Summer is the time for packing a picnic, spreading a blanket and relaxing to the sounds of jazz, bluegrass, rock 'n' roll or almost any other kind of music. You name it and somewhere in Baltimore, someone's playing it!
From Patterson Park to the Inner Harbor, communities across the Baltimore area offer free concerts this summer. Here's a sampling of what's out there. Most of these series are outdoors and free, but a few are only one or the other.
In May, check out the line up of free Preakness Week concerts. In July, the BSO Concerts at Oregon Ridge attract crowds, especially on July 4.
Harborplace Amphitheater
Free, outdoors
Every weekend from Memorial Day to Labor Day, Harborplace in the Inner Harbor hosts musicians in its amphitheater near Pratt and Light streets. Performances are Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 5 p.m. Full Schedule
Patterson Park
Free, outdoors
All concerts in this summer concert series in Patterson Park, take place at 6:30 p.m. on the Pagoda Hill, near Patterson Park Avenue and Lombard St. The Pagoda is open during concerts. Rain dates are the following Wednesday. The concerts are sponsored by the Friends of Patterson Park, Mercy Medical Center and WYPR. Full Schedule
Belvedere Square
Free, outdoors
"Summer Sounds at the Square" takes place every Friday at 6 p.m. in Belevdere Square, which is located 7 miles north of downtown and 2 miles south of Towson at York Road and Northern Parkway. Full Schedule
Lurman Woodland Theatre- Catonsville
Free, outdoors
Located on the grounds of Catonsville High School at South Rolling Road and Bloomsbury Avenue, Lurman Woodland Theatre offers free concerts every weekend June through August. Musical styles at the wooded, outdoor community amphitheater range from barbershop and bluegrass to rock and reggae to country and Cajun.
Shows begin at 6 p.m. unless otherwise noted. In the event of rain, the performances will be relocated to Bloomsbury Community Center Auditorium, 106 Bloomsbury Ave., unless otherwise noted. Coolers permitted but no pets or alcohol. Full Schedule
Lexington Market
Free, indoors
On Fridays and Saturdays, Lexington Market hosts musicians from noon- 2 p.m. Full Schedule
For more information on concerts that aren't free but still in the great outdoors check out the coverage on these events:
- PAETEC Music Tour (formerly PAETEC Jazz Fest)
- Virgin Mobile Fest at Pimlico
- Pier Six
