All SUMMER ARTS FESTIVAL events are ADMISSION-FREE

There is no admission fee for Summer Arts Festival events! Just as our community has enjoyed concerts in the park for 58 years , all events are admission-free!

While the Festival is free to attend, it is NOT free to produce! Performers, bands, musicians are paid, as are professional sound and lighting crew and facilities staff, to keep our shows enjoyable and high-quality. That’s why we ask YOU to please help continue this tradition by donating at our performances when we “pass the hat” at intermission!

Do the shows still go on when it rains?

Festival staff and crew make every attempt to present our events “rain or shine.” However, performances may be interrupted or delayed due to inclement weather. When dangerous storms are predicted, or when potential harm to the audience, performers, or crew is possible due to lightening or high wind, performances may be delayed or cancelled.

Performances cannot be moved indoors or rescheduled.  

“Are tickets required for Summer Arts Festival shows?

FREE SEATING! No tickets are required to attend the Summer Arts Festival. Bring a lawn chair or blanket and select where you want to sit. Seating is first-come, first served. Chairs may be placed in Veterans Park Amphitheater beginning at 6:00 AM on the day of an event, and must be removed at the conclusion of each performance.

 V.I.P. PIT SEATING: While almost all seating areas are free, a very limited number of “V.I.P. pits seats (in the orchestra pit in front of the stage) may be reserved at many performances. V.I.P. pit seats are available for a $15 donation. V.I.P PIT SEATS are first-come, first served beginning at 6:00 PM each show day at the Festival Welcome Center. ALL SALES ARE FINAL; NO RETURNS, EXCHANGES OR REFUNDS.

Cash, checks and credit cards are accepted.
NOTE: Seating in the upstairs loft above the production building is reserved for Festival sponsors only and is not available to the general public.

Do we bring our own chairs?

There is no fixed seating in Veterans Park Amphitheater. Lawn chairs or blankets are recommended.

• Chairs may be placed in Veterans Park on the day of an even beginning at 6:00 AM, and must be removed at the conclusion of each performance.
• Seating areas are not covered, and lawn seating may become wet when rainy weather strikes. (The Summer Arts Festival is not responsible for lost, misplaced, or damaged chairs.)
• Chairs should NOT be placed on paved or concrete walkways. Chairs are permitted on Cliff Park Road AFTER 6 :00 PM.
• Plastic tarps damage the grass in the park and may NOT be used. Tarps left on the lawn will be removed by Festival staff.
• Limited bleacher seating is available (first-come, first served) on the south side of Cliff Park Road at the rear of the Amphitheater.

Where do I park?

Please note that Cliff Park Road is closed to through-traffic beginning at 6 PM until the close of each show. When parking, please respect “no-parking” signs where posted.

GENERAL parking: Please note that Cliff Park Road is closed to through-traffic beginning at 6 PM until the close of each show. Limited public parking is avalable, non-reserved, first-come, first-served, in the lighted Veterans Park lawn west of the Amphitheater. Limited parking is also available (first-come, first-served) at the Springfield Museum of Art, the Kissell Center, Wittenberg, and Covenant Presbyterian Church, and the “Park at 99” garage on Fountain and Columbia. 

HANDICAPPED parking: EARLY ARRIVAL is highly recommended as spaces are limited! A limited number of parking spaces are available on the east and west side of the amphitheater (outside of the barricades) for vehicles with handicapped tags. Early arrival (as early as 6 PM) is recommended and encouraged.

Parking attendants will permit vehicles to temporarily pull near the seating areas to drop off patrons, and will then be directed to a handicapped spot IF available. 

GROUP TRANSPORT VEHICLE parking: Limited parking for group transport vehicles is permitted on a first-come, first-served basis, west of the amphitheater along Cliff Park Road beyond the first barricade. Please use the Plum Street entrance only. Early arrival (as early as 6 PM) is recommended. 

What are the Summer Arts Festival safety guidelines for 2024?

Hand sanitizing stations are available throughout the park. Please be respectful and stay home if you are experiencing COVID symptoms.

What accessibility services are available?

Veterans Park Amphitheater is wheelchair accessible. Hard surface pathways connect all areas of the Amphitheater. A limited number of hard surface wheelchair seating areas are available first-come, first-served.

ASL (American Sign Language) Interpretation:

ASL interpretation is provided at selected Summer Arts Festival events:

   • Thursday, June 13, 2024 (8 PM): “The Last Pirates of the Vast Golden Treasure”
   • Sunday, June 16, 2024 (Noon – 4 PM): KidsFest
   • Wednesday, June 19, 2024 (8 PM): Family Fun Night (Lynn Trefzger and Amazing Giants)
   • Thursday, June 27, 2024 (8 PM): The Little Mermen

ASL signing may be requested for other events; a minimum of two week’s notice is required. Call 937-324-2712.
American Sign Language interpretation provided courtesy of The Springfield Foundation http://springfieldfoundation.org

I am coming from out of town. How do I get to the Festival?

Click for directions to The Summer Arts Festival. If using GPS, enter “250 Cliff Park Road, Springfield, OH 45504” as your destination.

May I distribute fliers/ coupons/ surveys/ etc/ or sell merchandise to the audience at the Summer Arts Festival?

Patrons are not permitted to distribute flyers, coupons, surveys or other solicitaions to the audience at the Summer Arts Festival. Distribution of any advertising, promotional, or solicitaion materials, including but not limited to coupons, brochure, fliers, administration of surveys, political information, or sale of merchandise, is not permitted on the grounds of Veterans Park Amphitheater.

Festival event sponsors may select to distribute, from their designated promotional tent, materials about their business, but may not walk through the audience to distribute.

May I bring pets to the Summer Arts Festival?

For the comfort of other patrons, we ask that pets must be on a leash and accompanied by their owners. We don’t recommend pets during crowded events. Patrons with disruptive pets may be asked to move to another area of the amphitheater or leave. 

Can I bring my own beer, wine or alcohol to the Festival?

Alcoholic beverages of any kind may not be carried into Veterans Park or to the Festival.

Under Ohio law, consumption of alcoholic beverages at the Festival is restricted to open-container beverages sold under state license at the Festival concession stands.

Can I take photos or video of Festival performances?

By contractual agreement with most of our performers and concerts, photography, video or recordings of performances is not permitted. Many performers allow and provide photo opportunities following their performance.

Are restrooms available at Veterans Park Amphitheater?

Public restrooms, which include infant changing stations, are located on the Festival’s east and west Plazas, next to our concession stands. Hand sanitizers are located in these areas as well. All restrooms are handicapped-accessible.

What if I lose my keys/ phone/ wallet, purse at Veterans Park Amphitheater?

Lost and found items my be dropped off or picked up at our Festival Welcome Center, located just past the West Concession Stand. Summer Arts Festival management is not responsible for lost or stole items, or for items left unclaimed after events.

This is an outdoor Festival; may I smoke or vape?

For the comfort and safety of all patrons, crew and performers, we ask that smoking and vaping be restricted to Cliff Park Road beyond the east and west road barricades. Please be considerate of our patrons with health issues and allergies. 

I love the Summer Arts Festival!
How can I help to support these performances?

In addition to donating when we “pass the hat” at performances, you may also make a tax-deductible contribution any time throughout the year to support the Summer Arts Festival.

Send contributions to:
The Springfield Arts Council
PO Box 745
Springfield, OH 45501
or contact Kevin Brown, development and Operations Director:
937-327-2712 x4, or kevin@springfieldartscouncil.org