How to Enjoy an Outdoor Concert in Philadelphia

Summer nights in Philadelphia are filled with outdoor entertainment. You can enjoy an outdoor concert in The City of Brotherly Love for free almost every night of the week during the warmer months. Go solo, or get together with friends and family and indulge in Philadelphia's diverse musical traditions and great open air concert venues.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Sunscreen
• Bug repellent
• Jacket
• Blanket
• Camera
• Tickets
• Sunglasses
• Umbrellas
• Lawn chair

Find Concerts and Venues

1. Find a calendar of events. The best way to find out what you should do and when is to check a master calendar of events. You can find one at the Official Visitor Site for Greater Philadelphia (see Resources below).

2. Check out the Kimmel Center. The Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts is home to the Academy of Music and serves as a venue for live music and concerts. Their Web site has a calendar of events as well as information for ordering tickets (see Resources below).

3. Explore the Longwood Gardens. These lush and fragrant gardens are also a venue for a series of performing arts concerts and musical acts. Check out the gardens as well as the entertainment. Visit their Web site for tickets and schedules (see Resources below).

4. Go to the Mann Center in Fairmont Park. This nonprofit outdoor cultural arts center offers diverse world-class entertainment for nighttime and daytime summer fun. Get group rates and special discounts when you order tickets from their Web site (see Resources below).

Be Prepared and Enjoy

5. Check the weather conditions. Comfort in the outdoors all depends on your preparation. Find out if you should wear a windbreaker or a raincoat or a tank top. Plan for changing conditions throughout the night by dressing in layers and bringing an umbrella for shelter from the sun or rain.

6. Get directions. If you are driving, you'll want to find out where to park and how to get there. You can usually get directions from the venue or ask a local. If you know the address, you can look it up on an online map.

7. Ditch your car. Philadelphia's compact city center makes it advantageous to hoof it instead of drive. Take a taxi or buy an all-day bus pass for under $6 from the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transporation Authority (see Resources below).

8. Get to your venue early for prime seating. Get the best spot by showing up a half hour to an hour before the performance starts. Otherwise, you might be using binoculars to get a good view.

Tips & Warnings

• Philadelphia uses Smart Cards for parking. Check out the Parking Authority Web site for more information (see Resources below).
• Make it a picnic by bringing a cooler and a blanket.
• Check venue Web sites for restrictions and suggestions on what you should bring.

[wastedsys]

on 2/27/2009 Try out http://www.preamped.com. Its a new site that is dedicated to live music. The largest list of concerts I have ever seen!