A beautiful picnic spot with room for social distancing! Sometimes a haven for the unhomed too, so check the nooks and crannies before yer kids do! When its not Covid season, also a fantastic place to go solo, on dates or with ones family & friends to see truly high quality (and free!) community theatre. The Montford Players are a must see whenever they come back! Fingers crossed for next year!

We ALWAYS have a terrific time watching the players. I love observing the ebb and flow of individual participants. My family has been visiting the performances of the Montford Park Players for a few years and one starts to feel connected to their particular brand of demonstration. Because of the support they appear to offer one another and the welcoming atmosphere of the Theater, attending tends to feel like home. Performances are a treat for any age, and vary to meet audience members at any level of Shakespearean experience. Because shows are free they do a bit of campaigning before, between and after sets but never a sense of pressure coinciding. I recommend reserving a seat. Its three dollars to hold your place and the plastic Adirondack chairs are far more comfortable than the ground. Also, there are always vendors ready to deal out tasty snacks and local artisan treats. If your short on funds tho, make this event a picnic! Just remember that attendees often bring their fur babies so guard your yummies or prepare to share.

Awesome history. They had done all of Shakespeares plays. They are the 4th oldest Shakespeare Theater in the USA and it is 3 stories. So much to learn.

This place was fantastic, what a fun night! Just went on a whim, we saw the first night of Robin Hood. For a free volunteer community theatre, they did a great job, very impressed. Everyone was very friendly, I can imagine if we come back to Asheville, we would come back here.

Great place to see fantastic, outdoor theater for free (or for whatever donation amount toy fell so lead to give)! These pics are from Robin Hood: Quest for Justice (Summer 2019)

Great live show. Large, outdoors theater with plenty of space for picnicking with friends or family. Dont be surprised if an actor or two passes beside you or crawls on their belly behind you. I cant wait to go to another show.

Snacks and wine and drinks offered upon entering the park. Bring your own seating, or rent a chair. Very nice show! My family and I enjoyed it! We felt very welcome!

Good night for outdoor play. First time attending Shakespeare in the Park. Romeo & Juliet. The performers were enthusiastic, the audience was attentive. I was pleasantly surprised with how well behaved the children were. Easy to get to, free parking, drinks & food available.

Wonderful outdoor theater. Parking is very limited at the venue itself, do park along the approaching streets and walk in. Very tough access for handicapped. But once youre there, its magical. The kids will love it too.

Always have great shows to watch. Family friendly and pet friendly.

I have been going to the Montford Park Players since 1986! And guess what folks, I have never been disappointed in a performance. We have some of the best local talent and everybody involved with the production gives it 100%! This is a gem in Asheville and for years was our little hidden secret ! As the crowds grow, please be mindful of others attending! This is an outdoor amphitheater and the noise can be a problem. Talking during a performance is just rude!

Easy to find, plenty of parking, well-behaved pets and outside food/alcohol allowed. We absolutely loved the performance! Would highly recommend if you’re visiting Asheville in the summertime.

A cool little park tucked away in the historical Montford neighborhood of Asheville. There is an awesome stage area where they have free Shakespeare plays. Even the trees there have neat little outfits.

Great atmosphere and ambiance! I love that you BYO everything, set up, and watch. They do offer snacks/ beverages before and after the show if you didnt bring your own. You can also reserve their seats for $3 and sit front and center.

Fantastic! They do a great job. It is one of the things that makes Asheville the cool place it is.

Free Shakespeare in an open air amphitheatre. Reserve a lawn chair or bring your own. They serve snacks and drinks. Performance is excellent and the stage is Tudor in design. A little hard to drive to but there is a parking lot. Chiesa is nearby.

Cool experience. Great acting and singing - sometimes- I wish I could hear a little better all the actors

For a small donation, enjoyed James & the Giant Peach late August 2018. Lovely night...

