THE WOODLANDS, TEXAS – Featuring the period of American history when cowboy hats and boots were the attire, and courageous adventure was the settlement and taming of the Wild West, the Houston Symphony will take the Main Stage for Wild Wild West on Thursday, June 7. Tickets for the 8 p.m. performance are $20 for reserved orchestra seating. Mezzanine and lawn seating are free. Gates open at 6:30 p.m.

The performance, sponsored by Anadarko, will feature a variety of western-themed classics as well as selections from iconic films such as including The Big Country, Oklahoma!, Rodeo and William Tell.

Starting at 5:30 p.m., kids are invited to lasso a good book at the Hats Off to Reading Celebration, a free event in The Pavilion’s Event Center. All children receive a free book and can participate in activities such as a book walk, hat-making, face painting, fishing for prizes, pony stick races and a coloring contest.

Get ready for a knee-slapping good time with pre-performance activities at 6:30 p.m. in the North Plaza beforehand –rope lassoing, gold mining, Old West arts and crafts and a whole lot more. Other activities include The Pavilion Partners arts & crafts booth and Instrument Petting Zoo as well as activations by Fidelity, Texas Children’s Hospital—The Woodlands Hospital, Renewal by Andersen, Tommy Bahama and Woodforest National Bank.

Families are encouraged to enhance their performing arts experience with Mini Maestros, a free and exciting program that makes the arts both fun and accessible for kids of all ages. By signing up for Mini Maestros, children will receive: a special membership lanyard and badge, free reserved seating at all performing arts events, early entry for Ice Cream Social or Hocus Pocus Pops, a free ticket to Children’s Festival and other great perks throughout the season. Families can register their children at any of The Pavilion’s performing arts events this season at a special booth located in the North Plaza or online at www.woodlandscenter.org/mini-maestros.

Guests are welcome to bring a picnic from home or their favorite restaurant to enjoy in their seat or on the lawn. Keep in mind however, that beverages are not allowed to be brought into The Pavilion and picnics must comply with The Pavilion’s bag size restriction and/or be in original packaging. Examples include pizza within a pizza box or chips in original sealed packaging. Please visit The Pavilion’s website for more information on these restrictions. For those wanting to sit on the hill, lawn chairs also are provided free for this event.

Preferred parking is available in the on-site Town Center Garage, located along Six Pines Drive. Parking is $10 per vehicle for this and most performing arts events. Tickets for on-site parking can be purchased in advance at Ticketmaster.com and The Pavilion Box Office. Guests also may park in any of the free parking lots off Timberloch Drive on the southwest side of The Pavilion.

If you would like more information about The Pavilion, please visit our website at

www.woodlandscenter.org.