Great Escape: Outdoor Concerts

I grew up in a small town in Pennsylvania. I was not so far in distance from the D.C. metro area, but seemingly a world away in culture.

It’s a town where people go for Sunday drives in the countryside, where farm stands dot the road in the summer—many of which are unmanned and rely on the honor system for payment—and where residents often gather on weekend evenings for a concert at the bandshell of the municipal park.

I have many memories of childhood trips to the park—not-so-fond recollections of my parents prodding my brother, sister and me into the car, adding a big blanket and maybe a picnic basket, and heading to the park for some “boring” music.

In my 8-year-old mind, the music, which often didn’t have words and wasn’t at all like the songs I heard on the radio, was not my cup of tea. So my siblings and I would spend the time lounging on the blanket or playing tag in the grass while my parents enjoyed the music.

Looking back, those evenings seem so relaxing. At the time, I didn’t have a care in the world, but I’m sure my parents did. A night off to kick back, listen to music and spend some lazy time outdoors was probably exactly what they needed.

It was my weekly check of Alexandria events that made these memories come rushing back. 

I noticed that Alexandria has a , scheduled for two Thursday evenings per month this summer. The concerts are held at the Fort Ward Park Amphitheater and are scheduled to last from 7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

The first concert will be held this Thursday and will feature the Alexandria Singers.

Digging a little deeper, I found that there are quite a few other concerts scheduled for the summer. If you can’t make it out on Thursday, the at Market Square on Friday evening from 7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Throughout the summer, concerts will also be held at Ben Brenman park, a at Canal Center Plaza, and various other concerts for occasions like Alexandria’s Birthday Celebration. There's also this month's . A complete listing of outdoor music can be found at www.alexandriava.gov/concerts.

Although the D.C. area is often depicted as fast-paced and stressful, I frequently find myself pleasantly surprised that Alexandria does such a great job of replicating aspects of my hometown. 

I plan on checking out some of the concerts this summer and apologizing to my parents for complaining so much as a kid. There’s something about enjoying music while outdoors that melts away the stress and makes a summer evening even more pleasant.