Atlanta, it’s almost time to celebrate 50 years of V-103!
The People’s Station is taking over Chastain Park Amphitheater for the V-103 50th Anniversary R&B Concert featuring Raphael Saadiq and Ari Lennox on Sunday, September 6.
Whether you’re a Chastain regular or this will be your first concert under the stars, this venue is a little different from your typical Atlanta concert experience. From bringing your own food and drinks to knowing where your rideshare should drop you off, a little planning can make your night much easier.
Here’s everything you need to know before you go.
The Concert Starts at 8 P.M. — Right on Time!
Don’t plan on making a fashionably late entrance!
The V-103 50th Anniversary Concert begins at 8 p.m., and guests should plan to be in their seats and ready for the show by then.
For Sunday’s concert:
Parking opens: 4 p.m.
Box office opens: 6 p.m.
Doors open: 6:30 p.m.
Show begins: 8 p.m.
The venue recommends arriving early, and with Atlanta traffic, parking, security, and everything you may be carrying into Chastain, it's a good idea to give yourself plenty of extra time.
Fans can also receive event-day weather, traffic, and show updates by texting FIFTY to 404-620-2435.
Yes, You Can Bring a Cooler!
One of the things that makes Chastain special is its famous picnic-style concert experience.
And good news: V-103’s 50th Anniversary Concert is officially designated as a TABLE/cooler show. That means outside food and beverages are permitted for this concert.
Guests can bring one cooler per person, but it can be no larger than 23 inches long and 16 inches deep. Your cooler will be searched when you enter.
So bring the charcuterie, sandwiches, wings, fruit, snacks or whatever makes your perfect Chastain picnic.
Yes, You Can Bring Alcohol — But Know the Rules
Another Chastain tradition: guests attending table/cooler shows can bring their own beverages, including beer, wine, and spirits.
There is an important restriction on liquor: liquor bottles must be smaller than 375 mL (1 pint).
And leave the fancy glassware at home.
Glassware and metal cutlery are not allowed. Bring plastic cups and plastic utensils instead. Open flames are also prohibited, although the venue says candles with a covered flame are permitted at table/cooler shows.
If you don’t want to bring your own beverages, bars and drink options are available inside the amphitheater as well.
What About Tables?
If you’re sitting in orchestra seating, you may bring a TV tray measuring less than 23 inches by 16 inches.
TV trays are not permitted in box, pit, or lawn seating.
And remember: this is Chastain. Some longtime concertgoers turn their table into an entire experience, so don’t be surprised if you see people with elaborate picnic spreads.
What Should You Leave at Home?
Even though this is a table/cooler show, that doesn’t mean everything can come inside.
Leave behind glassware, open flames, lawn chairs, oversized liquor bottles, weapons, GoPros, drones, professional cameras, iPads, illegal drugs, laser pointers, fireworks, strollers, wagons, and oversized signs. Large bags and backpacks are also prohibited. Venue policies are subject to change, so guests should check the official information before leaving home.
Parking at Chastain
If you’ve ever been to a sold-out Chastain show, you already know: give yourself time.
Parking is limited, and the venue strongly encourages guests to consider rideshare. On-site parking for the V-103 concert opens at 4 p.m.
General parking is $30 on the night of the show and is card-only.
The venue is located at:
4469 Stella Drive NW
Atlanta, GA 30342
Because Chastain sits inside a residential area and traffic can back up around major concerts, arriving early is strongly recommended.
Taking Uber, Lyft or Another Rideshare?
Honestly, this may save you some parking stress.
The venue has a designated rideshare/drop-off and pickup area. Current venue guidance places drop-off/pickup along the Chastain Park area near the pool, while its accessibility guidance specifically identifies the Uber area on Elliott Galloway Way. Follow event-day signage and your rideshare app’s designated pin rather than asking your driver to drop you directly at an entrance.
One important tip: expect congestion after the concert. Thousands of people will be leaving the park at roughly the same time, so don’t be surprised if rideshare pickup takes longer after the show.
Have Your Ticket Ready BEFORE You Get to the Gate
Synovus Bank Amphitheater uses mobile entry, so pull up or download your ticket to your phone before you arrive at the entrance.
Don’t wait until you’re standing at the gate with a line of people behind you to start searching through emails for your ticket.
Where Can You Buy Concert Merch?
Yes, there will be opportunities to grab concert gear.
The venue’s primary Concert Gear merchandise booths are located near Gates 1 and 4, and some events have an additional merchandise location on the Gate 4 plaza.
If there’s something you really want, consider checking the merchandise early instead of waiting until the end of the night.
Leave the Cash at Home
Synovus Bank Amphitheater is a cash-free venue.
Purchases inside the venue are made using credit or debit cards, including Visa, Mastercard, Discover, and American Express.
Don’t Forget About Water
Guests can bring an empty refillable plastic water bottle or a factory-sealed water bottle within the venue’s size limits. Water refill stations are available at both plazas. Special allowances may also be announced during elevated-heat conditions.
Because Chastain is an outdoor venue and Atlanta can still be hot in September, staying hydrated is important.
What If It Rains?
This is an outdoor concert, and the venue says shows generally happen rain or shine unless weather conditions become severe enough to require a change.
Personal-sized umbrellas without sharp points are among the items permitted for table/cooler concerts.
Check the forecast before you leave and keep an eye on V-103 and venue updates throughout the day.
One More Tip: Wear Comfortable Shoes
Between getting from your car or rideshare to the amphitheater, navigating the park and finding your seats, expect to do some walking.
This may be the night for the cute and comfortable shoes.
Most Importantly: Be Ready to Celebrate 50 Years of V-103!
This isn’t just another concert.
It’s a celebration of five decades of V-103, the personalities who have come through these microphones, the artists whose music we’ve played, the listeners who’ve grown up with us and the city of Atlanta that has made The People’s Station what it is.
V-103’s 50th Anniversary R&B Concert
Raphael Saadiq + Ari Lennox
Synovus Bank Amphitheater at Chastain Park
Sunday, September 6
Doors: 6:30 p.m.
Show: 8 p.m. — ON TIME!
And if you haven’t gotten your tickets yet, there’s still time to join us.
Get tickets through Ticketmaster.
