There is something wonderfully democratic about music floating across an open lawn. This June, the Levitt Family Foundation’s National Free Outdoor Concerts Month is turning that familiar summer pleasure into a nationwide celebration of community, connection and culture.
Launching annually from June 1 through June 30, National Free Outdoor Concerts Month encourages people across the United States to attend local performances, volunteer, spread the word and support nonprofit organizations that present live music in public spaces.
The initiative arrives alongside the public release of Levitt’s Free Outdoor Concerts Toolkit, a collection of guidance, templates and practical resources previously shared with the Foundation’s grantees and partners.
Free Concerts Create More Than a Night of Music
A free concert may begin with a stage and a soundcheck, but its impact quickly moves beyond the music.
Open lawns filled with picnic blankets and folding chairs create easy opportunities for neighbors to meet. Meanwhile, food vendors, children’s activities and nonprofit booths transform parks and public spaces into lively community gathering places.
Thoughtfully curated concert lineups can also welcome audiences across generations and cultural backgrounds. At the same time, increased foot traffic may provide an economic lift for nearby restaurants, shops and other local businesses.
Through the Levitt Family Foundation’s National Free Outdoor Concerts Month, those community benefits will receive a brighter national spotlight.
“With increasing recognition that activating public spaces through the arts creates a ripple effect of community benefits, from building social connections to creating economic vibrancy, we’re seeing expanded support and enthusiasm for free concerts in communities of all sizes across the country,” said Sharon Yazowski, president and CEO of the Levitt Family Foundation.
A Free Toolkit for Nonprofits and Community Leaders
The newly available Free Outdoor Concerts Toolkit covers programming, marketing and communications, volunteer engagement and event operations. Nonprofits can use the resource to explore how outdoor music programs may strengthen their missions and deepen local relationships.
The toolkit also expands access to lessons developed through the Levitt Model, which focuses on welcoming public spaces, diverse musical programming and meaningful community participation.
In 2026, the Foundation is supporting more than 100 nonprofits presenting over 1,000 free outdoor concerts across all 50 states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico. Those events are expected to reach a combined audience of more than one million people.
This year also marks the Foundation’s 60th anniversary. Founded in 1966 by custom clothing pioneer Mortimer Levitt, the organization has supported arts and culture throughout its history, with a concentrated focus on free public concerts during the past 25 years.
The Levitt Family Foundation’s National Free Outdoor Concerts Month offers a timely reminder that a park can become a dance floor, a neighborhood can become an audience and a single song can make a city feel a little more connected.
Details about participating and accessing the toolkit are available at freeconcerts.org