About the Arts District
The Dallas Arts District is a 68-acre downtown neighborhood built around the city’s major performing arts and museum institutions, including the AT&T Performing Arts Center, home to Strauss Square — the open-air amphitheater that hosts Drifted Fest’s Mainstage each Halloween night. It’s a walkable, well-lit part of downtown with a mix of cultural venues, office towers, and residential high-rises, sitting at the boundary between downtown proper and Uptown.
Getting There
Strauss Square is a short walk from the Pearl/Arts District DART Rail station, which connects to Dallas’s broader rail network — making it one of the easiest major event venues in the city to reach without driving. It’s also minutes by car or rideshare from Downtown Dallas, Uptown, and both DFW Airport and Dallas Love Field, which makes it a realistic option even for out-of-town visitors flying in for the night.
For a major event: plan to arrive with a buffer before gates open. DART Rail and rideshare drop-off both get congested right around doors, so building in extra time avoids missing the opening sets.
Nearby Neighborhoods to Explore
- Uptown — immediately north of the Arts District, known for its density of restaurants, rooftop bars, and a walkable street grid.
- Deep Ellum — Dallas’s historic live-music and nightlife neighborhood, a short rideshare east of downtown, with a concentration of bars and small venues.
- Victory Park — the entertainment district around the American Airlines Center, just west of downtown, with a mix of dining and event-night crowds.
- Bishop Arts District — a short drive south in Oak Cliff, worth a visit earlier in the day if you have time before an evening event downtown.
Before the Show: Food & Timing
The Arts District and the adjacent downtown/Uptown blocks have a wide enough range of restaurants that you can find anything from a quick bite to a sit-down dinner within walking distance or a short rideshare. For a night built around a major event like Drifted Fest, the practical move is to eat before gates open rather than plan on finding food inside — festival-night restaurant demand in this part of downtown spikes fast.
After the Show
Once a downtown show lets out, DART Rail service and rideshare pickup both see a surge right at closing, so a short walk to a nearby block before requesting a ride can save real time. If the night’s not over, Deep Ellum and Uptown both keep later hours than the immediate Arts District, making either a natural next stop after a downtown event wraps.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get to Strauss Square without a car?
Strauss Square at the AT&T Performing Arts Center is a short walk from the Pearl/Arts District DART Rail station, making it one of the most transit-accessible major venues in Dallas. It’s also minutes from Downtown Dallas, Uptown, and both DFW Airport and Dallas Love Field.
What is the Dallas Arts District?
The Dallas Arts District is the downtown neighborhood built around the city’s performing arts and museum venues, including the AT&T Performing Arts Center. It sits at the northern edge of downtown, bordering Uptown.
Where should I eat before a show at Strauss Square?
The Arts District and adjacent downtown/Uptown blocks have a wide range of restaurants within easy walking or short rideshare distance, from quick-service spots to sit-down dinner options — plan to arrive with enough buffer before gates open if you want a proper meal first.
Is parking available near Strauss Square?
Downtown Dallas has multiple paid parking garages and lots within walking distance of the Arts District, though for a major event like Drifted Fest, arriving early or using DART Rail will generally save time versus driving and parking.
See Strauss Square lit up for Halloween
Register for Drifted Fest priority presale access before general tickets go on sale on October 31, 2026.
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