The 3,750-seat Carter Barron Amphitheatre was a gift of the federal government to the D.C. community a half-century ago on the occasion of the sesquicentennial of the nation's capital. Every year, from June through September, Carter Barron is the site of concerts and shows, many of which are free. The season kicks off with the Shakespeare Theatre's week-long Free For All, a fully staged Shakespearean play; the free day-of-performance tickets are always in demand.

Throughout the summer, the amphitheater offers a mixture of free and paid programming from the National Symphony Orchestra, the Dance Institute of Washington, the Washington Area Music Association and the series of weekend concerts sponsored by The Washington Post. The National Park Service also books nationally prominent acts. There is always a break in August, with no programming during the Legg-Mason Tennis Tournament in the Tennis Center, which shares a parking lot with Carter Barron. Each season ends with the D.C. Blues Society concerts. All seats are out of doors and not reserved.

-- Brad Hathaway