Merriweather Post Pavilion

Easy drop off/pick up for Uber or other services. Very nice staff while getting bags checked and tickets scanned. The venue has a nice setup with plenty of concession stands and bathrooms. There were seats down front and a walking path to split the lower and upper section of the lawn. The lawn was slippery due to recent rain. The big screens showed everything on stage, and the sound system was great. Many cops and staff to direct traffic after the show.

The best place to see a show in MD The sound is great and the accommodations for food and drink park are conveniently. Getting in and getting out is not that bad with plenty of people helping you. I've been going there for 25 years. I won't stop can't stop..

I had an absolutely unforgettable night at Merriweather Post Pavilion seeing Rüfüs Du Sol on May 8, 2025! The venue was spectacular—wife‑of‑all‑venues vibes. The open-air lawn gave a relaxed, festival-style feel, and the terrace seating offered great sightlines and sound quality. The stage production was breathtaking, with visuals and lighting syncing perfectly to the music. Sound was top-tier—crisp, deep bass lines without overwhelming distortion. Everyone around me was dancing the night away; the energy was contagious. The staff was friendly and efficient; concessions weren’t outrageously priced (a big plus), and restrooms were well-maintained even at peak crowd levels. Parking was straightforward in the designated lots, though ride‑shares or early arrival are smart moves. One tip: the shuttle from Columbia is a convenient alternative. Seeing Rüfüs Du Sol here felt electric—great acoustics, stunning atmosphere, and a flawless show. Merriweather Post Pavilion is absolutely worth visiting again. Can’t wait for the next show here!

A really nice more personal concert venue. So many places you see a concert it’s hard to feel in the show or like the act is so small so far away but not at Merriweather. It’s a good size grand event space hands down but it also makes you feel up close to the show. This is far from my first and far from my last concert here.

Old Dominion, Ernest… MOST IMPORTANTLY… ****Redferrin**** Red, one of country music’s most talented lyricist/songwriters, country music artist in Country Music currently! We caught “Red” at Luke Combs Penn State Beaver Stadium April 27th, 2024!!! FAwesome! “ Like Johnnie” … “Jack and Diet Coke” …. Story telling songwriting at its BEST!! Even got Redferrin to “SIGN MY PINK CAST”!! Next BEST country SONG! Time to put those lyrics on the tablet!

I absolutely love the place. I saw Cheap Trick and Rod Stewart, an awesome concert. The ticket prices, music, and performances are always great. I've never had a bad experience at Merriweather Post Pavillion. Unfortunately, this app will only let me share a 30-second video clip.

Loved this place. First time here. Loved both amphitheaters. Nice sitting areas. Well set up. Parking is a little crazy but at least there wasn’t a charge for it. I had a great time there!

Sat inside the Pavillion for Old Dominion. There's really not a bad seat anywhere. I guess it's really a matter of $$ and how close you need to be. Plenty of security in and outside of the venue, mostly plainclothes Howard County PD. Staff were friendly and efficient during entry and exit. Parking Is fairly easy with garages available at the venue and across the street in the business park.

We went to see Maggie Rogers (I am going to try my best to not talk about the show...but it was amazing, and so is she) the other day at Merriweather and has such a nice time! I havent been there for maybe 5-6 years and was suprised to see all the changes that they've made to the venue. It was super easy to get into the venue and all the security and staff were helpful in directing us to where we needed to be. Once we entered - we were pretty surprised at how much had changed! From the new "Skylawn" to the updated food and drink menu (with a beer garden?!) we had such a nice time walking all around the venue before Maggie got on stage. Im really excited for summer and hope to attend more shows there! Oh, and all the food was delicious and not too bad in terms of concert venue prices! Who we saw: Maggie Rogers What we ordered: -Pretzel -Lime Margarita!

Went to the box office to buy tickets for the upcoming Capital Jazz Festival 2024 and Keaton was so very helpful. I got the seating I desired and the purchase experience was awesome. There is a lot of positive to be said about personal touch and not online purchasing. Thank you Keaton!!!

We love the smaller size of the pavilion. Even in the back, you aren't that far from the stage. No bad sight lines, even from the lawn. Great venue. We have seen many shows over the years, and have always liked this venue. Parking is also never a problem, and the many garages are all a short walk.

It's a fun venue. I saw on the front lawn for a concert. Like well venues, food and drinks are really expensive but you can still see the stage if you come early enough. In terms of food, it's pretty basic.

