Free Concerts

Free summer concerts and street fairs in San Diego, 2025
Listings compiled by Glenn Tesler
Last updated: April 17, 2025

Pages: Concerts Street fairs Past events Movies Google Calendar
Key: [*] [FB] Additional links

Events are subject to changes and cancellations. Check for announcements from event organizers / venues / performers to confirm details.

Balboa Park Organ Pavilion

Spreckels Organ Society
2211 Plaza de Panama, San Diego, CA 92101 (Spreckels Organ Pavilion, Balboa Park) [map]

Sundays 2-3pm live at the Organ Pavilion, year-round. Check venue’s website for details. Special events listed below.

Twilight in the Park
2211 Plaza de Panama, San Diego, CA 92101 (Spreckels Organ Pavilion, Balboa Park) [map]

Tue Jun 17, 4-7:30pm: American Flyboys [*] (Big band)
Wed Jun 18, 6:30-7:30pm: The Hillcrest Wind Ensemble
Thu Jun 19, 6:30-7:30pm: Full Strength [FB]
Tue Jun 24, 4-7:30pm: Marine Band San Diego [FB]
Wed Jun 25, 6:30-7:30pm: 8-Track Highway [*] (Yacht rock)
Thu Jun 26, 6:30-7:30pm: Lady J & Soulful Knights [*] (Blues, R&B, soul)
Tue Jul 1, 4-7:30pm: Mariachi Continental de San Diego [FB]
Wed Jul 2, 6:30-7:30pm: The Tradesmen
Thu Jul 3, 6:30-7:30pm: Stoney B Blues Band (Blues)
Tue Jul 8, 4-7:30pm: Kearny Mesa Concert Band
Wed Jul 9, 6:30-7:30pm: Crimson Collar (Country)
Thu Jul 10, 6:30-7:30pm: Summer Breeze (60s-70s)
Tue Jul 15, 4-7:30pm: Ginger Cowgirl [*] (Country)
Wed Jul 16, 6:30-7:30pm: Pomerado Community Band
Thu Jul 17, 6:30-7:30pm: Pretending Chrissie [*] (Pretenders tribute)
Tue Jul 22, 4-7:30pm: Julia Sage and the Bad Hombres [FB] (Blues)
Wed Jul 23, 6:30-7:30pm: Bayou Brothers (Cajun, Zydeco)
Thu Jul 24, 6:30-7:30pm: 3 Car Garage (Classic hits, rock & roll)
Tue Jul 29, 4-7:30pm: The Flying Mangos (Classic rock, blues, soul)
Wed Jul 30, 6:30-7:30pm: Jack Attack (Funk, soul, Latin and smooth jazz)
Thu Jul 31, 6:30-7:30pm: Matt Hill and the Black Spurs [IG] (Retro rock & country)
Tue Aug 5, 4-7:30pm: Matchbox Twenty Too
Wed Aug 6, 6:30-7:30pm: MOXIE San Diego Girl Band [FB]
Thu Aug 7, 6:30-7:30pm: Afrotruko (Salsa Orquestra)
Tue Aug 12, 4-7:30pm: San Diego Concert Band [FB] (Classical, broadway, jazz, swing)
Wed Aug 13, 6:30-7:30pm: Michael Sanchez [FB] (Elton John, Billy Joel, Ray Charles)
Thu Aug 14, 6:30-7:30pm: SantanaWays (Santana tribute)
Tue Aug 19, 4-7:30pm: The Marcia Forman Band (Jazz, blues, swing)
Wed Aug 20, 6:30-7:30pm: The New Catillacs [FB] (Classic rock & roll, 60s-80s)
Thu Aug 21, 6:30-7:30pm: Moonlight Serenade Orchestra (Big band)
Tue Aug 26, 4-7:30pm: Coronado Concert Band [*]
Wed Aug 27, 6:30-7:30pm: Matthew Phillips [FB]
Thu Aug 28, 6:30-7:30pm: Whiskey Fellas [FB] (Irish, bluegrass, classic rock)

Carmel Mountain Ranch Plaza

Carmel Mountain Ranch Plaza [FB]
11602 Carmel Mountain Rd., San Diego, CA 92128 (Carmel Mountain Ranch Plaza food court) [map]
Fridays 6-8pm

Aug 1: Republic of Music (Country, Top 40 Dance)
Aug 8: 80z All Stars (80s rock, new wave)
Aug 15: Steal Dawn (Rock & roll)
Aug 22: The New Catillacs [FB] (Classic rock & roll, 60s-80s)
Aug 29: Just Press Play (80s rock, new wave)

