The Tanglewood Music Festival 2023 comes out of an unparalleled summertime tradition. Every summer, the Berkshires provide a scenic backdrop for the musicians of the Boston Symphony Orchestra who come to the country to perform. Even as one of the best-known Massachusetts festivals, Tanglewood is never stuffy. The family-friendly festival summer season also includes big-name artists, guest ensembles, and other great musical acts, with many outdoor performances.

Tanglewood Music Festival History and Facts

The Boston Symphony Orchestra heads west between June and September, a tradition that began in 1936. Later that year, the Tappan family offered the Tanglewood Estate, with more than 200 acres of meadows and lawns perfect for live music and crowds. An all-Wagner concert ushered in the first Tanglewood concert, the first of many. In the years since, more buildings were built and more people came to enjoy the Boston Pops and others. The public spaces were expanded and improved in 1986, while the Seiji Ozawa Hall opened in 1994.

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Tickets to the Tanglewood Music Festival

Ticket prices for the Tanglewood Music Festival 2023 depend on a number of factors, including whether you see an outdoor show or one at the Seiji Ozawa Hall and where you sit. Lawn tickets are free for anyone under the age of 18 for most shows, and college and grad students enjoy a 50 percent discount on tickets.

Directions to the Tanglewood Music Festival

The longtime summer home of the Boston Symphony Orchestra is located in western Massachusetts, between Stockbridge and Lenox, not far from the Massachusetts Turnpike. From Boston, take the turnpike, I-90, west until Exit 2. Follow Route 20 west until you merge with Route 7. From there, take a left onto Route 183 South, which leads right to the entrance of Tanglewood, just over a mile of driving.

From the west, including locations in New York and New Jersey, catch the Taconic State Parkway until you reach the Berkshire portion of the New York State Thruway. Continue east until the MA Turnpike and Exit 2. The trip is the same once you exit the highway—Route 20 to Route 7 to Route 183 to the Tanglewood Music Festival Massachusetts.

Lodging near the Tanglewood Music Festival

A host of accommodations providers are located within in the Berkshires, everything from New England country inns to modern hotels. Whatever your budget and style, you'll easily find the perfect place to stay for the Tanglewood Music Festival.

The Appletree Inn, located at 10 Richmond Mountain Road in Lenox, is within walking distance of the Tanglewood grounds. Guests enjoy well-appointed rooms, breakfast every morning, and beautiful grounds. Some of the rooms have fireplaces and all have wireless Internet access, perfect if you need to make any plans for the Tanglewood Music Festival Massachusetts.

Also in Lenox, the Berkshire Hampton Inn and Suites is found at 445 Pittsfield Road. A variety of guestrooms, 79 in total, are stylishly decorated and come with in-room coffee. Upgrades are available to king rooms, some with whirlpools. You'll also find an indoor pool, morning breakfast nook, and a morning newspaper at your door.