Peter Britt Music Festival

A small classical music festival began in 1962 on a grassy hillside amid majestic ponderosa pines near the site of the Britt home. Today, the scope of the Britt Festival (Britt Pavilion, 1st St. and Fir St., 541/773-6077 or 800/882-7488, www.brittfest.org) has broadened into a musical smorgasbord encompassing such diverse styles as jazz, folk, country, bluegrass, rock, and dance, in addition to the original classical repertoire.

B. B. King, k. d. lang, the Doobie Brothers, Jean-Pierre Rampal, and Joshua Redman are just a few of the artists who have performed here over the years.

The festival runs from the last week of June through the first week of September; most of the nearly 40 concerts occur in August. Tickets typically range $20–46 for general admission. Reserved seats are available but are more expensive. Concertgoers often bring along blankets, small lawn chairs (allowed only in designated areas), wine, and a picnic supper to enjoy along with entertainment on balmy summer evenings.

Be sure to order your tickets well in advance to avoid having to stand outside. Like the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, some shows sell out months in advance, especially for the well-known performers.

by Judy Jewell and W. C. McRae from Moon Oregon, 8th Edition, © Elizabeth & Mark Morris and Avalon Travel