Summer in the parks 2026

live music returns to the carter barron amphitheater this summer!

Join Rock Creek Conservancy and our partners DC Jazz Festival and Washington Performing Arts for three electric nights of live music and performances in the historic Carter Barron Amphitheater.

The Carter Barron Amphitheater in Rock Creek Park is not simply a venue — it is a civic institution. Built in 1950 to celebrate Washington DC's 150th anniversary as our nation’s capital, it was one of the first racially integrated outdoor performance venues in the United States. Carter Barron has been closed since 2016, but it will be revived for just three special nights in August.

Join us to bring it back to life!

Thursday, August 20, 6pm: Prelude to JazzFest DC with the JazzDC AllStars

Friday, August 21, 6pm: Sylver Logan Sharp and the Groovement ALL Stars

Saturday, August 22, 6pm: Black Alley and Chester Burke Jr. & Company in partnership with Washington Performing Arts

Tickets go live July 10, 2026.

Get tickets here!

The performers

  • JazzDC AllStars

    The DC Jazz Festival presents JazzDCTM All-Stars, a powerhouse ensemble directed by acclaimed saxophonist and educator Paul Carr. Enjoy a showcase for the vibrant artistry of the region’s top jazz talent! This electrifying performance will celebrate the rich legacy and dynamic future of jazz in the nation’s capital.

    With dynamic concerts featuring both classic and contemporary jazz, the orchestra connects audiences to the vibrant artistry that defines Washington, D.C., as a premier jazz destination.

  • Sylver Logan Sharp

    Sylver Logan Sharp returns to the Carter Barron Amphitheater as an internationally acclaimed recording artist, producer, songwriter, and powerhouse vocalist best known for her 20-year tenure as lead singer of the legendary CHIC.

    She earned a Grammy Award for her work with Yolanda Adams on The Experience Live at Constitution Hall and has recorded and performed with artists including Jean Carne, Slash, and Michael Bolton, to name a few, while lending her signature vocals to the Billboard #1 dance hit All This Time with Jonathan Peters.

    A gifted producer and creative visionary, Sylver continues to write, produce, and develop original music and live productions.

  • Chester Burke Jr. & Company

    The award-winning Chester Burke Jr. & Company is a distinguished gospel music ministry comprised of anointed psalmists, vocalists, and instrumentalists, committed to exalting the name of Jesus Christ and advancing His Kingdom through song.

    Since its inception, the ministry has been honored to sing and travel with the legendary Twinkie Clark of The Clark Sisters and has ministered extensively throughout the Washington, DC/Baltimore metropolitan area and internationally, including The Bahamas and Europe, boldly proclaiming the Good News of Jesus Christ. 

  • Black Alley

    Black Alley has been pushing the art of music to its rhythmic limits for some time now. Determined to create a unique musical elixir, Black Alley has taken the finest ingredients of trap, rock and go-go to create their own genre-bending sound called “Hood Rock”.

    With endorsements from national recording artists such as Raheem DeVaughn and Jill Scott; hip-hop standouts Common, Big KRIT, & Wale; producers Tone P and Chucky Thompson; super engineer Young Guru; and legendary musicians Doug E. Fresh and Sheila E, Black Alley is striving to rock harder and put on for the culture.

Event information

Location, Timing, & Ticketing

Gates will open at 5pm and shows will begin at 6pm all three nights, unless changes are made for weather (see Rain Policy below).

The Carter Barron Amphitheater is located at 4850 Colorado Ave NW. Parking is available in the lots off both 16th Street and Colorado Ave NW, and rideshare apps can drop off and pick up directly in front of the gates. The amphitheater is also accessible via the D60, D6X, D50, and D5X bus lines, and there is a Capital Bikeshare location at 14th and Kennedy St NW.

Tickets are currently available for all three nights. Tickets are required for all guests over the age of 2 years. One ticket = one seat! Childen without tickets must sit on a lap.

Refund Policy

There are no refunds available, unless a show is cancelled by organizers (see Rain Policy below). Tickets can be transferred but not resold within the Universe platform. Please reach out to customer support at Universe to learn more about transferring your ticket.

Picnic Policy

In keeping with tradition for the Carter Barron Amphitheater, we welcome attendees to bring their own food and drinks to enjoy during the shows. Please note, the following is not allowed in the Carter Barron Amphitheater: alcoholic beverages; glass bottles and aluminum cans; picnic baskets and coolers; and pets.

Rain Policy

Summer in the Parks is a rain-or-shine event. Refunds will not be issued due to any weather-related circumstances that may impact the event (collectively, "Weather-related Adjustments"), including but not limited to: changes, delays or interruptions in or shortened performances or event schedules as a result of decisions made by the Organizer based on actual or forecasted rain, lightning, thunder, hail, windstorm or any other adverse weather conditions; and early closures or pauses in programming due to safety precautions for attendees, staff, and performers due to such actual or forecasted conditions. For example, if the event is shortened or temporarily halted due to potential lightning conditions, this will not be considered a cancellation, and refunds will not be provided. The event will resume if and as conditions may allow in the Organizer's sole judgment, and Weather-related Adjustments do not constitute a cancellation. If the event is rescheduled, tickets will automatically transfer to the new date, and refunds will not be provided for rescheduled events unless explicitly stated by the Organizer.

summer in the parks history

Summer in the Parks 2026 draws on a rich local history, building on a legacy of events in the Carter Barron Amphitheater designed to bring DC residents together to enjoy music and performances under the stars.

The National Park Service’s Summer in the Parks event series originated in 1968 as a way to connect residents to the parks through art and recreation.

Built in 1950 to celebrate Washington DC's 150th anniversary as our nation’s capital, the Carter Barron Amphitheater was one of the first racially integrated outdoor performance venues in the United States. From Ella Fitzgerald and Duke Ellington to Bruce Springsteen, Chuck Brown, and Shakespeare under the stars, Carter Barron played host to musical greats and gave DC a soundtrack.

contact us

Interested in volunteering to welcome guests to the Carter Barron Amphitheater? (Just, FYI, volunteers get one night of performances for free…) Sign up by emailing volunteer@rockcreekconservancy.org.

Interested in sponsoring Summer in the Parks? Please reach out to info@rockcreekconservancy.org.

If you’re looking for support with your ticket, please contact customer service through Universe, our ticketing platform.