Toyota Oakdale Theatre, Wallingford: A Complete Guide

Updated June 2026 · 5 min read

The Toyota Oakdale Theatre in Wallingford is central CT's big indoor concert house. It's the room for a national act. The act is too big for a club, but too small for an arena. It sits just off I-91, between New Haven and Hartford. It's one of the busiest stops on the state's touring circuit. It has booked shows under one name or another since the 1950s.

Two rooms under one roof

The Oakdale is really two venues in one building. This trips up a lot of first-timers:

• The main theatre seats around 4,800, all reserved seating. Every ticket is an assigned seat. The room is big enough for major touring shows.
• The Dome is the smaller room, holding about 1,600 people. Shows there are general admission, standing, club style. Same address, but a very different night. Always check which room your show is in. Then you'll know where to stand.

Live Nation runs the venue. That's why its calendar and tickets run through Ticketmaster.

A little history

The Oakdale opened in 1954 as an open-air, tent-covered theater in the round. That means a central stage with seats all the way around. A solid dome later replaced the tent. A big rebuild in the mid-1990s changed the venue. It became the fixed room it is today. The in-the-round setup is long gone. Sponsor names have changed over the decades: Oakdale Musical Theatre, the Chevrolet Theatre, and since 2009, the Toyota Oakdale Theatre. Locals have always just called it "the Oakdale."

What kind of shows play there

The booking is broad and steady. You'll find rock, pop, country, Latin, and metal acts. There's also big-name comedy and tribute acts. Don't miss "film-in-concert" nights, where a live orchestra scores a movie. Family shows play here too. The building can flex between the big theatre and the smaller Dome. In one month, you might see a legacy arena act. You might also see a rising touring band.

Getting there & parking

The Oakdale is at 95 South Turnpike Road in Wallingford, a quick hop off I-91. That's a big reason it draws fans from both New Haven and Hartford. Parking is on-site. You can pay extra for premium or front-row spots. For Dome shows, plan on paid parking, and bring a card. Lots usually open a few hours before the show. Arrive early. It's the easy way to skip the crowd on your way out.

Make a night of it

Wallingford sits right between two of the state's best towns for food and music. Coming from the south? Our guide to live music in New Haven covers what else is on nearby. Coming from the north? See live music in Hartford. The Oakdale also shows up in our roundup of the biggest concert venues in CT.

Every room we cover is in the CT Concert Center app. So is the Oakdale's full calendar. So is every other venue in Wallingford and across the state.