The Austin Symphony Summer Concerts in the Park

How have I never gone to this before yesterday!!! If you can’t stand the heat, you may want to think twice… although it is really worth it and for the most part, the sun is hidden. Bring a picnic, bring your family or friends (kid and dog friendly) and take in the music. A splendid way to spend a summer Sunday evening. I am hooked. Arrive about 30 minutes early as they start promptly at 7:30 and it ran just over an hour. Take advantage of the free parking at One Texas Center lot… short walk and you are there!

Another fantastic night at symphony in the park! This is truly the best event of the summer!
I go almost every week, always fun, never a dull moment! Darla organizes a mean Unilocal picnic of goodness!

Parking at the Long Center $ 8.00, bring your own cocktails: cheap, brought a covered dish to share: $ 6.00, extreme picnicking Unilocalers to hang out with: Priceless!
I saw the Unilocal UYE for this and finally decided to brave the heat and take in some culture! I parked in the Long Center parking lot because I didn’t feel like walking in the heat with my cooler full of champagne and OJ! There is free parking in another lot near the Long Center.
It was big band night and the Symphony was spot on! I love the events that bring out the locals who enjoy what makes Austin what it is. The grass was covered with people enjoying the music, sunset and chatting to people on neighboring blankets. It was hot but, there was a nice breeze that started to come closer to sunset. There were also companies giving out samples of beverages and bagged snacks.
How to do it and do it right: Make sure to bring snacks, beverages, plenty of ice, a blanket, hand fan and bug spray! Also, if you haven’t been to the UYE you should check it out because we met a lot of fun and nice people!

I love this summer event! There is always a good crowd without feeling overly crowded. This is a time to relax, take a picnic, and listen to good music with an amazing view of Austin. Dogs and children are welcomed. My only complaints are that I wish the event began at 8 rather 7:30, and I wish the music faced the opposite direction so that the city was in the background. That aside, I look forward to this on Sundays. Events like this make me love and appreciate this city that much more.

Over priced vendors, but great hangout spot for fourth of July. The fireworks show was upclose and personal and entry was free. One of the best fourth of Julys I have had… Texas has amazed me again.

Wonderful event. Bring a picnic, kids, dog, neighbor and enjoy the beautiful music in a beautiful backdrop. Free parking, too, at the One Texas Center.

Think it’s too hot in Austin to hang out outside on a Sunday evening? Maybe, but the hill on the Long Center has a nice breeze and the sun sets beautifully during the event. Each Sunday during the summer, a section (brass, strings, woodwinds, big band) of the Austin Symphony sets up on the terrace of the Long Center and play for an hour. Get there early enough, and you’ll be handed a sheet of what selections are to be played. And you’ll want to get there early on Big Band night, the most popular of the events, the park gets crowded FAST.
Symphony in the Park has become one of my favorite summertime traditions. The wonderful Darla A. has managed to assemble a huge group of Unilocalers and wine tasters to show off their culinary wares, picnic style. And we always have quite the spread, with our (I think we’re up to 7) mini picnic tables, dozens of blankets, dozens (probably more) bottles of wine and accessories (what are we, animals, leaving our plastic wine glasses on the ground?! There are stakes for that!), great company, and, of course all the food. We were even featured in the Stateman two years ago for our extreme picnicking!
It starts in a couple weeks and I’M SO EXCITED!

We enjoyed the Symphony in the Park almost every Sunday eve this summer. It was always a wonderful way to wind down the weekend. Plenty of space on the lawn (though if you want to be near the music, you should arrive early). Bring some food and beverage and a nice big blanket to spread out on, then sit back an relax as the music plays.
Excellent for large groups and kids, there’s plenty of talking and the kids often dance on the light thing (that thing that changes color in front of the Long Center) as do the adults (but back behind the performers on the concrete) espeically on «Big Band» night. It’s really a good time for all ages.
I’m just sad it’s over for the season! Looking forward to next year!

Each Sunday evening at 7:30 through August 25^th, a different ensemble of the Austin Symphony Orchestra plays a concert on the patio in front of the Long Center.
This is a great event for picnics and kids. A lot of kids run and dance on the lawn and the patio during the performance. Absolute silence isn’t necessary to enjoy the performance.
If you want to stake out a spot close to the performers, you should probably arrive about an hour early.
You can pay to park in the garage, but there is a lot of free parking in the area (e.g., the city parking lot on the southeast corner of South First and Barton Springs).

Sunday evenings! Love them. I steal a couple of glorious hours hosting a leisurely picnic with friends while watching the sun go down and being serenaded by a portion of the Austin Symphony with the picturesque city skyline as a back drop.
In their ninth season, these concerts are the Hartman Foundations summer gift to Austin.
During this 2011 summer season, every Sunday from June 5 to Aug 28, they rotate a weekly program of Strings, Brass, Woodwinds and Big Band.
The music starts promptly at 7:30 but die hard Symphony goers, extreme picnicers and take out eaters start are known to get there 30 – 45 minutes ahead, and enjoy the evening. It is family, kid and dog friendly.
It is the perfect wind down to a summer weekend!
Here is their 2011 schedule: