Published by Jeremy. Last Updated on August 7, 2024.
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We love seeing live music in the area, and there are no shortage of great concert venues in Pittsburgh to check out a show.
But some of the best music experiences in Pittsburgh are when free music performances pop up, and one of our favorites is during the Allegheny County Summer Concert Series which takes place at two great locations in the county!
We made our way up to Hartwood Acres to check out a show and wanted to share a bit more about what you can expect and how to get the most out of these free events!
Two Great Allegheny County Park Venues for Concerts
One of the best parts about the Allegheny County Summer Concert Series is that you get not one, but two chances to enjoy live music in our county parks each week in the summer months- one at South Park Amphitheater south of the city (Fridays) and one at Hartwood Acres Amphitheater north of the city (Sundays).
Concerts at both of these venues generally take place from Memorial Day through Labor Day, are completely free and unticketed, and typically begin at 7:30 pm outside of a few exceptions which are often noted on the schedule.
One of the best parts about the concerts, beyond the venues having ample space, a wide variety of music styles represented, and the above perks, is that they tend to have a brewery and winery partner for each season at every show (Hop Farm Brewing and Bella Terra Vineyards in 2024), plus a rotating selection of food trucks for each concert as well starting at 6 pm- typically two to three serving food or snacks and one serving dessert.
During our 2024 show at Hartwood Acres, for example, food trucks included Pittsburgh Sandwich Society, Benvenuti’s Pizza, Tango, and Bruster’s Ice Cream- giving plenty of options for all guests.
The final show of the year, the Annual Allegheny County Music Festival, generally takes place on Labor Day weekend and often features three bands, an earlier start time, and a suggested donation per vehicle to help assist with concert programming as well.
All this comes together for a really great experience on a beautiful summer night. Free music, great food and drink, and a few thousand new friends at one of the county’s top parks? Well, you really can’t beat that, and our show at Hartwood Acres really hit all the right notes for us!
How to Get the Most Out of a Concert Experience
So, if you’re thinking of taking in a concert at either Hartwood Acres or South Park, how do you get the most out of it? Well, we have some ideas!
First, plan around the weather. Both of the venues are open field, general admission seating. This not only means you are on your own for ensuring you get the best seat, but it also means that you are exposed to the elements. Rain or shine, you’ll be hard-pressed to have a break from either short of a passing cloud or sunset (for a hot sunny day) or clouds moving by (for a rainy day). Plan accordingly with ample sunscreen, water, and other protection.
Note that umbrellas typically are not allowed during shows, especially once the music begins. That said, we saw some folks stationed out by the parking lot at Hartwood Acres that had tents up the entire show- likely as they were not obstructing anyone else behind them.
Second, take chairs. As previously mentioned, seating is in a giant field. We only took a picnic blanket and then had someone set up chairs directly in front of us- obscuring our view a fair bit. If you have collapsable chairs, you’ll be in good company with a decent number of visitors.
Third, be sure to grab your food before the music starts or before the first act finishes- especially if any dessert trucks are found on-site. While the lines generally were rather approachable throughout the night at all of the trucks on-site during our show, the ice cream truck line became incredibly busy towards the end of the first act and into the start of the headliner.
Finally, depending on how much of a fan you are of the act, always keep in mind that traffic at the end of the show can pick up a bit. We left right before the final song was played and got out before any appreciable traffic built up. These concerts are never really that bad with traffic control, but if avoiding the rush is important, this is important to keep in mind too.
When it comes down to it, the Allegheny County Summer Concert Series is one of the best opportunities to get to see free music in the county. With nearly 30 shows over the course of the season, with even more acts, over two separate venues north and south of the city, perhaps the only question we have left to ask is not “are you going?” but “how many shows will you see?” Yes, it is that good.
The Allegheny County Summer Concert Series typically runs between Memorial Day through Labor Day. We visited a show at Hartwood Acres Amphitheater for this article; however, additional shows take place at South Park Amphitheater as well. Check out the county’s website for the current lineup during the show season.
