Music in the Summertime

I saw my first lightening bug tonight! Summer is here. I love this time of year because I love to be outside working in my garden, sitting on our patio bird watching or listening to music on a warm summer evening. Going to an outdoor concert is one thing I really look forward to when summer comes around. Here in Lancaster County there are so many places to go to hear great music in an outdoor venue. Just bring your lawn chairs and maybe a picnic supper and sit back and relax and enjoy.

One of my favorite places to go is to Long’s Park in Lancaster. Every Sunday night, during the summer, there is a concert held in the amphitheatre in the park at no charge to the public. There is a wide variety of music showcased with top performers. The concerts start at 7:30pm and often run until 9pm or later. There are food vendors with some light fare and also delicious ice cream (my favorite summertime treat)! This Sunday’s concert, the 2nd of a series of 13 concerts, is a traditional Scottish band, The Tannahill Weavers. There is music to please just about any listener’s taste, from blues, jazz, southern rock, bluegrass, country, and zydeco to celtic, world music, gypsy and latin jazz. And of course the exciting, patriotic Fourth of July concert, not to be missed, with the 257th Army Band, the “Band of the Nation’s Capital”, and the concert ending with a Cannon Brigade and a spectacular fireworks display, who could ask for more?!

If you want a glass of wine with your music, one of Lancaster County wineries would be another excellent  place to hear a good summer concert in the beautiful outdoors. One we like to go to is Nissley Vineyard’s, located in western Lancaster County, and not too far from Marietta. It is a wonderful outdoor venue for a summer concert. There you can hear anything from big band jazz to easy listening, 60’s & 70’s, soul, Motown, horn-driven rhythm and blues or rock out to some good old rock and roll. The concerts begin at 7:30, but you should arrive early for prime seating. You can arrive as early as 6pm. Some concert-goers are very serious about their party-fare. Some go as far as having candelabras along with their picnic fare on tables. There are food vendors if you are not into going to the trouble of packing a picnic supper. If you are staying at a B&B some innkeepers, with advance notice, will pack you a catered meal from a local restaurant all included in a weekend package.

Another great place is Twin Brook Winery, near Gap. They offer concerts on Friday night from 6:30-9:30. A wide variety of music is also offered at Twin Brook Winery concerts. There are also free afternoon concerts offered during special weekend celebrations. Ask your innkeeper for a coupon for Twin Brook. They offer a free wine tasting for two people to Authentic B&B guests. Friday Concerts run through September 2nd with music continuing into the fall with Harvest Festival Weekends. Check out the concert line-up at Twin Brook Winery.

So it is time to come to beautiful Lancaster County to enjoy summertime, watch the fireflies and listen to some great music!

I’ll see you there if I’m not in my garden or watching the birds!
Posted by: Ann Royer   Amanda Gish House Bed & Breakfast