Frequently Asked Questions about the Levitt Pavilion
Can we bring alcohol?
You can bring anything you would like to drink, as long as there are no glass containers.
Where do we sit?
Most people bring lawn chairs and blankets to use on the lawn. There is also seating on the low walls around the lawn. Once we have reached capacity on the lawn, you may sit on Abram Street (which is closed when the lawn is full) and onto the sidewalk and steps of City Hall.
What time do people start getting there?
Although it varies depending on the artist, most people start arriving about an hour before concert time. Much earlier if we are having a really popular artist.
Are there bathrooms?
Yes. There are port-a-potties at the west end of Founders Plaza. The bathrooms in City Hall also are open and available during concerts, beginning 30 minutes before concert time.
Where do we park?
There is plenty of free parking all around the Levitt Pavilion – in the city employee lot, behind City Hall, behind the library, in the lots behind and beside the Arlington Municipal Building, in the Pinnacle Corp. lot, at First Baptist Church and in the UTA College Town parking garage just south of First Baptist Church. We have agreements with all of these neighboring businesses to allow Levitt Pavilion parking during concerts. Please see our Parking Map.
Can we bring the kids to the concerts?
Yes! All of the Levitt Pavilion concerts are family friendly. In addition, we have fun, interactive Children’s Concerts every Wednesday during the summer concert season at 9:30 a.m. and 7:30 p.m.
Is the Levitt non-smoking?
Although we are outside, concerts involve a large gathering of people in one area, which means no smoking is allowed on the lawn. Smokers are asked to move across Abram Street to the sidewalk in front of City Hall to smoke.
Is the Levitt wheelchair accessible?
Yes. The Levitt is very wheelchair accessible with a ramp on the Abram Street side and ground level entrances on all four corners. There is sidewalk all around the lawn, and a concrete pad that can be used for wheelchairs.
Is there handicapped parking at the Levitt?
All of the parking lots surrounding the Levitt have designated handicapped parking spaces.
Are there concessions?
There are concessions for sale at the flag pole entrance to Founders Plaza on the corner of Abram and Pecan streets. Our concession vendor has snacks, soft drinks, snow cones, nachos, ice cream, kettle corn and homemade lemonade. J. Gilligan’s is also on site grilling burgers, veggie burgers, chicken, quesadillas and their world-famous Irish nachos.
Can we bring our dog to the concert?
You can bring your furry family member if it is on a leash, contained or under your control, well behaved, and you clean up after it. If a dog is disruptive or aggressive and spoils others’ enjoyment of the concert, you will be asked to come back another time.Please consider is the concert volume is suitable for your dog’s sensitive ears.
How much are tickets to the Levitt?
All of the Levitt Pavilion concerts are free except for our annual benefit concert. Requiring a ticket purchase for one big concert a year helps us pay for 50 free concerts.
Why is there a concert that requires tickets? I thought all the concerts are free.
While the concerts at the Levitt Pavilion are free, producing the concerts is not. Requiring a ticket purchase for one big concert a year helps us raise the money to pay for 50 free concerts.
Where does the money you collect from the audience during every concert go?
It helps us pay the expenses to put on the concerts, including paying the musical artists and the technical crew to run the lights and sound.
What is that concrete pad for?
The concrete pad serves several purposes – sometimes all at the same time! It is a good spot for our wheelchair patrons. It also makes a nice dance floor. Sometimes we reserve it for our sponsors to host VIP parties on it.
Sometimes there is a roped off area down front. Who gets to sit there?
One of the benefits of being a season sponsor or a concert sponsor is being able to reserve an area to host a VIP party on the night of your concert. When that happens, we reserve an area down front.
Can you turn the fountain on/off?
The fountain is on a timer set by the Parks & Recreation Department that the Levitt Pavilion staff doesn’t have access to. During concert season, Parks & Rec sets the timer for the fountain to turn off before and during the concerts.
When does Abram Street get closed?
Arlington Police officers monitor the crowds at the Levitt Pavilion and make the decision when to close Abram Street.
Will the band sign my CD after the concert?
Most of the musical artists we book at the Levitt are more than happy to meet their fans and sign autographs. They will come down to the Texas Power merchandise tent that’s close to the stage after their concert to do that. No one is allowed backstage.
What happens if it rains on concert night?
