Tips for Outdoor Concert at Tanglewood
What is Tanglewood?
Tanglewood is an outdoor music arena that is famous for being the home of the Boston Symphony Orchestra in the summer. Its unusual name came from a Nathaniel Hawthorne short story called, Tanglewood Tales. Hawthorne wrote it while living in a cottage on the Tanglewood property.
Tanglewood is unusual because it has indoor “shed seating” and outdoor lawn seating. The lawn seating allows patrons to listen to music while picnicking, playing frisbee, and enjoying the beautiful surroundings of the Berkshire mountains.
For many New Englanders, Tanglewood is part and parcel of summertime. They have been going since they were kids, and now they take their own children. If you want to make a weekend of it, you can combine it with a trip in the Berkshires or Saratoga Springs, NY.
What is the lineup at Tanglewood?
- Most of the concerts at Tanglewood feature the Boston Symphony Orchestra or the Boston Pops. They play most Fridays and Saturdays and tickets can be found here.
- One of the most popular nights at Tanglewood features the Boston Pops playing the music of Jon Williams.
- This summer Yo-Yo Ma, Renee Fleming, Gladys Knight, Reba McEntire, and Chris Thile will also host concerts.
- And every 4th of July week at Tanglewood…Jame Taylor does 2-4 nights of performances!
What seats should I get to see an outdoor concert at Tanglewood?
There are advantages to both shed seating and lawn seating.
If you sit in the shed it will feel much more like an intimate concert. You will have a great view and fabulous acoustics.
Sitting on the lawn allows you to make an event out of the concert. You can (and should) bring a picnic, you can socialize with your crew, and the kids have lots of space to wiggle.
We generally choose lawn seating because we go with the kids, and I’d rather them be able to move around and stretch than constantly telling them to hold still in the shed.
When Should I Arrive at Tanglewood?
EARLY!
The grounds open at 5:oo pm and the traffic getting into parking is bad by 4:15. Plan on being there at 4:00 and you should be able to park by 5:00. There is plenty of parking, but it is a hike from the faraway spots.
This is the left side of the lawn.
The lawn seating in the center of Tanglewood fills up quickly, but I prefer the left side of the lawn. You are closer to food and drinks to buy, closer to bathrooms, and people don’t want to hike in that far, so you have more space.
Tip:
- There is a drop off spot just as you enter the parking lot, so some of your crew can get out with the heavy stuff. This is where a wagon comes in very handy.
- Set up a large blanket and put your chairs around it. This ensures that you don’t get someone sitting right in front of you.
- Be aware that it will take you a good hour to get out of the parking lot when the evening is over.
Amenities for outdoor concerts at Tanglewood
Don’t want to cook and bring food? Don’t worry, there are many food options at Tanglewood. You will pay quite a bit more for them than you would locally, but for ease, it is a great option.
Here are the menus from this summer:
There are large bathrooms to the left of the shed. The women’s line is always longer, but it moves quickly.
What To Bring To an outdoor concert at Tanglewood
Everyone has their favorite things to bring to an outdoor concert at Tanglewood, but most people bring similar things. Here is the gear you need for Tanglewood concerts.
Folding chairs
The lighter the better!
These chairs are some of our family’s favorite because they ultra light. My 11 year old can carry all five without a struggle!
Beach chairs
If you have followed us for a while, you already know that this beach chair is my very favorite and is going strong 10 years later. This beach chair is a backpack so it is easy to carry.
Those Berkshire Hills are steep! Anything that you can drag instead of carry is a bonus. It is a trek to find somewhere to sit and a wheeled cooler makes it less painful. We learned the hard way, don’t be like us.
Click here for pricing infoWagon
Somehow we missed the memo that you need a wagon to visit Tanglewood! I can tell you that I was really jealous of the people who had them (and almost everyone had them!). I came right home and bought one!
Click here for pricing info
Folding Table
This is a godsend if you are sitting in chairs and don’t want to prepare food on your lap or eat it on your lap. Plus the table rolls up to fit in a small bag, making it great for beach vacations and family gatherings.
Tablecloth
I love a vinyl tablecloth when we are doing outdoor eating. They are easily sprayed clean with the hose or wiped down with baby wipes. This one is a great one for the 4th of July! It fits on the folding table beautifully by folding it in half and then it can be use on your table at home too!
For pricing information click here
Lawn games
Keep the kids entertained while you are waiting for the concert to begin. These are some of our kids’ favorites!
Click on the picture for pricing info
Blanket
We love these foldable, waterproof picnic and beach blankets! They are easy to keep in the trunk of the car and take everywhere. This one is 80″ x 90″ when spread out and is big enough for our family of five to sit comfortably.
Glow sticks
I learned long ago that my kids will want to buy anything that glows in the dark no matter the price. I now bring along my own glow stick so that we don’t pay $10 for a glow necklace. This kit is great because the kids can build their own jewelry, sculptures, swords, you name its for a fraction of the price. It is also something that will keep them entertained when they are getting bored of the concert.
Do we recommend seeing an outdoor concert at Tanglewood?
YES! We saw James Taylor the day before the 4th of July. He was everything I wanted him to be and more. Tanglewood was the perfect spot to see him live as the kids were much happier on the lawn than they would have been in any other venue. We enjoyed our picnic, played with the kids and had an evening that I will remember for a very long time. I hope you take advantage of a beautiful night of music under the stars this summer!
Tips:
- If you are trying to meet up with other people there, either wait at the entrance or get a balloon for your friends to find. It is near impossible otherwise.
- Bring sunscreen and bug repellent.
- Make sure you are sitting where you can see a screen if you want to watch the concert.
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Hi. Thanks for the tips. Could you hear the concert well from the lawn?
Yes, very well! There are speakers set up all over.
Wonderful and delightful insights! Nice to hear from seasoned travelers. Thank you for sharing. Keep exploring with the Crew!