(July, 2012) Every July, Reno truly becomes “Art town” as cultural events flood the downtown. Wingfield Park is ground zero for the festival, where there are multiple events occurring on any given day. Numerous other Reno venues also host concerts, exhibitions, and other arts events during the festival. Impressively, over half of Artown’s offerings are now completely free, from children’s art workshops and puppet shows to dance performances and movie screenings. There are even festivals within the festival, such as the Reno Art Fair and Gospel Fest. ...Read more...

(August-September)

Days & Nights Festival Information

Public Transportation: Fair (a 3-minute walk from MST bus 23 at Carmel Valley Road/Ford Road)
Handicapped Accessibility: Good
Performances/Programs: Multiple performances, performance schedule varies
Ticket Prices: $20 – $80, varies per performance.

(July 13-22, 2012)

Festival Del Sole Information
Performances/Programs: A festival held in July celebrating music, food, wine, and art. It is usually 7-10 days long and consists of approximately 50 events
Admission: $45-$125.

Crested Butte Music Festival Information

(July-August)

Public Transportation: Most venues accessible by public transportation
Handicapped Accessibility: Good
Performances/Programs: This summer festival of classical music, opera, and dance takes place in July. Performances held in a variety of venues. Performance schedule varies, but there are shows almost every night and also daytime performances
Admission: $25–$50; fundraising performances are $100–$150. Some free events are also presented. Discounts are available for students and children
Subscriptions: Season passes available
Educational/Community Outreach: …Read more…

Grand Teton Music Festival Information

Public Transportation: Good (easily accessible via START bus)
Handicapped Accessibility: Good
Performances/Programs: A summer music festival taking place in July and August each year. Performance schedule varies, but mostly Tuesday–Saturday
Admission: $20–$50; student tickets $5–$10
Group Discounts: Discounts available for groups of 12 or more
Subscription/Memberships: The following subscription options are offered: Full Season subscriptions are $600 and guarantee seating for the complete season; a Weekend Orchestra subscription is $260 and …Read more…

(June 7-10, 2012) Bonnaroo (the term, popularized by Dr. John, means “a really good time”) gives most other summer arts and music festivals a run for their money. Once primarily a jam band festival, the four-day hippie-friendly camping fest now features an extraordinarily diverse roster with more headliners than you can count. The 2010 line-up boasted Jay-Z, Dave Matthews Band, Kings of Leon, Stevie Wonder, Weezer, Norah Jones, John Fogerty, Regina Spektor, Tori Amos, and Jeff Beck, to name just a few. Located on a big plot of Tennessee farmland in a small town situated halfway between Nashville and Chattanooga, Bonnaroo becomes a small town itself every June, offering festival attendees 24/7 fun and entertainment in addition to the music. ...Read more...

Chicago’s favorite free summer-concert series, the Grant Park Music Festival is conveniently located in Millennium Park, right by the Loop. Over 10 weeks, evening concerts featuring the Grant Park Orchestra and Chorus are held in the Frank Gehry-designed Jay Pritzker Pavilion, where Chicagoans picnic and enjoy the state-of-the-art sound out on the lawn (festival donors can get priority seating closer to the stage)…On selected Saturdays, the concerts are preceded by ...Read more...

(May 9-24, 2012) Made possible by partnership between Detroit Chamber Winds & Strings, St. Hugo of the Hills Catholic Church, Temple Beth El, and Kirk in the Hills, this southeastern Michigan festival has present chamber music concerts since 1997. Guest artists such as contemporary ensemble eighth blackbird, pianists Jeremy Denk and Jonathan Biss, violinist/conductor Peter Oundjian, violist Kim Kashkashian, the Miró Quartet, and pipa player Wei Yang, along with contemporary composers Chen Yi Zhou Long, Elliott Carter, Joan Tower, Ned Rorem, William Bolcom have all participated in Great Lakes. ...Read more...

(May – July)

Appalachian Summer Festival Information

Public Transportation: Good (easily accessible from AppalCart Blue and Gold buses at the Asu Walker Hall Shelter and from the Green bus at West King Street/North Depot Street)
Handicapped Accessibility: Good
Performances/Programs: More than 45 events including: music, dance, theater, film, and visual arts. Performance schedules vary
Ticket Prices: Adults $15–$22; Students $11; Children (under 6) $5.

