The City of Carlsbad will host free concerts in the park throughout the summer at different parks in Carlsbad. This is the 29th year of this fun-family event with the City of Carlsbad. NEW this year are the on-site food options, with new vendors with items like hot dogs, hamburgers, pizza, barbeque and Fro-Yo! In the past we have always brought our snacks with us but this year maybe we will try out some of the new food options. Bring low-back chairs, a blanket, snacks, and drinks if you would like. Glass is allowed at these events ONLY, wine and beer bottles are okay to bring, they do ask that you recycle.
The second concert at each park has fun things for kids to do as well, it is called Art at Jazz. Art At Jazz offers hands-on visual arts activities for younger TGIF Jazz audience members. Instructors and volunteers guide the children as they make works of art in planned activities.
All concerts are 6 to 8 p.m.
Stagecoach Park
3420 Camino de los Coches, 92009 (Get Directions)
June 27 Kelly Rae Band – country
Led by vocalist Kelly Rae performing female country artists from Patsy Cline to Carrie Underwood, the six-piece group has opened for Melissa Etheridge and is the house band at Disney California Adventure.
July 4 Vaud & The Villains – blues and swing
This 19-piece “New Orleans orchestra and cabaret show” presents a bold range of parlor songs, rags and blues, spirituals and Mardi gras classics, with onstage pageantry that brings 1930s New Orleans to life.
Alga Norte Park
6565 Alicante Road, 92009 (Get Directions)
July 11 Mingo Fishtrap – Funk/soul/R&B
Five-time South by Southwest/Austin Music Award winner Mingo Fishtrap mixes punchy horns and deep rhythms with emotive Motown-style soul.
July 18 Susie Hansen Latin Band – Latin/salsa/cumbia
Electric violinist Susie Hansen leads a sizzling, swinging band of all-stars who play traditional salsa, Cuban Charango and Latin-spiced American standards.
Poinsettia Park
6600 Hidden Valley Road, 92011 (Get Directions)
July 25 Liquid Blue – cover dance mix
This San Diego based international act features Grammy winning musicians, a Billboard hit songwriter and a Chinese Idol finalist. It performs the best in top pop dance hits.
Aug. 1 Nikki Hill – rockin’ soul and blues
Nikki Hill’s raw, powerhouse voice with its Stax soul dynamics and her band, The Pirate Crew, deliver an unfiltered energy that makes the dance floor audience believe in rock and roll again.
Aug. 8 Lost Dog Found – swing
This Bay Area band’s combination of jump blues, Americana, swing, rock, and soul blends the best of Ray Charles, Bruno Mars and Brian Setzer.
Calavera Hills Park
2997 Glasgow Drive, 92010 (Get Directions)
Aug. 15 Ricardo Lemvo & Makina Loca – world dance
With Cuban jams, afro-pop and a little salsa, Lemvo and his group Makina Loca create a seamless blend of rhythmic traditions.
Aug. 22 The Mighty Untouchables – cover dance mix
The Mighty Untouchables are a classy septet playing and singing Marvin Gaye, Michael Jackson, Prince, Santana, AC/DC, Stevie Wonder, The Temptations, Celia Cruz, Earth, Wind & Fire and more.
The 29th season of TGIF Concerts in the Parks has received generous support from the Carlsbad Friends of the Arts. Major support for the Opportunity Drawings, which are organized and conducted by the Friends, comes from Alaska Airlines.
Presented by the City of Carlsbad’s Cultural Arts Office.
When we visited it was Christmas time and everything was beautifully decorated with silver and white decorations. We were invited to Breakfast with Santa, and the kids loved it! The food was delicious, pancakes, eggs, bacon, hot and cold cereal, yummy pastries and Starbucks coffee for the parents! It was perfect there wasn’t a long line to see Santa, the kids just walked right up and were able to tell him what they wanted for Christmas. There were also fun activity booklets given to the children and crayons on the tables for the children to play with.
