“Premiere performance at the amphitheater on August 4, 1950, NPS / Abbie Rowe”
From the National Park Service:
“Rock Creek Park and Rock Creek Conservancy will host a special event to recognize the 75th anniversary of the Carter Barron Amphitheater. Visitors are invited to enjoy music, share memories, and immerse in history at this cherished venue within Rock Creek Park.
When: Thursday, August 7, 2025, from 6 to 8 p.m.
Where: Carter Barron Amphitheater (4850 Colorado Avenue NW, Washington, DC)
The event will
begin with welcome remarks from Rock Creek Park Superintendent Brian Joyner and Rock Creek Conservancy Executive Director Dan Puskar, followed by two hours of family-friendly activities inside and outside the gates of the amphitheater.
Activities outside the gates, near the Box Office, will include music by DJ Lance Reynolds, kids’ games, commemorative button making and information about Recreating Responsibly in national parks. Activities inside the gate will feature a ranger program about the history of the amphitheater at 6:30 p.m., a screening of the film “DC’s Heartbeat: A Carter Barron Amphitheater Story” at 7:15 p.m., an interactive timeline and opportunities for everyone to share memories—bring your photos and memorabilia from past performances to show off!
About the Carter Barron Amphitheater
The Carter Barron Amphitheater is a 4,000-plus seat open-air performance space built on a wooded hillside in Rock Creek Park. It was constructed in 1950 as part of the commemoration of the sesquicentennial (150th anniversary) of the establishment of the District of Columbia as the nation’s capital in 1800. It closed after a 2017 inspection found that the stage’s substructure was not strong enough to handle the weight of performers and equipment onstage. The NPS is currently working on a comprehensive, conceptual design for rehabilitation of the amphitheater.”