(July 9-29, 2012) Presented by the seminal new music collective Bang on a Can — founded in 1987 by contemporary composers Michael Gordon, Julia Wolfe, and David Lang — this July festival takes place at the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art each year. As an organization that eschews stylistic genres or restrictive labels, Lang calls Bang on a Can “a place where the homeless composers could all go.” The music written and performed as part of the festival is wide-ranging — seemingly, the only stipulation is that it be contemporary music that values risk-taking. ...Read more...

(July 6-August 19)

Bard Summerscape Information

Venues: Richard B. Fisher Center for the Performing Arts at Bard College (60 Manor Ave, Annandale-on-Hudson)
Public Transportation: Poor
Handicapped Accessibility: Good
Performances/Programs: July – August. Various shows (operas, dance, theater, films, music, operettas, etc) with multiple performances of each
Ticket Prices: Ticket prices vary considerably, $8–$100 Some senior discounts available
Membership: E-members will receive special offers, including discounts, throughout the season.

(June 24-August 25, 2012) A National Historic Landmark, the Chautauqua Institution was founded in the 19th century as a training program for Sunday-school teachers, and religious education remains a key part of the programming each season in the form of worship and sacred-song services, fellowship groups, and interfaith lectures and discussions. The Chautauqua summer festival’s commitment to providing spiritual renewal for its visitors is also realized through the arts, represented by theatrical productions, operas, concerts, dance, and other performances. ...Read more...

(June 16-30, 2012) It is fitting that New Haven, home to both a thriving art scene and the distinguished Yale University, should host an International Festival of Arts and Ideas. Established in 1996, this annual festival takes over the city each June for a two-week celebration of creativity and critical thinking that electrifies the community. Venues range from the grounds of Yale to the lovely New Haven Green, where there are concerts, theatrical productions, lectures, panel discussions, dance programs, film screenings, art exhibits, poetry readings, and family fare. ...Read more...

(July – August) Lincoln Center’s resident companies and artists dazzle audiences all year long, but during the Lincoln Center Festival, held every July, it is the best of the international theater community that goes on display. A collection of well-chosen productions offer the unexpected, some simple and exotic, others breathtaking in their artistry and enormity. Dramatic re-imaginings of Western classics, Mongolian songs, Iranian religious drama, and music from Bach to …Read more…

(June – September)

Music Mountain Information

Public Transportation: Poor
Handicapped Accessibility: Good
Performances/Programs: Programs include a 16-concert Chamber Music series; a Saturday Twilight series of Jazz, Big Band, and Country (7-8 concerts) with dancing on an outdoor dance floor; and a Friday night series including a silent movie night with live music accompaniment
Ticket Prices: $30 at door; $27 if purchased in advance or at the door with a Blue Card; Children (18 and under) …Read more…

(June 9-30, 2012)

The Princeton Festival Information

Venues: McCarter Theater; 185 Nassau Street; Princeton University Chapel; Taplin Auditorium, Fine Hall; Clark Music Center; Richardson Auditorium; Greenacres Country Club; Princeton Public Library; Princeton University Art Museum; West Windsor Public Library; Lawrence Library; Rocky Hill Library
Public Transportation: Fair (NJ Transit runs regular trains to Princeton Station from NYC and Philadelphia)
Handicapped Accessibility: Generally good, depending on venue
Performances/Programs: Programming includes a mix of opera, musical theater, …Read more…

(May 25-June 10, 2012) Devised as an American counterpart to Italy’s Spoleto Festival dei Due Mondi, the Spoleto Festival USA is an annual celebration of art at its finest. During the 17-day event, opera, ballet, modern dance, theater, classical-music, and jazz performances are held in churches,theaters, recital halls, and other venues throughout historic Charleston, South Carolina. Spoleto USA has premiered works by legends like Arthur Miller, Laurie Anderson, Steve Reich, Philip Glass, and Allen Ginsberg, while also featuring many emerging artists. ...Read more...

