Santa Monica Twilight Dance Series at the Santa Monica Pier

For 26 years, the Santa Monica Pier has hosted the Twilight Dance Series which are a free concerts on Thursday nights during summer. These are great free concerts that are open to the public and feature top musicians. You can bring your own seating and I suggest you come early to get a good spot. The concerts are from 7:00pm to 10:00pm. There is a huge parking lot adjacent to the pier but it fills up early and is $8.00 to park. A lot of concert goers ride their bikes to the Santa Monica Pier and take advantage of the bike valet service which handles hundreds of bikes. A lot of people just bring a blanket and find a spot on the beach and listen to the concert on the pier. Note: no alcoholic beverages and dogs must be on a leash.

There is also another concert series on Thursdays during the summer just a few miles south of Santa Monica. The Marina del Rey Free Concerts feature classical and pop performance along the waterfront.

Concert Schedule for 2011

27th Annual Santa Monica Pier Twilight Dance Series July 8, 2011 through September 8, 2011

• July 7
  The SaMo Mambo
• July 14
  80's Pop: The Bangles and Caracol
• July 21:
  Australia Rocks the Pier!: Missy Higgins and Kim Churchill
• July 28:
  Reggae/Ska: Slackers and Star Pool
• August 4:
  (presented by Cirque du Soleil): TBA
• August 11:
  La Monica Ballroom Then & Now: Royal Crown Revue, Orgone, and Ameera
• August 18: Making Waves: A Night of Surf Guitar: Duo-Tones, Slacktone, and The Eliminators
• August 25:
  Tango on the Timbers: Milongatron, (tango lessons start at 6 pm)
• September 1
  Americana: Dawes
September 8
New Orleans Funk & Blues TBA

As soon as I get the schedule for the 2012 concerts, I will post it on this website.