Best Concert In The Park Series In Orange County
Summertime is almost here! What better way to enjoy it than with fresh air and live music? Pack a picnic, put on your dancing shoes and prepare to spend your evenings with some of Orange County's best cover bands as they play your favorite songs from yesterday and today. Whether you stop by for country night, get down to some oldies or relax on the grass listening to a symphony orchestra, these summer concert series have something for everyone to enjoy.
Concerts in the Park | Costa Mesa
Fairview Park
2501 Placentia Avenue
Costa Mesa, CA 92626
www.costamesafoundation.org
Hosted by the Costa Mesa Foundation, Concerts in the Park is the foundation's biggest fundraiser of the year. Held every Tuesday in July at 5 pm, the event has raised over $40,000 in recent years, which is money that is put back into the community. They also give community partners a chance to meet local residents, and this year that includes OCC's honor society Phi Theta Kappa, the Boys and Girls Clubs of Central Orange Coast, Youth Employment Services and Save Our Youth, an organization that provides tutoring services. Alongside the music, the event hosts gourmet food trucks, a beer garden and special activities for little ones plus chances to win prizes. While each night features a different type of music, this year's line-up includes classic rock, country, reggae and Irish rock.
Concerts in the Park | Tustin
Peppertree Park
230 West First Street
Tustin, CA 92780
(714) 573-3326
www.tustinca.org
Dates: June 22, 2016 - August 10, 2016
Beginning in late June and running through mid August, Tustin's Concerts in the Park feature eight weeks of live bands. The series kicks off at 6 pm on June 22 with Mick Adams and the Stones, a Rolling Stones tribute band, and ends on Aug. 10 with DSB, a Journey tribute band. In between, guests can see everything from Johnny Cash, Beach Boys and Tom Petty tribute bands to special country, Top 40s, salsa, and 60s performances. Crowds of dancers gather up by the stage while others spread out on blankets or sitting in lawn chairs, creating a relaxing environment in which to enjoy some music and fresh air. Local restaurants and vendors will be on-site selling food, snacks and drinks as well.
Dana Point Summer Concert Series
Sea Terrace Park
33501 Niguel Road
Dana Point, CA 92629
(949) 248-3530
www.danapointconcertseries.com
Dates: Sundays in July & August
Held Sundays in July and August, Dana Point's weekend summer concert series starts a little earlier than most. Rather than waiting until evening, head out at 2:30 pm and be all ready to head home at 6pm. Each Sunday, two different bands will entertain guests, beginning with Lynyrd Skynyrd and Allman Brothers tribute bands on July 10. Other bands scheduled to take the stage during the series include the BOSTYX, Peaceful Easy, Fan Halen, Led ZepAgain, Savor the Band and winner of popular reality show The Voice, Craig Wayne Boyd. In addition to the music, grab some food and drink or get your groove on with other dancers. Visitors can park at Dana Hills High School and take a complimentary shuttle over to the park, or ride the new Dana Point Trolley over.
Concerts in the Park | Orange
Hart Park
701 South Glassell Street
Orange, CA 92866
www.cityoforange.org
Dates: June 22, 2016 - August 10, 2016
Hart Park, the home of Orange's Concerts in the Park, opened in 1937 and the park's first concert took place the following year—in the same band shell the current concerts are held in. Their 2016 Concerts in the Park will be held Wednesdays at 7 pm from June 22 to August 10, featuring many different types of music, including 80s, pop, Motown, classic rock, country, soul, R&B and even big band. Their eclectic selection tends to draw big crowds each year and 2016 is sure to be the same. On top of the music, this year's series features an additional draw: a brand new dance floor opening up June 6. This renovated dance floor is part of the Hart Park Legacy Brick Campaign that allowed local residents and businesses to "leave a legacy" by purchasing a brick to be engraved with a message and placed within the dance floor.
Concerts on the Green | Newport Beach
Civic Center Green
100 Civic Center Drive
Newport Beach, CA 92660
(949) 717-3870
www.newportbeachca.gov
Dates: July 31, 2016 - September 11, 2016
The City Arts Commission of Newport Beach will present three special tribute bands on three different nights this summer. The Concerts on the Green, which are all held on Sunday evenings at 6 pm, are held at the Newport Beach Civic Center in front of the public library. Guests are encouraged to come by early with a picnic dinner and soak up the sunshine before the concert starts. Chairs and blankets are also encouraged. The first concert, which will be held on July 31, will present Hollywood Stones, a Rolling Stones tribute band that has perfectly captured Mick Jagger's and Keith Richard's image. On Aug. 21, the series will feature Rumours, a Fleetwood Mac tribute band, and the final show will feature The Springsteen Experience on Sept. 11.
