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About Wolf Trap

Filene Center
The 7,000-seat Filene Center, with seating under cover and on the lawn 

A place for summer arts lovers

Idina Menzel

Broadway star Idina Menzel, and now legendary singer of “Let it Go” from Frozen, in concert at Wolf Trap

Wolf Trap is best known for its summer festival of performances at the Filene Center—a distinctive outdoor venue located in a national park, just outside of Washington, D.C. Within a beautiful natural setting maintained by the National Park Service, Wolf Trap’s summer season offers more than 80 shows annually, including top artists from every genre.

Some arts lovers know Wolf Trap as the place to see their favorite returning artists each summer. Others come looking for something new, knowing that anything they choose will be high quality and in a setting like no other.

Artists at Wolf Trap are as diverse as audiences in the Washington, DC metropolitan area, as well as the tourists who come from across the country to enjoy America’s national park for the performing arts. Our lineup includes legends and top artists from every genre—classical, pop, rock, jazz, opera, folk, and dance.

A place for families

Families know Wolf Trap as a place to discover all types of performing arts in a casual setting. That can be on the lawn at the Filene Center. Or across the meadow at the Children’s Theatre-in-the-Woods—a small stage tucked among the trees, where kids enjoy music, dance, puppetry, and storytelling.

A place for opera lovers

Wolf Trap Opera at The Barns
Wolf Trap Opera, which performs at both The Barns and the Filene Center

Opera lovers know Wolf Trap as having one of the finest residency programs for young singers in the country. Wolf Trap Opera alumni can be found at top opera houses around the world.

Aficionados love seeing works from the popular repertoire in Wolf Trap’s non-traditional setting, as well as having the opportunity to spend an evening with opera’s rising stars. And budding fans discover opera for the first time at Wolf Trap, attracted by the casual setting and magnetic young performers.

A place for year-round concert-goers

The Barns at Wolf Trap
The intimate, 382-seat Barns at Wolf Trap

Wolf Trap Foundation offers fall, winter, and spring performances at The Barns at Wolf Trap—an intimate, 382-seat venue just up the road managed by the Wolf Trap Foundation.

The Barns are exactly that—two 18th century barns brought from New England and rebuilt in Virginia as a unique performance space.

The venue houses more than 80 shows annually, in addition to serving as summer home to Wolf Trap Opera.

Local concert-goers know The Barns as an incomparable night spot to hear everything from jazz greats to chamber musicians to legendary folk singers.

A place for our youngest learners

Wolf Trap Institute for Early Learning Through the Arts
A Wolf Trap Institute for Early Learning Through the Arts classroom residency

Thousands of young students, teachers and parents across the nation know Wolf Trap Foundation as the organization that brings arts to the classroom. The Wolf Trap Institute for Early Learning Through the Arts trains teachers to use arts-based tools to help kids ages 0-5 improve literacy, science, math, and basic life skills.

A place for tomorrow’s arts leaders

Interns know Wolf Trap as one of the best programs in the country to prepare them for a competitive job market. Many have gone on to be influential leaders in the arts and business communities, improving strategy, funding, and innovation.

A place for tourists

For many tourists, Wolf Trap is a must-visit destination. And each year, more and more arts lovers right here in the DC area discover Wolf Trap for the first time as they look for ways to escape urban noise and experience music somewhere other than on their digital devices.

A place for everyone

Regardless of who you are, Wolf Trap offers community. A casual, bring-your-own food and wine park setting, where you can share the arts with family and friends. An 18th-century barn where the bar is open and the artists appear up close and personal. And ground-breaking arts education programs helping kids, parents, and teachers in classrooms across the country. 

The Wolf Trap experience is ready and waiting for everyone.