Shakespeare in Love was FANTASTIC! My 14 year old daughter, her 16 year old cousin and I attended and we had an incredible evening. Beautiful setting, great performances, packed amphitheatre on a beautiful night... I cant wait to return!

Wonderful show. Wonderful cast and crew. Highly entertaining. Cant wait to go again.

Have the best time. The performance was outstanding in joyed every minute

Very nice set and location. Quaint but good capacity. Of course its more about the play though. Shakespeare in Love was excellent. Will be back for many date nights to come.

This was such a magical experience. I recommend it to everyone in the area you wont be disappointed. The actors and actresses had amazing performances.

Shakespeare in the Park is never a losing proposition. Most recently, the Montford Park Players adaptation of Pride and Prejudice has impressed on me the creative breadth of the troupe and the delightfully intimate venue that they call home. Plenty of space for the kids to get out their yayas before the show, and BYOB for an al fresco picnic, or take advantage of the concessions on site. Oh, yes, and its free.

Such a wonderful outdoor setting to watch Free shows! Mainly Shakespeare plays with a few non Shakespearean shows throughout the year!

Amazing free theater!!! I frequently go here with my family and were never disappointed, the shows are great, the actors are great (and exceedingly friendly), and the location is great. Whats not to love!

We have been to the Montford Play 3 times this season. Enjoyed each one. Clean and real family fun shows. Very friendly audience too. bring a cooler of food and extra if you like to share with neighbors sitting nearby. great actors who preform a professional act, for free. Turn your cell phones off keep the pets at bey. and enjoy.

This is awesome. They have the best outdoor plays anywhere. Free to the public.

Excellent!!! A+++ I highly recommend!!

Beautiful surroundings, talented actors doing what they love, and best of all all, free to the public. Make sure you support this great local theater with your attendance and donations!

Its our favorite date night! I was our first date and keeps getting better and better. You wont regret supporting this wonderful community .

This is one of the most fun and most creative places you can go, it is perfect for the kids and an outing with friends, and to make it all better it is completly free. But the good seats go fast so come early. And bring cash for food, drinks, and the donation tbey will ask for(its optional yes, but what they do is not easy, so anything you can give will make all the difference in making this beautiful thing possible.

Enjoyed a wonderful outside version of Robin Hood in the Forrest. I only wish we would have known to take lawn chairs and a picnic basket with us. Wonderful acting, great atmosphere and wonderful environment! Loved it.... a wonderful experience for the whole family.

ATTENTION!!!!! All visitors, vacationers, tourists and locals. This is I repeat, this is a must see local attraction that is hands down fantastic. Nice outdoor theatre, and great acting. The actors do an outstanding professional job in these live plays, and dont get paid for it, but really enjoy the work they do. I really enjoyed seeing Robin Hood recently, the show was worthy of paying to see it. The performances are supported by voluntary donations, as well as local sponsors. I also like the fan interaction, you can also bring your own picnic and get a great view of all the action. Theres not a bad seat in the house no matter what angle. Do keep in mind though that there could be a few rude speculators who are inconsiderate of everyone else around them, and who dont follow the keep the center aisle clear rule. Overall I still look forward to returning, and highly recommend the Montford Park Players if you are looking for that one of a kind unique outdoor theatre and live play experience, the closest thing we have to a La Comedia dinner theatre, which the Asheville area still needs Ill add as a little side note to finish my review.

It’s impressive that this company has been responsible for keeping Shakespeare alive in Western North Carolina. So much fun for the whole family, and educational too

Great performance, perfect night. Definitely worth renting the chairs ($2 each) because they are placed in the front rows of the amphitheater. Bring a picnic with wine to enjoy or buy snacks and wine there. We arrived about 45 minutes before the show to enjoy the feast we had packed.

Had a wonderful experience. Saw Robin Hood, and absolutely would go again.

