Santa Cruz Boardwalk Concerts

The Boardwalk isn’t just for roller coasters and deep-fried cheesecake. Every Friday night from mid-June through August, our award-winning amusement park hosts free outdoor concerts, featuring hit bands from the ’60s through current day recording artists.

A concert on the beach is not only a chance to hear great live music. It’s a little slice of sun-soaked paradise, a perfect fusion between natural and synthetic beauty. To look out at the pale blue sky above the deep tapestry of blues in the ocean while hearing Papa Doo Run Run, a Boardwalk concert staple, perform “Surfin’ USA” is to attain the status of a perfectly picturesque summer evening in Santa Cruz.

And boy, do people know it. Although the first concert doesn’t start until 6:30 p.m. and the second at 8:30 p.m., fans have gone so far as to line up on the beach in the morning, just so they can get the perfect spot in front of the stage.

Friday night traffic and parking around the Boardwalk can get pretty crazy, so if you don’t want to miss any of the concert, arrive early or travel by some way other than car if possible — bike, take a metro bus, or park downtown and take the trolley.

Alcohol is allowed on the Boardwalk, but not on the beach. A low beach chair is great for relaxing and enjoying the music, and cautionary sweater in case the wind picks up or the fog rolls through is always a good idea.

So the next time you’re in the mood for music and standards like the Catalyst aren’t peaking your interest, remember to take a look at who’s playing the Boardwalk.