Summer Concerts on the Green | Cypress
Cypress Civic Center Green
5275 Orange Avenue
Cypress, CA 90630
(714) 229-6780
www.cypressrec.com
Dates: June 4, 2016 - August 20, 2016
Another weekend series, Cypress' Summer Concerts on the Green is a great choice for Saturday night family fun. Their nine-week series is one of the longest on our list, beginning June 4 and running through August 20. Although the music itself doesn't start until 6 pm, the event will host children's activities at 5:30 pm so parents should arrive early. They will also be selling food and desserts, and hosting a giveaway on opening night. The series kicks off with two crowd-pleasers: Beatles tribute band Abbey Road and Beach Boys tribute band Surfin'. Other tributes on this year's schedule include those for Elvis Presley and Bruce Springsteen. There will also be bands performing 60s music, country, classic rock, doo-wop and Broadway classics.
Huntington Beach Concert Band Summer Series
Huntington Beach Central Park
18000 Goldenwest Street
Huntington Beach, CA 92647
www.hbconcertband.org
Grab your blankets and lawn chairs and head to Huntington Beach Central Park for a relaxing day in a shady spot. Their 11-week series features three different nights with tunes from the Huntington Beach Concert Band. They will kick the series off on June 26 and perform Broadway classics alongside the Covina Concert Band on August 14. On July 24, they will be playing a special pre-concert side-by-side with Arizona's Santa Cruz Summer Winds. Other nights include a Dixieland band, a Latin night, pop music, blues and jazz, culminating with two weeks of swing music on August 28th and September 4th. The August 28th performance will also have free dance lessons at 4:15pm. All of the concerts, aside from the July 24th show, will start at 5 pm and will be held behind the library.
Summer Concert Series | Buena Park
Krikorian Courtyard, Buena Park Downtown
8290 La Palma Avenue
Buena Park, CA 90620
www.buenaparkdowntown.com
Dates: July 20, 2016 - August 24, 2016
Located in the Krikorian Courtyard at Buena Park Downtown, this summer concert series is the perfect ending to an evening of shopping or seeing a movie. Visitors can also head to the mall to grab some dinner before enjoying the concerts at 7 pm. Held on Wednesdays from July 20 to Aug. 24, the series is a six-week event that is fun for everyone. Aside from the performances, children can enjoy interactive activities made especially for them. Following the first concert - a tribute band to Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash called Cash and Carter — visitors can stop by to hear Beatles tribute band Paperback Writer, an Elvis tribute by Scot Bruce, dance music by The Society Band, a Billy Joel tribute by Adam Michaelson and a Journey tribute band called Lights.
Concerts in the Canyon | Anaheim
Ronald Reagan Park
945 South Weir Canyon Road
Anaheim, CA 92808
(714) 765-5263
www.anaheim.net
Dates: July 14, 2016 - August 4, 2016
This four-week summer concert series brings live tunes to Anaheim locals every Thursday at 6:30 pm. There will be free games and activities to keep children (and their parents) entertained before the music starts and gourmet food trucks will be on site to sell food. Picnics are also encouraged and guests are invited to bring their own blankets and chairs to get comfortable for the show. Opening night will feature the 80z All Stars, an act playing all of your favorite hits from the 1980s. The following week, guests can enjoy Born Jovi, a Bon Jovi tribute band. The final two concerts will feature The Petty Breakers, a Tom Petty tribute band, and DSB, a Journey tribute band, respectively. The major appeal of this series is its location. Enjoy the view of the rolling hills, which just happen to make for great acoustics as well.
Symphony in the Cities
Various Locations
Mission Viejo, CA and Irvine, CA
www.pacificsymphony.org
Symphony in the Cities is an annual summer series that features live music from the Pacific Symphony. Musical Director Carl St.Clair leads the symphony in a blend of classics, showtunes and patriotic songs, but that isn't even the best part of this series. Families should arrive early for little ones to experience the Musical Playground, an interactive area where children can try their hand at different instruments, make a drum circle and learn to make instruments of their own. The director is also on hand to teach kids how to conduct an orchestra, and they are then invited to perform with him during the concert to showcase their new skills. Symphony in the Cities is the only rotating series in our list, beginning on July 30 at Norman P. Murray Community and Senior Center in Mission Viejo. The following night, the event will be held at Mike Ward Community Park Woodbridge in Irvine. A third date is listed on their website for Aug. 14, though the location is not yet available.
