Live on the Avenue
Downtown San Anselmo — Creek Park & Town Hall Plaza · Music / Free / Community
Live on the Avenue — San Anselmo's Free Summer Concert Series in the Heart of Marin
Every Friday and Saturday evening from late June through mid-September, downtown San Anselmo turns into one of Marin County's most welcoming summer scenes. Live on the Avenue is a free concert series that closes San Anselmo Avenue to traffic, fills Creek Park and Town Hall Plaza with live music, and turns the whole downtown into a pedestrian-friendly promenade where neighbors dine on sidewalks, kids dance in the street, and two stages run simultaneously from 6:00 to 8:30 PM. It is one of the best free music traditions in the Bay Area — and one of the easiest ways to spend a summer evening in Marin without a ticket, a plan, or a reservation.
The 2026 season runs June 20 through September 12 — thirteen weeks of back-to-back Friday and Saturday shows. Admission to the concerts is free. The series is produced as a community nonprofit effort powered by local donors and sponsors; donations are tax-deductible and help keep the music on the avenue every summer.
Two Stages — Creek Park & Town Hall Plaza
Live on the Avenue runs two stages at once, so every night offers a choice — or a reason to wander. Creek Park Amphitheater sits in a redwood grove with a lush lawn made for picnic blankets and Bay Area bands. Town Hall Plaza anchors the other end of the action, with performances spilling onto the closed avenue and into nearby restaurants. On any given night you might catch bluegrass under the trees on one stage and soul, rock, or a local favorite on the other. Check the schedule when you arrive — or follow the sound.
2026 Season — Every Friday & Saturday, 6:00–8:30 PM
Concerts run from 6:00 PM to 8:30 PM each performance night. San Anselmo Avenue is closed to through traffic during events, which is what gives the series its open, block-party feel. Opening night is Saturday, June 20, with JoJo Diamond at Town Hall, the Traveling Wilburys Revue at Creek Park, and an It's a Vibe dance party at Imagination Park. The season closes Saturday, September 12, with F.A.T. Betty at Town Hall and El Cajon/Le Minivans at Creek Park.
Note: There are no concerts on Saturday, July 4, 2026 — enjoy the holiday and come back Friday, July 3 or Friday, July 10.
June & July Lineup Highlights
Friday, June 26 — Little Gems (Town Hall) and The Westones (Creek Park), with Luck Lanes bowling in Imagination Park. Saturday, June 27 — The Lemonhammer (Town Hall) and Movie Night at Creek Park. Friday, July 3 — Sweet Sally and Walking Mirrors. Friday, July 10 — HowellDevine and April & Monroe Grisman (The Beautiful Hang Gang). Saturday, July 11 — Bluegrass Blowouts and Urban Outlaws, plus Rec Soccer Night and a World Cup watch party. Friday, July 17 — Pardon the Interruption and Prezident Brown, with Sustainability Night and Sterling the Bubble Man. Saturday, July 18 — Savannah Bluegrass Band and Movie Night. Friday, July 24 — The Treblemakers and Big Blu Soul Revue, plus Operation Joy Lab Silent Disco. Saturday, July 25 — Secret Lives at Town Hall; Beatles in the Park at Creek Park is a separate ticketed event. Friday, July 31 — Matt Jaffe Band, Pop Rocks, and another It's a Vibe dance party.
August & September — Theme Nights & Season Finale
August brings some of the season's biggest names and themed community nights. Highlights include Shana Morrison & Caledonia (August 1), Public Safety Night (August 7), Mitch Woods & His Rocket 88's and Pride & Joy SF (August 15 — Grandparents Night), Black Cat Zydeco and Zydeco Flames (August 21), Youth Bands Showcase Night (August 22), and Star Wars Night with Movie Night (August 29). September winds down with Comedy in the Park (September 5), Moonalice and Talley Up on the penultimate weekend, and the season finale September 11–12. The full band-by-band schedule is at liveontheavenue.org.
Beyond the Music — Avenue Activities
Live on the Avenue is more than two stages. Throughout the summer, Imagination Park and the avenue host family activities including It's a Vibe street dance parties (June 20 and July 31), Sterling the Bubble Man (July 17 and August 22), Luck Lanes bowling (June 26, July 10, August 21, and September 4), art and maker workshops, sustainability programming, themed community nights, and movie nights at Creek Park (June 27, July 18, and August 29). Check liveontheavenue.org for the full activities calendar as dates approach.
Plan Your Evening
Arrive a little before 6:00 PM if you want a good lawn spot at Creek Park or a table near Town Hall Plaza. Bring layers — San Anselmo evenings cool off when the fog rolls in. Downtown restaurants and shops stay open and busy on concert nights; many locals grab dinner first and let the music be the second act. Street parking and nearby lots fill up on popular nights, so walking, biking, or carpooling helps. Dogs on leash are common; kids on scooters are everywhere. The vibe is relaxed, local, and genuinely all-ages.
Downtown San Anselmo — San Anselmo Avenue, Creek Park & Town Hall Plaza, San Anselmo, CA 94960 liveontheavenue.org
June 20 – September 12, 2026 · Fridays & Saturdays · 6:00–8:30 PM · Free admission · Two stages nightly · San Anselmo Avenue closed during events
Local tip: Pick a Friday for a slightly calmer crowd or a Saturday for maximum energy. Start at one stage for the first set, then walk the avenue for the second — the whole downtown is the venue. Check the website the week of your visit for any schedule changes, and consider donating if you fall in love with the series. Beatles in the Park on July 25 requires a separate ticket; everything else in the main series is free.