The Backyard, with barbecue food and outdoor living features for a premium experience, debuted Thursday, and administrators are also looking out for guests on a budget with $30 tickets and inexpensive food items at Cascades Amphitheater in Ridgefield

Paul Valencia
Clark County Today

For more than 20 years, the amphitheater in Ridgefield has been the place to go to experience some of the biggest names in music at a large, outdoor venue.

Now called the Cascades Amphitheater, administrators are thrilled to be offering new premium packages as well as options for fans on a budget.

“We’re constantly making improvements. It’s already the biggest. We just want to make sure that it is the best outdoor music venue that folks have an option to come to,” said Sean O’Connell, VP of regional operations for Live Nation.

On Thursday, Cascades Amphitheater officially opened “The Backyard,” a premium experience area with exclusive food items including barbecue offerings, a private bar, a DJ, lawn games such as Cornhole, and more.

Also, for most of the acts coming to Cascades Amphitheater the rest of this season, fans can get a ticket for the lawn for $30, part of the $30 Ticket to Summer promotion.

One big change that came to the amphitheater this year was the new name. For many years, the amphitheater has had corporate sponsorship. 

This year, O’Connell said, administrators wanted a regional feel for the venue.

“I’m not going to say we’re not going to change it if the right opportunity comes along, but we really wanted to focus on this amphitheater as a central meeting space for the region,” O’Connell said. “By calling it Cascades Amphitheater, it kind of gave us that opportunity to really bring in everybody.

“We know this is the biggest outdoor music venue for the Portland area and sometimes that got missed a little bit. We’re super happy and proud to be on the Washington side of the river. But we really do serve the Portland metro area. It is the Pacific Northwest. It’s the whole Cascades region … If there’s something happening in the Cascades, it’s here. We were really excited to make that the name.”

Part of that Northwest feel includes the murals that were painted on the walls of the amphitheater in recent years by artist Julia Alexis, based out of Portland. On Thursday, many fans had their pictures taken in front of the murals.

The newest addition to the amphitheater property is The Backyard.

Oversized, and we do mean over over-sized, Adirondack Chairs are set up at the entrance. Inside the premium area are tables, lawn areas, outdoor furniture such as benches, and lawn areas. Parked to the side is a classic pick-up truck that also serves as a DJ station. 

There is a photo opportunity, as well, with personalized license plates made up of many of the famous acts who have played Ridgefield through the years. That display also has a poster for the featured artist of the night. On Thursday, that was Halsey, who showcased her energy and vocals to her passionate fans on her latest stop of the “For My Last Trick” tour.

The Backyard ticket also includes a dedicated entry close to the stage.

“The Backyard is our transformed VIP space. We wanted it to feel like that backyard barbecue,” O’Connell said. “We want people to feel like they are out here to have fun. We are outside. You are coming out somewhere to hang out, have some fun, eat some barbecue.”

The Backyard is an option upgrade and prices vary depending on the concert. It is often open 90 minutes before the opening act, so fans can enjoy a full meal and other activities prior to the show. The Backyard stays open throughout the evening performances. 

“With thoughtful touches at every turn, we’re focused on making each night easier and more fun from the moment gates open to the final encore,” according to a fact sheet from Cascades Amphitheater.

While the Backyard is a premium upgrade experience, amphitheater staff also want to ensure fans on a budget feel at home, as well. There are the aforementioned $30 lawn tickets to select shows the rest of this summer. Plus there are $2 hot dogs and $3 snacks available. 

“That’s a really good bargain for these huge entertainment giants that we’ve got across all genres, all types of music,” O’Connell said.

There are new concession concepts, as well, including a Mosh Burger, a play-on words for a Smashburger, but Mosh is more appropriate at a concert venue. There are Rebel Hen chicken tenders and Ziggy’s Magic Pizza, too. There are new non-alcoholic options such as ColdRush Shaved Ice and RiFFresher iced drinks. There is also iced Jolene Coffee from Red Hot Chili Peppers’ Anthony Keidis. And more.

Just some of the names scheduled to appear this summer and into September in Ridgefield: Creed, Cyndi Lauper, Thomas Rhett, Wiz Khalifa, and Lil Wayne.

“Whatever you’re a fan of, you’re going to find an opportunity to come out to Cascades Amphitheater,” O’Connell said.