Summer Concerts – Most are FREE! :
San Luis Obispo County is home to many talented singers and musicians. The active SLO County nightlife, with its many cafes, bars, restaurants and cruises offering live music, allows these talented musicans to earn a living during the year. In the summer, though, they are REALLY busy.
San Luis Obispo County has a free concert to enjoy almost every day of the week during the summer. Many families and couples bring a picnic dinner to enjoy while listening (& dancing!) to the great music. Many of the locations have play areas for kids within earshot – and eyesight – of the concert. So you and your loved ones can have a fun and memorable evening for just the cost of a picnic dinner. (Don’t forget the corkscrew if you drink wine!)
The concerts are performed by a mix of popular local professional jazz, country, salsa and rock groups. You might even see a popular central valley group performing. (Look for the summer concert posters in the store windows.) The usual summer concert schedule runs mid-June to the end of August. All are FREE and very popular with locals and visitors.
July 15 - 25, 2010
The “Festival Mozaic” (formerly the San Luis Obispo Mozart Festival), has also been enlivening summers in SLO County for over 30 years.
Local, national and international performers come to SLO County for seventeen days in July to make beautiful classic music in beautiful venues. (Including the breath-taking hill-top Chapel outside of Shandon seen in the middle photo above.) Attached is a one-page PDF overview of the Festival Mozaic Schedule.
The tradition of free summer concerts started in the summer of 1995, when a few dozen people showed up for a free concert on a Friday evening in Mission Plaza in downtown SLO. Within two years, thousands were showing up every Friday night to enjoy the music and ambiance. Since then, most of the cities and towns in SLO County have joined in the fun.
Note: ALL of the following concerts are free, unless otherwise noted.
** Click on the Concert series name to download their specific PDF. **
- Tuesday
* Atascadero Lake Park – “Tuesdays in the Park”
June 15 - August 31, 2010
BBQ 5-7, Music 7-8 PM
Food & wine available for purchase. May bring own beer & wine.
Wednesday
* Templeton City Park “Concerts in the Park – 2010”
May 26 - September 1, 2010
6:30 - 8:30 PM (9/1 concert @ 6 - 8 PM)
Food available for purchase. May bring own beer & wine.
Thursday
* Free music at SLO Farmers Market Downtown 6 – 9 PM- Friday
* San Luis Obispo – Downtown “Concerts in the Plaza-2010”
June 4 - August 27, 2010
5:30 – 7:30 PM
Food, wine & beer available for purchase.
May NOT bring outside alcohol.
* Paso Robles – Downtown “Concerts in the Park – 2010”
June 18 - August 27, 2010 - 5:30 – 7:30 PM
Food & wine available for purchase. May bring own beer & wine.
* Avila Beach - Promenade - "Summer Concerts - 2010"
April 2 - September 24, 2010
4 - 8 PM
(part of their Farmers Market - 2010) - Food sold by many vendors
Alcohol may only be consumed at nearby restaurant & bar. - Saturday
* Atascadero Lake Park – “Concerts in the Park - 2010”
July 10 - August 21, 2010 - 6:30 – 8:30 PM
You may bring / buy food & wine. No cover charge.
* Los Osos - SeaPines Golf Resort "Concerts on the Green"
June 5 - July 3, 2010
2 - 6 PM
No outside alcohol or food. May buy food and wine on-site.
* Templeton: Castoro Cellars hosts SLOFolks Concerts (charge)
Select Saturday evenings: June 12, July 24, August 21, Sept. 11
May bring food. No outside alcohol. May buy on-site.
Sunday
* Arroyo Grande – Downtown Bandstand – Summer Concerts 2010 –
selected afternoons: 6/6, 6/20, 7/4, 7/18, 8/1, 8/15, 8/29, 9/12)- 1- 3 PM
May not consume alcohol.
Food available on site or from nearby delis.
* Avila Beach- Avila Beach Golf Resort- "Sundays on the Sand-2010"
July 4 - August 29, 2010
1 - 3 PM
No outside food or beverage.
"Plenty of goodies for purchase"
* Avila Beach – Salisbury Vineyards - "School House Concerts" *
June 6 - August 22, 2010 (except none on June 13, July 4, August 7)
1 - 4 PM
$5 Cover Charge for adults.
Must purchase any food or alcohol on site.
* Cambria -Robin's Restaurant (Gardens) Summer Nights Concerts
June 6 - August 29
5 - 9 PM
No cover, but charge for wine and food.
Special winery tastings at each one.
* Grover Beach – Ramona Garden Park- “Sizzlin Summer Concerts”
June 6 - September 26, 2010 (None on July 4)
3 - 6 PM
May bring own food and wine. May also buy food and wine on-site.
Part of their weekly Famers Market at same time and place.
* Templeton – Castoro Winery – “Lazy Locals-2010”
Select Sundays: June 20, July 11, August 8, September 5
May bring food. Must purchase any alcohol on site.
The final concert of the summer is also the biggest. On the Sunday of Labor Day Weekend, enjoy “POPS by the Sea”. This is fun Concert of Popular music, performed by the SLO Symphony. Theme for 2010 will be Latin Music "La Playa".
This concert is held on the beautiful lawn of the Avila Beach Golf Resort, right next to the Pacific Ocean. (Many families wade in the ocean during intermission.)
You may only bring food; beer & wine are sold on-site. (There is a charge to attend the concert.)
Check out our "Summer Fun" YouTube video, which has brief clips of many of these concerts.