The worst seats I have ever sat in since the 1940s. Is recommend bringing a seat cushions nice

I was thrilled when I walked into Merriweather-- this is a wonderful space, it feels very intimate. My friend and I were seating far to the left facing the stage but we still got a pretty good view. While Goo Goo Dolls were on stage, they had a weird black screen which kind of obstructed our view which was a bit disappointing. But hey, it all worked out! Security is tight-- they check your bags on the way in and they will check your ticket every time you're returning to your seat. Food is pretty good-- I loved the curly fries! You get a ton-- sharing is caring! Frozen margaritas were great too, but beware of those brain freezes! Sit back and relax, or stand up and sing! Enjoy the show!

Welp, capitalism wins again. I never thought I'd write this, but my experience at the Capital Jazzfest 2024 was ruined when I saw what they did to Skylawn. Instead of allowing people to experience the festival like we've always had in the past by spreading out our blankets and viewing the stage high above and away from the tents and stadium chairs, they built more elite seating in front of what supposed to have been part of Skylawn. When I say greed is a terrible thing....Just for shits and giggles,I asked how much it costs and I was told it's $5000 for the year and when people tried to purchase just for the day they were already sold out even though there was no one sitting there the entire time. It's awful and ruined Capital Jazzfest for attendees who enjoyed the Skylawn experience.

This is such an oddly set-up place. I got tickets when a band I've been listening to for 20 years were coming into town, but not DC where i actually live. But of course, the week after i bought tickets, they announced a DC show, in a much smaller venue. Even though you have to sign up for parking when you buy your ticket, they don't have that information actually available for you to view. I'm not sure if that's standard, or if there was a glitch. So we ended up not having parking, and having to figure out an alternative solution. This is a truly massive concert venue; it's actually about the size of Madison Square Garden, for context. We purchased lawn tickets, but there wasn't space on the lawn, so we had to figure out somewhere else to sit. And lawn tickets were $80 or $90, so these weren't cheap tickets. The idea of the Skylawn is interesting, until you actually go up one of the turrets and find it full, then realize the stairways are actually blocking people's view. And there's not even a screen for you to see the band perform. It was just an overall underwhelming, bizarre layout. It sounds like the way to go here is to definitely to get the stadium seating, and not lawn seats. I wouldn't recommend buying lawn tickets, unless you want to risk not seeing the band. I could also see this being a great venue for a classical performance, where you could lay out in a blanket and look at the sky while you listened to music. Or if you're only spending $50 on a cheap seat. Well... At least the sound system was good, so we could hear them.

Pros: + free parking and multiple garages/lots that are a short walk to the venue (they tell you to reserve a parking pass on their website, but this has never been checked when I go) - the earlier you get there, the better you can position yourself in a spot for a quick escape post-concert + partnership with Howard County police to direct traffic when entering and exiting the venue - traffic moved pretty steadily as we drove into the venue (we arrived when gates opened), and we were able to exit the garage in 10-15 minutes after staying for the whole concert + friendly staff at the box office + multiple entrances/exits for crowd control; bag check was quick followed by a walk through the metal detectors (no re-entry after you scan your tickets) + free cute Merriweather Post flyer to commemorate the concert you're seeing + relatively clean outdoor venue (until it gets trashed out by the end of the concert) + big screens to see the show + you're allowed to bring bags and it doesn't have to be clear (just no backpacks) - check website for size restrictions + you're allowed to bring in your own food/snacks and a factory sealed water bottle + staff members were stationed by each pavilion entrance to check tickets and verify that you had pavilion seats (so that lawn ticket holders couldn't steal seats) + free sky lawn area on the upper decks + big lawn area (but get there when doors open to get a prime spot, and remember people will always fill in any empty spot); can bring your own lawn chair + they posted the set start times on social media (7:15pm opener; 9pm headliner) and everything was on schedule (can vary by performer) Cons: - long lines for the bathrooms - despite many stalls and designated in/out doors, be prepared to wait in line. Even the men's bathroom had lines! - lawn area is hilly, which gives lawn people a good view of the stage, but some places are slippery to sit because it's at such a slope. Also, it gets muddy after rain (venue is not suitable for flooding) - there is some small signage to identify the section numbers to help direct you to your section under the pavilion, but staff members are more concerned with checking whether you're pavilion vs. lawn as opposed to helping you find your seat All in all, I've had pleasant concert experiences at Merriweather Post Pavilion (MPP). So far, parking experiences at MPP, on average, have been better than Wolf Trap (getting out of Wolf Trap is the WORST, in my opinion) and Jiffy Lube Live.

