Fort Worth in November

The Fort Worth Food + Wine Foundation’s Night Market returns November 13 with top local chefs, craft cocktails, and plenty of flavor by the Trinity.

by

Imagine trompo tacos sizzling riverside, vegan Mexican bites you didn’t know you needed, and cocktails that make you cheer for the bartender, all under the glow of Panther Island Pavilion’s lights. That is Night Market, the Fort Worth Food + Wine Foundation’s open-air feast, returning Thursday, Nov. 13, for its third annual edition. 

Part street festival, part fine dining showcase, Night Market transforms a section of the Trinity River into a bustling playground of flavors and community spirit. Guests can wander through stalls serving everything from Lao and Thai street eats to creative beignets, elevated plates from local chefs, and inventive cocktails crafted by some of North Texas’s finest mixologists. 

The 2025 lineup blends fresh faces with familiar favorites. Duchess at The Nobleman’s Marcus Kopplin brings his new fine dining concept to the market, while Ossy Avila’s Knight Out makes its FWFWF debut with trompo negro, a concept recently spotlighted in Texas Monthly and now a mainstay at AT&T Stadium. Other participants include Marcus and Belen Hicks of Belenty’s Love Mexican Vegan Restaurant, Julee Ann Chanthapanya of ZAAP Kitchen Lao and Thai Street Eats, and Angel Fuentes of Los Guapos Mexican Street Food, among many others. 

On the beverage side, North Texas bartenders will compete in the Foundation’s signature cocktail showdown, backed by spirit sponsors including LALO Tequila, Blackland Distillery, La Pulga Spirits, and TX Whiskey. Whether it is Clay Pigeon Food and Drink’s Ethan Goettsch or Westland Bar Co.’s Zack Marshall, expect inventive sips that match the culinary creativity on the plate. 

DJ Jason Esquire will keep the beats flowing, ensuring the night feels as festive as it tastes. And beyond the revelry, every ticket sold fuels the Foundation’s mission: funding scholarships, grants, and entrepreneurial opportunities that nurture the next generation of local hospitality leaders. 

“Night Market is such a joyful evening,” says Julie Eastman, executive director of FWFWF. “It’s the kind of event where you come with a group of friends and end up running into even more – everyone gathering over great food, creative cocktails, and music by the river. The cocktail challenge adds an energy of friendly rivalry, bringing out the very best in our mixologist purveyors. This event really reflects what makes Fort Worth’s food and hospitality community so special – togetherness, flavorful bites, and a whole lot of fun! For those who’ve never experienced a Foundation event before, this is a perfect introduction.” 

Participating Chefs 

This year’s culinary lineup features both first-time participants and returning favorites, including: 

Participating Mixologists 

Spirit Sponsors: LALO Tequila, Blackland Distillery, La Pulga Spirits, Acre Distilling Co., Maison Ferrand, Devil's Grin Gin, TX Whiskey, Estancia Raicilla, La Gritona Reposado, Aspen Vodka.