This was my first time going & I very much enjoyed the Robin Hood play! I could hear all of the actors very well and they were so talented. I can’t wait to go again! I think next time I will try to sit somewhere farther from the crowd only because parents seem to not care that their children like to talk (loudly), run around, and stand in front of others while trying to enjoy the play. I understand children have a hard time sitting still for long periods of time but I don’t understand parents that just allow them to talk loudly and stand in front of others making it very difficult to enjoy the performance. BUT I LOVED every minute of the performance and the layout.

Live watching grandmomma in all her plays out here. Some of the best Shakespeare productions too!

Another fun evening...A beautiful June night...A theatre troupe committed to their craft...And a darn good playwright. You can order chairs online for $3 each.

We have attended several plays... and are always surprised at the quality of the production. Every cast member remembers their lines, and entry cues without fail. The performances are performed with excitement and passion.

Nice environment. Difficult to hear to times. A personal mic would be helpful to hear over noise.

I went to see a show during one of their summer series. I was very pleased with the performance. In fact, the worst part, and this is relative, was that the intermission was a bit long. Parking was tricky, but theres plenty if you dont mind a little bit of a walkI do suggest you get to a performance early to find a good spot to park your car and for your rump - places fill up quickly. Also, consider bringing blankets/chairs.

Live Shakespeare at its finest. Being close to the actors in a open air theater that starts off while the sun is still out is a unique experience. They have now performed every single play that the Bard has ever penned. A lot if their shows are performed with a stylistic twist that makes the subject matter different enough that it makes you think of it differently. Recently they performed A Midsummers night dream, but changed the settings to Appalachian in the early nineteen hundreds. I was rather skeptical coming into it, but it was one if my favorite plays after seeing their interpretation. They also have performed the best version of Hamlet I have ever seen. Professional theater companies have failed to compare to the performance that I saw. Sitting on the grass with a glass of wine just made it even better.

Been here many times. Its always a fun, lively and engaging performance. Come early to get a good seat on the tiered grass seats or just sprall on a picnic blanket on the hill above.There are carts selling drinks (beer, wine & mead) and snacks, but we always pack a little cooler of food and a bottle of wine ourselves.The only negative is the weather, if it doesnt cooperate and it can be hard to hear at times, depending on the actor.

I cant believe I havent been here before! Such a lovely experience. Excellent actors in a great community atmosphere. I love that you can bring a picnic AND your dog.

It is wonderful...a great experience every time, I really enjoy it!

Wonderful troupe who do an amazing job. Highly recommend.

Fun outdoor theatre with really good actors and production! Bring a chair, picnic and mosquito protection. Turn off your phones ringer and enjoy wonderful entertainment! They sell beer, wine and nice snacks if you forget yours. Its easy to park and its all really free.

Robin Hood was amazing!! Great actors and atmosphere.

The venue is wonderful. Its hard to believe youre in the middle of downtown Asheville. The trees and relative quiet make for a venue that can transport you. Plan to arrive 20 minutes before you think you should. Parking is free but limited. There is stadium seating (long benches) and plenty of space to spread a blanket. The concessions are all light snack foods so bring a picnic dinner if you have an appetite. Beer, wine, soda and water are also all available. Bring cash, I think they take cards but I didnt see anyone using one.

It was great all people there and stuff was awesome

What an amazing performance of Robin Hood. It was perfect weather and the venue is perfect for picnics and families. There isn’t a bad seat in the house. We’re looking forward to James and the Giant Peach.

Midsummer Nights Dream is a rollicking, raunchy rendition of the Bards play set to hip hop music. This cast is replete with fresh, new faces that bring so much talent and energy to this play. Jason Williams, as director, has given this Montford Players latest production a whole new delightfully entertaining and artfully creative twist. You will laugh, drink, hey-ho and dream your way through a not to be missed night of free Shakespeare in the park.

Nice place and good people

This is one of my all-time favorite summer evening things to do. Bring a picnic basket, wine, blanket, jacket, and bugspray and prepare to be entertained! They do a wonderful job presenting all types of shows- mostly Shakespeare, but others as well. Ive never had a bad time here. So glad to have them here!

