‘Muslims Only’ Event in Dallas Now Welcomes Everyone Who Abides by Dress Code
May 6, 2026 – A religiously themed private event at a taxpayer-funded water park in North Texas has sparked political backlash and renewed debate over public facilities, religious accommodation, and inclusivity after organizers revised promotional materials that originally described the gathering as a “Muslim-only event.”
Initially, Women were required to dress in “burkinis,” and men are required to wear swim trunks and shirts.
The controversy centers on the annual “Epic Eid” celebration, scheduled for June 1 at Epic Waters Indoor Waterpark. The indoor water park, owned by the city of Grand Prairie, has hosted the event in previous years and is partially funded through a voter-approved quarter-cent sales tax.
The event website states that guests should uphold “Islamic etiquette,” just as they do in other mixed-gender spaces.
Organizers initially promoted the event with a flier stating it was “For Muslims only” and required attendees to follow a “modest dress code.” The gathering also advertised halal food, family-oriented entertainment, and designated prayer areas. Women were expected to wear full-coverage swimwear such as burkinis, while men were asked to wear shirts and longer swim trunks.
Halal food refers to food that is permissible under Islamic law. In general, halal food excludes pork, alcohol, and ingredients derived from forbidden sources. For meat to be considered halal, the animal must come from a lawful species such as cattle, sheep, goats, or poultry, and it must be slaughtered according to Islamic guidelines known as dhabihah. During slaughter, a mentally competent Muslim typically recites the name of God, and the animal’s throat is cut swiftly with a sharp knife to sever the major blood vessels while minimizing suffering. The animal must be alive and healthy at the time of slaughter, and the blood is drained from the body because consuming blood is prohibited in Islam. Clean handling and avoiding cross-contamination with non-halal foods are also important parts of halal food preparation.
Criticism escalated quickly on social media and among Texas conservatives, who questioned whether a publicly funded venue could legally host an event appearing to exclude people based on religion. The issue drew the attention of Greg Abbott, who threatened to revoke state public safety grants connected to the venue unless the policy changed.
Following the backlash, event organizer Aminah Knight updated the promotional language and emphasized that the purpose of the gathering was not religious exclusion but creating a comfortable environment for families seeking modest recreation.
“In response to feedback, we have updated our materials to clearly reflect that this is a modest dress-only event, centered around a respectful and family-friendly environment,” Knight said in a statement posted online.
The revised poster removed the phrase “Muslim-only event” and replaced it with “All are welcome.” The updated materials continue to encourage modest attire for all guests attending the private rental.
Supporters of the event argue that faith-based and culturally specific gatherings are common at privately rented venues and say the changes clarify the inclusive intent of the celebration. Critics, however, maintain that the original wording raised legitimate constitutional and ethical concerns because of the public ownership of the facility.
The dispute comes amid broader political tensions in Texas surrounding Islam, religious freedom, and public accommodations. In recent months, Muslim advocacy organizations and several community leaders have also criticized Abbott over his past designation of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, or CAIR, as linked to extremism — a characterization opponents have called inflammatory and defamatory.
Despite the controversy, organizers say the Eid celebration will proceed as planned, now under revised guidelines welcoming attendees of all backgrounds willing to follow the event’s modest dress expectations.
