Music

The Yakima Valley entertainment scene offers a little bit of everything, from rock and blues bands to folk and bluegrass to classical.

The Capitol Theatre and The Seasons Performance Hall host regular musical performances throughout the year, while the Yakima Valley SunDome has played host to a variety of national acts over the years.

Classical music fans always enjoy the renowned Yakima Symphony Orchestra — one of the best smalltown symphonies anywhere — which performs at the historic Capitol Theatre on South Third Street.

Outdoor music is equally popular around the Valley, with a growing number of festivals such as Roots & Vines dotting the calendar in recent years.

Local festivals like Nile Valley Days and the Yakima Folklife Festival also bring in some top talent from around the region, including many bands from the Valley.

The annual Roots & Vines festival is typically held in May, but this year’s event has been canceled due to the coronavirus.

The Yakima Folklife Festival is held each July at Franklin Park and Yakima Valley Museum in Yakima. It features some 50 performance acts over two days, with some of the top musicians also performing at downtown venues in the evening.

Events feature vendors selling food and crafts and other activities.

Check out yakimafolklife.org to see what’s on the schedule for this year.

Downtown Yakima is also a hotbed for local music during the summer, with live music at restaurants and wineries during the First Friday celebrations each month.

Another popular event in recent years has been Downtown Summer Nights, a series of free concerts Thursday nights at the plaza on Fourth Street behind the Capitol Theatre.

The Franklin Park amphitheater is one more place to catch free, familyfriendly show during the summer. Drop by the park on Friday evenings in July and August to see who’s playing.

Next up is the Fresh Hop Ale Festival downtown on Oct. 5, featuring music, food and dozens of fresh local craft brews and ciders.

On a more classical note, the Yakima Symphony Orchestra — led by Conductor Lawrence Golan —

performs in the fall, winter and spring, bringing in acclaimed guest artists for a classical series as well as a pops series.

Visit ysomusic.org for schedules and information.

The Capitol Theatre presents its own schedule of musical acts, both in the main theater and also in its attached 4th Street Theatre. Highlights include a Broadway series of touring musicals. See capitoltheatre.org.

Also in downtown Yakima, The Seasons Performance Hall occasionally hosts jazz, classical, rock and other styles of touring musicians in a casual setting with great acoustics.

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