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From the beach to the mountains, San Diego Summers are full of amazing live music. Whether at a star-studded amphitheater or a neighborhood park, there's no better way to savor summer than spending a warm evening outdoors, listening to almost any type of music.
Here's a rundown of some of the best options, many of them free, which will leave you tapping your toes.
When: April 10 - October 30, 2018
The popular Humphreys Concerts by the Bay features top name entertainers performing on an outdoor stage adjacent to a picturesque marina at Humphreys Half Moon Inn on Shelter Island.
When: May 16 - September 26, 2018
The Birch Aquarium at Scripps' annual Green Flash Concert Series offers a unique summertime experience with live music and spectacular ocean sunsets. The concerts occur on the third Wednesday of every month during May through September on the aquarium's stunning outdoor tide-pool plaza and include food, drinks and a sophisticated mix of national performers.
When: June 2 - July 4, 2018
The Toyota Summer Concert Series is the San Diego County Fair's premier entertainment event, featuring internationally known artists on the Heineken Grandstand Stage every night of the fair.
When: June 16, 2018
Lose your blues and find some fun! Julian Blues Bash beings together some of the best blues bands with the best fans for a day of amazing music, dancing, food, drinks and fun.
When: June 22, 2018
The nationally-renowned festival has become an icon for youth, punk rock and skate culture, bringing together a diverse lineup of artists, stemming from every genre, for the summer.
When: June 23, 2018
This year’s BeerX brings Slightly Stoopid‘s “School’s Out For Summer Tour” to their hometown. The music lineup also features Stick Figure, Pepper, Fishbone (classic lineup), Ethan Tucker Band and Marujah.
When: June 29 - July 1, 2018
This three-day event combines the soothing sounds of smooth jazz, a variety of delicious cuisine, and an amazing atmosphere that creates an unparalleled experience.
When: June 29 - September 2, 2018
The San Diego Symphony's Bayside Summer Nights features food, fireworks and fantastic orchestral performances under the stars at picturesque Embarcadero Marina Park South in downtown San Diego.
When: July 1-22, 2018
Pianist Gustavo Romero has become a cherished tradition in San Diego. The annual Athenaeum Summer Festival, a four-part series of concerts that takes place on Sundays, features the works of one famous composer each summer. The series also offers an optional dinner with Gustavo Romero following the concert.
When: August 3-24, 2018
The La Jolla Music Society's SummerFest features more than 80 world-class classical artists and ensembles performing diverse concerts, with most taking place at the Conrad Prebys Concert Hall at the University of California, San Diego.
When: August 25, 2018
UC San Diego URBAN presents BOSTICH + FUSSIBLE NORTEC Collective. Nortec will feature their full band in an exclusive 2018 San Diego appearance.
When: September 14-16, 2018
3 days, 7 stages, 100+ music acts, and many more happenings you'll just have to discover for yourself.
When: May 4 - September 28, 2018
Occurring every Friday night, El Cajon's Dinner and a Concert transforms the Prescott Promenade in downtown El Cajon into a dynamic live concert scene with free rock, country, big band and R&B performances.
When: May 27 - September 2, 2018
A beloved local tradition, the Coronado Promenade Summer Concert Series takes place every Sunday evening in Spreckels Park near the center of town. Visitors can enjoy cool live music while picnicking.
When: June 14 - August 23, 2018
Join the community of Santee for the Summer Concert Series and the weekly Food Truck Rally every Thursday (except July 5, 2018) throughout the summer.
When: June 19 - August 21, 2018
Since the first Twilight Concert was held in the summer of 1983, the Del Mar Summer Twilight Concerts have been a great Del Mar tradition, providing an opportunity for Del Mar families and visitors to gather by the Powerhouse to socialize, picnic, and enjoy music together as the sun sets over the ocean.
When: June 19 - August 30, 2018
Balboa Park's annual Twilight in the Park Summer Concerts offers a free concert series under the stars on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings. Twilight concerts feature a mix of musical performances, including military bands, Dixieland jazz, big band swing and Latin salsa.
When: June 22 - August 17, 2018
Put on by the community organizations and businesses every summer, Summer Concerts in the Park is a beloved Friday musical tradition in Mission Hills.
When: June 22 - August 17, 2018
Carlsbad's TGIF Concerts in the Park offer great music, plenty of room to dance, beautiful park settings for picnicking, free shuttle buses, fun hands-on art activities for the kids - it's the best in community programming.
When: June 23, 2018
Leucadia's Music Festival "Summer Fun on the 101" is Encinitas’ most epic music festival and is free and open to the whole community! Ride your bike or walk to win excellent prizes!
When: June 24 - September 23, 2018
A wildly popular free concert series, the ARTS DISTRICT Liberty Station hosts four concerts on the grassy North Promenade on the 4th Sunday of each month, featuring a collection of popular San Diego musicians and acts.
When: June 25 - September 3, 2018
Visit the Spreckels Organ Pavilion for its free International Summer Organ Festival, occurring at 7:30 PM every Monday. San Diego's warm summer nights allow guests to enjoy the majestic sound of the world's largest outdoor pipe organ, while enjoying music played by world-renowned concert and theater organists.
When: June 30, 2018
The ultimate family friendly music beach party, the 14th Annual Switchfoot Bro-Am features an awesome surf competition and free concerts on the sand at Moonlight Beach in Encinitas, while raising money for local community and youth programs.
When: July 6 - August 3, 2018
Come out to Trolley Barn Park and enjoy an evening of free entertainment during University Heights Summer in the Park concert series.
When: July 7 - August 18, 2018
For over a decade, North Park's Bird Park Summer Concerts have drawn hundreds of people to the beautiful Bird Park setting for picnics, dancing, and enjoying the music of local talent.
When: July 20 - August 17, 2018
Families, friends and neighbors will enjoy a picnic and settle in for free concerts at Point Loma Park. This year's Point Loma Summer Concerts lineup promises to please a variety of musical tastes including young talent on the "Junior Stage".
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