The Koka Booth Amphitheatre at Regency Park

Best concert experiences ever here. You just need to know the tricks. Park where you can get out, not way in the back where you will stumble in to if you don't know any better. Buy reserved tickets or get there before gate opening, and there are two gates, the side gate is usually less of a line. Food is expensive but worth it. Booze is too expensive. You can take unopened bottles of water in and your blanket or chair to most concerts. Get there early, put your chair and blanket down, and hide some booze in a flask or pay their outrageous prices. The acoustics and the lake and trees make it a wonderful experience unless it's death metal, then no, it will not work! Pros: Best food, safe at concert and in parking areas Cons: All traffic uses the same street to leave, bottle necks more

This was my first time at KBA, and it was awesome. We had such a good time...Georgia Satellites, Cheap Trick, Dave Mason, White Sox AllStars, Atlanta Rhythm Section - what a lineup! Strangely enough I wouldn't have known about his if my friend from Virginia hadn't invited me! How can friends from Virginia know and not someone who lives locally? This needs to be publicized more. Lookin' forward to seeing who's on next year's lineup! Pros: Beautiful setting and venue, great music Cons: Not enough publicity!! more

Koka booth is a beautiful amphitheater. I have been to a couple of shows there and I am not sure if I will go to another ""concert"" there again. Who allows the construction of an amphitheater, then books artists and restricts them to a ridiculous noise ordinance? The town of Cary does. This venue is probably perfect for going to see the symphony but not for going to see your favorite artist, not if you are expecting to be immersed in music. Unless you are in the first 4 rows of seats that is not going to happen. If you sit on the lawn expect to hear the conversations around you over the music. And if you are so fortunate to pay extra for the VIP tables in the back, then I hope you are with good company! This would probably be my favorite concert venue if they would just let the artists decide the level of their music. Pros: Beautiful, intimate venue set back in the woods. Cons: Town of Cary's Noise Ordinace more

We enjoyed the rock and roll hall of fame concert on Saturday, September 21. The view from the top deck was great after they took down the tent covering the sound equipment for half the day. It was blocking the stage. I was irritated that we spent extra money for VIP tickets and could not see the show. They did take the tent down right before the well-know acts performed in the evening. The staff was very friendly. However we order some sandwiches and were informed that they were out temporarily. We decided to wait. About half an hour later we were told that there was a mistake and they were out for good. They were running out of food and the show still had several hours to go. We ordered of bottle of wine with two glasses and only received one. I walked up to the concession window and informed my waitress that we needed the other glass. She tried to get it from the bartenders and they would not give it to her. So she called over a manager to help. The manger insisted that she card me a second time. At 46 years old, I am flattered at my age to be carded at all. But this was ridiculous. The back staff needs to get their act together. Very poor management. Next time we will definitely get lawn seats and get our food and drinks ourselves. By the way, after we were told that they were out of sandwiches, we were at one of the top concession stands buying candy and found that they had sandwiches there. So much for VIP service. more

Great place to see and hear a concert. I was at the Rock and Roll benefit concert Sept 19th and 20th. more

Beautiful venue - friendly staff - great sound! I highly recommend pre-ordering your meal; it was easy and the food was delicious. We had no problem navigating as we stayed on the lit walkways. We had lawn seating and took our chairs, but couldn't see anything of the group we went to see as the rudest people in the world stood up as the show started and didn't sit down anymore. We left before it was over as we refused to stand up for hours - don't people have manners anymore? But this wasn't the fault of the venue - although I wonder if they couldn't have asked everyone to sit down. If I go again I would sit at the table area in the back so I could see over those who stand. As for the negative reviews about attending the 4th of July festivities, it's always very crowded and parking stinks no matter where you go - duh! If you're not prepared for that, then stay home and watch fireworks on television! This amphitheater is worth the trip and I would recommend it to everyone! Pros: Great sound, great layout, beautiful location Cons: No way to see over those who stand up more

First visit. Great show, but would not pay extra next time for reserved seating. Seats were much too close together for comfort. Will purchase lawn seating next time. more

Done in typical Cary fashion. more

We have waited years to get here for the raving July 4th festivities. 2005 we finally got there. What a disppointment. We could not get anywhere near the theater. Had to go a mile a way to a business park parking lot. Only to have it rain (naturally on the 4th - not blaming them of course)...but then it stopped and we got to watch the fireworks soaked with rain and a 18 mo old in our arms. But then it was time to go..... We had to wait in ""gridlock"" for 4 hours to get out of where we were forced to park. Why you ask...they directed the traffic for the actual theater parking first and would not let anyone turn left towards Tryon Road. The baby was miserable, it was hot, smoggy, and unnerving. Not planned properly for the amount of people they should have expected. more

Expect an hour wait just to get to a parking lot. Then, when you do, expect a trek over an unpaved path in the woods. When you emerge from the woods, expect a very long walk around a lake. When walking back after dark, this path is COMPLETELY unlit. We had to walk back to our cars through the woods with a screaming 2 year old with no light whatsoever - very scary! The show was also oversold - we had to sit back in the concession section, and we couldn't hear the spoken part of the concert. When we decided to get food, we waited 45 minutes in line, and most of the food was SOLD OUT. We will not ever go again, but if you do, eat beforehand, wear comfortable shoes, and take a flashlight (and maybe a tent in case you get lost in the woods). Pros: Aesthetics Cons: Parking, Concessions, Lighting more

The setting looked nice and all, but it turned out to be one of the most poorly organized and run venues I've seen. Took over an hour to fight traffic. Concession lines were another half hour...when we got to the front, they had already run out of many brands of beer (but plenty of PBR!!), all wine except for white zin (strangely past over by a Cary crowd), Italian sausage, mustard, napkins, and who knows what else -- all before the concert started!!! The website claims no lawn chairs are allowed -- don't believe it. The blanket we brought sat at our feet as we stood for the first few songs. Accoustics were OK, but at the more expensive private tables, the noise from the concession stands 20 feet away made it impossible to hear. We left 20 minutes into what really should have been a great show. Cons: Crowded, Limited concessions, Poor access in & out more

I went to a concert here recently and was really impressed--this is a great opportunity to bring a picnic and enjoy a warm summer night. Parking wasn't a problem at all, and staff members were friendly. Make sure you bring a folding chair, though. I came with a beach towel thinking there would be plenty of grassy spots to sit on, but we ended up on a big patch of wet pine needles instead. Pros: Beautiful setting more