From jazz festivals to orchestral engagements, here are 14 free summer concerts worth checking out.
Warm temperatures and sunny skies make summer the ideal time to enjoy a summer concert. Luckily, communities across Virginia host a range of free concerts that are aimed at bringing people together to enjoy local and national acts. From waterfront symphonic performances to boisterous rock concerts in parks, here are the 14 places you should go this summer in Virginia to catch a free concert.
Southwest Virginia
Concerts by Canoe
Location: 1052 Twin Ridge Marina Rd., Henry, VA 24102
Dates: June 12, July 10, July 24 & Aug. 7
Concerts by Canoe is a free summer concert series at Twin Ridge Recreation Area on Philpot Lake.
Attendees can arrive by canoe, kayak, tube, SUP, or motorboat. Arrive before the concerts begin at 6:30 p.m. so you have enough time to grab a snack from The Hotdog Stand.
Performers will include Mason Creek Bluegrass, Martha Spencer & the Wonderland Country Band, and Harwell Grice Band.
Tavern Stage Summer Music Series
Location: 56 Roanoke River Parkway Rd., Roanoke, VA 24014
Dates: June 12, June 26, July 10, July 24, Aug. 7 & Aug. 21
Held at Explore Park, the Tavern Stage Summer Music Series is back this year due to popular demand. The Friday evening concerts run from 6:30-9 p.m. on the Brugh Lawn.
Performances will be given by Big Daddy Love Acoustic Trio, Jack Marion, Creedence Clearwater Recital, The Brothers Young, and Phat Anchovies.
Food and drinks will be available for purchase at Twin Creeks Brewpub.
Southside Virginia
Rhythms by the River
Location: 100 Memorial Drive, Danville, VA 24541
Dates: June 11, July 9, Aug. 13 & Sept. 10
Hang out by Riverfront Park and enjoy some tunes during Rhythms by the River on select Thursday nights. Be sure to bring a lawn chair or blanket.
Performers will include Flipside the Band, Gabriel Van Band, and Certified Vibez Band.
Central Virginia
Richmond SailFest
Location: 3021 Dock St., Richmond, VA 23223
Dates: June 13
Help kickstart Richmond’s celebration of the country’s 250th anniversary by attending a performance by the Richmond Symphony as part of Richmond SailFest. The symphony will perform live at the Intermediate Terminal Main Stage along the banks of the James River.
The concert will feature patriotic tunes, American classics, and audience-friendly orchestral music. The concert will end with a fireworks display over the James River. The concert starts at 6:30 p.m.
Summer Concerts in the Park
Location: 1468 Dolley Madison Blvd., McLean, VA 22101
Dates: June 18, June 25, July 2, July 9, July 16, July 23 & July 30
Head to the McLean Central Park amphitheater every Thursday evening from June through July for some live music as part of the Summer Concerts in the Park series. Concerts start at 7 p.m.
This year’s lineup will feature The Pack Drumline, Bennie and the Jets: Tribute to Elton John, Still Surfin’—A Tribute to the Beach Boys, One Hit Wonderers, EU (Experience Unlimited), Uptown, and Koo Koo.
Coastal Virginia
Summer Concert Series
Dates: June 19, June 26, July 3, July 10, July 17, July 24, July 31, Aug. 7, Aug. 14, Aug. 21 & Aug. 28
Location: 228 Main St., Smithfield, VA 23430
Running from Memorial Day to Labor Day weekends, the Summer Concert Series is held on Fridays at 7:30 p.m. on the lawn at Main Street Square. The series is held by the Isle of Wight Arts League.
The series features a wide variety of genres, including smooth jazz, blues, Motown, rock, pop, big band, and K-pop. This year’s lineup will feature Bobby Blackhat, K-Soul, York River Band, Higher Ground, and Angela Easterling.
Attendees are encouraged to bring a chair or blanket. Concerts last roughly one hour.
