In the News

The celebration returns with a modified format on July 4th

Celebrate Independence Day with an evening of festival food, drinks, live music and the largest fireworks show in North Texas on July 4 at Fort Worth’s Fourth. We are excited to re-open the festival grounds this year to give patrons the opportunity to return, spread out and enjoy the evening and fireworks along the banks of the Trinity River at Panther Island Pavilion. Admission to the festival grounds is still FREE as Fort Worth’s Fourth continues to be a gift to the community.

Attendees are encouraged to enter the festival grounds as early as 6:00 pm for the fireworks show that includes spectacular special effects that can’t be seen from a far! Come early and claim a spot. Chairs and blankets are allowed.

The evening format includes local food and beverage vendors who will be on site with multiple stands throughout the festival grounds. No outside coolers are allowed. Ray Johnston Band will kick off the fest with live music on the Main Stage. As the sun goes down, the sounds of Party Machine Band will fill the evening air. The high-energy cover band will play dance favorites and pump up the crowd for the spectacular fireworks finale. At 9:30 pm, the Fort Worth sky will be lit up with a 29-minute fireworks show which is the largest in North Texas on July 4th.

Modified Fort Worth’s Fourth Schedule:

• 6:00 pm Gates Open
• 6:00 pm Ray Johnston Band on the Main Stage
• 8:10 pm Party Machine Band on the Main Stage
• 9:30 pm Fireworks Show

The public is allowed to bring their own tube and float from 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm. At 8:00 pm, the water will be cleared before dark. No tubes will be available to rent or use this year due to the reduced hours of the festival. There will also be no kids activities.

For details on the 2021 modifications go to fortworthsfourth.com.

Fort Worth’s Fourth is made possible by our presenting sponsors Tarrant Regional Water District, Coors Light, Andrews Distributing, Lockheed Martin and Gopuff. Special thanks to our media sponsors KDFW FOX 4, 95.9 The Ranch and 92.1 Hank FM.

The first-ever River and Blues Festival took over two days, November 13 & 14, at Panther Island Pavilion. Check out the great write up from Manuel Nauta with Rock ‘N’ Roll Report about the festival and see great photos of each performer at https://rocknrollreport.com/river-and-blues-festival-in-fort-worth-texas/ 

“The River & Blues Festival, which had its inaugural event postponed from May 15-16 to November 13-14 due to the coronavirus pandemic, has gotten the official go-ahead from Fort Worth Mayor Betsy Price’s office to proceed as scheduled, festival organizers announced on October 16.

Like all in-person events these days, it will be a socially-distanced experience, featuring viewing pods, cashless transactions, a face mask requirement, and other safety precautions. Seating will be limited to 40 percent of Panther Island Pavilion’s capacity.

Performers for the two-day festival will include Charley Crockett, Maddie & Tae, Kody West, Bart Crow, Grady Spencer & the Work, Samantha Fish, Casey James, Courtney Patton & Jason Eady, Elaina Kay, Kirk House, and more.

“For the last few months, we have stepped back and evaluated all of the options presented to us,” festival co-founder Omar Ortiz said in a statement. “With our experience and input provided by the city, we are sure that we can provide festival-goers with a great opportunity to enjoy an awesome festival experience all while maintaining safety.”

The general admission area will be divided into 10’x10’ pods, each having a limited capacity of 10 people, that will be filled daily on a first-come, first-served basis. Pods will not be shared between groups, which means some pods could have as few as two people. Guests are encouraged to bring blankets and chairs to place in their pods.

There will also be a VIP area close to the stage, with tables and chairs provided for ticketholders. Tables will be set in groups of two to 10 people, and will be spaced properly following social distancing guidelines. These are also available on a first-come, first-served basis. Anyone who purchases a platinum level ticket can arrange for a reserved table.

The festival will also include food available for purchase from a number of local establishments and food trucks, including Heim Barbecue, Cousins Maine Lobster, Kono Pizza, Melt Ice Creams, Big Kat Burgers, and The Beignet Bus.

Tickets for the festival range from $55-$300 for single day tickets, and $90-$450 for two-day passes.”

For more information visit https://riverandbluesfest.com/

Fort Worthians looking to escape the summer heat can now cool off at Panther Island Pavilion six days a week.

Starting June 30, weekday tube and pedal boat rentals are available Tuesday through Friday from noon to 6 p.m. with live music performances all weekend long.

At Panther Island Pavilion, folks can relax on the public beach in the heart of Fort Worth or venture further up the Trinity River with canoe, kayak, and stand-up paddleboard rentals from Backwoods Paddlesports.

Combat Bummer Summer 2020 (thanks, COVID) with weekends at Panther Island. The self-proclaimed “original social-distanced event,” Rockin’ the River, is a Saturday concert series where music lovers can enjoy a variety of performances from a tube or in the sand. The concerts run every Saturday starting July 11 to Aug. 8 from 1 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. with fireworks to cap off the evening.

For family-friendly relaxation, Sunday Fundays return June 28 to Sept. 6. The laid-back event offers activities for all ages like yoga, acoustic music, and pet adoptions weekly.

The pavilion is taking extra precautions to ensure the health and safety of its patrons which include PPE for event staff, hand sanitizer stations, and increased sanitation.