Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion
The Woodlands
Concerts, Festivals, Charitable Events in The Woodlands Texas
The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion is presented by Huntsman and owned and operated by The Center for the Performing Arts at The Woodlands, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit governed by a volunteer Board of Directors. The Pavilion exists to put The Arts in your hands. As an iconic concert venue, The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion host world-class contemporary shows reaching a growing audience by introducing them to a wide array of arts, including symphonies, ballet, and opera. Built on the future, and numerous educational outreach programs, CWMP seeks to put the arts in the hands of the next generation.
How old is the Pavilion?
The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion, also known as The Woodlands Pavilion and The Woodlands Amphitheater, opened in April 1990. It is at 2005 Lake Robbins Drive, in the heart of Town Center.
What shows are presented at the pavilion?
The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion at The Woodlands offers more than the typical concert in The Woodlands. As part of The Woodlands Center For The Performing Arts, The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion (CWMP) holds educational outreach as an integral part of their mission. A Non-Profit Organization, The Pavilion has developed programs to support fine arts students, offer academic and social incentives, foster new audiences and provide community enrichment opportunities. The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion is a non-profit organization providing a diversity in the performing and visual arts and Live Music Entertainment Choices in Houston over the past several years. The outdoor theater offers covered seating as well as a large grass covered hill for ‘lawn seating’. The Pavilion was afforded a major upgrade between the 2008/2009 concert season thanks to Hurricane Ike.
Live Nation produces and promotes the major national concerts, which also help support The Pavilion’s nonprofit mission. The Pavilion produces its own performing arts events, including the annual Children’s Festival.
Guest Seating
Additional upgrades to the outdoor amphitheater included in 2017 increased the entire soaring roof structure (yet again), improving guest amenities and installing additional reserved and covered seating. Parking lots open 30 minutes before the gates. Gate times change from show to show, so check the event page before leaving home.
Parking, drop-off and Box Office
Free parking is in five lots off Timberloch Place; set GPS to 2203 Timberloch Place (the Green Lot). The paid Gold Lot/Parking Garage is on site, directly behind The Pavilion, with access from 9809 Six Pines Drive. It is typically $45 for concerts and $15 for performing arts shows, card only, and its limited spaces are sold in advance. Drop-off and pick-up is at 2005 Lake Robbins Drive. See the Pavilion parking guide.
North Box Office: 2005 Lake Robbins Drive, The Woodlands, TX 77380
- Monday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Event days: 10 a.m. through intermission Monday to Saturday, noon through intermission Sunday
South Box Office: at the South Gate, opens with the gates on event days.
Phone: 281.364.3024
The Woodlands Amphitheater
The Woodlands Amphitheater The Woodlands Pavilion opened with a star-studded gala weekend in April 1990, with its inaugural performance provided by The Houston Symphony. A few days later, Frank Sinatra became the first world-renowned performance artist to take the stage. Just two years later, in 1992, thanks to a generous gift from George and Cynthia Mitchell to the Houston Symphony’s endowment fund, The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion became the official Summer Home of the Houston Symphony.
Free Events at The Pavilion
Did you know that you can attend most all of the performing arts events for FREE? The Pavilion hosts The Houston Symphony several times each year, as well as The Houston Ballet, The Houston Grand Opera, and the Texas Music Festival Orchestra, and you can have a picnic in your seat or on the hill during the concert. Mezzanine and lawn seating is FREE. Lawn chairs also are available at no charge for these and other applicable performing arts events. And although beverages cannot be brought into The Pavilion, you are welcome to bring empty water bottles and fill them at the drinking fountains. And as always, parking is FREE in the five lots off Timberloch Place (set GPS to 2203 Timberloch Place, the Green Lot). How’s that for a cheap date?!
Sculptures at The Pavilion
In reflection of it’s roots in the arts, many sculptures can be found on the grounds of The Pavilion. These include “Smokedance”, six bronze metal castings placed throughout The Pavilion both inside and out, ranging in height from 6′ to more than 13′ in height, installed in 1989; the Commemorative Tribute to George P. Mitchell, a bronze bench featuring Mr. Mitchell and two of his grandchildren that was installed in 1997 at the north (main) entrance); the Commemorative Tribute to Cynthia Woods Mitchell, a bronze casting of Mrs. Mitchell reading to three children, installed in 2002, also at the north entrance; and the Millennium Sculpture, a 32′, stainless steel structure with internal lighting installed in 2000, and relocated in 2006, overlooking The Woodlands Waterway near the south entrance to the Pavilion.
What can I bring?
The Pavilion has a clear bag policy: clear bags up to 12 x 12 inches or a small clutch. Outside drinks, lawn chairs and ice chests stay home, but small blankets and one gallon bag of food per person are fine at most concerts. See the entry rules and bag policy.
Pavilion Parking
Parking is free in the Green, Blue, Orange, Yellow and White lots off Timberloch Place (set GPS to 2203 Timberloch Place, the Green Lot), a short walk from the gates. Lots open 30 minutes before the gates. The paid Gold Lot/Parking Garage behind The Pavilion, at 9809 Six Pines Drive, is typically $45 for concerts and $15 for performing arts shows, card only. Accessible parking there is free, first come, first served. See the Pavilion parking guide.
Get to The Pavilion
From Houston, take I-45 or the Hardy Toll Road north and exit Woodlands Parkway. From Conroe, take I-45 south, exit Research Forest Drive and follow Grogan’s Mill Road to Timberloch Place. Other good routes: FM 1488 from Hempstead, FM 2978 from Tomball, and Fish Creek Thoroughfare or McCaleb Road from State Highway 105 near Lake Conroe. Directions.
Sections & Seating
The Pavilion opened April 27, 1990, with 3,000 reserved seats and room for 7,000 on the lawn. A 1995 expansion took it to about 13,000, and the rebuild after Hurricane Ike in 2008 raised covered seating to more than 6,000. Capacity today is listed at 16,500. See the seating chart.
Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion
The Pavilion is owned and operated by The Center for the Performing Arts at The Woodlands, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit set up by George and Cynthia Woods Mitchell and governed by a volunteer Board of Directors. Live Nation produces and promotes the major national concerts; The Pavilion produces its own performing arts events, including the annual Children's Festival. Concert tickets are sold through Ticketmaster, the venue's official ticket seller. About The Pavilion · Concert tickets