Panther Island Pavilion is the host venue for various events throughout the year. Due to the recent local and state restrictions placed on special events and the ever-changing conditions of COVID-19, some of our upcoming spring events will be rescheduled to a later date. We will be posting an updated schedule as soon as we have that information.
News And Info
River & Blues Fest Full Lineup and Day Schedule
What you’ve been waiting for, the FULL lineup and day schedule for River & Blues Fest featuring 13 acts of country and blues artists. #TheRiverWillRamble May 15 and 16!
Listen to country and blues from all over the nation. Day schedule below.
Friday, May 15:
Elaina Kay
Jonah Tolchin
Grady Spencer & The Work
Brandy Clark
Kody West
Charley Crockett
Saturday, May 16:
Kirk House
Courtney Patton & Jason Eady
Jontavious Willis
Ruthie Foster
Samantha Fish
Bart Crow
Maddie & Tae
Events at Panther Island Pavilion: March & April
Panther Island Pavilion is getting ready to kick off our 2020 event season at the end of this month! We have a full line-up of a variety of events to offer Fort Worthians and out of town visitors.
March 27 & 28 Cowtown Cook-off and Music Festival
Whether you participate in the BBQ cook-off, take part in the fun at the kid zone or listen to the free concerts from local acts such as Austin Allsup, this two-day event is one not to miss! This event benefits Cops for Kids, Brotherhood for the Fallen, Assist the Officer, and the PAL program and is hosted by the Forth Worth Police Officer Association.
April 4 Water Lanter Festival
Voted #1 festival by USA Today, Water Lantern Festival is returning to Fort Worth! Water Lantern Festival is an amazing experience where you’ll witness the magic of lanterns as they light up the Trinity River. Buy tickets before this event sells out!
April 18 March for Babies
Join March for Dimes as they participate in a three-mile, family-friendly walk on Saturday, April 18. March for Babies is the opportunity to support March of Dimes as it continues to fight for the health of all moms and babies. Register today!
April 25 Syndicate Smokedown
Syndicate Smokedown is Cowtown’s premier large-scale nonprofit BBQ competition hosted by the Fort Worth Stock Show Syndicate. Enjoy live music (headliner and opening acts will be announced soon), beer and other beverages, and of course, BBQ ready for you to eat.
Take a Look back on 2019 at Panther Island Pavilion
2019 was a year for the books at Panther Island Pavilion. The venue hosted 47 events which attracted over 228,000 people. Read below fun highlights from the past year.
- Raising funds and awareness for worthy causes were the shining stars of 2019. Panther Island Pavilion served as the host venue for 12 various third-party walk, runs, and rides. Nearly $2 million dollars were raised and more than 200 miles of the Trinity Trails were utilized for fundraising events such as Mimosa Run, Jude Walk/Run, JDRF One Walk, and, Walk to End Alzheimer’s.
- Disco Donnie’s inaugural festival, Ubbi Dubbi, was a new addition at Panther Island Pavilion this past April. Featuring national acclaimed EDM artists bands such as (names). This sold-out event hosted a wide array of fans from all 50 states and 6 different countries bringing in around 45,000 attendees over two days! After the festival was completed, Disco Donnie donated $15,000 to three local Fort Worth nonprofits, Fort Worth POA “Cops For Kids”, Fort Worth B-Cycle, and Girls Rock Fort Worth. Lastly, Ubbbi Dubbi helped Panther Island Pavilion be mentioned in “Is Fort Worth the Next Big Festival Destination” by Mix247EDM!
- Another new event that made its debut at Panther Island Pavilion was the nation-wide Water Lantern Festival. Visitors were able to create their own personalized rice lanterns that were made out of rice paper and wood. Lanterns were decorated with anything from a picture of a loved one to an inspirational quote. Once released, the lanterns gathered and floated down the Trinity River together in harmony.
- The Cody Johnson Throwdown returned to Panther Island Pavilion for its fourth year. Cody Johnson not only brought the party but brought another sell-out show to Panther Island Pavilion! Chris Colston kicked off the concert and despite the pop-up thunderstorm, the party continued throughout the night with Ronnie Milsap performing before COJO took the stage.
- A signature Panther Island Pavilion event, Fort Worth’s Fourth, returned for its 12th year. This year the entertainment was stacked with the returning of the 95.9 The Ranch Battle of the Bald Eagle, Party Machine Band, and Poo Live Crew. Patrons witnessed an F-16 Flyover provided by 301st Fighter Wing as well as the singing of our national anthem by Fort Worth’s very own and a star of the hit TV show “The Voice”, Austin Allsup. The night ended with the largest fireworks show in North Texas on July 4th. See y’all at the same place, same time next year!
