The Levitt Pavilion for the Performing Arts in Arlington provides more than 50 free concerts a year with a broad-based concert calendar of original music by professional musical artists from world music to jazz and country to Indie rock. The Levitt Pavilion’s concerts provide our community with an accessible, safe gathering place for free music and performing arts open to everyone – all ages, ethnicities, neighborhoods and income levels, especially those who could not afford to enjoy and benefit from live music and the performing arts in any other way.
Location
The Levitt Pavilion is located in Founders Plaza at 100 W. Abram St. in Arlington, Texas
Description
The pavilion is an outdoor concert venue with open lawn seating. Patrons bring lawn chairs and blankets, coolers, and picnics. No glass containers are allowed.
Capacity
The Levitt Pavilion lawn can hold about 3,500. There is room for people to spill over all around the pavilion and into the Dream Sculpture lot west of the pavilion.
Tickets
All Levitt Pavilion concerts are free. The exception is an annual benefit concert. Concerts that require ticket purchases are clearly indicated.
Concerts
2018 Summer Concert Season, May 18 through July 22
2018 Fall Concert Season, August 31 through October 21
Showtimes
Summer: Thursday Family Movie Nights at 8 p.m., concerts on Friday, Saturday and Sunday at 8 p.m. Concerts and movies after July 3 are at 8:30 p.m. Fall: Friday, Saturday and Sunday at 8 p.m.
Facilities
There is a bathroom trailer available and porta-potties, including handicapped accessible facilities, on South Street. J. Gilligan’s grills burgers, veggie burgers, chicken quesadillas and Irish nachos every night and sells beer and wine on concert nights (no alcohol sales on Thursdays). Bahama Buck’s sells delicious shaved ice snow cones.
Parking
There are free parking spaces available in lots surrounding the Levitt Pavilion and the nearby UTA College Park parking garage. A detailed parking map is available at Directions.
Format
Professional artists perform in culturally diverse musical genres, including World Music, Americana, country, Indie, jazz, blues, Tejano, gospel and many more.
Attendance
In 2017, more than 130,000 people attended concerts from 11 countries, 29 states and 183 cities. The Arlington Police Department helps estimate the crowd numbers.
Technical
The Levitt Pavilion installed all new sound equipment in 2015. The Levitt’s lights and sound are similar to the system that country star Kenny Chesney uses on tour. The Levitt’s equipment is state-of-the-art for outdoor concert venues.
Staff
Five full-time employees and seasonal volunteer coordinator.
Seasonal technical crew, including professional sound engineer.
Volunteers
Eight to 10 volunteers per concert fulfill a variety of jobs, including staffing the information table, collecting donations, answering questions and greeting patrons.
Board
Levitt Pavilion Arlington's Board of Directors is made up of business professionals and dedicated civic volunteers. Belinda Caylor is the board chair. The Levitt Pavilion’s Advisory Board members include: Betty Buckley, Tony Award-winning singer and actress; Melissa Lawson, Arlington winner of NBC’s Nashville Star; B.J. Thomas, five-time Grammy-winning singer/songwriter; Jim Douglas, former WFAA news reporter; and Grey Pierson, Arlington attorney.
Funding
The Levitt Pavilion and its free concerts are funded by sponsorships, grants and foundations, an annual donor campaign, an annual benefit concert, nightly audience donations and Donations from music lovers.
Info
levittpavilionarlington.org
24-hour information line at 817.543.4301
info@levittarlington.org
Social media
Levitt Pavilion Arlington is on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, Pinterest, Flickr, Yelp, Google+ and popular music industry site, Reverbnation
Media contact
Cathy O’Neal, Communications Director
817.543.4307
817.915.9263 (cell phone and on concert days)
cathy@levittarlington.org
