The River Concert Series at St. Mary's College of Maryland, now in its 9th year, has for many become synonymous with the start of a summer weekend; the Friday nights for two months of the summer spent surrounded by music, friends, and a sea of picnic blankets and lawn chairs, watching the sunset over the St. Mary's River.

In 2004 Governor Ehrlich presented the Maryland Tourism Council's Impact Award to the college for their production of the festival of free concerts.

Each year the college has been renting a stage for the Chesapeake Orchestra and guest performers, but one of their visions for the future has been a permanent amphitheatre to host the concerts and other events.

At the final concert for the 2006 series, on July 21st, the St. Mary's Board of County
Commissioners presented a cheque for quarter of a million dollars towards the new construction.