The Pavilion opened in April 1990 with a weekend that ran from the Houston Symphony to Frank Sinatra, and it has been the region's summer concert headquarters ever since. It holds about 16,500 people, roughly 6,500 under the roof and the rest on a sloping lawn ringed by pine trees. Major tours stop here from spring through fall, and it also serves as a summer home for the Houston Symphony, Houston Grand Opera and Houston Ballet, with lawn seats often free for classical nights. The drive from downtown takes around 40 minutes without traffic, so plan your exit: many locals make a day of it in The Woodlands before the show.
What to expect
- Clear bags up to 12 by 12 inches or a 4.5 by 6.5 clutch; they measure at the gate.
- No personal chairs on the sloped lawn; rent one there, free on symphony and opera nights.
- The lawn is first come, first served; kids 5 and under sit there free with an adult.
- Parking is free in four monitored lots a short walk away; the garage behind is paid.
- Cashless, including the box office; metal detectors at the gates and no re-entry.
What to do
- A lawn show with a blanket on a summer night
- A free classical night on the lawn when offered
- Dinner at The Woodlands Waterway before the gates open
- April 1990Opened
- About 16,500 (6,500 covered plus lawn)Capacity
- After Hurricane Ike damage in 2008Rebuilt roof