Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek — Attraction in Raleigh

The two stars are for the music pavilion itself. I have been to concerts both on the lawn and in the seats under the covered area, from Section 2 (front and center) to Section 7. There really isn't a bad seat to hear the music. Of course, closer is better if you want to SEE the performers, but if your goal is to hear live music, this is a great venue. Since it is an OUTDOOR venue which operates RAIN OR SHINE, I prefer to pay extra for seats which are covered, and there are fewer drunks (it seems) in the seats than in the lawn area, but your mileage may vary.

However, the real reason for TWO STARS is the parking situation AND the Uber situation. For the love of God, can't the management of this venue figure out how to optimize traffic flow into and out of the venue?! If not, HIRE SOMEONE because this alone is enough to discourage most people from attending shows at Walnut Creek.

The first time I drove there and parked, we were stuck IN THE LOTS for an hour and a half after the show. It was pure, unadulterated chaos. There was no egress traffic flow, and it was a mad dash by every single car in the lot going every which way but in in a straight line to get to the exit. Likewise, if we had not paid extra ($30, by the way, which is ROBBERY) for the "premier parking pass" AND arrived at 5:30, we would have been stuck in a similar situation trying to park before the show. This was last year, at the Weezer/Panic at the Disco concert: PURE. CHAOS. I cannot stress that enough.

You need to aware that they DO NOT track the number of Premier Parking Passes with the number of available spaces in the "premier" lots. Thus, if you arrive late, it is quite probable that you will have paid $30 for nothing because those lots will be full. This has happened to many people who purchased the pass in advance, thinking they would have a spot if they only wanted to show up in time to hear the main act. NOPE! They paid $30 and had to park in the lot a mile away from the venue.

Thus, last night we decided to Uber to the Train concert, hoping it would be a smoother entry/exit experience because they advertise Uber heavily at the venue AND have a special Uber pick-up spot near the main gate. In addition, on the Uber site, they have a map for drivers which appeared to indicate a dedicated entry/exit process for drivers along with a map. Seems better, right? NOPE! They funnel Uber drivers through the same jacked-up entry traffic lines trying to park AND through the same jacked-up exit traffic lines after the show. The only benefit to taking Uber (or a taxi) to Walnut Creek is you aren't parking your car a mile away, and Uber is still cheaper than the $30 highway-robbery premier parking pass.

If they are going to advertise and partner with Uber, they need to have dedicated ingress & egress routes for Uber drivers. They could accomplish this with some traffic cones and signs designating reserved Uber routes to the Main Gate drop-off point and reserve Uber exit routes after the show.

I will say that after the Train concert last night they DID have a few people at exit/entry points in the lots trying to direct traffic, and I didn't see that last year at the Weezer concert. It only took us 30 minutes to exit in the general traffic, but the Train concert didn't seem to be as heavily attended as the Weezer show. Therefore, I have no idea if their minimal traffic management was actually helping OR if it was just a much smaller crowd of people to gum up the works.

If this venue can optimize the parking/traffic situation, it will be the best outdoor venue for live music. Until then, I prefer Red Hat Amphitheater in downtown Raleigh, even if it isn't a partially covered venue and is smaller: about 6,000 people compared to 20,000 at...

Saw Cyndi Lauper 7/22/2025. Sat in Section 2, Row H, seat 12. Very good seats and it was one row behind where VIP seating was so it was a nice view.

The staff was SO friendly but stern when needed; read all instructions and you wont have a problem. The signage all over was informative in what you can and can't bring in, the staff was making sure people weren't going to be turned away while getting bags checked, gave them plenty of time to bring whatever back to the car if needed. You can bring in a bag the size of a small iPad/tablet no problem; anything bigger must be in a clear bag (backpack, purse, tote, etc.) I didn't sit on the lawn, but I know you're allowed blankets to sit on. They ask you to shake them out before entering. And I think you can bring a camp chair without the bag (DON'T quote me on that, do your own research for lawn seating.)

If you are Coastal Credit Union member, you get to go to the fast lane and are given priority when the gates open to get in first. Just have your Coastal debit/credit card with you.

You can bring an empty water bottle in or a water bottle that has never been opened with you and there's a water station to fill it inside. They have water for purchase but its $7 for a 19 oz can of water so bringing one is the better option.

There's a food court type area before getting into the actual venue that you can purchase snacks and drinks; there's a lot of different options but it's definitely event pricing for food so plan accordilgly.

Bathrooms were clean and there was no wait before the show (didn't go in after). Parking was good, it DEFINITELY is worth doing the premier parking. The show ended and we were out of the venue and parking lot within 15 mins and it was a very large crowd!

Overall would definitely see another show at...

Dear Coastal Credit Union Music Park Management,

I hope this letter finds you well. I am writing to express my deep disappointment regarding the exorbitant prices at your concession stands during my recent visit. As a long-time supporter of live music and your venue, I was appalled to discover drinks marked up by an extraordinary 500%. This kind of pricing makes enjoying a concert not only financially burdensome but also incredibly frustrating, especially during these challenging economic times.

In addition to the shocking prices, I was taken aback when staff members asked for tips after I had already spent a small fortune on a couple of drinks. It feels disheartening to be put in a position where I am expected to give extra money for products that are already overpriced. The whole experience seemed less about enjoying the show and more about extracting every possible dollar from your patrons.

It is hard to shake the impression that your organization is prioritizing profits over the well-being of everyday families who are simply looking to create special memories while enjoying live music. Lowering concession prices would not only show that you value your audience but also foster a welcoming environment for all families, rather than treating them as just another source of revenue.

I hope you will take this feedback into serious consideration and think about how to provide a more reasonable and accessible experience for your patrons. Please understand that I share this with the hope of improving the experience for all your guests, as I would love to return to the venue under more favorable circumstances.

Thank you for your...