The Amphitheater found at Chastain Park used to be known as the North Fulton Park Amphitheater before it was known as the Chastain Park Amphitheater. Today, it’s actually known as the Delta Classic Chastain Amphitheater, which was the name given to it in 2007.

It’s an outdoor amphitheater found in Atlanta, Georgia and it’s known as the oldest outdoor music venue in the entire city. More than 200,000 people come out for concerts each season.

The History

The Chastain Park Amphitheater has plenty of history since it dates all the way back to 1942. While it didn’t open until June 20th of 1944, construction broke ground in 1942. Since the amphitheater was constructed, it has been renovated three times in 1984, 1998 and 2004. The original construction cost $100K, which would be equal to $1.47 million today.

The Amphitheater didn’t become a hit right from the beginning. It was opened while World War II was going on, so events were not promoted very well. When Tony Green Chastain, the Fulton County Commissioner responsible for the Amphitheater, died it was renamed in his honor. He died in 1946 and the outdoor venue was renamed in 1952 when the city of Atlanta gained ownership.

The Atlanta Pops Orchestra started to offer free concerts at the amphitheater and an opera series started running, as well. About 30,000 spectators came to the amphitheater every year in the 1960s.

The Atlanta Symphony Orchestra decided to hold a yearly concert series at the venue starting in 1973. Celebrity bandleaders took the stage during the first series including Peter Nero, Frankie Laine, Henry Mancini, Richard Hayman and Marvin Hamlisch.

Today, the Amphitheater is sponsored by Delta Air Lines and called the Delta Classic Chastain Park Amphitheater. It’s home to many events and operates only during the summer months. Shows are held here from April to October with the majority running from about Memorial Day in May to Labor Day in September. Live Nation and the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra are the two largest promoters of concerts at the venue.

Who’s Performed at the Amphitheater?

The amphitheater has been the center of many events and many well-known performers have taken the stage here. In the earlier days the event called Theatre Under the Stars was held at the venue, but it later moved to the Fox Theatre. Some of the top performers taking the stage at the Chastain Park Amphitheater include:

• Mary J. Blige
• Melissa Etheridge
• The Four Tops
• Backstreet Boys
• Tony Bennett
• Ray Charles
• Aretha Franklin
• Josh Groban
• Norah Jones
• Liza Minnelli
• Janet Jackson
• Frank Sinatra
• The Monkees
• And Many More!

Many top acts still play at the amphitheater every year. This year, a number of big names will take the stage including Sheryl Crow, John Mellencamp, The Gipsy kings, The Wallflowers, Foreigner, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Air Supply and many more. It’s one of the best outdoor music venues in the state of Georgia and a very popular place to enjoy a concert, musical or another type of performance.