- Summer brought more music, tubing, and sunshine! Eight years rocking the river banks, Rockin’ the River, the all-day Saturday event brought in around 14,000 people over six weeks. The summer tubing and music series showcased 30 Texas Country, Rock, and Blues bands and six firework shows to end each night.
- PROST y’all! This year’s Oktoberfest Fort Worth This three-day German Festival ended on Saturday, September 28. The festival was full of authentic German food, bier, entertainment, and shopping vendors and the biggest yet bringing in a record attendance of 18,000!
- The second Koe Wetzel’s Incredible Music Festival was hosted at Panther Island Pavilion this fall! This all-day festival brought a sold-out crowd full of fun and music. Koe brought the party with Parker McCollum, Cody Canada & the Departed, and Chris Colston. Attendees enjoyed a large 50-foot water slide, Ferris wheel, mustache rides and the more. The night ended with a BANG, large fireworks show across the riverbank.
- Recreation on the river was bigger than ever thanks to Backwoods Paddlesports. The retailer operated 9 months (March-November) of the year for their 7th season! Renting more than 5,600 kayak, canoe, and stand-up paddleboards on the Trinity River at Panther Island Pavilion. Customers also had the opportunity to help clean the Trinity and helped collect 207 bags of trash during their time out on the river. With the growing popularity of the river recreation, Backwoods added on Sunset and Night paddles which hosted 69 people! Participants were treated to complimentary beer at the conclusion of the paddle courtesy of our community partner, Wild Acre Brewing Co.
- Fort Worthians and visitors were able to experience a part of the Trinity River most have never seen. Panther Island Boat Tours opened at Panther Island Pavilion in July! Spectators chose from several types of tours that included the rich history of the river and how it shaped Fort Worth. PIBT even had a sunset cruise with dinner! They served a total of 2,100 customers and picked up 25 bags of trash while out on the river.
- Lastly, Bike-sharing on Panther Island Pavilion has made it easier than ever to hop on and off at the venue and enjoy the Trinity Trails for an outdoor, emission-free adventure. Averaging more than 7.46 per day, over 2,350 bikes were checked out at the Taylor Circle station ranking it as the 7th best performing location out of 46 stations in 2019!
Koe Wetzel Announced Next Incredible Music Festival
Koe Wetzel is bringing his second Incredible Music Festival to Panther Island Pavilion on September 14. Joining him will be Park McCollum, Cody Canada & The Departed, and Chris Colston for an all day party!
Catch what RADIO TEXAS,LIVE! has to say about the Koe and his festival!
“After he doubled the population of Lindale, Texas earlier this year with the first one, Koe Wetzel has announced his next Incredible Music Festival. On September 14th, Koe and the boys are heading to Panther Island Pavilion in Fort Worth — and as billed this show promises to be nothing short of incredible.
In June, Koe surprised fans and released his highly anticipated followup to Noise Complaint. Without presales, major label help, or really any outside promotion, Harold Saul High see-sawed back and forth between No. 1 and No. 2 for most of release week. A giant accomplishment for the independent Texan.
One big question many fans had regarding the album, where did the title come from? Koe told us, “Since ‘Noise Complaint’ I’ve lost my best friend and my uncle. They were both huge fans and never got to see where we are today. So I made up a high school with their names in it. The album as a whole is a high school themed album.”
Ranch Bash Returns!
Ranch Bash returns to Panther Island Pavilion on October 19! Check out what Visit Fort Worth has to say about the great event.
“95.9 FM The Ranch has defiantly rejected mainstream country while supporting Texas, red dirt and Americana music. The station has a loyal fan base, and every fall hosts a celebration of sorts for them called Ranch Bash. This year’s 10 bands for $15 bucks lineup includes Casey Donahew, Shane Smith & The Saints, Sam Riggs, Josh Weathers, Copper Chief, Kolby Cooper, Vincent Neil Emerson, Ross Shifflett, James Cook and one more act to be announced.”
OKTOBERFEST FORT WORTH IS BACK!
Oktoberfest Fort Worth Is Back!
Authentic German festival returns to The Shack at Panther Island Pavilion, September 26-28, 2019.
FORT WORTH, TX— Achtung, y’all! Tickets are on sale now for Oktoberfest Fort Worth – a three-day Munich-style celebration at Panther Island Pavilion! Early online ticket purchases are guaranteed a free 2019 commemorative Oktoberfest stein.
Oktoberfest Fort Worth guests enjoy traditional German food, bier, live music, dancing, shopping vendors and much more. The festival kicks off with Thursday’s ceremonial ‘Tapping of the Kegs’ and the fun continues through Saturday with midway rides, dachshund races, stein hoist competitions, the Oktoberfest Run und Ride and more.