Really cool venue! The sound was great everywhere. We had probably some of the worst seats but could still see a screen if we stood up. We were off to the side of the lawn because it was totally full by the time we got there for our sold out show. The walk from parking was long but reasonable and there were nice sidewalks the whole way. At the very end you walk through this wooded park that is almost magical feeling before you enter the venue. I loved the park! It definitely got the excitement going for the show as we could hear the opening band playing as we walked through there. We were in the lawn, but I could tell there would be great seats in the pavillion, and they have other interesting seating options, standing Orchestra and seated orchestra for various shows, sky lawn (an elevated GA lawn option), and normal pavillion seats. I did get a snack while there, and it was surprisingly good for a concert concession. I had chicken tenders and fries. The bathrooms were pretty good as well. All in All a very nice venue. I heard that it can sometimes flood when there's rain, so I suppose beware. We had perfect weather so I can't comment on that!

I've lived in DC twice and Maryland for almost 20 years, but I have NEVER been to Merriweather Post Pavilion until now. What a cool venue. I was there to see Illenium, which I found interesting because I didn't get the nexus between Dubstep/EDM and Merriweather (which I took to be more of a Robert Plant/Allison Krauss vibe). Wow! Was I surprised. And wrong. This place held 12,000 hot and sweaty ravers like a gigantic bowl of salty chow mein.

Just had a wonderful concert here and had a blast! That being said, this is probably one of the more difficult venues to review. I will list some benefits and negatives Benefits: - Plenty of areas to buy merch, food and drinks - Fast service and friendly staff - Clean amenities and easy to get to from the parking lot Negatives - It was extremely hot, despite waters, Ice and loose clothing, the seating area was extremely hot throughout the whole event. I had others in my party had to leave to get fresh air and cool off. I - The seating can be tight and I think depending on the type of event, it can be difficult to enjoy. I overall liked the area and was happy with the experience. I am looking for other experiences at this location since they have ample parking, and is nearby. Would reccomend to others.

I LOVE IT HERE. Parking was a breeze, and there are so many lots surrounding the pavilion. I'm used to the Virginia Beach Amphitheater, and this place is way nicer than ours- the grass seating is huge, and you can get really close to the stage, depending on where you choose to sit in the grass. We will definitely be back whenever we wanna see someone perform.

Honestly, an excellent venue. I appreciate the way they handled parking, although obviously getting out of a garage at the end of a concert takes a lot of time, and of all of the concerts I have ever gone to, it had some of the best sound balance I've ever heard. The staff is pleasant, the concessions are as affordable as you'd expect and taste all right, and of course the concert itself was magnifico.

Solely giving this pavilion 2 stars due to an incident I had with one of their staff. I went on 10/1 for all things go specifically on Sunday to see Lana Del Rey. The tickets were on my sister's phone through ticket master, we were in the pit. I had to use the restroom and I had asked two staff members (wearing blue shirts) if I could get back into the pit with a screenshot of the ticket. They both said yes. I went to the restroom and when I came back towards the pit there was a full figured staff member wearing a black shirt. He asked to see my tickets and I pulled up the screenshot. He then proceeds to scroll through MY PHOTOS. Not just one photo, several. I pull my phone away when he doesn't stop because of the obvious invasion of privacy. He then says he can't let me back in unless I pull up the original ticket from ticket master. I tell him two other staff members wearing a blue shirt said a screenshot would be acceptable. He says he can't let me in. I then say him scrolling through my photos is an invasion of ny privacy and he's already violated me enough. I tell him he's welcomed to follow me into the pit to see the ticket on my sisters phone. Suddenly he's okay with letting me through and tell ME not to let this happen again. Again this review is solely because of the nitwit of a security guard this establishment hired and thinks it's okay to scroll through a young girls photos. Weird and creepy!!

