By Georgia LoPresti
Photo courtesy of the  National Park Service

Every Wednesday evening, throughout July and August, visitors can enjoy a free outdoor concert featuring a variety of music, from Big Band to sultry jazz, all against the stunning backdrop of the historic Vanderbilt and Mills Mansions. 

Music in the Parks is a weekly music series hosted by the Town of Hyde Park, in partnership with the National Park Service and New York State Parks, and it’s celebrating its 50th season this summer. The concert sites alternate weekly. Popular groups include the Jim Osborne Band, Four Guys in Disguise, and the beloved West Point Military Band.

“We love to see people utilize the parks in different ways and experience the historic landscape, while enjoying diverse music,” says Amy Bracewell, superintendent for the National Park Service at Vanderbilt, Roosevelt, and Van Buren historical Sites. “Normally, the mansion sites do not allow for picnicking on the expansive front lawns, but during Music in the Parks, it’s encouraged.” 

The Music in the Parks series has made the historical footholds of the Hudson Valley more accessible over these 50 years.

The concerts are family-friendly and free of charge. There is a rain site secured at the Taconic Regional OFC-NY park in Staatsburg. The music begins at 7 pm throughout July and at 6:30 pm in August. Visit the Town of Hyde Park website for the full concert series line-up.