(July, 2012) Every July, Reno truly becomes “Art town” as cultural events flood the downtown. Wingfield Park is ground zero for the festival, where there are multiple events occurring on any given day. Numerous other Reno venues also host concerts, exhibitions, and other arts events during the festival. Impressively, over half of Artown’s offerings are now completely free, from children’s art workshops and puppet shows to dance performances and movie screenings. There are even festivals within the festival, such as the Reno Art Fair and Gospel Fest. ...Read more...

(August-September)

Days & Nights Festival Information

Public Transportation: Fair (a 3-minute walk from MST bus 23 at Carmel Valley Road/Ford Road)
Handicapped Accessibility: Good
Performances/Programs: Multiple performances, performance schedule varies
Ticket Prices: $20 – $80, varies per performance.

(July 13-22, 2012)

Festival Del Sole Information
Performances/Programs: A festival held in July celebrating music, food, wine, and art. It is usually 7-10 days long and consists of approximately 50 events
Admission: $45-$125.

Crested Butte Music Festival Information

(July-August)

Public Transportation: Most venues accessible by public transportation
Handicapped Accessibility: Good
Performances/Programs: This summer festival of classical music, opera, and dance takes place in July. Performances held in a variety of venues. Performance schedule varies, but there are shows almost every night and also daytime performances
Admission: $25–$50; fundraising performances are $100–$150. Some free events are also presented. Discounts are available for students and children
Subscriptions: Season passes available
Educational/Community Outreach: …Read more…

Grand Teton Music Festival Information

Public Transportation: Good (easily accessible via START bus)
Handicapped Accessibility: Good
Performances/Programs: A summer music festival taking place in July and August each year. Performance schedule varies, but mostly Tuesday–Saturday
Admission: $20–$50; student tickets $5–$10
Group Discounts: Discounts available for groups of 12 or more
Subscription/Memberships: The following subscription options are offered: Full Season subscriptions are $600 and guarantee seating for the complete season; a Weekend Orchestra subscription is $260 and …Read more…

(June 7-10, 2012) Bonnaroo (the term, popularized by Dr. John, means “a really good time”) gives most other summer arts and music festivals a run for their money. Once primarily a jam band festival, the four-day hippie-friendly camping fest now features an extraordinarily diverse roster with more headliners than you can count. The 2010 line-up boasted Jay-Z, Dave Matthews Band, Kings of Leon, Stevie Wonder, Weezer, Norah Jones, John Fogerty, Regina Spektor, Tori Amos, and Jeff Beck, to name just a few. Located on a big plot of Tennessee farmland in a small town situated halfway between Nashville and Chattanooga, Bonnaroo becomes a small town itself every June, offering festival attendees 24/7 fun and entertainment in addition to the music. ...Read more...

Chicago’s favorite free summer-concert series, the Grant Park Music Festival is conveniently located in Millennium Park, right by the Loop. Over 10 weeks, evening concerts featuring the Grant Park Orchestra and Chorus are held in the Frank Gehry-designed Jay Pritzker Pavilion, where Chicagoans picnic and enjoy the state-of-the-art sound out on the lawn (festival donors can get priority seating closer to the stage)…On selected Saturdays, the concerts are preceded by ...Read more...

(May 9-24, 2012) Made possible by partnership between Detroit Chamber Winds & Strings, St. Hugo of the Hills Catholic Church, Temple Beth El, and Kirk in the Hills, this southeastern Michigan festival has present chamber music concerts since 1997. Guest artists such as contemporary ensemble eighth blackbird, pianists Jeremy Denk and Jonathan Biss, violinist/conductor Peter Oundjian, violist Kim Kashkashian, the Miró Quartet, and pipa player Wei Yang, along with contemporary composers Chen Yi Zhou Long, Elliott Carter, Joan Tower, Ned Rorem, William Bolcom have all participated in Great Lakes. ...Read more...

(May – July)

Appalachian Summer Festival Information

Public Transportation: Good (easily accessible from AppalCart Blue and Gold buses at the Asu Walker Hall Shelter and from the Green bus at West King Street/North Depot Street)
Handicapped Accessibility: Good
Performances/Programs: More than 45 events including: music, dance, theater, film, and visual arts. Performance schedules vary
Ticket Prices: Adults $15–$22; Students $11; Children (under 6) $5.

