Music at the Gardens: 2 Music Series, 1 Location

For many people in the metro area, summer at the Gardens has long been synonymous with the Summer Concert Series. World-class performers entertained throngs of fans in the UMB Bank Amphitheater under summer skies, and the botanical surroundings provided an unmatched setting.

Then came the pandemic. 

In the early days of the crisis, it still seemed that the concert series could proceed as planned. This couldn’t possibly last until summer, right? Soon it became clear, to our venue and to thousands of others across the country, that summer music events would need to radically change.  

As we brainstormed creative ways to offer music to our visitors during the pandemic summer months, the concept of Evenings al Fresco was born. Rather than a central performance space where crowding was all too certain, we identified five locations around the Gardens where small ensembles could safely perform as visitors strolled by. The response was overwhelmingly positive and served as a huge morale boost for staff and visitors alike as we reeled from the shockwave that had turned the world upside-down.

Now, a full two years after the pandemic began, we are thrilled to offer both the Summer Concert Series and Evenings al Fresco so that visitors can choose from two distinct ways to enjoy music at the Gardens. The botanical surroundings for both series are the same, but the experiences for each are quite different.