3 Best Performing Arts Venues in Parkway Museum District and Fairmount Park, Philadelphia

Symphonic music, jazz, rock, contemporary music (hip-hop, R&B, pop, and more), Broadway theater, opera, dance, and movies are presented in the popular open-air TD Pavilion and the standing-room-only (bring a blanket or chair) Skyline Stage in Fairmount Park from May through September. In summer, the Philadelphia Orchestra has some performances at the Mann. The site has great skyline views.

With more than 5,200 reserved seats (and room for 600 on the lawn) in its East Fairmount Park amphitheater, the Dell offers open-air summer concerts featuring established and upcoming musicians. Some are family-focused; other concerts present genres such as R&B, jazz, soul, and hip-hop. It also has community events. Ticketmaster ( ticketmaster.com) and the Dell box office have tickets. 

The Met began life in 1908 as the lavish Metropolitan Opera House, and today the 3,500-seat venue presents concerts and other programming, such as speakers like Michelle Obama and comedians such as Chris Distefano, in the elegantly detailed beaux arts space. The look may be old-style, but the sound is good and the artists varied, including John Legend, Jeezy, and Patti Smith.