Wolf Trap - Never Again

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:$230 for lawn tickets, but they clearly oversell, because there’s literally nowhere to sit. It’s completely packed like sardines. And for some of it you can’t actually see anything. Ironically the weather cleared up and was fine but that’s about all I can say for it. The place is totally disorganized. Everyone I tried to ask a question or for directions was rude. Fairfax police directing traffic (or really just standing around yelling at people) were so rude that my 9 year old asked me why the policeman was mean. I hate to write this because I can see it’s a cool venue or could be with better management, but people should know that lawn tickets are not worth it - unless I guess you get here hours early. We ended up leaving, so nearly $230 out the window and rude treatment to boot.I really would not recommend and would not come back.

You should really specify in your op that the $230 is for 4 tickets (which truly is a steal these days) and not per ticket.

At those prices you absolutely need to plan to arrive at gate open to get decent seating (especially for 4+ people together) and expect to be squished/not get any handholding from security.

[Anonymous]

Always avoid the lawn seats. Wolf Trap is a cool venue with good food (an anomaly at concert venues), but the lawn is the worst.

[Anonymous]

Love the lawn at wolf trap! I always get there early / as soon as the gates open. Kill time until the show eating and drinking then enjoy the show (without talking)!

But I also have low expectations. PP who referenced cattle call has it summed up right

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Literally no spot left to sit as in there was a crowd of people standing behind the lawn because they couldn’t fit? Or no spots big enough or far enough away from people to suit your preference?

I can’t imagine paying that money, spending the time and effort getting there, and then forcing my kid to leave (unless it was truly packed like sardines and dangerous). Plus if this was the princess show, you missed a great show! My friend was there with her daughter and sent me a few videos. Looked like so much fun.

It was truly packed like sardines. And I was actually just saying to my husband what would happen if there was an emergency- it would be a stampede. It was not fun. Kid did not want to stay. It was not the Princess show. We were at that show in the seated section on Wednesday night. That was wonderful. Thus, with that experience and having never done the lawn, it never occurred to me that this experience would be so atrocious. If the venue capped lawn sales at half or 2/3, it would be lovely. This was awful and yes, it felt unsafe. It was jam packed. I also feel that $50 a ticket for that is too much - now that I’ve seen what it is. $20 maybe. My two cents - it’s a money grab.

[Anonymous]

Tips for Wolftrap - arrive in the parking lot at least 30 minutes before the doors open (not the show starts)

Run and mark your spot. After you have marked your spot, send someone to rent chairs.

[Anonymous]

I have great memories of sitting in the lawn with a picnic and wine for an ani difranco performance 15 years ago. Did it used to be nice? I had a really good time back then and it wasn’t filled with jerks. Unless I was one of the jerks? I don’t think I was.

[Anonymous]

I love the lawn but everyone knows you have to be lined up the second the door opens

[Anonymous]

It would help others if you would identify the specific show, OP. Was this the Disney princess concert? Things can be quite different there depending on the act, the night of the week, etc. A highly hyped kids' show is different from a classical concert, from a jazz show etc. in terms of the crowd, the space, and honestly, how cranky the cops are on the way in and out. I'm not denying you had a crappy experience, I'm just saying that "never again" might apply to one type of show but not necessarily another.

I hope you'll consider taking your kid to Wolf Trap's Children's Theater in the Woods for a show sometime. We've seen some wonderful shows there in a much less crowded setting away from everything else there. And tickets are usually around $12. No Disney princesses but plenty of pirates, ballerinas, animals and more.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:$230 for lawn tickets, but they clearly oversell, because there’s literally nowhere to sit. It’s completely packed like sardines. And for some of it you can’t actually see anything. Ironically the weather cleared up and was fine but that’s about all I can say for it. The place is totally disorganized. Everyone I tried to ask a question or for directions was rude. Fairfax police directing traffic (or really just standing around yelling at people) were so rude that my 9 year old asked me why the policeman was mean. I hate to write this because I can see it’s a cool venue or could be with better management, but people should know that lawn tickets are not worth it - unless I guess you get here hours early. We ended up leaving, so nearly $230 out the window and rude treatment to boot.I really would not recommend and would not come back.

You should really specify in your op that the $230 is for 4 tickets (which truly is a steal these days) and not per ticket.

At those prices you absolutely need to plan to arrive at gate open to get decent seating (especially for 4+ people together) and expect to be squished/not get any handholding from security.

It’s not a steal if you can’t see the show. Noted on the “handholding.” I’d settle for civility. Better yet I think I just won’t return. We do after all have the Kennedy Center and various other venues— at none of which have I been treated so rudely or had such an unpleasant experience as tonight, and Kennedy Center has great shows appropriate for elementary schoolers for $25-$30. So yeah, $50+ to maybe sit, maybe be able to see, have you get there more than anm hour in advance,
and maybe get rained or hailed on is a rip off.

[Anonymous]

The pavilion seats are great. Your back doesn’t hurt, you are away from bugs and rain, and everyone gets assigned seats.

[Anonymous]

I see you say it wasn't the princess show, but what was it that was for kids (or you took kids) and it was that packed? Just wondering.

[Anonymous]

Boomer venue - surprised 20-year-olds go.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I see you say it wasn't the princess show, but what was it that was for kids (or you took kids) and it was that packed? Just wondering.

It was the Studio Ghibli concert. My kid is obsessed with the movies and is a musician, so while not a “kids show” per se like the princesses, it was kid appropriate and there were lots of kids/families there.

[Anonymous]

Im sorry you had this experience. I absolutely love wolf trap and have been seeing shows there for the past decade +, but we might be attending different shows with different audiences. I buy seats w my kids bc lawn is a sloped hill and the kids are more interested in seeing the performance and avoiding any unpredictable summer weather elements. I Love the Lawn w my friends (we’re early 40s-50) bc we just want to kick back on blankets, drink a little wine, and listen to (not necessarily see) good music.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Literally no spot left to sit as in there was a crowd of people standing behind the lawn because they couldn’t fit? Or no spots big enough or far enough away from people to suit your preference?

I can’t imagine paying that money, spending the time and effort getting there, and then forcing my kid to leave (unless it was truly packed like sardines and dangerous). Plus if this was the princess show, you missed a great show! My friend was there with her daughter and sent me a few videos. Looked like so much fun.

It was truly packed like sardines. And I was actually just saying to my husband what would happen if there was an emergency- it would be a stampede. It was not fun. Kid did not want to stay. It was not the Princess show. We were at that show in the seated section on Wednesday night. That was wonderful. Thus, with that experience and having never done the lawn, it never occurred to me that this experience would be so atrocious. If the venue capped lawn sales at half or 2/3, it would be lovely. This was awful and yes, it felt unsafe. It was jam packed. I also feel that $50 a ticket for that is too much - now that I’ve seen what it is. $20 maybe. My two cents - it’s a money grab.

It’s not a money grab- it’s called supply and demand. If is venue is packed to capacity at $50/ticket for a particular concert then clearly a surplus of people are willing to pay the going rate even under crowded conditions and the organizers could probably be charging even more. They’re not going to drastically reduce their profits so that you can have a “lovely” uncrowded experience at a bargain price.

I’d love to hear your review of a Taylor Swift concert.