National Gallery of Art – Friday Jazz in the Garden Series

This is a fab place to people watch, listen to good jazz, dance if it moves you, and eat and drink. What could be better. Super for all ages, I adore the young kids moving to the beat or some 20 ish guy dancing by himself, to the older generation of men grooving. Enjoy the famous sculptures too.

This is one of DC’s best events and is every Friday evening during the summer. Picnic and be merry on the sculpture garden grounds right beside and underneath large format modern sculptures from the «giant spider» to the «vagina» to the «rollerskate» and «block pyramid.» Prepare for these strange descriptions as you text your friends «Where are you all sitting?» Sangria and beer pitchers are overpriced of course, and the BYOB part of this event has been nerfed heavily so that only expert-​level alcohol sneakers can make it through detection.

This was so much fun! I was stoked to be around for the last one of this year’s series. The Garden next to the National Gallery is so pretty and has some cool sculptures to look at too. It’s a great way to hang out in DC and do it a little more like the locals. :)
They sell pitchers of sangria! Just saying. The lines are long but move pretty fast. They get super packed and it seems the smartest way to tackle this event is to arrive early and with blankets and food. Picnic it up and bring money for your sangria. You will enjoy yourself thoroughly.

This is such a great way to spend an early Friday evening! I’m still unclear if the event itself starts at 5 or 5:30 since signs and Unilocal differed on that but it appears to go until 8 or 8:30 every Friday during the summer. My BF and I arrived around 6 and there was nearly nowhere to sit whatsoever. Good thing we were only a party of 2 so we managed to squeeze in between a couple other parties and we were still close enough to hear the Brazilian jazz going on that particular night. Our first stop was the café for a pitcher of sangria– around the six o’clock hour the line was relatively short– which set us back a mere $ 18.75 and resulted in about 4 or 5 glasses total– but these were BIG glasses! There were multiple cars set up near the fountain as well although, and I could be wrong, the exclusive drink of choice was Stella Artois. I noted many people brought blankets — noted for next time– and even more brought snacks and food, also noted for next time. I really enjoyed this as a nice way to kick off the weekend and I highly recommend this event in the future.

hails to Baltimore’s favorite «Speaker of the House» for such a wonderful performance! …
We had a blast and splashed! yep! It was raining, so the band had to stop in the middle of the show. But it was still fun and memorable … will sure do this again next summer!!!
Sangria was good, and the beers are in bigger size cans, FYI … not your typical 12oz can … about 16−22oz I’m not sure but they have the list covered from lights to IPA
we didn’t get a chance to try their food tho since we brought our own snacks but their food looked delicious … I’m sure they are divined
plus plus plus … plus times plus … times plus plus !!
Cheers!!!

Awesome place to start a Friday evening, it can be too crowded so highly recommend to get there early. Band is good and there were lots of people dancing to the music. The whole setup is nice!

Came here last Friday and it’s the perfect outing with friends. I love nothing more than listening to music outside and this is the perfect combo of both. The music is great and it’s location in the sculpture garden adds just the right oomph to make it a special event.
The place get incredibly crowded so I would recommend coming early to grab a good seat. As others mentioned, definitely bring a blanket to sit on since the grass can get pretty uncomfortable. The drinks are pretty mediocre and expensive, just as a heads up.

Super fun! Great ambiance, great music, sangria pitchers are the best thing that you could add to a nice, mellow evening in the garden (even though they are just under $ 19). The band played a great range of smooth and modern jazz. I just discovered this event, and if i had the option, i would come back every friday! what a great evening event.

Would have been a great event worthy of five stars if not for the rudeness of the security guards forcing everyone out five minutes after the event ended without any warning. Also, there is no last call so don’t buy a pitcher before the end unless you’ve every intention of chugging.

A great spot to head to after work Fridays to kick off the weekend. Go to relax, get drinks, people-​watch, and dance!

I love the idea of Jazz in the Garden and the event is a lot of fun as long as you have the right company. The only reason I would rate it so low is that there are so many people there. It is very crowded and you can hardly find any place to sit. Also, you aren’t allowed to bring your own drinks and are forced to buy over prices sangria or beer. Overall, I’m glad I tried it once, but I wouldn’t go back. Especially after returning from the Tam Tam’s in Montréal, this was disappointing.

An awesome event to chill out, have some sangria, and picnic with some friends to kick off the weekend! The sangria is expensive — $ 18.50 each for a relatively small pitcher — but is still quite good.
It can definitely get really crowded and you most likely won’t be able to see the band but nevertheless, you’ll be able to hear them on speakers throughout the park and you’ll still feel like you’re on a private outing with friends. It’s not crowded like a busy metro or a noisy restaurant but more like a beach, where there are a lot of people but you don’t feel impeded at all.
Definitely recommend bringing a blanket and your own snacks. Oh, and getting there early to get a good spot!