Its free and high quality and relaxed.

Great outdoor amphitheater for classic theater and family fare. Pack a picnic and your favorite beverages for a great evening. May-Sept.

This is an amazing way to spend the evening! Come prepared with chairs. Food is available but if your super hungry, i reccomened bringing your own then getting dessert from the vendors.

Great shows. A real boon to our community.

This theater and stage are so amazing, the actors that bring forward the shows there are really great. I love coming here with my family and friends with a picnic basket to enjoy the shows.

What a gem of an outdoor theater in the midst of downtown Asheville. No bad seat in the house. Bring your own chair or blanket. Very cozy on a summer evening.

One of the highlights of our summers! Pack a picnic, grab a quilt and relax with neighbors. The plays are always well rehearsed and delivered with heart and passion.

One of my favorite activities in Asheville area.

Great experience. Kids loved it.Rent a chair in advance for good seats. Otherwise there is a lawn to hang out on.

Such a nice atmosphere and always a good time.

Lovely evening. Picnic. Robin Hood. Date night.

Such a wonderful event!! Great for date night it with the family. Bring a blanket & snacks (some are sold there)

Saw A mid Summers night dream. It was wonderful. My 8 year old daughter loved it as well!

They players are quite talented and the shows are well directed and acted. Our kids loved being able to run around while replay went on, although we did need to sit far up the bank so as not to bother anyone. Due to the amphitheater shape and actors skills we could still hear every word, though!

I was surprised by how good this was, especially considering it is free. Theres not a bad seat in the house and you can bring your own food and drink (including alcohol). The show was really quite good, esp the two leads who were excellent. Would absolutely recommend. Just make sure you check the weather first!

The staff were super helpful. Very pleasant experience. I only wish you could hear the performers better.

Free open air performance of James & the Giant Peach. Wonderful job by community amateurs.

Greatest free show in Asheville. Dont carry chairs in when you can rent for 2.00. Show was great and very entertaining.

Went to the Feast of Heroes event there. It was an interesting combination of a Ren faire and Viking combat affair. The a Amphitheater is small but well laid out with two stages, one lower but adjacent to the other. Entertainment included sword play ala medieval times and Viking sword and axe combat. All in all a delightful evening hosted by Curious Folks and Warriors of Ash.

Cant wait to see the next show. Outdoor Season begins this weekend .

Wonderful time outdoors, a fun play, and a great food vendor. A great way to spend a summer evening with the family.

Had a great time, kids loved it.

One of my favorite free things to do in Asheville! They choose such great plays to put on and their actors do a stellar job of performing them.

So professional and its great that free!

Awesome place acting is fantastic and free

AWESOME always have a great time

We loved Shakespeare In Love!

Damn awesome performance

The best performance ever! Not to mention its free! I hope they play on for ever!

We had a phenomenal time. Last show of the season Hamlet. Looking forward to next season.

Amazing. No other words needed

It was another great night watching the new show, James and the Giant Peach!

We had an amazing time with our family, just get there early because it gets pretty packed.

We went to almost all of the plays last year and a few this year and they were ALL EXCELLENT! I wish we could have made all of them this year but couldnt due to circumstances beyond our control !

Great experience. And I can’t believe it’s donation-based!

Always a great place to spend the evening. Plays are wonderful.

Great place, great people, very entertaining

Unexpected audience engagement, simple props, distinct characterizations and awesome performance with a drizzle of comedy! A must see crew!

Beautiful park, fantastic actors, and a fun time. Great for family too

Great time with and amazing end..here visiting from Buffalo ny with my 2 aunts and uncle..thank you..

A hidden gem. Great vibes. Any excuse to drink in an American park is welcome.

This is a must. Bring your own food and booze and enjoy some Shakespeare in the park.

Very easy access, behaved dogs friendly, great stage and amazing actors

One of the best things to do in Asheville.You can rent chairs, and bring cash for donations.