Sundance Square will throw a birthday party for its Plaza, which doesn’t look its age
October 30,2018
Star-Telegram article by Robert Philpot
In the latest reminder that time really does fly, Sundance Square is about to throw a fifth-birthday party for Sundance Square Plaza. The gathering space, which opened Nov. 1, 2013, mere blocks from the Star-Telegram office, hardly seems like it’s been around for five years.
But then, it doesn’t seem like the movies “Ender’s Game,” “Last Vegas” or “Dallas Buyers Club,” which won Matthew McConaughey an Oscar, are 5 years old, either, and they were all released the day the plaza opened, according to Movie Insider. Doesn’t seem like “Breaking Bad” ended five years ago, either, but the series finale was a few weeks before the plaza opened. Doesn’t seem like Lorde’s “Royals” is that old, but it was the No. 1 song on the Billboard Hot 100 that week (and many weeks before and after).
But enough perspective. It’s time to talk about a party.
Sundance Square isn’t just the plaza, which is bordered by Third and Fourth Streets and Houston and Commerce Streets and is home to Bird Cafe as well as locations of Del Frisco’s Grille, Taco Diner, Starbucks, Jamba Juice and the studios of KTFW/92.1 FM “Hank-FM” and KFWR.95.9 FM “The Ranch.”
Sundance Square itself is a “35-block entertainment and shopping [not to mention dining] destination,” and it’s going to celebrate the plaza’s fifth birthday with a “Five & Funky” party Nov. 1 and 2 that will involve a lot of the entertainment, shopping, dining and more, including some stuff that’s not actually in Sundance Square but is a big part of Fort Worth.
Things kick off Thursday with a pep rally for the 2018-’19 TCU men’s and women’s basketball season, with appearances by the teams, coaches, TCU Showgirls, the marching band and SuperFrog.
The bulk of the party takes place Friday: Funkytown Donuts, which opened a location across from the plaza this year, will do a “5-shaped” doughnut giveaway. From noon to 2 p.m., random people shopping in Sundance Square will receive $5 Sundance Square gift cards. At 5:30 p.m., Fort Worth improv troupe Four Day Weekend — who were inspired to base themselves in Fort Worth when they visited downtown and saw all the activity there — will do a brief show (and redub itself “Five Day Weekend” for the occasion). Le Freak, “the greatest disco band in the world,” will perform from 6 to 9 p.m.
All events are free. So is parking, after 5 p.m. on weekdays and all through the weekend. Before 5, parking is free with validation from a Sundance Square merchant or restaurant.
The plaza has hosted ESPN’s coverage of the Men’s Final Four, movie nights, concerts and more: “We’ve witnessed numerous wedding proposals and impromptu reunions taking place in the plaza,” Johnny Campbell, Sundance Square president and CEO, says in a release. “We are honored that people have made Sundance Square Plaza their personal meeting place.”
Other events coming up after the Five & Funky bunch: Sundance Square Christmas Tree arrives, Nov. 12; tree lighting, Nov. 17; XTO Parade of Lights, Nov. 18.
For more information visit sundancesquare.com or follow the business and entertainment development on Facebook.com/sundancesquare or Twitter @sundancesquare
Locations Mentioned: Del Frisco's Grille, Four Day Weekend, FunkyTown Donuts & Drafts, Sundance Square Plaza