Pacific Beach Town Council’s largest annual event, Concerts on the Green in Kate Sessions Memorial Park, is back again this year bigger and better than ever with live local music and a fifth concert on Sundays from July 21 to Aug. 18.
“Concerts on the Green is a world-class event attracting thousands of visitors, everyone from local families to young adults, seniors, and tourists from all over,” said PBTC president Charlie Nieto. “We are proud to organize this culturally significant event in Pacific Beach for everyone, completely admission-free. It is one major way that our community can highlight and support artists from all over San Diego, and truly demonstrate what our community has for everyone to enjoy.”
Nieto pointed out that the innovative staging layout for Concerts on the Green “fully utilizes one of our City’s most unique assets: Kate Sessions Park.” He added that, by placing the concert’s main stage at the bottom of the hill, “guests can enjoy the venue as a natural amphitheater enabling them to gaze upon our beautiful City skyline at sunset.”
Concerning parking, to accommodate the large number of guests entertained, and to combat Kate Session’s limited number of parking spaces, Nieto noted: “We have partnered with King’s Cross Church and the Beach Bug Shuttle to provide complimentary self-parking near the park, with a free shuttle service to-and-fro.”
Nieto said a major effort is being made this year to expand the PBTC summer concert series to appeal to a broad cross-section of locals and tourists alike.
“We printed thousands of fliers and posted them around town in hotels we’re partnering with to reach tourists and to market to other parts of San Diego,” he said adding, “We’re partnering with both the Beach Bug and King’s Cross Church (4747 Soledad Mountain Road) to solve the issue of making concerts at Kate Sessions more accessible.”
Concerning vendors furnishing refreshments, Nieto said, “The idea is to support local businesses and not have competition between them.” He added community- and public-education booths will be located at the top of the hill in the park.
New this year will be multiple bands – Slack Key ‘Ohana, Kela Sako, Jonny Tarr, and Sandollar –
playing in the Pacific Records Showcase on July 21. “It will be our big kick-off for the year, five different artists playing in one night throughout the whole evening,” said Nieto. “Each of the concerts will have its flavor. We’re proud to be able to provide this experience.”
Family-friendly Concerts on the Green concerts will have plenty of room for people young and old to dance. Nieto said the site logistics create an amphitheater with a “scenic relaxed environment” in which people can spread out their blankets and chairs while furnishing ample space to dance. “This year we’ll also be growing out our little kid’s corner at the bottom of the hill next to the stage with fun activities like cornhole, temporary tattoos, and beach balls that can be inflated and moved throughout the audience,” said Nieto.
PBTC is also asking concertgoers to be respectful of Kate Sessions Park. “We want to leave the park in the same shape, or better, than we found it,” said Nieto. “We’re asking people to put their recyclables and trash in cans throughout the park.”
CONCERTS ON THE GREEN
Where: Kate Sessions Memorial Park, 5115 Soledad Road.
When: 4-7 p.m.
Sunday, July 21 – Pacific Records Showcase: Slack Key ‘Ohana, Kela Sako, Jonny Tarr, and Sandollar.
Sunday, July 28 – That Beatles Band.
Sunday, Aug. 4 – Gilligan’s Island.
Sunday, Aug. 11 – The Monsteras.
Sunday, Aug. 18 – Platinum Beat.
Sponsors making it possible: Fitness West, Filippi’s Pizza Grotto, The Whaling Bar, Captain’s Quarters, County of San Diego, and the San Diego Arts & Culture Commission.
Visit pbtowncouncil.org/concerts-on-the-green/ for more information.
