What to Know
- Summer concert series bring all kinds of music to the D.C. area for free.
- You can catch blues, reggae, folk, funk, a mariachi band and other types of music.
Concerts are great, but free concerts are better, and summer brings plenty to the D.C. area. We put together a list of free summer concert series worth checking out.
IN THE DISTRICT:
Jazz in the Sculpture Garden
You can check out outdoor art and jazzy outdoor music with the Sculpture Garden's Friday concert series from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Bring a picnic or buy food at the Pavilion Cafe. The Sculpture Garden doesn't allow you to bring alcoholic drinks, but you can buy one at the cafe. The concert series runs through Sept. 2.
Millennium Stage at The Kennedy Center
Millennium Stage offers free performances at The Kennedy Center every day at 6 p.m., including concerts, stand-up comedy and theater productions. Most shows take place indoors, so seating is limited to those who show up first.
The Scene
The most fun things to do and places to be in D.C., Maryland and Virginia
Rockin' on the Riverfront
Enjoy some tunes by the Anacostia River on Fridays from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at The Yards Park (355 Water St. SE), right by Nats Park. Concerts include salsa, reggae, '90s covers and a Dave Matthews tribute. The series ends Sept. 12.
IN VIRGINIA:
Alexandria Concerts
The City of Alexandria is hosting several concert series, including Sunset Concerts, Music at Twilight, Canal Center Concerts and others at parks around the city. The concerts run through Aug. 11 and offer both afternoon and evening shows throughout the week.
Concerts in the Park
Get a taste of local music in Falls Church, Virginia, with outdoor concerts Thursdays at 7 p.m. The concert series at Cherry Hill Park (312 Park Ave., Falls Church) features musicians from around the area and lasts from June 23 through Aug. 1.
IN MARYLAND:
Summer Concerts in Bethesda
You can catch a wide range of music at Bethesda's summer concert series in Veterans Park, from blues, to reggae, to funk and more. The Thursday concert series, which takes place from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., runs until July 28.
Summer Concerts at Glen Echo Park
Catch everything from blues to tango to ragtime during free concerts every Thursday at historic Glen Echo Park (300 MacArthur Blvd., Glen Echo) through Aug. 25.
Outdoor Concerts at the Strathmore
Heard any ukulele music lately? How about a mariachi band? The Strathmore in Rockville, Maryland, offers these and other music genres in its free outdoor concert series Wednesdays on the lawn from July 6 to Aug. 24.
