Unforgettable Nights at Alpine Valley: A Concert Lover’s Paradise
If you’re a fan of live music, I don’t think that there is a better place to see a band than Alpine Valley Music Theatre. On our recent trip to Milwaukee, Dave Matthews Band was in town. Dave Matthews Band is a frequent visitor to Alpine Valley, but I haven’t seen him play there in probably fifteen years. When I was in high school, I used to go every summer to see DMB at Alpine Valley. The venue and concert sure brought back some great memories and still ranks as my favorite concert venue.
History and Location
Alpine Valley Music Theatre is a 37k capacity amphitheater located in East Troy, Wisconsin. It was built in 1977 and has played host to many concerts and music festivals over the years. It features 7,500 seats and a large lawn. Madison, Milwaukee, and Chicago are all about equidistant from Alpine Valley, so it draws a wide regional audience.
The Location of Alpine valley is what I find part of the charm of the place. Alpine Valley is located off County Highway D in East Troy, Wisconsin. In the parking lot, which is just large grass fields, if you look around you find yourself among farms and farm fields. You really feel like you are in the middle of nowhere. The lack of cell service confirms that. I was able to text, but I couldn’t look up anything on my phone.
Parking and Tailgating
As stated above the parking lots are just large grass fields. The website states that the gates to the lots open three hours prior to the scheduled start of the concert. We showed up around 3:30pm for a 7pm show and there were already plenty of people in the lots. We were the last car parked in the second row of cars.
Once we were parked it was time to get the party started. We unloaded the car and set up our tailgate. It was just Heidi and I, so we didn’t have the largest of spreads, but more than enough food and drinks for the two of us. What we quickly found out is that it was hot. I would highly recommend an easy up canopy to provide some shade. Luckily, we were so close to the front of our lot, we moved our tailgate up to the row of trees that were providing the only shade around. We would not be the only ones to do this as the temps were in the mid 80’s.
Tailgating at Alpine Valley is one of the reasons why I love the place so much. Everyone is there to have a good time and the people you meet are always friendly. Its just one large party. Heidi and I took a walk all the way up to the VIP parking, checking out different tailgates as we went along. If you have never been to a concert at Alpine Valley, you must go and you must tailgate.
Venue
The stage is set at the bottom of a hill with covered seating in front of the stage. Behind the covered seating, is the law seating. The hill can be quite steep, and it provides for great sightlines to the stage so anywhere you stand you should have a good view of the stage. There are 3 screens one above each covered section of seating providing live shots of the concert for the guests in the lawn seating. I’ve sat up close in the covered seating and in the lawn. I much prefer the law seating to the covered seating. It’s different atmosphere being back in the lawn than in the assigned seats.
If you are back in the lawn seats, you will be seated high enough on the hill to see past the stage itself. The stage is surrounded by tree covered hills that provide the best surroundings for any outdoor concert venue that I have been to.
There are plenty of concessions scattered about with food ranging from BBQ to Pizza. They even have beer vendors that pass through the lawn, so you might not even have to leave your spot to get another beverage. Since we tailgated, I didn’t try any of the food but there were plenty of options.
Conclusion
Alpine Valley Music Theatre stands out as a premier destination for live music enthusiasts. Its unique blend of scenic beauty, welcoming atmosphere, and excellent facilities makes it a cherished spot for concert-goers. The memories of past visits, like seeing Dave Matthews Band during my high school years, coupled with the incredible experience of tailgating and enjoying music amidst the serene backdrop of East Troy, Wisconsin, highlight why this venue remains my all-time favorite. Whether you’re reliving nostalgic moments or creating new ones, Alpine Valley promises an unforgettable experience that truly captures the magic of live music. If you haven’t yet experienced a concert here, make sure to add it to your list—it’s an adventure you won’t want to miss.
