5 Best Outdoor Concert Venues in Virginia in 2024

Virginia's Music Scene offers a broad range of genres, including outdoor Beach and Bluegrass events, Orchestra performances, and Jazz and Blues music sessions during the summer months. If you are new to the area, you need some direction. Check out these seven outdoor venues for concerts in Virginia.

1. Atlantic Union Bank Pavilion - Portsmouth, VA

(Source: oldetowneportsmouth.com)

Warm weather, fresh drinks, and live music – nothing can describe summer better than an outdoor concert. In the Atlantic Union Bank Pavilion, you can enjoy a lot of performances from the local and top singers. The venue provides 6,500 visitors with an opportunity to celebrate the joy of live music and the power of people. Located on the banks of the Elizabeth River in downtown Portsmouth, the Pavilion has the perfect scenery for live entertainment experiences.

Address: 16 Crawford Cir, Portsmouth, VA 23704 (Directions)

Phone: +1 757-393-8181

Atlantic Union Bank Pavilion Reviews:

• Concert was fantastic! Acoustics Great. However, what is the point of having a chair height requirement if most folks stand up literally the entire concert and you are on the grass and can't see anything if you are sitting or laying down? Can't even see the two boards with close ups of the bands because standers block the view. Also people can smoke--that was a surprise. If you are on the grass, I suggest you get up to the very front if you want to sit down.
• Nice location with a view of the marina to enjoy preconcert beverages.
• I saw stick figure, pepper, and slightly stoopid at this venue. What an insane place to have a reggae concert. This place is right on the marina and everything is outside.
• Great open air venue located in the Olde Town/Downtown Portsmouth waterfront area. Easily accessible to I-264 and convenient parking all around. This is a great place to watch concerts during the summer with the natural sea breeze flowing through the pavilion.
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Atlantic Union Bank Pavilion - Concert Tickets

2.Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater - Virginia Beach, VA

(Source: visitvirginiabeach.com)

The Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater is a 20,000-seat outdoor concert venue that hosts music events throughout the year. With 7,500 seats under a pavilion and 12,500 general admission lawn seats, you can choose the kind of experience that you want to enjoy. Train, Bruce Springsteen, and Aerosmith have already done their acts here. Shaggfest, Crüe Fest, H.O.R.D.E. Festival, and Projekt Revolution also take place in the Amphitheater.

Address: 3550 Cellar Door Way, Virginia Beach, VA 23456

Phone: +1 757-368-3000

Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater at Virginia Beach Reviews:

• First time back in 10 years. Concert was great. Sound was good. Plenty of bathrooms, food options and drink options. Beer is as pricey as expected about 14 bucks a pop depending on what type. 4 stars because getting in took forever. Also worth noting that although the website says you can bring water bottles and/or empty jugs you can not. You can bring them through security and then dump as much as possible into a plastic cup. Meh.
  We'll be back I'm sure.
• The concert was beyond exceptional. The venue was nice and easy to navigate. I loved it with my whole heart. The problem the traffic and disorganization regarding the parking. Almost a 2 hour adventure for a 10 minute drive. Merging multiple lanes of traffic was a disaster.
• Blink 182 and Lil Wayne concert... Great place for events. Although it was hot earlier in the day, the concert was placed at a good time. They have drinks and restrooms available. Great place, and will definitely be back again.
• What a great place for a concert on a gorgeous spring night. We had lawn seats to see Zack Brown Band, and I couldn't imagine a better venue. There are plenty of refreshment vendors and facilities for use, and the entire experience was laid back and enjoyable. I don't know if it's the norm for events, but there was no charge for the ample parking, as well.
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Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater - concert tickets

3. Lime Kiln Theater - Lexington, VA

The Lime Kiln Theater provides an eclectic range of music and theatrical performance of local artists. It was reorganized into an actual abandoned lime quarry and kiln to host various shows in the traditional Shakespearean tradition. Of course, you shouldn’t expect some big-name acts here. Instead, you’ll enjoy seeing the talents of amateurs. The Lime Kiln Theater doesn’t operate throughout the year. It is mainly open from May till October.

