PNC Bank Arts Center facts for kids
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| Former names | Garden State Arts Center (1968-96) |
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| Address | Exit 116, Garden State Parkway Holmdel, NJ 07733-1974 |
| Coordinates | 40°23′36″N 74°10′32″W / 40.393414°N 74.175562°W |
| Public transit | Aberdeen-Matawan (Via Shuttle):
North Jersey Coast Line
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| Owner | New Jersey Turnpike Authority |
| Operator | Live Nation |
| Type | Amphitheater |
| Capacity | 17,500 |
| Construction | |
| Built | 1964–1968 |
| Opened | June 12, 1968 |
| Expanded | 1996 |
| Construction cost | $6.75 million |
| Architect | Edward Durell Stone |
The PNC Bank Arts Center is a big outdoor concert place in Holmdel, New Jersey. It used to be called the Garden State Arts Center. Lots of people can come here, about 17,500 in total! There are 7,000 seats, and another 10,500 people can sit on the grassy area.
Concerts happen from May through September. You can find about 45 to 50 different shows with many kinds of music. This place is one of the top five most successful outdoor concert venues in the whole country. It's also one of two main outdoor arenas in the New York City Metropolitan Area, along with Jones Beach Theater. Both are run by a company called Live Nation.
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History of the Arts Center
The PNC Bank Arts Center was first known as the Garden State Arts Center. A law from 1954, which created the Garden State Parkway, also said that fun places should be built along the parkway. In 1964, a spot called Telegraph Hill in Holmdel was chosen for a new "cultural and recreational center." This center would be a place for music and other performances.
The famous architect Edward Durell Stone designed the building. It had open sides and a cool, saucer-shaped roof that was 200 feet wide. This roof was held up by eight big concrete pillars. When it first opened, it had seats for 5,197 people. About 5,000 more could sit on the lawn outside the roof. It's super easy to get to from the Garden State Parkway.
The Garden State Arts Center first opened its doors on June 12, 1968. The very first show featured pianist Van Cliburn and the Philadelphia Orchestra. On June 25 and 26, 1968, the famous singer Judy Garland performed there.
In the early days, the Arts Center had a mix of classical music and popular music. They also offered free daytime shows for kids, older people, and those with disabilities. Starting in 1971, a special group also held International Heritage Festivals. These festivals celebrated different cultures, like Scottish, German, Polish, and African American. However, these festivals stopped in 2015 because not enough people came.
When there are no concerts, the Arts Center is usually quiet. But during the Christmas season, they have a special Holiday Light Spectacular show.
New Name and More Space
In the 1990s, the Arts Center started to change. They began to have less classical music and more popular concerts. The managers wanted to make the venue bigger so it could compete with other large outdoor concert places. Before the 1996 season, they added 2,000 more seats. They also made the lawn area twice as big, so more people could sit there.
In 1996, a bank called PNC Bank paid $8.5 million to have the venue named after them for 10 years. This meant the name changed from Garden State Arts Center to PNC Bank Arts Center. Some state leaders were not happy about this. They felt that a part of New Jersey's history shouldn't be named after a company.
Holiday Light Spectacular
The PNC Bank Arts Center hosts one of the most amazing drive-through light shows in the area. It's a 2.5-mile drive through a forest filled with lights. More than 5 million lights are used to create over 225 displays! This show usually runs from late November through January 2.
The lights are set up in the parking lot around the Arts Center on a special road. As you drive through, a radio station plays Christmas carols. At the end of the display, there's a Winter Village. Here, you can find a snack bar, an ice rink, and a shop selling Christmas decorations. Some very large light displays are left up all year long. The show was stopped in 2008 but came back for the 2014-2015 holiday season after seven years.
Performers and Concerts
One of the most popular performers at the Arts Center is James Taylor. He has played there almost every year. He is one of the few artists to perform three nights in a row! Interestingly, Bruce Springsteen, a very famous musician from New Jersey, didn't play there much until 2006. He performed two shows that year and even joined Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys on stage in 2015.
Many artists have recorded live albums at the Arts Center. Glen Campbell recorded his album Glen Campbell Live here in 1969. Dionne Warwick also recorded her hit song "Make It Easy on Yourself" at the venue. Parts of Jackson Browne's famous 1977 live album, Running on Empty, were recorded here too. The Allman Brothers Band recorded a show here in 1994, and some of it was put on their live album An Evening with the Allman Brothers Band: 2nd Set.
The amphitheater has also been home to many music festivals. These include The Area Festival, Crüe Fest, Crüe Fest 2, The Gigantour, Lilith Fair, The Mayhem Festival, Ozzfest, Projekt Revolution, The Uproar Festival, and The Vans Warped Tour.
