The Hoodoo Mural Festival, known for transforming Amarillo walls into bold, colorful expressions of art and culture, is entering a new era.
Organizers announced that the 2025 festival will move from its longtime downtown setting to Arts in the Sunset, a revitalized indoor-outdoor arts campus operated by the Amarillo Art Institute. The relocation marks a significant step for the event, which continues to grow in scale and ambition.
“I’ve been doing this for six or seven years, and I reached a point where I needed help,” said Andrew Hall, Hoodoo’s founder and executive director. “This move gives us the support, structure, and space we’ve needed for a while — and it sets us up to make the experience even better.”
Now in its sixth year, Hoodoo has become a cultural staple in the Texas Panhandle, drawing more than 3,000 attendees last year and commissioning 24 large-scale murals from nationally recognized artists. In recent years, organizers have experimented with additional elements — live music, food trucks, art galleries, and family activities — but downtown logistics have posed challenges.
“More facilities, more parking, more security — everything you want to feel safe and enjoy a vibrant art and music festival,” Hall said. “We love downtown and always will, but we’ve outgrown it. This move helps us think bigger.”
The new venue, located in the Sunset Center, offers enclosed gallery spaces, the AJ Swope Performance Plaza, and a sprawling parking lot that will double as festival grounds. Hall said the infrastructure allows for expanded programming, a more relaxed setup schedule, and increased public access.
“This gives us room to grow,” Hall said. “Instead of setting up Friday night and tearing down Sunday, we can plan multiple days of activities, maybe even expand to a multi-day festival in the future.”
Rachel Flores, executive director of the Amarillo Art Institute, said her team is equally excited to host the festival — an event she believes fits seamlessly with the center’s mission.
“Hoodoo attracts a younger, creative crowd that we don’t always reach,” Flores said. “It’s a perfect opportunity to support artists, reach new audiences, and show how versatile this space can be.”
This year’s layout will feature two music stages — including one on the AJ Swope stage — alongside live mural painting, a silent disco, art vendor booths, and food trucks. Organizers also plan to use interior galleries to showcase work by local artists.
“Last year we tried to add a local art gallery downtown, but we didn’t have a proper building to do it right,” Hall said. “At Sunset, we’ll have actual gallery space, and we’ll be able to better highlight the work of artists who aren’t muralists.”
Flores said that although the entire facility wasn’t originally designed for this kind of event, the team has embraced the transformation.
“We didn’t build this space specifically for a mural festival, but it turns out it’s perfect for it,” she said. “It’s weather-resistant, family-friendly, and full of creative energy.”
Safety and accessibility were also key factors in the decision. Hall noted that while downtown served as an energetic backdrop, some incidents raised concerns.
“Last year, after Hoodoo wrapped, someone was walking around with an AK-47 nearby,” Hall said. “That’s not the atmosphere we want for a family-friendly event. At Sunset, we can better control access and keep everyone safe.”
Beyond murals and music, the new location opens doors for year-round engagement. Hall and Flores both said they hope to introduce more interactive and educational programming throughout the year — potentially including art classes, pop-up murals, and public installations.
“We’ve always dreamed of Hoodoo being more than just a one-day event,” Hall said. “This move makes that possible.”
Applications for muralists, musicians, and vendors opened this week. Organizers say they’ve already received strong early interest. The full lineup is expected to be announced in June, following the Route 66 Festival.
The sixth annual Hoodoo Mural Festival is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 27, and will feature mural painting, live music, immersive art, and a renewed commitment to community creativity.
“This is a perfect home for Hoodoo,” Flores said. “It’s about more than murals — it’s about celebrating art in all its forms, and we’re excited to be part of that vision.”
Hall echoed the optimism.
“The vibe isn’t going away,” he said. “If anything, it’s about to get even better.”
This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: Hoodoo Mural Festival paints a new path with move to Arts in the Sunset
Reporting by Michael Cuviello, Amarillo Globe-News / Amarillo Globe-News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