Texas weather is unpredictable, and we may not know if we have to cancel a concert until the very last minute. We make every effort to have a concert as planned, but if there is lightning, rain or anything that would be dangerous to our crew, the performers or our audience, or will damage our equipment, we will cancel the concert.
How do we know if a concert has been cancelled?
We make every effort to communicate when a concert has been cancelled just as quickly as possible. The first place to check is the 24-hour Information Line at 817.543.4301, then Facebook and Twitter. We also hang a banner that says “No concert tonight” at the pavilion for those who didn’t get the word. We will post it on our website home page when possible, but it isn’t always possible to update the website from the pavilion.
Why aren’t there concerts all summer?
Our Texas summers usually have incredibly hot temperatures in late July and August that keep audiences home in the air-conditioning. We take a break from concerts during those weeks and come back for more free music in September.
How can my band play at the Levitt?
To play during a Levitt Pavilion concert season, musical artists must be original artists, which means that the majority of their performance must be original material, not cover songs. Artists also must have a commercially produced CD and a website. For detailed information about our criteria and how to submit your band, please see Perform.
How do you choose the bands that perform?
We get bands from several sources: attending music conferences, who’s playing in the area a lot, who has a fan following, recommendations from bands who play at the Levitt, submissions and suggestions. We have a Program Committee that listens to tons of music and bands and selects bands for our concert seasons. Our criteria and how to submit your band can be found on Perform.
Do the bands play for free?
No. Our musical artists are paid professional artists’ fees.
I have sound technician experience. Can I help out at the Levitt?
We hire professional sound technicians with experience, especially those who have experience with large bands and outdoor venues. Technician resumes can be submitted to our Production Manager, Richard Treat, at richard@levittarlington.org.
How do I volunteer at the Levitt?
We have volunteers at every concert to work at the information table, pass out concert calendars, distribute sponsor giveaways, answer patron questions and collect audience donations. It’s easy work that allows you to meet people and support free music under the stars. To volunteer, please visit Volunteer, and fill out the volunteer form. You must be at least 16 years old to volunteer. Before each concert season, volunteers are asked to sign up for which concerts they prefer to work.
Can the Levitt be rented for a fund-raiser/battle of the bands/wedding?
Yes. The Levitt Pavilion is available for rent when it is not concert season. Rentals are coordinated through Parks & Recreation. Please contact Kristy Sheikh at 817.575.8293 or kristy.sheikh@arlingtontx.gov.
Can my group use the Levitt Pavilion for a picnic lunch or do we need permission?
The Levitt is located in a city park, Founders Plaza. People are welcome to use Founders Plaza any time you would use a city park.
Is the Levitt owned by the city?
The Levitt Pavilion structure was built through public and private donations, then donated to the city for Founders Plaza, which is a city park. A separate nonprofit, 501(c)3 organization, The Friends of the Levitt Pavilion Arlington, is the organization that programs 50 free concerts a year at the Levitt Pavilion. It is up to the Friends of the Levitt Pavilion to raise the funds necessary to produce 50 free concerts, which includes paying the musical artists and hiring a tech crew to run the lights and sound equipment, which is owned by Friends of the Levitt Pavilion.
Does the Levitt get money from the city?
The Friends of the Levitt Pavilion does not get money from the city to produce concerts. It is up to the Friends of the Levitt Pavilion to raise the funds necessary to produce 50 free concerts, which includes paying the musical artists and hiring a tech crew to run the lights and sound equipment.
How is the Levitt funded?
The Levitt is funded by sponsorships from businesses and organizations, grants, our annual benefit concert, an annual membership campaign, passing the donation buckets at every concert, and sales from concessions and T-shirts.
Can my organization pass out fliers or set up an information table during the concerts?
We reserve that privilege for those who are our season sponsors or concert sponsors.
How do you estimate crowd size for each concert?
We rely on the expertise of our friends in the Arlington Police Department, who are experienced in estimating crowds.
How many people can the pavilion hold?
Although it may not look like it, the Brock-Saxe Great Lawn can hold around 2,500 people. We have had as many as 3,000 people squished onto the lawn for a concert before. During the Pentatonix concert in 2012, we had 12,000 all around the pavilion’s surrounding area. The audience can spill out into all of the areas outside of the main lawn, including Abram Street and up the steps of City Hall.
