After a five-year break, Fort Worth Zine Fest is making its triumphant return this Saturday, October 17. This festival celebrates zines—self-published magazines that amplify the voices of activists, artists, musicians, and communities often left out of mainstream discourse. The event promises an array of activities, including complimentary art workshops, community presentations, and film screenings, all taking place at Southside Preservation Hall, located at 1519 Lipscomb Street in Fort Worth.
In the Main Ballroom, visitors can engage with 36 local “zinesters,” or print artists, from noon to 6 PM. The space will also feature live music from DJ 0RBIS9 and DJ Chineseknees, alongside food and drinks provided by Ostara Coffee & Matcha, available throughout the day.
The Salon room will host a variety of local art and educational workshops. Attendees can learn about bookbinding from 12:30 PM to 1:15 PM, explore riso misprint journals from 1:30 PM to 2:15 PM, and participate in a collaging session from 2:30 PM to 3:30 PM. The Zine Club Drawing Jam will take place from 3:30 PM to 4:30 PM, and there will be a special kids’ table featuring activities throughout the event.
Film enthusiasts can look forward to screenings in the Rose Chapel, which will serve as a movie room. The day kicks off at 12:30 PM with a special presentation titled “Zines by Political Prisoners,” followed by a screening at 1:30 PM of the documentary “A Place We Can Go” (2026), which delves into the DIY scene in North Texas, highlighting the iconic 1919 Hemphill venue.
At 2:30 PM, attendees can join “The Corner Orchard,” a presentation about a community garden in Stop Six, followed by screenings at 3:30 PM of two short films: “Survival Without Rent” (2025), which narrates how a zine supported squatters in the 1970s, and “Pretty Vacant” (1996), a coming-of-age tale focusing on a young Latina feminist who channels her emotions through music and zines. The day will conclude with “Collective Processing: A Grief Workshop for 2026” at 4:45 PM.
To cap off the festivities, South Barbershop, located at 121 S Main St, Ste 3, will host an after-party from 8 PM to midnight featuring performances by Luke Chacko, Nip Slip, Puppy Mill, and others. For additional details on the festival and its activities, visit Linktr.ee/fortworthzinefest.
