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What you should bring depends on where you are sitting. Plan on drinking lots of water and getting VERY hot anywhere you sit. These lists were compiled so that people will not come unprepared to the Gorge, but please know these are not complete lists. What is allowed in the Gorge varies from concert to concert. If you have been to the Gorge and have any suggestions feel free to email me.

NOTE: Some concerts are general admission only. For these concerts all areas of the amphitheatre are general admission, and the former reserved seating no longer has chairs, but instead is an open area in front of the stage. If you are attending one of these concerts, read the general admission information if you plan on sitting further up on the lawn. If you plan on standing close to the stage, use common sense about how much stuff (i.e. soft sided coolers, chairs, blankets, etc.) you want to have to keep track of while standing in front of the stage. If you are attending a general admission only show, I recommend not bringing blankets, or a cooler, but instead planning ahead with the group you're going with and bringing some bottles of water (factory sealed) and perhaps one or two towels (for the group, depending on the number of people you're going with) inside of a small backpack, along with sweaters, money, sun glasses etc.

General Admission Seating Reserved Seating

  1. Water in a factory sealed, plastic container. Do not bring alcohol, any drinks in a glass container, aluminum cans, beverages that are no longer factory sealed, or hard sided coolers. Some concerts allow you to bring a small, soft sided, light weight cooler.

  2. Money for drinks, food, or t-shirts.

  3. Wear sunscreen and light weight clothing. It is very hot during the day, but you should bring a sweater for the evening.

  4. Be prepared to have all bags checked for alcohol, glass containers, and cameras. Some concerts allow non-professional cameras into the Gorge.

  5. A blanket or towel to sit on. Do not bring tall lawnchairs. This isn't a rule, but common courtesy. Tall lawnchairs make it hard for the person behind you to see.

  6. DO NOT plan on sneaking up to the stage. The reserved seating is totally surrounded by a fence. To get through any opening you must present a reserved seating ticket.

  7. I suggest wearing a backpack to hold money, sunglasses, sunscreen, a jacket or sweater, and something to sit on. You should plan on packing very light. Carrying a heavy bag gets very old in the hot sun.

  8. Plan on arriving early to wait in line. Lines usually form outside of the gates because general admission is usually very full. If you want a good place to sit you should plan on arriving before the gates open.

  1. Water in a factory sealed, plastic container. Do not bring alcohol, drinks in a glass container, or hard sided coolers.

  2. Money for drinks, food, or t-shirts.

  3. Wear sunscreen and light weight clothing. It is very hot during the day, but you should bring a sweater for the evening.

  4. Be prepared to have all bags checked for alcohol, glass containers, and cameras. Some concerts allow non-professional cameras into the Gorge.

  5. Be prepared to present your ticket to get into the reserved seating section and to move closer to the stage within that section.

  6. If you choose to wear a backpack to hold money, sunglasses, sunscreen, water, and a jacket or sweater be sure to pack very light. Carrying a heavy bag gets very old in the hot sun.

  7. Reserved seating sits on fold up metal chairs near the stage. Because your seats are saved you can arrive after the gates are open and not wait in line.


Driving OUT of the Gorge can be difficult. The parking lot is really just a big field where they park cars. After the concert the parking lot can be a little hectic so plan on waiting 1 to 2 hours in the lot before you get out (sometimes less). I suggest staying in a nearby town after the concert. You could stay in either Ellensburg or Moses Lake. Ellensburg is west of the Gorge and Moses Lake is east.

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