The first day of summer is June 21. Moreover, the annual TGIF Concerts in the Parks series starts on July 7.
Indeed, for many, the free TGIF Concerts in the Parks are the highlight of summertime fun in Carlsbad.
This free outdoor concert series is one of the best entertainment options around North San Diego County! Furthermore, the series was voted the 4th best outdoor concert series in the US in the 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards by USA Today for 2023.
You can’t go wrong with live music, in a beautiful Carlsbad park, on a Friday summer evening. It’s a winning combination for free summer entertainment!
2023 will be the 36th season of Carlsbad’s popular TGIF Concerts in the Parks series, originally called the TGIF Jazz in the Parks. The concerts are presented by the City of Carlsbad’s Cultural Arts Office, offering a wide range of music.
In 2023 the TGIF concerts take place on 6 consecutive Friday nights in 4 of Carlsbad’s largest community parks. There were 9 concerts in the series in previous years.
The TGIF Concerts in the Parks are popular with visitors and residents alike, and have been for several decades. So what can you expect? A couple thousand people dining al fresco, a sea of blankets and low-back chairs, plenty of kids, and dancing. Furthermore, there’s 2 hours of terrific live music.
The TGIF concerts start at 6 and run until approximately 8 pm. In addition, intermission is around 6:45 or 7 pm when they raffle off a bunch of really cool prizes. Buy your tickets during the first portion of the concert from volunteers walking through the crowd.
Funds raised from the raffles support a number of Carlsbad arts programs.
TGIF CONCERTS IN THE PARKS 2023 SCHEDULE
Here’s the 2023 schedule. The concert performers will be announced soon.
July 7 and 14
Stagecoach Community Park
3420 Camino de los Coches in 92009
July 21
Poinsettia Community Park
6600 Hidden Valley Road in 92011
July 28
Calavera Hills Community Park
2997 Glasgow Drive in 92010
August 4 and 11
Alga Norte Community Park
6565 Alicante Road in 92009
The TGIF concerts are crowded so it’s wise to arrive early for the best parking and for seats up front. Venues open at 5 pm. As a result you can plan on walking a distance if you arrive close to concert time!
There are free shuttles at each venue (EXCEPT for Stagecoach Park), and you’ll find signage at the parks about where to go. Shuttles run until 9 pm.