Music In The Meadow: Rock Garden ft. Route 66 Band at U.S. National Arboretum — Meadow Road – Washington, DC

This year, the National Herb Garden is celebrating the vibrant world of herbs that rock, as well as those that inspire us to rock! Join Friends of the National Arboretum on Friday, September 5th at the National Arboretum for a Music in the Meadow concert celebrating the spirit of this rock musical garden. The Route 66 Band will play a medley of classic rock songs inspired by the plants growing in the Herb Garden, like ‘Purple Rain’ peppers and ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ sunflowers, along with tunes from bands like Korn and The Cranberries.

Explore the National Herb Garden before the event and see if you can spot all the plants featured in the band’s setlist! Local musicians will also showcase instruments crafted from plants, and there will even be a “musical instrument petting zoo” for you to explore. To get you “jazzed up” for the big event, don’t miss our Spotify playlist, featuring the songs, musicians, and instruments represented in the garden.

Feel free to come dressed as your favorite rock era — from the classic 50s to the flannelled 90s grunge. Plus, enjoy delicious offerings from food trucks and local breweries on site. We can’t wait to rock with you!

Registration is required to enter the National Arboretum for this event. The Arboretum’s R Street gate will open at 5:30 PM, and the concert will begin at 7:00 PM. Only the Ellipse Meadow, Capitol Columns, and National Herb Garden will be open to attendees during this event.

This project is supported in part by the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities, which receives support from the National Endowment for the Arts.

Primary banner photo by Zak Khaliqi.

TICKETS

Tickets are required to attend this event. General admission tickets cost $25 ($20 for FONA members). A limited number of Community Discount tickets are available for $15 to make this event more accessible to our community. Children aged 12 and under can attend for free, but they must have a ticket.

If paying $25 would prevent you from attending, please purchase a $15 Community Discount ticket. Our goal is to create a quality event that fosters a connection to the National Arboretum, and we believe it’s important for everyone to have access to this experience, regardless of financial means.

FOOD & DRINK

Rocklands BBQ, Catalyst Hot Dogs, Captain Cookie and the Milkman, and Right Proper Brewing will all sell food and drinks during the event. Rockland BBQ will accept pre-orders starting on Friday, August 29th through Thursday, September 4th at noon. Ribs, family meals, and specials are only available through pre-orders.

To make the most of your experience, don’t forget to bring a blanket to spread out for a cozy picnic while you enjoy your food. Come hungry ready to savor amazing flavors and soak up the fun!

VOLUNTEERS WELCOME!

Without the help of volunteers like you, events like these would not be possible. For this concert, we need help checking people in at the gate, staffing our info table, and helping to clean up at the end of the evening. To learn more about volunteering at this concert, please fill out our volunteer interest form and we will get back to you with more details.

REFUND POLICY

Full refunds are provided for refund requests received up to 7 days prior to the program date.

If FONA reschedules or cancels the event due to bad weather on both dates or unforeseen circumstances, the cost of the ticket will be considered a donation to support FONA’s work. However you may request a refund within 1 week of the original event date.

Please make all refund requests through the Eventbrite app or webpage.

NAVIGATION & PARKING

Please plan to arrive early to allow time to park and walk to the Ellipse Meadow for the event. This event will start at 7 PM, but visitors can arrive at the Arboretum starting at 5:30 PM. Last admittance onto the Arboretum grounds is at 8:30 PM.

Only the R Street entrance (2400 R ST NE, Washington, DC 20002) will be open for entry/exit to the Arboretum for this event. No visitors will be allowed to enter the Arboretum through the New York Avenue entrance.

ARRIVING BY CAR: Parking is free at the Arboretum, and is available at the R Street, Grove, and New York Avenue parking lots. Accessible parking is available in the R Street parking lot. See the map below for more details.

ARRIVING BY PUBLIC TRANSIT, RIDESHARE, FOOT, BIKE: The Arboretum is not located on a Metro rail line, but is near Union Station. From there, you can take a bus, rideshare, or bike to the Arboretum. Capital Bikeshare has a hub outside the R Street entrance for bike rentals.

REMINDER

As a federal property, the U.S. National Arboretum is covered by laws prohibiting:

• Commercial photography without a permit
• Being under the influence, using or possessing any narcotic drugs, hallucinogens, marijuana, barbiturates, or amphetamines except when being prescribed for a patient by a licensed physician
• Willfully destroying, damaging, or stealing property
• Improperly disposing of rubbish on property
• Operating a vehicle in an unsafe manner or failing to comply with posted traffic signs
• Carrying or possessing explosives, firearms, or other dangerous weapons without proper authorization

This project is supported in part by the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities, which receives support from the National Endowment for the Arts.