Summer at Tanglewood: Everything You Need to Know

Tanglewood attracts countless live music fans to come to the Berkshires and enjoy the great outdoors each and every summer. Those who haven’t yet made it to the venue may have lingering questions about what to do, where to park, and what they can bring to the Lenox institution. The venue’s performance season concludes around Labor Day.

 

 

For the unfamiliar, Tanglewood is most often referred to as the summer home of the Boston Pops and Boston Symphony Orchestra. Tanglewood holds a sprawling campus featuring multiple performance spaces, as well as historic and educational centers. The venue is utilized in many ways, including orchestral performances as well as more modern popular artists. The space can also be rented as a wedding venue, and was even recently used as a backdrop in Bradley Cooper’s 2023 film “Maestro.”

 

Tanglewood’s roots as a music venue go back nearly a century. The Berkshires have long been a summer playground for wealthy families from surrounding metropolitan areas like New York City and Boston. In the Gilded Age of America, many such families built summer homes dubbed the “ Berkshire Cottages ”–a playfully quaint name for their expansive, extravagant properties on scenic landscapes. It was far from unusual for such families to bring along friends or artists for their own amusement while fleeing the city for the summer.

 

The “cottage” on the venue’s property belonged to the Tappan family when it was offered to the BSO and its leader, Serge Koussevitzky, in 1937. The property’s name comes from “Tanglewood Tales,” a work by Nathaniel Hawthorne that was composed on its grounds during the historic author’s short tenure of living in the Berkshires. In the 1980s, the BSO’s purchase of the neighboring Highwood estate expanded Tanglewood’s footprint to over 500 acres.

 

While some original structures still remain–the Highwood cottage now hosts a sit-down restaurant for concertgoers–the grounds have seen many new builds over the years. “The Shed,” where the bulk of each summer’s performances are held, was the first BSO addition to the property in 1938. In 2019, Tanglewood added its most recent build: the Linde Center for Music and Learning, a stunning modern complex that cost $33 million to construct.

 

Fans of classical music have no shortage of opportunities to see concerts in their wheelhouse. Those who are fully entrenched into the world of the BSO are sure to recognize many of the names that appear on their musical calendar, and can even enjoy open workshops and rehearsals for a more intimate experience.

 

Tanglewood also has plenty of events for those who are curious about classical music but may need a stepping stone in from their modern tastes. For example, their popular “John Williams’ Film Night” frequently features the living legend himself (though this year, Conductor David Newman will take his place) playing a medley from countless popular film scores. Williams conducted the Boston Pops at Tanglewood for 14 seasons. He composed some of his greatest works while residing in the Berkshires, including his scores for “Schindler’s List” and the “Harry Potter” films. Some more mainstream artists will also invite the Boston Pops onstage for one-of-a-kind performances. Earlier this year, Jason Mraz and Beck both performed with the Pops as their backing band.

 

Other popular artists, spanning a few recent decades, can be found on the Tanglewood stage each year. Some are regulars; James Taylor is famous for his yearly Fourth of July Concerts, and his reception of a Tanglewood Medal this season comes 50 years after his first performance at the venue. Other notable popular artists that are still to come this year include Indigo Girls and Dispatch.

 

 

The Tanglewood Learning Institute, often shortened to TLI, is a set of programming dedicated to diving deeper into not only music, but utilizing the arts to gain a better understanding of the human condition. Their events include open workshops with notable musicians, lectures, special cabarets and even non-musical workshops on subjects like photography. TLI also includes some family-oriented events, including an upcoming interactive collaboration with the Norman Rockwell Museum.

 

For many, the experience of packing and assembling their Tanglewood picnic is a quintessential part of the experience, and many go all-out with their snacking displays. Those who purchase tickets inside The Shed or in another hall can expect to only be allowed to bring water; but when it comes to the lawn, get ready to see some impressive setups.

 

Tanglewood allows you to bring blankets and lawn chairs, as well as your own outside food and drink. Many will go so far as to bring a small table, tablecloth, decorative candelabra et al. with their charcuterie and bottle of wine for the evening. Our local grocery stores are all familiar with this culture and are well-equipped with the materials to make your own mix snacking fare.

 

Tanglewood’s lawn policies on what is acceptable to bring are more flexible than most, including the nearby Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC). There are still, of course, some limits to what your setup can entail. Tanglewood prohibits guests from bringing canopies or tents, most motorized means of transportation, pets that aren’t service animals, cooking devices/open flames, and more.

 

If you’d rather leave the set up to the professionals, there are no shortage of fine options on the Tanglewood campus, from sweet treats to full meals and plenty of spots to grab a drink. You’re also able to rent lawn chairs and seat cushions at an affordable rate upon entering, though availability may be limited.

 

 

During concert times, parking and walking around Tanglewood comes at the cost of a concert ticket. However, when a concert isn’t in session, the public is welcome to explore the Tanglewood grounds all year round. The staff even offer free guided tours to the public during the summer months.

 

Tanglewood’s grounds are expansive and beautiful, and many choose to meander around the property without an agenda. But besides the live walking tours, guests can also utilize audio clips found on the Tanglewood website to engage in walking meditations or listen to a selection of old BSO performances while they stroll.

 

Those looking for a more organized activity can mark their calendars for Saturday mornings during the summer. Tanglewood partners with their neighbor, the Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health, to offer weather-dependent outdoor yoga classes on the lawn while the orchestra rehearses. These classes are offered at no extra cost when you purchase a ticket to sit in on rehearsals.

 

 

A night to break out your brand-new stilettos, this is not. Unless you have an official handicap pass, you may be parking quite far from the lawn when you arrive–sometimes through dirt, mud, or even up a significant hill. The expansive lawn also means you may have to traverse for a quite a while to find an open and ideal picnic spot. Wear some comfortable walking shoes, and consider a sturdy cart for transporting your chairs, etc..

 

If you aren’t yet a Berkshire local, note that the rumors are true: you can practically experience each season of the year over the course of one day. A sweater for nightfall, and rain gear/umbrellas in case of a sudden downpour would be wise to pack. If bad weather is anticipated, it’s worth keeping an eye on the Tanglewood channels to make sure your concert isn’t delayed or canceled.

 

Between the Shed and Lawn, a night at Tanglewood can include up to 9,000 guests. That means a lot of cars entering and exiting at the same time! You’ll likely see a police presence directing traffic to ensure everybody is able to leave safely and efficiently, but you should be prepared for the fact that this takes time; don’t make your dinner reservation for the minute before or after your concert goes on.

 

 

If you’re considering a move to the Berkshires, and being a short distance from Tanglewood is top of mind, you’re in luck; there are no shortage of beautiful towns within a 20-minute driving distance of the gates. Tanglewood exists on the border of Lenox and Stockbridge. Lee, Pittsfield, West Stockbridge and Great Barrington also have lots to offer while being within a convenient distance to Tanglewood. To see all of our exclusive properties in and around the area, start here.