Central Park Summerstage

One of the best parts of summer in central park is Summer Stage! I came by here to watch the Met Opera perform. The line was very well organized. It started pouring in the middle of the concert, but the singers were so mesmerizing I sat there soaking in the rain. 100% worth it!

This is a great place for those in the know. Although some of the bigger acts are ticketed events, many are free throughout the summer. An intimate outdoor venue set in a particularly scenic area of the park. If you are just looking for something to do one night and an act is playing, you need not even enter the site. Directly behind the venue is a large grassy area, even rock outcroppings that lend themselves to an evening picnic. There are many benches around the space, including those at the adjoining band shell. A brief walk brings you to Bethesda Fountain and a view north to the Boathouse. This will make you feel like a New Yorker, because you will be surrounded by them.

We had a great experience on a beautiful night in Central Park at SummerStage. You can come early and pack a picnic to enjoy the opening act. We got the arm bands and sampled some wine and beer from one of the vendors. It's not a huge venue. We were required to pick up our blankets before the headliners went on and the whole crowd stood for the whole show. If you want a seat, try to grab a spot on the bleachers early. The port-a-potties were disgusting, but that's pretty much what I expect at an outdoor concert, right?

I did it again. I attended Central Park Summerstage for a good show - George Clinton/Galactic/Fishbone. It was a paid concert but look the lineup. Anyway - The venue holds a fair amount of people. Their website doesn't offer a number. There were a ot of people who were thirsty and hungry. They did have more stands but still could NOT handle the volume. I waited on line for 30 minutes before they decided to have staff on the sideline just to sell beer for cash. 30 minutes that was 3 songs by George Clinton. You know the songs are long with the funky jams that I heard on line.
First - paid ticket. Anywhere from $69 to more. Kind of worth it for the line up. BUT the week of the show - last minute they tried selling tickets at $10 less, Come on people if you did it the week of; why couldn't it be a lower price originally? Greed. You would have sold out awhile ago,
Second - separate lines. One for food and non-alcoholic beverages and one for alcoholic beverages. Maybe also a cash only line. Or Monitor the lines like you do for the porta-potties. Something we pay good money not to miss the show. Boxed water is $3. Beer is from $9-15. Wine is $12-13. Cider in a 10oz can? is $12. Food is as photo shows.
Third - Porta potties - more and monitored. Bravo. I guess you learn every few years.
Fourth - line and security personnel for Merch? Is there that much chaos? If this line is monitored too why can the food and bevies be monitored?
You can being in a sealed bottle of water or a refillable bottle. The water fountain was empty of lines.
If you bring a blanket be prepared to have it stepped on. It's too crowded in the center to have one. Hit the ends/walls of the venue to spread about.
It is rain or shine be prepared. Don't get me wrong if the lineup is good it is a good venue.
By the way the show starts on time and you are out of there no later than 10:30pm. Be careful if the bands have a rotating set you may miss out on a band you want to see.

We attended a Summer Stage Concert July 28 and it was AMAZING!!

Thank you!!! for bringing Selma Uamusse, Smarty and Magic System to NYC for an AWESOME concert!!

Went to see Trey Anastasio here and it was a cool little venue tucked into the middle of Central Park. I will say getting in took forever and we missed the first 2 songs after waiting in line for 45 minutes. It seemed like once the music started they began getting people in quicker but when we arrived the line stretched out quite a ways and we realized quickly we'd be missing part of the show. Now from what I understand most of the shows at this venue are free and do not sell out. The Trey show was different. We paid for tix and it was sold out. Was packed in the venue and a bit hard to move around. Wish we had a little more space but then again the place was sold out. Overall it was really cool to be watching a show in the middle of Central Park. We'd give the venue another shot if someone else played that we liked.

This is a great venue for a concert, and The War on Drugs did not disappoint. Plenty of free concerts held here too over the summer apparently. Could do with a few more toilets though.

Something for everyone, the worlds finest performers in the country's finest urban park, all for FREEmust google sunnerstage and don't look back. See something new!

If you care about a band, do NOT go see them here. It's heartbreaking really. This venue attracts people who don't really know bands, and are just looking for a place to hang for a few hours. The crowd gets angry when you are enjoying yourself, sing along or - got forbid!!! - dance. I'm not even joking. We went to see Flight of the Concords and people were giving us evil looks because we knew the songs! They called us "annoying" for dancing. Meanwhile, FOTC commented at the start of the show that the Boston crowd was better and the NYC Summerstage crowd didn't even get the reference! OMG, it was so embarrassing. We felt terrible for the band.

In all seriousness, if you actually like a band, want to have a good time, enjoy dancing at a concert or know the lyrics and want to sing along - DO NOT go here. Go to Jersey or another NYC venue. This place is full of lethargic hipsters who get angry at your passion because they have none of their own.

This is an annual public performance affair in all five boroughs of NYC.. It is mainly free with charges to a few performances.. The bulk of the performances are in June, July, August.
The more popular performers attract bumper crowds; and to get a seat either in the stands or on the floor in front of the stage, suggest you join the line an hour before showtime..
Get a programme- either online or freely available at the concert.. Your donation will be welcomed ( and well worth it ).