Merriweather Post Pavilion is a beautiful and expansive venue with great sound that brings a wonderful variety of acts to the Baltimore area. Originally an amphitheater, it's now updated to include fancy extensions like the two sky lawns (this is in addition to regular lawn seating and sky box seating). Throw away any image you have of peacefully enjoying a show on the lawn though, it can feel very chaotic. This comes from a seasoned outdoor concert goer who arrives early and prepared. Luckily, accessing merch and concessions is easy enough, those locations are marked clearly. Just prepare for lines, lines and more lines. The drink and food options are pretty basic and pricey. Parking was an absolute mess. Despite purchasing a parking pass for a designated lot and zone, upon entry no one was checking the passes and I got the feeling folks just claim whatever they stumble upon and proclaim "mine!" Going forward I'd suggest car pooling and arriving with extra time for the 'first come - first serve' parking scenario.

I've been three, both for All Things Go in 2021 and 2022 and it's one of my favorite events ever! I'm very excited for it in a few weeks! I also went to see Boy Genius a few months ago. Merriweather is huge with 3 stages, a ton of food and drink options, lots of merch stands, and a seemingly endless number of bathrooms Because of it's size, it is a bit hard to maneuver and get around, but even when there's light rain and a ton of people, I enjoy the grind and adventure of shows here! With each show I've been to, its gotten significantly busier so I'm curious how they will continue to expand and prepare for so many people. But they get really really cool artists. The biggest con is you have to have a car to get there, for it's not accessible from DC via any transit. Normally, they have cool buses you can register for in advance with atg, but they're $40 a rider (high expenses defeat the purpose of public transit). Despite not being metro accessible, they are a well oiled machine. Food and bathroom lines can get lone, but parking and getting my ticket scanned has never been a hassle. If you can make it, I recommend.

Venue was big this event did not allow lawn chairs. But we were able to bring like 3 blankets. Nice size order of food tenders n fries were like 19 bucks the drinks were about 14 so typical prices for concert type venues... Upon entering Sunday in the coubtry 10/8/23 the readers went down so the line grew increasingly long. We were in the lawn section which wasn't as bad as I thought. Couldn't really see the people on the stage but the jumbo tv made it easier. I got there about 230 and the show started at 4 so we got pretty decent lawn seats! PS DONT FORGET WHERE YOU PARK WE GOT LOST FOR ABOUT 20 MINUTES and Noone knew where the street was we were looking for lolol

I loved this outdoor venue and will definitely return. This was my first year at the Capital Jazz Fest and I'll return yearly if able. The venue is extremely clean, the staff were great and it ended up being a perfect weather day as well. I purchased a seat center stage 10 rows off the stage. Outside of people in the beginning rows pushing seats back to the point we had very little leg room, the Pavillion is very nice.

Wish the landscape was flatter More staff to handle such large crowds Need more vendors The Capital Jazz Fest had a nice line up with a few no shows. It appeared they tried to fill the spots with special guest features but the transitions from one artist to another was horrible. For the first Capital Jazz Fest after the pandemic they did well. The weather was nice and warm and the frozen margaritas were tasty.. I'm still wondering what type of ice they used because it lasted well over 35-40mins

Watched New Order and Pet Shop Boys here from lawn seats, really great show, great view, friendly people nearby! First time at this venue, would definitively visit again

I am a big fan of this venue. There is a gorgeous, covered main stage with a little pit area in the front. This awning is a life-saver for rainy days. You hardly even notice bad weather when you're under it. The main stage is surrounded by a spacious lawn, where people can also hang out and enjoy the performances. On the other side is an outdoor stage, which can also fit a large volume of people. There is a designated "storefront" area at the front, where merch can be sold. There are a couple of food options: nothing crazy (I got chicken tenders and soda), but it's solid and reliable. There are multiple places to use the bathroom, buy drinks, or refill water, which is great. Parking is available in a multi-storage garage. It's easy to navigate, and is right next to the venue. The traffic when leaving (from everyone exiting at once) wasn't even that bad. My chief complaint is with the sound staging. The balance was weird -- I'm not a live music expert so I don't quite know how to describe it. The vocals were very hard to hear, and I couldn't quite comprehend what they were saying. This made it hard to sing along to even my favorite songs that I know all the words to. All the artists I watched took out their in-ear monitors. I really hope this improves, or was a fluke even, because I would love to return here and see some great live shows.

I recently visited Merriweather Post Pavilion for the Capital Jazz Fest and had a blast! It was my first time at an outdoor venue and I was pleasantly surprised by how nice the stage was. The venue was also clean, which is always a plus. My seats were in section 303, but even from up there, we still had an amazing view of the stage. Can't wait to come back for more fun in the sun!

