Labor Day Concert at the U.S. Capitol: everything you need to know about the annual concert

The big Labor Day weekend is coming up, and plans for Labor Day travel are in the works. We’ve got inspo for last-minute Labor Day weekend getaways, but if you’re lucky enough to be in Washington, D.C. you can enjoy the annual National Symphony Orchestra Labor Day weekend concert at the U.S. Capitol. Here’s everything you need to know about attending this free event. Tickets are not required, and seating is first-come, first-served.

When is the Labor Day concert?

The Labor Day concert will be at 8pm on Sunday, September 1, 2024. Gates open at 3pm, and there will be a rehearsal at 3:30pm.

Where is the Labor Day concert taking place?

The concert will be held on the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol. In the event of inclement weather, the concert will move to the Kennedy Center Concert Hall. Check the website for updates.

Who is performing?

Led by charismatic conductor Enrico Lopez-Yañez, the National Symphony Orchestra will perform classics by Duke Ellington, George Gershwin, John Philip Sousa, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and more. The concert will also feature Grammy–nominated rapper/beatboxer Christylez Bacon, a Washington, D.C. native.

Parking and travel tips for the Labor Day concert

There is no parking in the immediate area of the U.S. Capitol. Use of public transportation is recommended.

You can enter the Capitol grounds at these locations:

• North (Senate) side of Capitol Square: 3rd Street, NW, and Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
• South (House) side of Capitol Square: 3rd Street, SW, and Maryland Avenue, SW
• Mobility impaired entrance – West side of 1st Street, NW, and Constitution Avenue, NW

Temporary street closures and parking restrictions will begin at 8pm on Friday, August 30, through Monday, September 2, at 4am. Find the full list of parking restrictions here.

The following items are banned from the concert

• Alcoholic beverages
• Glass bottles
• Animals (other than service animals)
• Bicycles and motorized scooters of any kind (devices required for accessibility (ADA) will be accommodated)
• Firearms and ammunition (either real or simulated)
• Explosives of any kind, including fireworks
• Knives, blades, or sharp objects of any length
• Laser pointers, signs, or posters
• Mace, pepper spray
• Sticks or poles
• Electric stun guns
• Martial arts weapons or devices
• Umbrellas larger 36” in diameter (umbrellas smaller than 36” will be allowed)
• Pocket or hand tools such as a “Leatherman”
• Sealed packages, large boxes, duffle bags, or suitcases
• Drones, model rockets, remote or manually controlled model gliders, model airplanes or unmanned aircrafts, model boats or cars, and other unmanned ground or aircraft systems
• Other items also may be prohibited at the discretion of security personnel