Looking for ways to enjoy the Pillow this summer on a budget? Not to worry! With a variety of free events and activities planned, there is something for everyone to enjoy. Keep reading for an itinerary of free Pillow experiences to add to your calendar this summer.
Participate in Community Events
This summer, you can look forward to free tours of Jacob’s Garden July 9th and August 6th. Take a tour of the garden beds, apiary, rainwater harvesting system, and pollinator meadow. Enjoy some movement in the garden with a brief stretch and moving meditation, perfect for the whole family!
Explore the Archives
Interested in learning more about dance and the history of Jacob’s Pillow? Or maybe you have some free time after watching a performance on the Henry J. Leir Outdoor Stage? Then the Archives is the perfect place for you! Spend an hour, two hours, or even a day exploring the Pillow’s vast archival collection of videos, books, programs, and photographs. While in Blake’s Barn, be sure to check out this season’s exhibit, “Now & Then: Evocative Dance Portraits by Christopher Duggan,” a collection of vintage and contemporary image pairings. Here on the weekend? Be sure to attend a PillowTalk, happening every Saturday and Sunday at 4pm in Blake’s Barn.
Catch a Performance by The School at Jacob’s Pillow
Wishing to find a free performance at the Pillow? Look no further because The School at Jacob’s Pillow will be presenting four free performances this summer! All shows are Saturdays at 6pm on the Henry J. Leir Outdoor Stage with the Contemporary Ballet Performance Ensemble on June 25th, the Contemporary Performance Ensemble on July 16th, the Musical Theater Performance Ensemble on August 6th, and the Afro-Latin Immersion Performance Ensemble on August 20th. You can also observe The School by attending classes and rehearsals during in-studio observation hours and informal pause-in-the-process studio showings.
Picnic on the Grounds
With 220 acres of beautiful greenery and forest, there are a number of fantastic spots to sit back and enjoy the summer sun with a picnic on our grounds — which are free and open for the public to explore! Throw down a blanket on the Great Lawn to sit among the trees and watch the bustle of Ted Shawn Theatre goers from afar. Set up your spread at a picnic table by Blake’s Barn or stake out a spot by the famous Pillow Rock!
Win Free Show Tickets
In honor of the Pillow’s 90th Anniversary, we are excited to announce 90 for the 90th — a lottery based system in which we will be providing up to 90 free tickets for every evening performance on the Henry J. Leir Outdoor Stage!
Whether you travel to the Pillow to spend a day digging through the Archives, or come up for a performance by The School and a picnic on the grounds, there are countless ways to enjoy Jacob’s Pillow for free this summer! Be sure to take a look at more free programming happening on and off the Pillow grounds.
Written by Megan Ruffalo. Published June 2022.