JazzTeenth Festival
Location: 2405 Atlantic Ave., Virginia Beach, VA 23451
Date: June 20
Expand your celebration of Juneteenth by attending the JazzTeenth Festival in Virginia Beach. The day will feature Black history, local artists and vendors, and most importantly, jazz and R&B music.
Performers will include Keke Wyatt, Vivian Green, Butcher Brown, and Aliah Sheffield.
Northern Virginia
Picnic in the Park
Location: 1401 Kenmore Ave., Fredericksburg, VA 22401
Dates: June 16, June 23 & June 30
Picnic in the Park has been entertaining Fredericksburg residents since 1997. Organizers say the concerts serve as a meeting place for community members as they flock to Memorial Park on Tuesdays in June for live music and an afternoon picnic.
Attendees can either bring their own picnic lunch or buy one from one of the park vendors. Concerts run from 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
Some of this year’s performers include Southern Explosion and Bill Carroll.
Summer Entertainment Series
Location: Fairfax County
Dates: June 24-Aug. 29
The Fairfax County Park Authority’s Summer Entertainment Series runs from June 24-Aug. 29. The series will feature 124 performances across 20 venues. Organizers are expecting 35,141 attendees this year.
The series will feature live entertainment from acts such as The Roadducks, a classic rock band, Rocknoceros, a children’s music group, and Rocksteady Project, a go-go group.
The full lineup can be found here.
Summer Music Series
Location: 2905 District Ave., Fairfax, VA 22031
Dates: June 27, July 11, July 18, July 25, Aug. 1, Aug. 8 & Aug. 15
The Mosaic District’s Summer Music Series is held twice monthly on Saturday evenings.
Upcoming performers will include Hijinx, Cassaday Concoction, 8 Track Jones, Ocho de Basto, Pebble to Pearl, Buena Vista, Munit Mesfin, and Proverbs Reggae Band.
Get to the concerts early at 6 p.m. for the “Local Talent Showcase” ahead of the 7 p.m. main act.
Jazz @ Met
Location: 1400 S. Eads St. & 501 15th St. S, Arlington, VA 22202
Date: June 18
Jazz @ Met is a concert series at Metropolitan Park that will culminate on June 18 with a Brazilian jazz performance by José Luiz Martins.
Food and beverages will be provided by Toby’s Homemade Ice Cream and Mocktail Club.
The performance will last from 5-7 p.m.
Lubber Run Amphitheater Free Summer Concerts
Location: 200 N. Columbus St., Arlington, VA 22203
Dates: June 6-Aug. 2
Spanning genres like big band, blues, soul, orchestral, and cabaret, Lubber Run Amphitheater Free Summer Concerts take place on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays throughout June, July, and August.
Some of the performers include The Simon & Garfunkel Songbook, King Soul, Halau O’Aulani, and Valeria Stewart.
Rosslyn LIVE
Location: 1300 Langston Blvd., Arlington, VA 22209
Dates: July 9 & Aug. 13
Rosslyn LIVE brings the community together at Gateway Park once a month on a Thursday for bands, bites, and brews.
Upcoming bands include Crashed Chores and Justin Trawick and the Common Good.
Doors open at 5:30 p.m., with performances starting at 6 p.m. Attendees are encouraged to bring blankets or chairs.
Concerts in the Park
Location: 312 Park Ave., Falls Church, VA 22046
Dates: June 18, June 25, July 2, July 9, July 16 & July 23
Hosted by the Falls Church Village Preservation and Improvement Society and the Recreation and Parks Department, Concerts in the Park has been a summertime community staple for the last 34 years.
However, the evenings include far more than just concerts. New developments this year include a beer and wine garden as well as the snack vendors Ice Cream Jubilee and The Cheese Cartel.
Attendees are encouraged to bring lawn chairs and a picnic. Musical genres range from jazz to classic rock and Americana. Concerts start at 7 p.m.
