Tanglewood

Music lovers head west from Boston [1] every summer to the warm-weather home of the Boston Symphony Orchestra [2] at Tanglewood (297 West St., 413/637-1600, www.bso.org [3], late June–early Sept.). The tradition dates back to the 1930s, when a classical music–crazy Berkshire family offered their 200-acre estate to the BSO as a gift, and legendary conductor Serge Koussevitzky gave his first all-Beethoven concert outdoors.

The close feeling of nature and the outdoors imparts a languid feel to the music, often accentuated by visitors who bring picnic blankets and thermoses full of white wine. In addition to the full orchestra, the program features smaller chamber music concerts and an annual performance by singer-songwriter James Taylor.

Believe it or not, the first-rate musical performances are only part of the allure of Tanglewood. The other draw? The lavish picnics that concertgoers bring with them to devour on the perfectly manicured lawn during shows.

These are no mere paper-bag affairs: Visitors are known to go to great lengths to outdo one another’s fixings with intricate, gourmet spreads of multiple courses, wine, real glasses, and fine china and flatware. Many even tote along elaborate lawn furniture and canopies, though those outfits are relegated to the sidelines, so as not to block other guests’ views of the stage.

For your own picnic supplies, try Loeb’s Foodtown of Lenox (42 Main St., Lenox, 413/637-0270, www.loebsfoodtown.com [4], 7 a.m.–6 p.m. Mon.–Thu. and Sat., 7 a.m.–7 p.m. Fri., 7 a.m.–4 p.m. Sun.) or better yet stop by Nejaime’s Wine Cellars (60 Main St., 413/637-2221, www.nejaimeswine.com [5], 9 a.m.–9 p.m. Mon.–Sat.), which offers picnics packed and ready to go.