PHOTO VIA COMMONWEALTH MEDIA SERVICES Gov. Josh Shapiro joined America250PA to announce the full lineup for the Commonwealth Concert Series, a landmark five-city, statewide celebration honoring Pennsylvania’s role as the place where America’s story began.

STATE COLLEGE — America250PA and Governor Josh Shapiro recently announced the line up for the Commonwealth Concert Series, which will see its kick off in May at the Bryce Jordan Center in State College.

The series is a free, five-city concert tour celebrating Pennsylvania’s historical significance as the birthplace of the nation.

According to a release from Shapiro’s office, the tour will run from May 23 through June 27 with performances by Lady A, Nelly, The Avett Brothers, Third Eye Blind and more.

The series will make stops in State College, Erie, Hershey, Wilkes-Barre and Pittsburgh and is free to attend, giving all Pennsylvanians the chance to celebrate.

“America’s story started right here in our Commonwealth and Pennsylvanians have played a key role in shaping our nation. My administration is committed to ensuring everyone can take part in celebrating our history — and this concert series will bring together Pennsylvanians from all across the Commonwealth, giving them an opportunity to celebrate America’s 250th Birthday,” said Shapiro. “I’m proud that we secured funds in the 2025-26 budget to put on these free concerts — and I’m confident the Commonwealth is ready to put on a once-in-a-lifetime show.”

Previously, Shapiro announced $675,000 will support the series through the Marketing to Attract Marquis Events (MTAME) program. According to the release, this program comes from work “across the aisle to secure $50 million in (Shapiro’s) 2025-26 budget.”

MTAME offers grants that can support operations, security, event infrastructure, shuttle and transportation systems, community engagement, programming, marketing, talent and other essential costs related to executing these events,” the release said.

“Pennsylvania’s deep-rooted cultural history and national significance will be on full display this year as we celebrate 250 years of America — a tremendous opportunity for the Commonwealth,” said Department of Community and Economic Development Secretary Rick Siger. “Millions of visitors are expected to visit Pennsylvania this year to attend events like the NFL Draft, PGA Championship and FIFA World Cup–providing a huge boost to our tourism and hospitality industry. The Commonwealth Concert Series adds to this great lineup of events that will fuel Pennsylvania’s economy and strengthen our communities.”

The release noted that the Commonwealth is expected to be the epicenter of “some of the biggest events this year” as it celebrates the United State’s semi-quincentennial.

Pennsylvania will welcome a major slate of events honoring our shared cultural heritage and history including the NFL Draft, PGA Championship, FIFA World Cup, America250PA and MLB All-Star Game, alongside the Commonwealth Concert Series, the release said.

The concert series, joined by the other national events, is an opportunity to showcase “Pennsylvania is the Keystone State for a reason,” said Cassandra Coleman, Executive Director of America250PA. “Our role in the founding of this nation is unmatched. The Commonwealth Concert Series honors that legacy by bringing people together in communities across Pennsylvania to celebrate a shared pride in who we are and where we come from. We are thrilled to welcome world-class artists for this series, and we cannot wait to share this moment with our neighbors across the Commonwealth this summer.”

Commonwealth Concert Series Tour Schedule

— Saturday, May 23: Bryce Jordan Center, State College: Performers include Cole Swindell (headliner), Gabby Barrett and the Benny Havens Military Band.

— Saturday, June 6: Erie Insurance Arena, Erie: Performers include The Fray (headliner), and First to Eleven.

— Saturday, June 13: Hersheypark Stadium, Hershey: Performers include The Avett Brothers (headliner).

— Saturday, June 20: Kirby Park, Wilkes-Barre: Performers include Lady A (headliner), and En Vogue.

— Saturday, June 27: Point State Park, Pittsburgh: Performers include Nelly (co-headliner), and Third Eye Blind (co-headliner).

Additional supporting artists will be announced on a rolling basis. Attendees will be required to have a free ticket for admission to the events and are encouraged to visit America250PA.org to sign up for email alerts regarding ticket release dates.