I love outdoor concerts and Merriweather has it going on! How can you not have fun while listening to your favorite musicians. Merriweather is a great size venue. No matter if you're sitting in the amphitheater or lawn seats, the sound is amazing. Large screens for viewing throughout. Plenty of restrooms, beer and food stalls. During Covid times, you need to bring your vaccination card and ID or show proof you've recently tested negative. Have fun and dance!

I attended a comedy showing yesterday at the Merriweather Post Pavilion and this was my first time at this location. The weather couldn't have been better for an outdoor comedy show at Merriweather. Plenty of bathrooms in the venue and lines for food and beverages were not exceedingly long. As with all entertainment arenas, prices for food and drinks are expensive - a 20oz beer was $10. Bottle of water was $4. If you are planning an evening out, it's a great place to see and hear music, see a comedy show, and so on, just plan on spending a good bit at the concession stands. The main comedian we saw was John Mulaney. He was as smart and hilarious as he has always been with a new willingness to be his vulnerable, authentic self, warts and all. It made me like him wee bit more. I never stopped laughing even as I was feeling empathy for what he and his family and friends had to go through dealing with his addictions. Maybe he did some fine tuning of the show while on the road, but there were no awkward moments here in Maryland. Don't miss a chance to see one of the all-time greats.

Definitely one of my favorite music venues in the DMV. I've been there for a number of events including the recent Duran Duran show (pictured here) and it's always a great experience. My bestie and I had relatively close parking and had virtually no issues with unmanaged crowds on entry or exit. The sound system and the stage visuals are fantastic, too!

Fun trivia: The Pavilion was named after Marjorie Merriweather Post. The pavilion is a popular venue for outdoor concerts located in Columbia nearby the Mall of Columbia. Pavilion and lawn seating is available. After recent renovations, they also have suites. It looks very pretty at night all lit up. There is also a VIP deck. Although the pavilion has ceiling fans, it doesn't provide much relief in the summertime. I suggest dressing lightly. I recently came for a NKOTB concert and fortunately it was a cool evening. One year I came for a Lumineer concert, and it was sweltering under the pavilion. They have concession stands that sells sandwiches, wraps, snacks, beverages, and merchandise. They are cashless now and accept credit/debit cards, Apple Pay, and Google Pay. One empty or factory-sealed water bottle is permitted, but no outside beverage is permitted. Personal food items in a clear, disposable, non-glass container is permitted (one per guest). I really love that the venue is small as it's more intimate. For my recent NKOTB concert, the boys came out into the crowd and were only a few rows away. We were a bunch of giddy girls. I would have lost my mind if they were next to me. They offer a loyalty program, 9:30 FWB, that offers free shipping for online merchandise orders. I ordered a Merriweather Stage Collectible as a gift for my husband which he loved. The loyalty program also offers entrance to FWB events & parties and special pre-sales, and opportunities to sold-out shows. Parking is included with your ticket and patrons must pre-select their parking zone before the show. Currently, the pavilion offers vaccination and testing. I found it a bit tricky to locate the testing site when I came a few months ago. TIP: The acoustics were really loud and I couldn't hear the day after so I suggest wearing ear plugs.

We had a great time here for Odesza! The venue is huge and spacious. The lawn seating has a great view of the stage. There are plenty of concession stands for beers, drinks and snacks. The merch section is pretty extensive, as well. We didn't realize that you are supposed to book parking in advance but it ended up working out okay. Parking lot B was available for people without a parking reservation. The concert was phenomenal. The music and pyrotechnics were just so cool. Highly recommend checking out Merriweather.

This is one of the best outdoor concert venues in the DMV. I was here for the Capital Jazz Fest. The sound was great and the performances were top notch. The headliner for this night was Chaka Kahn and she did not disappoint. We were seated comfortably under the pavilion. There were a decent amount of food vendors. The venue paved some areas in the lawn to make it easier to carry your tents, chairs, coolers, etc. Of course there were several vendors selling clothes, jewelry, hats, art work and crafts. There are plenty of bathrooms that are keep clean throughout the entire day.

