PNC Bank Arts Center

PNC Bank Arts Center has been a New Jersey summer-concert institution since 1968, when it opened as the Garden State Arts Center. The circular pavilion and broad lawn sit in a wooded setting beside the Garden State Parkway, giving the venue a distinctly different feel from the New York arenas just to the north.

PNC Bank Arts Center is a drive-first venue off the Garden State Parkway. Enter early enough to avoid the largest pre-show backup and follow the parking route tied to your ticket or pass. There is no useful walk-in neighborhood around the venue.

Check the specific PNC Bank Arts Center event page—not an old social post—for the active bag rule. Bring only essentials unless the venue explicitly allows a larger or clear bag for that performance.

This is a drive-first venue, and the Garden State Parkway can back up well before doors. Arrive early enough to settle into the lots rather than joining the last traffic wave. Lawn nights can cool off after sunset, especially when the afternoon has been hot.