It’s a Washington-area tradition: No summer is complete without at least one evening spent under the stars savoring a picnic and performance at Wolf Trap, America’s only designated National Park for the Performing Arts.

Learn what goes into creating those memorable experiences—and plenty of other fascinating things about the history and workings of the collaborative partnership between the National Park Service and Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts—by spending a day behind the scenes with Wolf Trap staff, performers, and tour leader Scott Hercik.

Tour Wolf Trap’s performances spaces, the 7,000-person-capacity Filene Center and the charming Children’s Theatre-in-the-Woods, home to more than 100 performances each summer. Also explore the nearby Barns of Wolf Trap and learn how two 18th-century barns were combined to create the heart of one of the area’s most distinctive year-round theaters, noted for its superior acoustics.

Following a special lunch featuring Wolf Trap–sourced foods and honey, sit in on a private rehearsal with singers from the Wolf Trap Opera Company, the internationally recognized training and performance program for emerging opera professionals. Join the production manager of the Barns for a tour of the stage; see the upcoming production of Ariadne auf Naxos being loaded into the theater; and visit the company’s costume shop.

Tour involves outdoor walking (approx.1 mile) and standing; comfortable walking shoes recommended.