Make the Most of Outdoor Concerts

For many music lovers, there are few things better than an evening spent at a concert, sprawled out on the lawn with friends. Concerts and interesting venues can also be reasons for traveling and excuses to explore a new city or revisit a favorite location.

Whether you’re checking out a concert near home or building a vacation around concert moments and memories, music expert and entertainment reporter Chelsea Briggs offers these tips so you can rock your outdoor concert experience:

Plan an Early Arrival

Venues typically allow fans to enter about 90 minutes before the show starts. For venues with open seating, you’ll need to be at the gates early (at least 15 minutes before they open) to nab the best spot on the lawn, get settled and grab refreshments before the concert begins.

Don’t Delay Purchasing Tickets

Set calendar notifications to remind yourself when tickets go on sale and don’t forget to grab an extra ticket for a music-loving friend or family member. An option like Hilton Honors’ Lawn Days program, in partnership with Live Nation, lets members access thousands of lawn seat concert tickets all around the United States for just 10,000 points a pair. Briggs suggests surprising a friend or using the tickets for a date night that won’t break the bank.

No Need to Skip Dinner

Lots of concerts take place during dinnertime, which presents the perfect opportunity to indulge in the venue’s many concession options.

“Recruit your friends to build out a lawn picnic by grabbing bites at the tasty food vendors to help fuel your night,” Briggs said.

Dress for Fun

Concerts are a great place to take fashion risks and have some fun with your style. It’s important to find a balance between comfort and style, so test your outfit a few days in advance to ensure you’re equally comfortable sitting and moving around if you enjoy dancing.

Capture the Moment in Moderation

Taking quality photos of an artist on stage can be challenging and watching the concert through your phone screen interferes with the live experience. Grab a few shots with your friends at the start of the show for those lasting memories then let the professionals capture the shots of the artist.

Rest Your Weary Head

“There’s really no better way to reenergize after an amazing performance, and maybe some post-show celebrating, than by crashing on a comfy bed,” Briggs said.

One way to make the most of your stay is by joining and booking through Hilton Honors, which is free to join and gives members instant benefits with every stay, including exclusive member discounts, free standard Wi-Fi, online check-in through the app and points toward future free nights. Learn more at HiltonHonors.com, where you can also find a full list of Lawn Days Concert Series cities and shows at amphitheaters across the country.

Photo courtesy of Cruzan Amphitheatre