Entertainment will include traditional German music, on multiple stages. New this year, Alex Meixner, nationally acclaimed polka and Oktoberfest performer will join the line-up. Alpenmusikaten, Walburg Boys, Alpine Village Band, Das Ist Lustig and Auf Geht’s will be back again with polka and all of your Oktoberfest favorites.
Spaten will be served, along with other Fall and Oktoberfest craft beers from around the country. Traditional German food offerings such as bratwursts, pretzels, strudel, schnitzel and German potato pancakes will also be available. Festival goers can enjoy the air-conditioned Spaten Hall as well as multiple outdoor and tented biergartens. Shopping vendors will be on hand with traditional German Lederhosen or Dirndl and a variety of other German accessories.
Reata Restaurant brings back its unique pop-up German dining option – Reata Haus. The dining experience treats guests to authentic German meal options as well as snacks like Kasebrett (Cheeseboard) pretzel and sausage, all in a seated area in the air-conditioned Spaten Halle.
Festival tickets range from $5-$15 and are available for purchase online through September 25. Advance tickets are guaranteed a free 2019 commemorative Oktoberfest stein. While supplies last, a limited number of steins will be available for tickets purchased at the gate. Admission is free for children under 12 years of age with a paying adult.
Coming back this year is a special festival preview experience on Wednesday, September 25 that offers corporations or individuals the opportunity to purchase a table of eight for a private evening of culture and celebration complete with a plated German meal from Reata Haus. Enjoy entertainment, bier and more!
Visit Oktoberfestfw.com for festival information and to purchase tickets.
Link to the Oktoberfest Fort Worth video and photos: https://oktoberfestfw.com/photos/
Oktoberfest Fort Worth is presented by Spaten. The event benefits the Trinity River Vision Authority.
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About Trinity River Vision Authority:
The Trinity River Vision Authority (TRVA) is responsible for implementation of a public infrastructure project which provides needed flood protection and fosters the development of an exciting, pedestrian oriented, urban waterfront neighborhood in Fort Worth. TRVA aims to attract business and entertainment to the district and is in charge of programming public spaces including the Panther Island Pavilion, a waterfront music venue and festival space directly adjacent to downtown Fort Worth.
Know Before You Go – Fort Worth’s Fourth
Fort Worth’s Fourth is on Thursday, July 4th at Panther Island Pavilion. Listed below is all that you need to know about the celebration and where to find more information!
WHERE IS HANDICAPPED PARKING?
Handicap parking is available in the premium lot located at 395 W Purcey for $10. View Parking Map.
HOW MUCH ARE KID ZONE ACTIVITIES?
All kidzone activities, including bounce houses, face painting, horseback riding, zipline, levee slide and the water slides are FREE. To see a map of the Fort Worth’s Fourth festival grounds, click here.
WHAT ARE THE HOURS FOR THE KIDZONE?
The Kidzone is open from 2:00-8:00 p.m. Horseback riding is from 3:30 – 6:30pm.
IS THERE AN AGE REQUIREMENT TO TUBE?
Yes. To enter the water and/or tube all children must be 30″ or taller. All children 12 years and younger are required to wear a life jacket while in the water. Life jackets are free of charge, generously provided by Cabela’s and Tarrant Regional Water District. Supplies are limited so we encourage patrons to bring their own
CAN I KAYAK AT OR NEAR FORT WORTH’S FOURTH?
No. The water at the festival will be highly congested with tubers and the Hydroflight Show Team performances, so for safety reasons, we cannot allow kayaks, SUPs or canoes on the water at Fort Worth’s Fourth. If you are paddling near the festival, access is limited due to safety restrictions on the fireworks. Due to the safety concerns related to fireworks, upstream river access will end at the Henderson Street Bridge on the Clear Fork and at the Fort Worth & Western Railroad Bridge on the West Fork. Downstream river access will end at the North Main Street Bridge on the West Fork
ARE THERE LIMITS ON BAG SIZES/TYPES?
We don’t limit the size of bags that can be brought into the festival. However, all bags and backpacks are subject to search by law enforcement.
HOW MUCH IS ADMISSION
General admission is free, but you can purchase VIP tickets for $50 to $60. Click here for more information.
WHERE AND HOW MUCH IS PARKING?
Parking ranges from $10 to $20. Click here for parking map.
CAN I BRING A SMALL TENT FOR SHADE?
Yes, but only in the general admission area. All tents must be taken down by 8:00 p.m.
ARE COOLERS ALLOWED?
NO. For the safety of our patrons, we do not allow coolers in the festival grounds. Also, no outside food or beverages. Infant/child nourishment & one unopened bottle of water per person.
DO YOU ACCEPT CASH OR CREDIT?
Both. All major credit cards and cash will be accepted to purchase food and beverages. ATM’s will be available throughout the site.
ARE DOGS ALLOWED AT THE FESTIVAL?
