With the weather rapidly warming up, it’s time to dust off the grills and get into the summertime swing. The City of Santa Clara knows just how much its residents enjoy being out and about, so, like its surrounding cities, the Santa Clara Cultural Commission has brought back the popular Concerts in the Park Series. Once again, Concerts in the Park has been combined with the Santa Clara City Library’s Family Fun Night.
Sponsored by Keypoint Credit Union, Family Fun Night offers family-friendly shows on Monday nights throughout June and July, while Concerts in the Park, although still kid-friendly, gives adults the opportunity to relax in the shaded Central Park Pavilion or dance the day away during the shows. Concerts in the Park start on Wednesday evenings, before switching to Sunday afternoons on the third week of shows.
This year, the combined lineup of shows kicks off with Family Fun Night on Monday, June 9 at 7 p.m. The Alphabet Rockers, a beatboxing, educational group, will open the series. Monday shows continue on June 16 with Karen Quest Cowgirl Tricks, where Quest will showcase trick roping skills. Magic, comedy, juggling and acrobatics hit the stage on June 23 with Coventry and Kaluza, and on June 30 the popular Andy Z, with his fun, interactive and funny songs, will come to Central Park. Newcomer Eric Herman arrives on July 7 to delight with his children’s music. On July 14 Captain Jack Spareribs will entertain with magic, juggling, ventriloquism and comedy, and finally, Family Fun Nights conclude with a bang on July 21, as San Jose Taiko takes the stage.
Concerts in the Park begin Wednesday, June 18 at 6:30 p.m. with classic rock, R&B and soul musicians the Johnny Neri Band, followed by another Wednesday show on June 25 with Mission College Symphony.
The shows then switch over to Sunday afternoons at 2:30 p.m. with the tropical reggae and jazz group, The Gary Gates Band on July 6. Shows continue on July 13 with the Bsides, a 1960s rock, R&B and soul group. Legally Blue, a blues band, will return to Central Park on July 20. Boy Scout youth band The 357’s returns on July 27.
In August, Concerts in the Park continue with The Megatons, a rock ‘n roll, 90s and 2000s and funk group, on August 3. The smooth “hard bop” jazz sounds of Dave Rocha come to Santa Clara on August 10, and the series concludes on August 17 with classic and 80s rock band Daze on the Green.
Don’t miss out. All concerts are free. Monday night shows are from 7-8 p.m., while Wednesday night concerts are from 6:30-8 p.m., and Sunday afternoon events run from 2:30-4 p.m. The full list of shows can be found at http://santaclaraca.gov/index.aspx?page=50&recordid=2873 .