Jazz in the Garden is one of DC’s most popular summertime activities and attracts hordes of visitors, temporary interns, and permanent residents every year. I had visited several years ago with friends when I was but an intern on the Hill. I decided to visit again with my boyfriend recently on a Friday afternoon after work. The event is from 5:30 — 8:30 and you can enjoy jazz performed by various artists (depends on the week, so check the schedule) while sipping on cool sangria or beer.
It gets CROWDED around 6−7pm, so be aware to arrive earlier (or even later, since the crowds tend to leave early). A glass of sangria is $ 6 and a pitcher is $ 18. To get our money’s worth, we ordered a pitcher and it was very delicious. The place is super crowded. There will be people sitting everywhere possible. We struggled to find a place on the grass on the far side of the garden. Even then, it was super crowded. The DC Jazz Festival was playing that day, but oddly enough, they were playing Latin music, and not jazz. We couldn’t even really listen to the music from that far away.
Though it’s an interesting experience, I doubt I’d go back again anytime soon. It was just way too crowded when we arrived (around 6:30pm). I like the sculpture garden much better when there aren’t thousands of people packed in it.

I have gone to this event several times over the past few years. At first, it was my go-​to event on Friday afternoons. People had the freedom to bring in whatever they wanted, all of the entrances were open (so you could enter in from anywhere), and you could show up at 6pm and still get a great spot. Nowadays, as I witnessed this most recent Friday, this event is not what it used to be.
1. You can’t bring in whatever you want, and your bag is checked at the door.
2. You can’t enter or exit from any entrance to the garden. You have to enter in from 7^th street.
3. You MUST show up early to get a good seat. I’m talking 4pm or earlier.
Furthermore, the sangria’s recipe has definitely changed. In the past, you could taste the wine and the fruits. Now, it tastes like sugar water with red food coloring. I guess people were not drinking responsibly… and they ruined it for the rest of us. The food from the pavilion is still the same for the most part. I suggest you bring your own though (all food is allowed upon entry).
Even still, this event is fun for people-​watching and listening to music in the background. It’s casual and you can meet people sitting next to you. However, you can tell people are not here for the music; they are here to hang out. I’m glad there is no entry fee.
Bottom line: sure, I could go back. I just need to remember to bring my own food and not buy the sangria ever again.

Great atmosphere for a summer evening in Washington.
Grab a beer, something to eat, find a spot to seat, and enjoy the great music and endless fun!

Jazz in the Garden at the National Sculpture Garden is the place to be on Fridays in the summer; for me at least!
I just love it; live jazz band; people watching; sitting on the grass amongst the sculptures and did I mention the best sangria I’ve ever had!!! Yes, it is true. The magnificent sangria is about $ 18 a pitcher.
The sangria packs a punch, thank goodness! They do serve good food there like spinach dip in a bread bowl and other goodies; but we usually grab a bite at a restaurant nearby afterwards.
* Bring a blanket
* Take the metro to avoid the parking space search
* Arrive early for a good spot
So can’t wait for summer.

YES. Let me break this down for you:
1. It happens every Friday in the summer (unless it’s raining) so try and go to a later date since it’s SUPER busy early on.
2. If you can, get off work a little earlier to snag a seat on the fountain so you can dip your feet in while drinking the sangria.
3. Buy the sangria. A pitcher is good for two people. Unless you want one to yourself. Hey, it’s Friday, you do you.
4. Bring a blanket to sit on. It’s usually hot so the trees provide excellent shade. The only downside is that you’re sitting in dirt.
5. BUG SPRAY. It’s DC, this should be obvious.
I went a bunch of times while I was living in Dupont this past summer. We would get a group together and someone would buy bread and cheese beforehand to pair with our sangria (you’re technically not allowed to bring food in so be sneaky). I highly recommend going at least once. It’s a great way to start off your weekend and to unwind after your workweek!

Ok, so here’s the thing: if you have any issues with your personal space being completely violated by numerous strangers, then Jazz in the Garden isn’t for you. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, it is that crowded. When did this event become so popular?!
Other than that, the music is great (although, depending on where you sit, you may have a difficult time hearing because of all the chatter around you). You aren’t allowed to bring in your own alcohol because they’d much rather sale you ridiculously priced pitchers of beer and sangria but if you pack your bag just right, you can circumvent that little restriction.
All in all, it’s free and a good place to hang out for a few hours and have a good time.

Crowded, hot, laidback (I didn’t see any hippies… more interns and yuppies if anything), watered down sangria (but still delicious), loud.
Jazz in the Garden is really what you make of it and what time you manage to get there. If you’re going with a large group, get there well in advance of 5. I got there right at 5 with one other person and we were really lucky to get a spot right in a semi shaded area in front of the fountain as another couple were leaving.
By the time we were sitting down (5:10ish?) the entire very large fountain, and most of the shaded parts right behind the benches surrounding the trees (not the big spacious greennery somewhat in the sunlight and a fair bit displaced from the stage) were already filled to capacity. Lots of people just standing and milling about behind us (possibly in the hopes that we would leave soon and give up our pretty cushy spots).
Music was decent — a little loud where we were sitting — funky and fun but nothing particularly memorable tbh.
Have realistic expectations of MANY CROWDS jostling for space, overpriced food and drink, and go with good company and you’ll enjoy it. Expect central park, Hamptons, or actual jazz festivals, and be disappointed.

While I love Jazz in the Sculpture Garden, it has pros and cons.
Pros:
You are bound to see someone you know.
Picnics are awesome.
Being outside is awesome.
Eating and drinking outside and sharing the experience with your friends can be fantastic.
Cons:
If the weather is good it gets beyond packed.
You can’t bring in your own booze… legally.
The speakers can be loud.
Special note: If the weather is perfect, be there before 5:30pm if you expect to get a good spot.