Without question the worst parking management plan I have ever seen in my life. Howard County Police completely inept at traffic control. Six lanes to three to one with no management whatsoever just to channel all traffic into an 8 level parking garage. Good luck leaving Avoid this venue at all costs. It's just not worth it. Will never return again. Still stuck in the parking garage two hours later. Ridiculous. ​

Loved this venue. Fun and creative sculptures, lawn seating, stadium seats under cover, sky lawns with bars, it goes on and on. Sound and visuals were outstanding with TV's set up throughout for viewing the stage up close. However, the food and beverage prices were outlandish! Many of the stands were not open but those that were, holy moly! The food looked fine, but there was no way I was paying those prices for chicken fingers or hamburgers. Parking was in nearby garages, thankfully well marked and eventually we were directed by staff. Drive through COVID testing was going on as we walked to the entrance and immunizations were being given out inside.

I lived in the Baltimore area going on 4 years and this was my first time visiting Merriweather Symphony of Lights. OMG the light display was absolutely beautiful! My main question is "who put this all together"?? It was well organized and it truly out me in the holiday spirit. The event runs until Jan 2 and it is fun for the entire family. I thoroughly enjoy this and it was worth $20.

I have been coming to merriweather for many years and always enjoy attending concerts here. I love the vibe of being able to sit outside and enjoy a summer country concert. The lawn seats are great, especially if you plan to go with a big group of friends. You can bring your own blankets and lawn chairs. The lawn also has two big screens that you can look at during the performance, which is needed if you are all the way in the back of the lawn. I typically buy pavilion seats if I'm just going with one other person. You are able to perfectly see the stage from anywhere in the pavilion, and bonus you are protected from rain. When I come here I always park by the mall, which is only a quick walk and you don't have to worry as much about traffic when entering and leaving the pavilion. The only time I've had a bad experience here is when I came to see Halsey a couple months back. I think the situation could have been handled better and they should have canceled it sooner, rather than consistently delaying the start time and giving false hope that the show would happen. All in all though I love coming to this venue and will be back for Sunday in the Country.

Distance truly makes the heart grow fonder. Concerts how I miss you so. Merriweather Post was my first-ever concert experience back in 20** (blanked as to not age myself lol), when Warped Tour was all the rage. Let's just say Katy Perry was a relatively unkown opener for another band. Since then, I've been back countless times for "chill" events and absolute bangers. Mad Decent Block Party, how I also miss you. That said, covid has absolutely disrupted the live music biz and we must save our stages. MPP has merch, giftcards and other things for sale to keep afloat. Luckily, the space hasn't been left unused with the site turning into Symphony of Lights during the holiday season and a drive-through covid testing site still up and running today. For covid testing, you stay in your car the entire time, with line attendants helping to move cars along.

Beautiful venue for a concert! Staff were wonderful from the Police directing traffic, to the bartenders and servers. Guests too were lovely. Eat before depending on the food here though. I can recommend only, the pickle. No gluten free option for a friend. The bun for the sausage was good. For owners, please go eat at Audi Field, to see how Stadium food can shine. Food sank two stars here.

The staff are really nice, the food looks delicious, and the venue overall is pretty and very close to parking. They also do offer free parking which is a huge plus.

Attended John Mulaney show last night in the Pavillion section 303. Opening act was awesome (can't remember name). Second act Dan Levy not so great. Main act was hilarious but with intense story telling. All over it was a good show however there were some disappointments. Food was ridiculously expensive($20 for chicken tenders that were almost inedible. Goose IPA $15, I been to venues that are pricey but this is venue robbery. More communication is needed for shows that are cell phone free. The Yondr folks were there to collect phones(and watches) but it would be nice to know before they ask for your phone. It has been years since attend an event at Merriweather. now that the big field, where you parked and tailgated, is gone and replaced with a parking garage heading home is a chore. Parked on the 7th floor meant sitting in the line of cars without moving for 55min, totally nutts. Don't plan on returning without fully researching the ins and outs for this venue.

DANGEROUSLY over crowded. God forbid there be a need to evacuate in an emergency! We had lawn seats for a sold out concert. We couldn't even see the screen. Parking was difficult as well. Last time I will buy tickets for anything at Merriweather. I gave one star only because I could not give a zero star rating.

Maybe I'm just getting old but I'll never attend a concert here again with lawn seats. The amount of young, intoxicated/impaired, children was insane! Fights, belligerent behavior and numerous interruptions was just too much for me. Next time I'll get seats in the pavilion. Food and beverage prices are ridiculous!

