Picture this: You’re in downtown Pineville. It’s a Friday around lunchtime. The sky is blue, with white, fluffy clouds drifting on a fall breeze. You’ve just polished off a plateful (or two) at the famously-decadent Southern Creations Catering lunch buffet, and you fancy a stroll down to the Red River with a to-go cup of iced sweet tea to help the fried chicken go down. Near the historic Gillis William Long Bridge, you spy a scenic spot to stop and take in the riverside scene: an outdoor amphitheater with a shaded pavilion at its center.
Right now, that’s just a vision; currently, an iconic American flag holds pride of place at the Pineville Riverfront. But soon, when construction gets underway on the Founders Pavilion—the Riverfront will offer much more than simply a place for pedestrians to pause. “We're looking at holding bands there for our barbecue festivals, also for Mardi Gras on the Red, and different events throughout the entire year,” Pineville Mayor Joe Bishop says.
Why not Pineville?
A new hub for festivals and other public events, funded by a $1.6 million grant from the Red River Waterway Commission, the Founders Pavilion initiative was officially passed by Pineville’s City Council in February, 2026. The Pavilion borrows design inspiration from the Riverbank Pavilion in downtown Natchitoches, a popular site that hosts events including the famous Natchitoches Meat Pie Festival. In April, Mayor Bishop took his engineering team to Natchitoches to tour the Riverbank Pavilion, to envision how the project could best enhance the appeal of Pineville’s riverfront. The team has chosen to work with the same architect. “We’re hoping to break ground this year,” Mayor Bishop notes.
Mayor Bishop is working hard to ensure that Pineville residents feel at home in their city. Noting the presence of similar facilities in nearby communities, the mayor says that bringing the Founders Pavilion project to the banks of the Red River feels like the right move at the right time. “Natchitoches has a beautiful pavilion there on their riverbank. Alexandria has an amphitheater,” he says. “And I'm thinking, ‘If other cities can have this, why can't the city of Pineville have this?’ ”
Photo credit: Josh Candiloro
Construction of the Founders Pavilion on the Pineville riverfront will expand capacity for the city to host community events, such as the popular Mardi Gras on the Red celebration.
A “Live Where You Live” State of Mind
The potential for Pineville’s riverside development is huge, and Mayor Bishop has high hopes for his city’s annual Mardi Gras on the Red celebration at the new pavilion. “A lot of people in Natchitoches go to Shreveport for Mardi Gras, and a lot of people want to go to Mamou and Eunice,” he explains, “but, hey, let's bring it right here downtown Pineville on the riverbanks. Bring out the family. Let the kids enjoy.”
Providing more amenities and entertainment options for Pineville residents dovetails with the city’s mission to encourage a “live where you live” state of mind. As Mayor Bishop is fond of saying, “If you live in Pineville, you shouldn’t need to go elsewhere to pass a good time.” The city is working to make that a reality.
Follow news about Founders Pavilion and annual events, including Mardi Gras on the Red, at explorealexandriapineville.com.
