A planned private Eid celebration at a city-owned indoor waterpark in Grand Prairie has been cancelled after Texas Governor Greg Abbott threatened to withdraw more than $500,000 in state funding, escalating a dispute over how the event was being advertised and whether public facilities can be used for religiously defined private gatherings.
The event, known as “DFW Epic Eid,” was scheduled for 1 June at Epic Waters Indoor Waterpark, a facility owned by the City of Grand Prairie and operated through a private management company. Eid is one of the two major Islamic holidays, and the event had been promoted as a community celebration for the Dallas–Fort Worth Muslim population.
According to statements attributed to the governor’s office, concerns were raised after promotional material circulated online describing the event as a “Muslim only” gathering. Some versions of the flyer reportedly included wording such as “MUSLIM ONLY EVENT” and “CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC,” prompting political and public scrutiny.
Governor Abbott pointed to these materials when warning that the arrangement could place state funding at risk, citing more than $500,000 in active grant agreements between the state and the City of Grand Prairie. His office indicated that continued support could be withdrawn if the event proceeded under the disputed conditions on city-owned property.
Following the intervention, the City of Grand Prairie confirmed the cancellation of the event. However, questions remain over the origin of the promotional materials and which version accurately reflected the final intended structure of the event, as conflicting flyers have circulated publicly.
The city had previously described the gathering as a celebration for the local Muslim community, but variations in wording across different promotional materials have left key details unclear.
With the event now cancelled, the dispute has effectively concluded at the operational level, although the circumstances surrounding how the event was publicly described and the accuracy of the materials that triggered the political response remain unresolved.