(July 9-29, 2012) Presented by the seminal new music collective Bang on a Can — founded in 1987 by contemporary composers Michael Gordon, Julia Wolfe, and David Lang — this July festival takes place at the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art each year. As an organization that eschews stylistic genres or restrictive labels, Lang calls Bang on a Can “a place where the homeless composers could all go.” The music written and performed as part of the festival is wide-ranging — seemingly, the only stipulation is that it be contemporary music that values risk-taking. ...Read more...

(July 6-August 19)

Bard Summerscape Information

Venues: Richard B. Fisher Center for the Performing Arts at Bard College (60 Manor Ave, Annandale-on-Hudson)
Public Transportation: Poor
Handicapped Accessibility: Good
Performances/Programs: July – August. Various shows (operas, dance, theater, films, music, operettas, etc) with multiple performances of each
Ticket Prices: Ticket prices vary considerably, $8–$100 Some senior discounts available
Membership: E-members will receive special offers, including discounts, throughout the season.

(June 24-August 25, 2012) A National Historic Landmark, the Chautauqua Institution was founded in the 19th century as a training program for Sunday-school teachers, and religious education remains a key part of the programming each season in the form of worship and sacred-song services, fellowship groups, and interfaith lectures and discussions. The Chautauqua summer festival’s commitment to providing spiritual renewal for its visitors is also realized through the arts, represented by theatrical productions, operas, concerts, dance, and other performances. ...Read more...

(June 16-30, 2012) It is fitting that New Haven, home to both a thriving art scene and the distinguished Yale University, should host an International Festival of Arts and Ideas. Established in 1996, this annual festival takes over the city each June for a two-week celebration of creativity and critical thinking that electrifies the community. Venues range from the grounds of Yale to the lovely New Haven Green, where there are concerts, theatrical productions, lectures, panel discussions, dance programs, film screenings, art exhibits, poetry readings, and family fare. ...Read more...

(July – August) Lincoln Center’s resident companies and artists dazzle audiences all year long, but during the Lincoln Center Festival, held every July, it is the best of the international theater community that goes on display. A collection of well-chosen productions offer the unexpected, some simple and exotic, others breathtaking in their artistry and enormity. Dramatic re-imaginings of Western classics, Mongolian songs, Iranian religious drama, and music from Bach to …Read more…

(June – September)

Music Mountain Information

Public Transportation: Poor
Handicapped Accessibility: Good
Performances/Programs: Programs include a 16-concert Chamber Music series; a Saturday Twilight series of Jazz, Big Band, and Country (7-8 concerts) with dancing on an outdoor dance floor; and a Friday night series including a silent movie night with live music accompaniment
Ticket Prices: $30 at door; $27 if purchased in advance or at the door with a Blue Card; Children (18 and under) …Read more…

(June 9-30, 2012)

The Princeton Festival Information

Venues: McCarter Theater; 185 Nassau Street; Princeton University Chapel; Taplin Auditorium, Fine Hall; Clark Music Center; Richardson Auditorium; Greenacres Country Club; Princeton Public Library; Princeton University Art Museum; West Windsor Public Library; Lawrence Library; Rocky Hill Library
Public Transportation: Fair (NJ Transit runs regular trains to Princeton Station from NYC and Philadelphia)
Handicapped Accessibility: Generally good, depending on venue
Performances/Programs: Programming includes a mix of opera, musical theater, …Read more…

(May 25-June 10, 2012) Devised as an American counterpart to Italy’s Spoleto Festival dei Due Mondi, the Spoleto Festival USA is an annual celebration of art at its finest. During the 17-day event, opera, ballet, modern dance, theater, classical-music, and jazz performances are held in churches,theaters, recital halls, and other venues throughout historic Charleston, South Carolina. Spoleto USA has premiered works by legends like Arthur Miller, Laurie Anderson, Steve Reich, Philip Glass, and Allen Ginsberg, while also featuring many emerging artists. ...Read more...