I've attended many a concert at Merriweather, my most recent being within this pandemic for the Capital Jazz Festival. 1st I personally loved that vaccination or recent negative tests were needed for attendance. This made it somewhat more safe considering lawn seating was the most popular for this event and distancing just isn't possible. Upon arrival signage to parking guided us in with ease and because we were a tad early for the festival several golf carts with varying capacity were available to ride you in. We took advantage of this nice free amenity. After we unloaded from the cart with our chairs, bags, etc. we were checked in and on our way to the lawn. This is where a few of our issues arose. It was packed and really most of what was left was on the sides and it's really slanted and impossible to sit safely. We saw several people fall out of their chairs trying to make that work. We did eventually find a lawn space that we could work with and from there we could see two large screens until a few "rule breakers" put up their gigantic beach umbrellas partially blocking our view. We saw staff circulating but no one ever addressed those individuals which was a bit disappointing. Sound from the lawn was decent. Sometimes it was really loud other times not so much, but it's the vibe and sense of community **cough cough and cheaper prices** so for us that's a nonissue. The food for me was minimal with maybe 3 or 4 items total. Prices were highway robbery but I hadn't had breakfast and it was an all day festival so I eventually grabbed chicken tenders and fries and washed it down with a frozen margarita. The tenders were tenders but the condiment station wasn't well attended so a lot of the items were out. Tisk tisk a little ranch would've made my day. Now the frozen margarita was fabulous. They had strawberry or lemon lime flavor. Being the rockstar that I am I asked to mix them and it was refreshing and pretty potent. It certainly cooled me off in the 80 degree heat. All in all we had a great time and would only really hope for more options and fair pricing at concession in future events.

Short version: Columbia's take on Wolf Trap An outdoor entertainment venue with mostly grass seating in front of a covered stage. Solid acoustics and lighting. I went for the free OPUS art and music festival. Most of the works I found too abstruse to enjoy, but maybe the Millenials got it. A dozen food trucks, plus booths by such luminaries as Capitol Sushi and Rose's Luxury. I had some righteous jerk chicken from a Jamaican truck. I did not imbibe: bar prices were preposterous - see tip - and the stands advertised as having $5 beer were not open. Looking forward to coming back for Wine in the Woods. Hope they have finished paving the parking by then.

Awesome outdoor venue!! Set up like a small town and well-designed! Several bathrooms, concession stands and merch stands surround the stage. Lawn tickets offer expansive seating options. Reserved seats are under the roof and protected from the elements. The sound is amazing even waaaaay at the back. Beers are cheap ($7.50) compared to $14 in Philadelphia where I live. You can bring a ziploc bag of snacks (per guest) and a sealed, clear water bottle or empty clear water bottle (per guest). There's several free water filling stations around the grounds. I loved it here and honestly would prefer to drive here and catch a show than go to a venue in Philadelphia or Camden. It's really nice here!!

Bottom Line: An outdoor venue for concerts and festivals. Merriweather Post Pavilion has been around for decades but it remains a very popular outdoor venue for concerts. You can purchase tickets for seats under the awning or just get a general admission ticket for the very popular lawn seats. People on the lawn always seem to be having more fun but I kinda think its because they are closer to the bar. Speaking of bar, yes, there are concessions including those serving beer and wine. They have a limited selection of spirits too and of course everything is pricey. Concessions also include sandwiches, nachos, etc. But, since Merriweather is located across the street from the Columbia Mall, I think its nice to park and eat there before the show and then just walk over. If you are planning to attend a show at Merriweather, I recommend reading the FAQs page on the website as it is helpful to understand what you can bring in and what to expect. For instance, you definitely can't smoke, you might be able to bring a lawn chair depending on the event/show, and one sealed bottle of water per person is a-ok.

A great smaller venue in Columbia, MD. I live in the Harrisburg area and over the years have attended many concerts at MPP. I've sat on the lawn, in the seats, standing in GA, etc. Overall a great place to watch a concert. Sure with the renovations and addition of sky boxes, the view has diminished from the lawn (sides), but the screens help plus you can always move. Restrooms are plentiful and so are the bars! Merchandise area gets a little crazy, but lines move quickly. Saw 3 concerts in 2019 - Florence, Smashing Pumpkins/Noel Gallagher, and Morrissey.

