Now that Memorial Day has kicked off your summer, you’re probably itching to get outside, relax and enjoy the life and spirit of the season. What better way to spend a warm summer night than packing a picnic and enjoying some free alfresco music with your friends? Northern Virginians seriously know how to chill out with various hot spots offering free summer concert series to supply some sweet sounds of summer from all over the music spectrum. Check out these venues to plan your next easy-going, toes-in-the-grass night out. Don’t forget the lawn chairs!
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Rock at the Row
June 6-Aug. 22, Thursdays, 7-9 p.m. The 11th Annual Rock at the Row Summer Concert Series takes place every Thursday night throughout the summer and features nearly every kind of music from Bon Jovi to Buffet, ‘60s to soul, and everywhere in between. Due to construction, the weekly concerts will be held behind Champps Americana Restaurant between Pentagon Row and the Fashion Centre at Pentagon City in the closed-off access street. Cue Motown’s Martha and the Vandellas: “Summer’s here, and the time is right for dancin’ in the street!” / Pentagon Row, 1101 S. Joyce St., Arlington; pentagonrow.com
Concerts at the Corner
June 13-Aug. 22, Thursdays, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Instead of crowding into a stuffy movie theater after a long day of shopping at Fairfax Corner, why not grab a bite to eat and enjoy some fresh air and live music before heading home? Kids will love playing in the interactive fountain (open from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.), learning the classic game of chess with the Corner’s giant lawn set (open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.), or riding the Fairfax Corner Express (open from 1 p.m.-8 p.m.) all while you kick back and listen to some tunes (and maybe get some more shopping in!) / Fairfax Corner Center, Fairfax Corner E Ave., Sully; fairfaxcorner.com
Friday Night Live!
June 7-Aug. 23, Fridays, 6:30-10:30 p.m. We named FNL! as a BEST of NoVa last year—and for good reason! This series is truly “homegrown” and features some of the most popular local and regional acts from all different types of music, but mostly of the rock variety. Domino’s Pizza, Jimmy’s Old Town Tavern, and either JJ Deli or Tur Cuisine provide food every week so make sure you bring your appetite. (And save room for a Dairy Queen Dessert!) Check the event’s Twitter and Facebook page for weather updates, but chances are all sound systems a-go! / Town Green, 77 Lynn St., Herndon; herndonrocks.com
Reston Concerts on the Town
June 1-Aug. 24, Saturdays, 7:30-10 p.m. Rain or shine, put your weekend errands on hold and cut loose at the Reston Town Center Pavilion every Saturday where you can experience musical stylings from all over the world. Reston’s Concerts on the Town not only offers traditional big band jazz and swing artists, but will also host performances of Brazilian fusion, West African rhythms and Spanish guitar, flamenco and Latin fusion. Ole! / Reston Town Center Pavilion, 1818 Discovery St., Reston; restontowncenter.com
Summer Sounds Concerts
June 22-Aug. 31, Saturdays, 6:30 p.m. Looking for something truly relaxing for your Saturday night? Head on out to Manassas and allow the folksy concert series to lull you into some sweet summer reveries. Harris Pavilion will host a variety of folk and regional music groups from Celtic to bluegrass to Louisiana rhythms to Patriotic American ballads. We’re feeling the warm fuzzies already. / Harris Pavilion, 9116 Center St., Manassas; center-for-the-arts.org
Summer Sunday Concerts in the Park
July 7-28, Sundays, 5 p.m. This may be the shortest series on our list, but it’s also definitely one of the most diverse. The McLean Community Center will provide you with a month’s worth of lazy Sunday stylings from the 1930s with The Palmettos all the way to the 1970s and 80s with the Adrian Duke Projek, while also getting as downhome as the rockabilly group, The Grandsons, and as far out as the British rock group, The English Channel. Talk about variety! / McLean Central Park Gazebo, 1468 Dolley Madison Blvd., McLean; mcleancenter.org
Rock on, Virginians!