Things to Do in Bedford, Texas
Bedford is a Mid-Cities suburb, and its draws are the community kind — a big central park that hosts one of the area's best festivals, a beautifully restored historic school turned cultural center, and quick access to everything around it. It's more a place to live and gather than a tourist stop, but there's a good day here.
Here's what to do in and around Bedford.
Boys Ranch Park and Beats and Eats
Boys Ranch Park — rebuilt in a $64.5 million project as Generations Park at Boys Ranch — is the center of Bedford's outdoor and community life, with a lake, trails, and sports fields. Its biggest day comes every Labor Day weekend, when the Bedford Beats and Eats Fest (successor to the old Bedford Blues & BBQ Festival) takes over Generations Park at Boys Ranch, drawing music lovers and food fans from across the Metroplex.
The festival is Bedford's signature event, and the park is a busy gathering place the rest of the year too, with room for a walk, a ballgame, or a summer afternoon at the water park.
The Old Bedford School
The Old Bedford School is the town's cultural centerpiece — a beautifully restored historic school building, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, now used as an educational and cultural community center. It hosts tours, concerts, and even murder-mystery dinners.
It's a genuine piece of local history put to good use, and its events give Bedford a small arts-and-culture scene beyond the parks and restaurants.
Around the Mid-Cities
Bedford's location is a big part of the draw. It sits minutes from Fort Worth — the Stockyards, downtown, and the cultural district — and from Grapevine's historic Main Street, Lake Grapevine, and Southlake Town Square, with DFW Airport just to the east.
So while Bedford keeps things low-key, some of the best attractions in the region are a short drive in every direction, making it an easy home base for exploring the Mid-Cities.
FAQ: Things to Do in Bedford
Bedford's draws include Boys Ranch Park — home to the Bedford Beats and Eats Fest each Labor Day weekend — and the historic Old Bedford School, a restored cultural center hosting concerts and events. Fort Worth and Grapevine are a short drive away.
The Bedford Beats and Eats Fest is the city's Labor Day weekend festival at Generations Park at Boys Ranch, with live music and food. It succeeded the long-running Bedford Blues & BBQ Festival.
The Old Bedford School is a restored historic school building in Bedford, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, now used as an educational and cultural community center that hosts tours, concerts, and murder-mystery dinners.
East Texas guides — an easy drive from Bedford
Weekend trips, lakes, festivals and small-town food east of the metroplex.
Things to Do in East Texas
What to do in East Texas, checked against official sources: Tyler's Rose Garden and Caldwell Zoo, Canton's First Monday Trade Days, the Texas State Railroad, state parks, museums and festivals.
Read Guide →East Texas Festivals and Annual Events
Season-by-season guide to East Texas festivals and events — Canton's First Monday Trade Days, the Texas Rose Festival, the Yamboree, Wonderland of Lights and more, checked against each host's own site.
Read Guide →Best Day Trips from Tyler and East Texas
Drive-time guide to day trips from Tyler: state parks, small towns, museums, and lakes within about 30 minutes, an hour, and up to three hours.
Read Guide →Best Lakes in East Texas
A fact-checked guide to 17 East Texas lakes, from Lake Fork's trophy bass and Caddo Lake to Toledo Bend, Sam Rayburn and Lake Tawakoni. Sizes, species, access and rules come from TPWD.
Read Guide →Business Owner?
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