The Merriweather Post Pavilion is an ideal outdoor venue located along Route 29 across from Columbia Mall and occupies an area of approximately 1.6 million square feet. The pavilion was initially supposed to serve as a summer home for the National Symphony Orchestra, and it acquired its name from Post Foods heiress Merriweather Post. This venue was designed by Frank Gehry Architects and officially opened to the public in 1967. Since then, the Merriweather Post Pavilion has hosted several concerts by award-winning musicians and is always buzzing with activity throughout the year. This open-air amphitheater, halfway between Washington and Baltimore, is accessible by Columbia’s taxi service.
The pavilion seats a total of 19,316 people with a covered seating area of some 5,200 and more than 10,000 lawn seats. The amphitheater hosts a wide range of performances and exhibits throughout the year, and during the summer it attracts many tourists from the neighboring cities of Annapolis, Washington, Catonsville, Towson, and even Harrisburg. For nearly half a century it has featured performances by a wide range of artists and bands, including some of the biggest names in the music industry such as Roger Daltrey, Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, Janis Joplin and many others.
With its large seating capacity, the pavilion is an excellent venue for hosting large-scale events. Ticket prices are cheap too, as you have the option of purchasing a ticket to sit in the covered area, grass area, or standing area. Covered area tickets are the most expensive, followed by standing area tickets, while grass area tickets are the least expensive. All of these seating areas have their own unique advantages and disadvantages. For example, grass area tickets might be cheap, but in bad weather you’ll struggle and you might not even see a thing. The covered area is the most comfortable place to be, but for easy visibility book seats near the stage. The stand up area is perfect for those who prefer to get up close and personal.
The amphitheater is also equipped with state-of-the-art facilities using modern technology. All of these facilities, namely the three large video screens and an elaborate lighting scheme, are specifically designed to enhance concerts and performances. Patrons relax on the grassy area between shows and have the opportunity to order from a diverse menu that includes gyros, burritos and vegetarian wraps. In addition to these, there are also several other food and alcohol stalls, each offering different types of food and drink. Although the cost of food and drink is a bit high, this is to be expected from such a place.
If you are new to Columbia and want to get to the Merriweather Post Pavilion quickly, it is recommended that you use a reliable Columbia taxi service. This is because these taxi drivers from Columbia Taxi Service know the place very well and will drop you off in a secure parking lot inside the pavilion. You won’t have the stress of knowing where to go.