Did you know that Vienna, Virginia, is home to the only national park in the country that is devoted to the Performing Arts? Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts is a spectacular national park that is located right near the beautiful town of Vienna. Wolf Trap Park is located on 117-acres of national parkland, and guests in the park have a wealth of activities that can be enjoyed all throughout the year. Wolf Trap National Park is a unique place for people of all ages to enjoy. A mix of natural and cultural experiences can be found throughout the park area during all the seasons of the year.

Today the park’s success is through a combined effort of the National Park Service and the non-profit organization called the Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts. Originally, the area was a farm that was owned by Catherine Filene Shouse. In the early 1930s, Mrs. Shouse purchased the land so she would have a place outside of her permanent residence in Washington, DC, to take her children for retreats and vacation trips.

In the 1960s, she donated the land to the U.S. Government to be used for national parkland. At that time, the area was referred to as Wolf Trap Farm Park. In 2002, the name was changed to Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts.

The highlight of the park is a distinctive wooden structure that offers indoor and outdoor seating for approximately 7,000 people. This beautiful structure is called the Filene Center, which was named in honor of Mrs. Shouse’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. Lincoln Filene. Performances can be enjoyed by guests at the Filene Center from May to September. Shows at the Filene Center may include orchestra music, country music, jazz, opera, pop music, and almost all other genres. Another venue in the national park, The Barns at Wolf Trap, offers performances on a year-round basis.

The Children’s Theatre in the Woods is another spot in the national park that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. Performances can be seen at this venue from late June to early August. Shows at the Children’s Theatre in the Woods may include musical shows, plays, puppet shows, storytelling exhibitions, and other performances that are geared towards a family-friendly audience.

Although the Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts is a wonderful place to enjoy cultural events, it is also a welcoming and exciting natural park in the Vienna, Virginia area, too. The park is filled with hiking trails that can be enjoyed by outdoor enthusiasts. There are also designated picnic areas, plenty of open spaces to run and play, and educational ranger programs available in the park, too.

Whether you live in Vienna, Virginia, or if you are visiting the area, you may want to take a little time to explore all that the Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts has to offer. The park is open year-round. Through the park’s website, you will be able to explore all of the activities, programs, and offerings that can be enjoyed while in the area. Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts, located near Vienna, Virginia, is unlike any other national park in the country.