Chula Vista Village Walk

Chula Vista Village Walk
Eastlake Pkwy & Miller Dr., Chula Vista, CA 91915 [map]

Sun Jun 22, 5-7pm: Breez’n (Jazz, blues, pop, swing, 50s-70s)

Coronado Concerts in the Park

Coronado Concerts in the Park
7th Street & Orange Avenue, Coronado, CA 92118 (Spreckels Park) [map]
Sundays 6-7:30pm unless noted

May 25, 4:30-8pm: Coronado Concert Band [*] (4:30), Side Traxx (6:30)
Jun 1: Laurie Beebe Lewis & the Electric Underground [*] (60s, 70s)
Jun 8: U.S. Navy Band Southwest – 32nd Street Brass Band [FB] (New Orleans)
Jun 15: Ron’s Garage Band [FB] (Classic rock, pop)
Jun 22: Surf City All Stars (Beach Boys tribute)
Jun 29: American Flyboys [*] (Big band)
Jul 6: Nate Nathan & The Mac Daddy-O’s [*]
Jul 13: Cassie B [FB]
Jul 20: Pine Mountain Logs [FB]
Jul 27: High Tide Society [*] (Yacht Rock)
Aug 3: Sixwire [FB] (Country) + Special Guest
Aug 10: BETAMAXX [FB] (80s dance band)
Aug 17: The Suenamis [FB] (Classic Rock, Country, R&B)
Aug 24: Mirage – Visions of Fleetwood Mac [FB]
Aug 31: Crown Town

Coronado Ferry Landing

Coronado Ferry Landing [FB]
1201 1st Street, Coronado, CA 92118 [map]
2-5pm

Year-round on Sundays, with Saturdays added in Summer. 2-5pm mid-March-October, 1-4pm Nov-early March. Check venue’s social media for last-minute band announcements.
Sun Apr 20: Moonlight Serenade Orchestra (Big band)
Sun Apr 27: Wild Rumour (Classic rock)
Sat Jun 7: Chickenbone Slim & The Biscuits [FB] (Blues)

El Cajon Classic Cruise

El Cajon Classic Cruise [FB]
North Magnolia Avenue & Main, El Cajon, CA 92020 [map]

Wednesdays 5-7:30pm, April 10 – October 30, 2024. Check event website for info on specific dates.

El Cajon Music on Main

El Cajon Music on Main [FB]
230 E Douglas Ave, El Cajon, CA 92020 (Prescott Promenade) [map]
Thursdays 6-8pm

May 1: Twisted Gypsy [FB] (Fleetwood Mac Tribute)
May 8: Full Strength [FB]
May 15: Jesse Ray Smith [FB]
May 22: The Verge (Disco, classic rock, 80s)
May 29: Ron’s Garage Band [FB] (Classic rock, pop)

Encinitas Sunday Summer Concerts by the Sea

Moonlight Beach
400 B St., Encinitas, CA 92024 (Moonlight State Beach) [map]
Sundays 1-5pm

Jul 13: Lolo Paniolo (Luau band) and Kehulili O Dancers (3pm) w/ School of Rock Encinitas [*] (1pm)
Jul 27: Kimmi Bitter [FB] (1pm), Leucadia Battle of the Bands (3pm)
Aug 10: Shane Hall [FB] (Blues, Americana) (3pm) w/ Battle of the Bands (1pm)
Aug 24: The Styletones [*] (Soul, funk) (3pm) w/ Battle of the Bands (1pm)

Escondido CA Ctr for the Arts

Escondido CA Ctr for the Arts
340 N Escondido Blvd, Escondido, CA 92025 (California Center for the Arts, Escondido) [map]
Fridays unless noted

Apr 25, 7-10pm: Tito Puente Jr. [FB]
May 9, 7-9pm: Mercedes Moore Band (Blues) (8pm) & free swing dance lesson (7pm)
May 30, 7-10pm: Grupo Bella [IG]
Jun 13, 7-9pm: Kendrick Dial & the Lyrical Groove [IG]
Jun 27, 7-10pm: ¿Qiensave? (Cumbia)
Jul 11, 7-9pm: Lefty Martin Band (Country) (8pm) & free line dance lesson (7pm)
Jul 25, 7-10pm: Sabrosas Latin Orchestra [FB]
Aug 8, 7-9pm: Nathan James Trio (Blues), Bill Magee Blues Band (Chicago blues)
Aug 15, 7-9pm: Chickenhawk (Country), Whiskey Fellas [FB] (Irish, bluegrass, classic rock)
Aug 29, 7-10pm: B-Side Players [FB] (World, reggae)
Sep 5, 7-10pm: Wapacheros [IG] (Cumbia boogie)
Sep 12, 7-10pm: Los Guevara
Sep 19, 7-10pm: Los Montaño [IG]
Oct 3, 7-9pm: Rey Wolf (Blues, jazz), Euphoria Brass Band [FB]
Oct 10, 7-9pm: The Honey Buckets (Bluegrass), MohaviSoul [FB] (Bluegrass, Americana, Soul)
Sat Nov 1, 4-9pm: Día de los Muertos

