234 Ranch Road 1050, Concan, TX 78838, US
The Dance - Dancing at Garner, Past and Current
The Dance at Garner is unique.
The Dance is what has and continues to set Garner Park apart from other state park destinations. Families with kids from 3 to 103 have some fun.
The music plays until 11pm during the summer and on popular weekends like Easter or Spring Break. Since there is a 10pm curfew in the park, when the dance is over at 11pm, you are expected to return directly to your campsite and be quite or go to the park exit and leave the park before 11:25pm.
Come to Garner and stay near the pavilion and enjoy the MUSIC. During the summer, if you want the quiet of nature, stay at the north end of the park or visit another state park. The south end, or "Old Garner", as it is sometimes called, is Heaven for those that enjoy the Garner pavilion and The Dance!
Your Concessionaire
The music wouldn't had lasted had it not been for the people that have put up with opening up the pavilion every night during the summer. Say thank you to the employees that have listened to the same song a dozen times the morning after; to those wonderful people that have turned on the juke box, flashed the lights, turned it all off at the appropriate time, and have removed gum and swept the dancefloor the following morning; to those managers that have had to place orders, pay the bills, price goods and services, pay the payroll, ask, plead, remind, and bargain to get others to work.
Thank you to all the concessionaires. Just pray that the next concessionaire that follows doesn't say the dance is not worthwhile anymore. The "Garner Magic" will fade away.
Also say thank you to the rangers, state employees and directors, and local law enforcement that have listened to the same songs sometimes night after night; to those wonderful people that have cleaned restrooms, cleared the parking lot, and closed the gates before midnight every summer long and each major holiday. It's all a group effort to pass along these "Garner dance memories" from generation-to-generation year-after-year.
The Pavilion
Prom
Every night in the summer, the girls dressed up in fancy dresses, short shorts, or jeans, fancied their hair up with rollers, and did their makeup. They were often unrecognizable from their river appearances earlier in that day. The day spent on the river ended early for some as they needed to prepare for the "Prom".
Dances more recently are a lot more casual. You can and do dress up a bit to impress!
The Jukebox
- There have been a few of them. The current one is digital. In the past they played 45's. That's a vinyl record disc that turns at a rate of 45 revolutions per minute.
- You always wanted to know when your song would play. Some played in the menu order. The next morning when the jukebox was turned back on, well liked and requested songs played multiple times. unless the jukebox was "reset". Later jukeboxes played in the order songs were bought and did not repeat any songs purchased multiple times.
Traditions
- Use to be, the Cotton-eyed Joe played followed by the Schottische.
- The porch lighting was blinked when it was time for the last song of the night.
- Blame it on Mexico, sung by George Straight, has a "Whoo" that everyone contributes to.
- Before you left the park to go back to the city, you went to the pavilion for one last swim and song on the jukebox. A few of us just stayed for the dance before leaving for home. We drove all night arriving just in time for work or school the next Monday.
Footwear
People that did the Whip and other dances often wore "Garner Moccasins". These were sold by the park concessionaire in the gift shop, or from Slade's Saddle Shop, once in Uvalde. They had a smooth soft sole leather with a padded insole and rawhide lacing, very slippery on a wet dance floor or smooth limestone. You wore holes in them after a summer or two's use at the park. The moccasins allowed dancers to do long spins, easily move their feet, and walk on the very hot river rocks and roads. When doing the two-step, they provided no protection from cowboy boots though. Back in the day, I tried making my own by mail-ordering a Tandy leather kit. Today similar footwear might be available from retailers that carry Minnetonka Brand shoes. On-line reviews give them a bad rap, but there is nothing better than feeling barefoot at Garner without having tough dirty feet. https://www.minnetonkamoccasin.com/double-deerskin-softsole-men
Today's choice is the flipflop. Few people are "whipping", but if you do want to spin, get some mocs!
Pavilion Seating
There was at one time green wood and metal benches surrounding the floor. One of these benches can still be seen at the Visitor Center in the nature garden. These Pavilion benches came into disrepair and were removed. Practice now with campers is to bring their own camp chairs. Take them with you after the dance. If you leave your chair on the pavilion floor overnight or place them there too early in the day, they might be shuffled about by a tourist. They might also be removed to facilitate sweeping the dance floor.
Then there is the wall. Many people prefer to sit on the wall. High enough to take the weight off your feet, it's made of limestone rock. Two feet wide, two feet high, with a two-inch radius edge. Not soft, but you can always sit on your hands or summer blanket and enjoy you iced tea.
Pavilion Sound
Did you notice the pavilion got a new cedar roof? Along with the new roof came new speakers for the jukebox. Let us know how they sound to you by dropping a comment in the Contact Us form on our home page. The previous speakers were in enclosures that trapped water and debris on the roof shortening the life of the roof. The new replacement speakers are on metal pedestals supported by the roof eves. They are placed in very similar locations as the horn like speakers were that are seen in pictures of the pavilion back in the sixties. It still sounds like heaven, and you can still hear your favorite Garner songs above the crowd or while swimming or sunbathing on the Frio behind the Pavilion or up and down the river a mile or so. While asking about the new sound, a Garner visitor also said the Pavilion didn't smell the same. It may be the new roof, the refurbished restrooms, or blooms from recent rains. Go checkout the sights, sounds, and smells of the Garner Pavillion in the summertime!