Merriweather Post Pavilion is an excellent venue in the Washington, DC area for these reasons: 1) Location: It's in between two major cities- Washington, D.C. and Baltimore, attracting music fans from both cities. If you're coming from Washington, D.C., the drive is just under 40 minutes. If you want dinner beforehand, I recommend eating in DC beforehand where the restaurants are plentiful. Another option is going to Cava or Red Robin, both in a subdivision eight minutes away driving from Merriweather. 2) Parking: Music venues are notorious for parking. It's often far away, disorganized, confusing, and over priced. Not at Merriweather Post Pavilion. When you buy your tickets online, you can also get a parking pass for free. It reserves you a spot in a parking garage close to the venue that's easy to navigate and well organized. 3) Venue: The space itself is set up well. The pavilion is open air with a covering over the top to protect fans from rain. Those seats go for more because it's close to the stage. The cheap tickets put you in the lawn area just behind the pavilion. This spot is perfect for a date, because you can bring blankets and lawn chairs and have a picnic. It is harder to see the stage, but they have jumbo screens for lawn fans to view the concert. 4) Food and drink: To the left, right, and behind the lawn are stands and trucks selling concert food (nachos, hot dogs, etc.), snacks (funnel cake, etc) and drinks (water, local beers on tap, margs, etc). If you have a sweet tooth, I recommend shelling out $15 for a half strawberry (sweet) and half lime (sour) ice marg. It's so good and comes in a bigger cup. Out of all the venues in the DC Metro area, this is one of my favorites.

An excellent outdoor amphitheater. I've been there twice, both times for the M3 Rockfest. It was the highlight of my year both times. My friend and I like to park in lot 5 and tailgate before the show. Parking attendants and lot security are very friendly and will even interact with you. Inside, restrooms, food and beverage stands, and merch booths are located on either side of the theater. All conveniently located. I never sat on the lawn, so I can't speak about that, but the amphitheater is nice. A roof covers the seats, which was nice during the afternoon keeping me out of the sun. The sound was excellent. I'm not usually a fan of large concert venues because the sound can be iffy. Not the case here. I plan to be back every year for M3. Can't wait for the next one!

Merriweather's new look is awesome. Came here for the Paramore concert with the bf. We were both impressed with how smoothly everything operates now. Each line we were in, whether it was for food, drinks, or the bathroom, took less than 5 minutes. Food is tasty, some items are overpriced but that is to be expected at any venue. We paid $26 for a (very) large soft pretzel, 32 oz. soda, cinnamon churro (which was almost as long as my arm), and a vanilla custard cone - not hateful considering each food item ordered was able to be shared between my bf and I. Our seats were under the pavilion, where every seat is a good seat. When we first arrived, we only had to show our tickets to one staff member before going to our seat. As the night went on, we were required to show our tickets to every staff member we came in contact with in the pavilion area to verify our seats, which did get very annoying. I get it, people buy lawn tickets and try to sneak into the pavilion area. I think it would be more efficient to give pavilion ticket holders a wristband to avoid having to pull our tickets out every time we went to our seat (which was only twice, we're not the type of annoying ppl who get up every ten minutes). The only other downfall was the bathrooms. They weren't as nice as I thought I they'd be after being renovated. They were actually kind of gross. I even tried two different bathrooms and both were equally gross. Other than that, I had a great time and am looking forward to returning to Merriweather.

Terrible venue for many reasons. The General Pit area is oversold which makes it dangerous. It's a lawsuit waiting to happen. I am surprised the county permits it. Bathrooms are atrocious with vomit and feces covering the toilets making it a sanitary nightmare. If you're a female the lines are so long they end up in the mens bathroom pleading for help. The staff are not helpful when you ask for any assistance. You ask for a supervisor and they look at you clueless. The safety of concert goers is the least of their concern. I agree with Halsey and will never return to this venue. It's consistently a bad experience.

Merriweather is a great place to see a concert. The renovations make it a perfect venue. It is huge and there is lots of space to move around. The artist line up is also something that is impressive. Highly recommend it if you're in the MD area.

HORRIBLE PLACE. Unorganized. Waste of people's time. Employees recording audience getting soaked by tornado and flood. People got injured crossing the "bridge". Did not cancel Halsey concert until 10pm. Waited in the flood/tornado since 5:30pm. There will probably be a lawsuit/local news coverage of this. Children were also injured...life or death this place sucks