Yes, but they must remain on a leash at all times. Owners are required to pick up after their dogs and patrons who do not will be asked to leave the festival. Please also consider the noise level of fireworks before bringing your dog. Loud fireworks often scare dogs and cause them to run away.
WHAT TIME DOES TUBING END?
The tubing area closes to the public at 8:00 pm to clear the water for the fireworks show.
CAN I BRING MY OWN TUBE?
Yes, you can bring your own tube, but you will need to inflate it yourself.
Know Before You Go – Rockin’ the River
Rockin’ the River is 6-weeks live music and concert series, every Saturday starting July 6 through August 10 at Panther Island Pavilion. Admission is free!
We’ve gathered all of the info you might need for the lowdown about RTR. Check it out below.
The Fort Worth music venue is located at 395 Purcey Street, Fort Worth, TX 76102. Parking is $10 and is located in the grassy lot by the festival. Click here to get directions.
How much $$$ do I need?
- Cash and card are accepted
- Parking is $10
- Tube Rentals $6 ($2 deposit)
- Beer $4
- Water and Soda $2
- Food (prices vary)
- Cheap sunglasses and other merchandise (prices vary and some can be purchased online)
- Kayak, paddleboard and canoe rentals (prices vary)
Please note: Tokens will be the ONLY method of payment for food vendors, bar and tube rentals. Tokens can be purchased with cash or credit card at the token booth located right by the VIP sections. All tokens are non-refundable!
Don’t forget to bring cash for tips.
NO! Six-pack coolers are generously provided by North Texas Marine but must be returned at the end of the night. Outside coolers, beverages, and food are NOT ALLOWED on-site. Anyone who breaks this rule or is caught sneaking this stuff in will be asked to leave the event. Don’t be that guy . . . or gal!
Is Rockin’ the River kid-friendly?
This event includes loud music and alcohol. Please use discretion in bringing young children. Children less than 30” tall will not be allowed in the water. All children 12 and under must wear a life jacket while in the water. Life jackets will be available on site, free of charge (generously provided by Tarrant Regional Water District and Cabela’s).
YES, but they must be on a leash at ALL TIMES! And please, please, please – scoop your critter’s poop. No one wants to step in your dog’s business. Also consider the noise level when bringing your furry friend, loud fireworks may scare your dog and cause them to run away.
If you want to bring your own tube, you will need to inflate it yourself. Any self-inflated tube, raft, kayak or anything else that floats are welcomed – just make sure it doesn’t have a motor!
Know Before You Go – Cody Johnson Throwdown
Cody Johnson Throwdown is back at Panther Island Pavilion on June 29. We are excited that he will be bringing his friends Ronnie Milsap, Kevin Fowler, and Chris Colston with him. If you have questions about the event check out the graphic below.
River Boat Tours Coming Soon to Panther Island Pavilion!
Adding onto our epicenter of outdoor recreation, Panther Island Pavilion is excited to announce that starting in mid-July, Panther Island Boat Tours will offer a variety of one- and two-hour cruises to and from Panther Island Pavilion! Residents and tourists alike can soon gain a whole new perspective of Fort Worth – via river boat cruises along the Trinity River!
One-hour family tours will be offered daily with narration about the history of the river and its impact on Fort Worth. Two-hour sunset cruises will include a mix of history with more scenic views as well as a BYOB and dinner option with relaxing music. Weekend night-time cruises will offer an opportunity to enjoy the downtown lights and see the river from a more romantic perspective. Private parties can be also chartered.
Ryan Helm, the owner of Panther Island Boat Tours, has been operating similar river cruises along the Brazos in Waco, TX., for two years. “We’re delighted that the Tarrant Regional Water District gave us the opportunity to bring this concept to Fort Worth,” he said. “The work of TRWD and the Trinity River Vision Authority has created a special excitement about this river, and a huge demand for more activities in and near it. We are excited to join the mix.”
The first river boat to be deployed is a 30’ long pontoon and can comfortably and safely seat up to 20 passengers. For further information visit the button below.
USS FORT WORTH WHATEVER FLOATS YOUR BOAT REGATTA 2019
The 2nd annual Whatever Floats Your Boat Regatta returned to Panther Island Pavilion on May 17 —Fort Worth, TX.
The USS Fort Worth Whatever Floats Your Boat Regatta aims to build awareness of and camaraderie with the USS Fort Worth crew while promoting clean rivers and parks and green living. Seven teams gathered and used recycled material to build a boat. Unfortunately, due to the amount of recent rainfall, teams were not able to test out their boats and race across the river in them. Due to Backwoods Paddlesports generosity, they donated kayaks that were used in place of the boats for teams to race across the Trinity River and back.
Prizes for various visual awards were handed out after the race along with the face kayak racers. This was a great chance to meet USS Fort Worth crew members while keeping it green!