Music and Song
Dance styles of Garner - current and past
Two Step
Waltz
Whip
Line Dancing
Whip It
Bunny Hop
Performances
Jukebox Songs
Houston radio stations would promote new bands at the park.
Jukebox Songs
Jukebox Songs
There have been a few jukeboxes. The current one plays CD's. In the past they played 45's. That's a vinyl disc that turns at a rate of 45 revolutions per minute.
Trivia
Q: What two artists have had the most songs on the jukebox at the same time?
A: The Beatles and Ray Price. Both had 11 records, 22 songs to select.
Want to help others to dance?
What to be a dance instructor of sorts? Yes, you need to be able to show and tell others how to dance. That's not difficult. Come volunteer and keep everyone dancing at Garner.
songs of the decades
The Fifties and Sixties
The Seventies and Eighties
The Seventies and Eighties
The Beatles, Elvis, and Ray Price were popular artist.
We would hear the songs at Garner and ask the radio stations back in Houston or Dallas to play them. They would go on to become hits nationwide.
The Seventies and Eighties
The Seventies and Eighties
The Seventies and Eighties
The seventies had Charlie Pride and Johnny Bush songs.
The eighties were the beginning of a lot of George Strait songs.
The Nineties and Two Thousand's
The Nineties and Two Thousand's
The Nineties and Two Thousand's
The 90's to 2000's were popular for Taylor Swift, Garth Brooks, Brooks and Dunn, and Alan Jackson. The Ronnie Rick version of Garner State Park originated in 1992.
Current songs
The Nineties and Two Thousand's
The Nineties and Two Thousand's
Look for the jukebox in the Garner pavilion foyer.
Dancefloor Suggestions and Etiquette
Dancefloor Suggestions and Etiquette
If you want to dance, younger kids stand on the side of the Garner oak tree where the restrooms are. Older kids stand on the side towards the parking lot. Otherwise find a seat or stand somewhere off the dance floor. Your concessionaire, put up the railings and put down white lines for a reason.
No chairs on the dancefloor. Keep chairs within 5 feet of the wall. Leave room for dancing.
Put your chewing gum in the trash, especially not stuck to our oak trees or rock walls. You don't want to be a volunteer there to remove chewing gum the next morning.
No running on a wet dancefloor. It can be slippery, especially with leather soles.
No skateboards on the dancefloor. (Picture of sign)
Never say "No" if someone asks you to dance.
How to ask for a dance:
“May I have this dance?''
“Want to dance?''
“Care to dance?''
“Would you like to dance?''
“Shall we dance?''
Ladies should feel equally comfortable asking a partner for a dance. Go girl!
Don't ask the same partner for more than two consecutive dances. Dance with many different people. Give everyone a chance to dance. Find out how they dance. Improve your dancing, and theirs. Meet new people.
Seek dancing with those not so good at dancing and enjoy it. Good dancers make their partners look good. Someone must make us all better dancers. Dance to the level of your partner. You might want to just “sway back and forth”.
There are not many excuses for declining a dance: you have a broken leg, you need to learn the dance, you need to take a rest, or you have promised the dance to someone else.
Dances such as the Two-step, Waltz, Polka, and crowd dances are done in a circular direction around the dance floor.
“The Garner Whip”, a swing dance, is somewhat stationary and is done on the "Whipping Block", a smooth piece of concrete near the wall to the right of the steps going down to the river. Sometimes the middle of the floor is also used if the Whipping Block is crowded. “Buckle rubbers” should stay to the center or the side of the dance floor too.
Often it is possible to dance more than one type of dance to the same song. Observe how others handle the beat or see the song list near the juke box for suggested dance styles for various songs.
Don't forget to say, "Thank you" to your partner when the dance is over. Your partner should respond, "Thank you", as well. "No problem" isn't a good response to a thank you, even if problems abound.
Leave room for others to dance too. Don't "take over" the floor. Leave any clearing to cedar wackers.
When a partner steps on your toe or misses a lead, just smile, and go on. An ice pack may be helpful later.
Be personable, smile, and make eye contact with your partner. Converse, "Where are you from?", "Come to Garner often?", "Do you like to dance?".
Don't decline a dance and then dance with someone else. Be at the ready to accept the dance from the partner you do want to dance with. Know what songs will play next.
What you wear on your feet should be comfortable, safe, and represent “you”. Dressing up a bit can be fun.
Don't forget your dance shoes. Tennis shoes and flip flops aren't the best for dancing. Moccasins and leather soled shoes are great. Boots are sturdy if you are likely to have someone stepping on your toes.
Ask everyone to dance. Dancing is like playing the fiddle, you can read books and watch You-Tube for days and get nowhere, just go dance.
Today's beginners will be the good dancers of tomorrow, so be nice to them and dance with them. In a few years, you may wish that you had.
Smile, be warm, be personable, be nice. Have fun! Garner is about having FUN!
Friends of Garner Notices & Updates
Come check out the updates in the Visitor Center!
Coming events:
FOG Board Meeting 5/14/25, 5pm
Summer Hayrides