The Forest Park Bandshell is a genuine oddity — a 1920s open-air amphitheatre set inside the last old-growth woods in Queens, with fixed seating facing the stage — and swing is exactly the music it was built for. The crowd is local and multi-generational, the trees do most of the acoustics, and two hours is about right for an early Friday evening. Pair it with a walk through the park's trails beforehand.
What to expect
An outdoor concert at a fixed-seat bandshell surrounded by woodland, running early evening. Seating faces the stage directly, with lawn space behind for anyone who brings a chair.
Good to know
- The J at Woodhaven Boulevard and the Q11/Q21 buses serve the park's north side
- The bandshell has fixed seating, but a folding chair is useful if it fills
- Forest Park's trails are worth an hour before the music starts
- The woods get dark quickly once the concert ends — plan the walk out
- Bug spray is not a bad idea this deep into the trees
Going? Keep it.
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Common questions
Where is the Forest Park Bandshell?
Inside Forest Park in Queens, off Woodhaven Boulevard near Myrtle Avenue.
Is there seating?
The bandshell has fixed seating facing the stage, with room to set up your own chair behind it.
Is there another concert this weekend?
Yes — a second band concert is permitted at the same bandshell on Sunday evening.