La Mesa Classic Car Show

La Mesa Classic Car Show
La Mesa Blvd & 3rd St, La Mesa, CA 91942 (La Mesa Blvd. between Acacia-Cypress) [map]
Thursdays 5-8pm

Jun 5: The Farmers [FB] (Rock, roots, Americana)
Jun 12: Ron’s Garage Band [FB] (Classic rock, pop)
Jun 19: The Tourmaliners [FB] (Surf guitar band)
Jun 26: Love Is A Rose [FB] (Linda Rondstat tribute)
Jul 3: Blame Betty [FB] (Rockabilly, Roots, Surf)
Jul 10: Santana Soul
Jul 17: Private Domain
Jul 24: Chickenbone Slim [FB] (Blues)
Jul 31: The Farmers [FB] (Rock, roots, Americana)
Aug 7: June & John’s Rockin’ Country Caravan
Aug 14: Zeelund [FB] (Classic rock)
Aug 21: That Beatles Cover Band [FB]
Aug 28: 80z All Stars (80s rock, new wave)

Poway

Lake Poway
14644 Lake Poway Road, Poway, CA 92064 [map]
Sundays 5:30-7pm

Free concert. Parking $10 per car for non-Poway residents. Arrive early; parking lot may fill by 4pm.
Jun 22: Pickleback Shine (Country, rock)
Jul 6: Blue Breeze Band (Motown R&B, soul, jazz, blues)
Jul 20: Britain’s Finest [FB] (Beatles tribute)
Aug 3: Pop Vinyl

Old Poway Park
14134 Midland Rd, Poway, CA 92064 [map]
Sundays 5:30-7pm

Jun 29: Gregory Page (Jazz, blues, folk)
Jul 13: Prairie Sky Band [FB] (Bluegrass)
Jul 27: Pomerado Community Band

Santee Town Center Community Park East

Santee Town Center Community Park East [*]
550 Park Center Dr., Santee, CA 92071 (Town Center Community Park East) [map]
Thursdays 6:30-8pm unless noted

Jun 12: Cassie B [FB] “Dream Like Taylor”
Jun 19: Stoney B Blues Band (Blues)
Jun 26: Country Nation
Fri Jul 4, 2-9:30pm: USMC Band (4-5:30), Full Strength [FB] (6:30-9p), & more (2-10p)
4th of July event has free admission but paid parking. Full event 2-10pm.
Jul 10: Paging the 90s [FB]
Jul 17: Santana Soul
Jul 24: Republic of Music (Country, Top 40 Dance)
Jul 31: PHT & The Honky Tonk Nights [FB] (Country)
Aug 7: 80z All Stars (80s rock, new wave)
Aug 14: Jimmy’s Buffet [FB]

Seaport Village

Carousel
857 W. Harbor Dr., San Diego, CA 92101 (Seaport Village) [map]

Year-round selected Fri-Sun. Check venue’s website for last-minute band announcements.

Salsa Under the Stars at Headquarters
789 W Harbor Dr, San Diego, CA (The Headquarters at Seaport) [map]
Fridays 6-9pm

Apr 18: Manny Cepeda Orchestra [FB] (Salsa, Latin jazz)
May 16: Manny Cepeda Orchestra [FB] (Salsa, Latin jazz)
Jun 20: Manny Cepeda Orchestra [FB] (Salsa, Latin jazz)
Jul 18: Manny Cepeda Orchestra [FB] (Salsa, Latin jazz)
Aug 15: Manny Cepeda Orchestra [FB] (Salsa, Latin jazz)
Sep 19: Manny Cepeda Orchestra [FB] (Salsa, Latin jazz)
Oct 17: Manny Cepeda Orchestra [FB] (Salsa, Latin jazz)

The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park

The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park
222 Marina Park Way, San Diego, CA 92101 [map]

Some San Diego Symphony rehearsals are free at the Rady Shell in Embarcardero Marina Park South. See the Rady Shell Rehearsals website for schedule and info.

University Heights

Trolley Barn Park [*]
Adams Ave & Florida St., San Diego, CA 92116 [map]

Fri Jul 25, 6-8pm: Sue Palmer & Her Motel Swing Orchestra (Boogie woogie)