Address: 607 Borden Rd, Lexington, VA 24450 (Directions)

Phone: +1 540-817-9913

Lime Kiln Theater Reviews:

• A fantastic local gem for musical entertainment. It is a great place to meet up with friends and neighbors, eat at the food trucks and listen to music among the trees and under the stars. Small enough to feel intimate, but large enough to draw some great musical guests
• This is one of the coolest music venue's I have ever visited! I went to see Erin Lunsford, a very talented singer/songwriter/musician who you will want to hear! But hearing her voice echo through this outdoor theater was BEAUTIFUL! The stage was located in the middle of beautiful boulders right in the mountainside. I didn't get a chance to eat there, but I heard other people say the food was delicious!
• It doesn't get any better than the musicians on their schedule. Amazing venue. Excellent staff. Very friendly and accommodating! Consistent with the information cited on their page, a little tricky for the mobility impaired, but soooo worth it!!
• Very cool. It's literally the ruins of old kiln that creates an amphitheatre like venue. There are some beautifully built smaller stages as well. One of a kind.
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4. The Garage - Charlottesville, VA

(Source: thegaragecville.com)

The Garage is an art space for local singers and artists who want to demonstrate their talents to others. It often hosts film sessions, dance parties, art performances, and other creative gatherings. If you have a beautiful voice or comedy skills, you can also perform here. Every night, you can find the Garage’s door open for guests. Located on the grassy hill in Market Street Park, the Garage offers a cozy atmosphere for nice time-spending.

Address: 100 E Jefferson St, Charlottesville, VA 22902 (Directions)

Phone: +1 800-708-5051

The Garage Reviews:

• The venue is quite unique, with the stage being a small garage and the audience seating a short stone wall and grassy slope across the street. The cost is a donation for the musicians. I appreciate the sponsorship of this venue. BTW, the acoustics was very good, thanks to controlled amplification. Too many interior venues have sound levels that are not healthy. Here the instruments and singers were clearly heard, even when cars passed between the audience and garage/stage.
• This is a neat location to hear live music for free. You sit on the wall across the street or on the hill, so bring something to sit on if you've got them. The Garage has a basket of blankets to borrow it you get cold.
  Truly recommend visiting this venue.
• Outstanding and Unique the GARAGE is an excellent place to hear live music. We forgot how nice it is to just sit on the edge of Lee Park and listen. At this time of year its the best and even though it's free we always feel we should pay or contribute to it. We just went for the first time in a while and now we are checking the schedule for upcoming shows.A great way to spend many summer evenings.
• Birthed from the heart of two true artists, this little car shelter has become a seed bursting with life and breath and sound and texture and color. Come rest on the shores of grass, where a street turns into the standing section, and leaves rustle above your head, and brilliance pours out of a little world renewed. Charlottesville wouldn't be the same without it.
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5. Jiffy Lube Live - Bristow, VA

(Source: ward1.com)

Jiffy Lube Live, also known as the Bristow Amphitheater is the major venue in the state. Depending on your preferences, you can take a seat in the pavilion or relax on the lawn. The 25,000-seat capacity makes it a perfect space for massive events. The summer schedule always includes some huge names like Kendrick Lamar, Maroon 5, Thomas Rhett, Macklemore, and many more. The venue is super comfortable to enable direct contact between a performer and audience.

Address: 7800 Cellar Door Dr, Bristow, VA 20136 (Directions)

Phone: +1 20136-1148

Jiffy Lube Live Reviews:

• Outstanding venue that is all outdoors and the seats within the stadium are covered. Unless you’re in the grassy pit area, which is not. Everything was great about this experience. The food and drinks are expensive, it’s best to go with a refillable Jiffy Lube Live cup (purchased from vendors) if you plan on drinking more than one soda. The cup can be brought back for another visit and can be used unlimited. Leaving the venue was relatively easy, considering the amount of people/cars.
• Great lineup this year. Friendly staff, simple and intelligent layout. Could use some better food options. Season tickets are great but communication could improve.
• Great venue for a concert. I love the lawn seats because you can still get a great show without paying an arm and a leg. We brought our own lawn chairs and had a great time with it. Saw Ozzy Osbourne with Stone Sour here for the No More Tours 2 show. Awesome show.
• It is nice coming here. there's a lot of room to walk around and I recommend lawn seats! there was a 40 min delay due to lightning so no encores but that was the only bad part. we also had no traffic going in which is rare. it did feel like 108 degrees so that may have kept some people at home.
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Jiffy Lube Live concert tickets