Your Guide to Summer Outdoor Concerts in Colorado Springs

Concerts in Colorado Springs offer everything from fun date night opportunities to family adventures. Check out this list of 6 amazing concert series!

From Bluegrass to Latin swing, there are a variety of local bands that can be found playing during one of the many outdoor concert series this summer. Whether you’re new in town or just new to Colorado Springs’ music scene, here are six of Colorado Springs’ summer concert series you might not know about (but probably should):

1. Summer Concert Series at Soda Springs Park

When: Every Monday and Thursday from 7:00-8:00 PM

Where: Soda Springs Park in Manitou Springs

Tickets: Free

Head to Manitou Springs’ Bud Ford Pavilion at Soda Springs Park both Monday and Thursday nights for local music, lawn chairs, picnicking, and a good time! While you’re in town, be sure to check out one of Manitou Springs’ many local restaurants and shops!

The rest of this summer’s lineup includes:

• July 11—Swing Factory Big Band – Big Band Jazz
• July 15—Little London Winds – Wind Ensemble
• July 18—Silver Moon Riders – Country, Rock, Blues
• July 22—Little London Winds – Wind Ensemble
• July 24—Front Range Big Band – Big Band Jazz
• July 25—Academy Jazz Ensemble – Big Band Jazz
• July 29—Little London Winds – Wind Ensemble
• August 1—Guz Mezza – Solo Artist/Guitarist
• August 5—Swing Factory Big Band – Big Band Jazz
• August 8—Little London Winds – Wind Ensemble
• August 15—Silver Moon Riders – Country, Rock, Blues

2. Hillside Gardens Summer Concert Series

When: Every Wednesday May – September 6:00-8:30pm

Where: Hillside Gardens & Event Center

Tickets: $8.00 – purchased at the door and includes a beverage at one of their three full-service bars

“When the sun goes down, the music turns up!” — Hillside Gardens’ summer music series is a summer staple in Colorado Springs! Bring a folding chair or blanket and get ready to sip on some Bristol beer and an array of wines while listening to some local favorites. You’ll enter the eclectic garden to the tunes of a didgeridoo and wander down an Eden-like pathway towards local food vendors and the drifting sound of live music. Whether you’re a fan of reggae, folk, or something in between — Hillside Gardens’ summer series offers something for every music lover.

Check out the rest of this summer’s lineup:

• July 10—John Booth and the Night Water – Blues Rock
• July 17—BJ Estares and Route 61 – Eclectic Blues
• July 24—Redraw the Farm – Folk and Rock
• July 31—Balanced Rock – Acoustic Rock
• August 7—Bill Emery Band – Swing and Jazz
• August 14—Rick Blessing and Trip Ziegler Quartet – Frank Sinatra Tribute
• August 21—Skean Dubh – Celtic
• August 28—Playing with Smoke – Classic Rock and Blues
• September 4—Boyd Sweeney Band – Swing Dance
• September 11—Tejon Street Corner Thieves – Country Blues and Bluegrass
• September 18—Larry Lafferty and Vehicle – Big Band Classic Rock

3. Music on the Mesa

When: Second Saturday of June, July, and August and every Saturday September 7 – September 28 from 4:00-7:00pm

Where: Gold Hill Mesa Community Center

Tickets: Free

Join the Gold Hill Mesa community for their rocking public summer music series! This quaint front porch neighborhood takes its community events seriously — bringing in amazing musical talent and some of the best local food trucks Colorado Springs has to offer for summer nights you won’t forget. Plus, a portion of all vendor proceeds will benefit Rocky Mountain PBS.

This summer’s music and food truck lineup includes:

• August 10—Davina & The Vagabonds – Blues/Jazz | Food Truck: Sapa Guapo Tacos
• September 7—Mile High – Army Band, Pop/Classic Rock | Food Truck –  Bison Brothers
• September 14—Kerry Pastine & The Crime Scene – Rockabilly/Jump Blues | Food Truck: Go Fish
• September 21—Spinphony – Lively Pop: Electric String Quartet | Food Truck: Potato Potato
• September 28—Brass Authority & Barkeley Avenue – Army Bands, Jazz & New Orleans Style | Food Truck: Bob’s Lobstah Trap

4. Flying Horse Concert Series

When: Every 1st and 3rd Thursday from 6:00-8:00 PM

Where: Angel Mist Park at Flying Horse

Tickets: Free

“Enjoy everything from Country and Pop to Doo-Wop, Blues, Reggae Fusion, and more.” Flying Horse’s summer concert series is bringing art and culture to the north end of town for a summer of diverse music and food. Every first and third Thursday of each summer month, Angel Mist Park is filled with families on picnic blankets enjoying the warm weather and local tunes. While bringing your own picnic supper is encouraged, don’t worry if you forget it as there will be food trucks on site serving up unique cuisine!

This summer’s lineup includes:

• July 18—Slopeside – Rock, Blues, and Pop
• August 1—John Weeks Band – Blues
• August 15—Zyzzyx (not a typo – that’s really their name!) – Funk, Rock and Dance

5. Jazz in the Garden

When: Every other Friday from May 31st to August 23rd

Where: Grace and St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church

Tickets Free

Since 2010, Grace and St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church has been putting on Jazz in the Garden as a way of demonstrating their “commitment to building community through music,” and it’s working! Every other Friday, the church’s Downtown garden fills up fast as Colorado Springs’ jazz lovers gather to hear their local favorites. Bring a picnic dinner and your favorite wine and enjoy jazz in the garden!

This rest of this summer’s lineup includes:

• July 12—Geoff Cleveland and the Sporadicals – Jazz
• July 26—Hennessy 6 – Jazz
• August 9—Air Force Academy Falconaires – Jazz
• August 23—Moses Jones Quartet – Jazz

6. Forest Lakes Summer Concert Series

When: Every Friday from June 14th – August 32rd from 6:00-8:00 PM

Where: Pavilion at Bristlecone Lake at Waterfront Park

Tickets: Free

Head up to Monument, Colorado for this summer concert series at Waterfront Park in the Forest Lakes community. Sponsored by Classic Homes, this live music series represents the spirit of summers in Colorado — food trucks, live music, mountain views, and starlit skies. Could it get any better?

This summer’s music and food truck lineup includes:

• June 14—Cowboy Dave – Western
• June 28—Groove N Motion – 14-piece band playing classic and current hits, Jazz, and Latin
• July 12—Inman Brothers Band – Rock
• July 26—Martini Shot – 7-piece Pop-Rock cover band
• August 9—HERESTOFIGHTIN – Indie Folk Rock
• August 23—Dream Feed – Rock

Food trucks on site will be Kona Ice, Scratch Mobile Kitchen, and Smokin’ J’s Barbecue

Grab your picnic blankets, coolers, and music-loving friends and celebrate summer in Colorado Springs with these outdoor concert series!

Cheers! Your Rocky Mountain Food Tours Team

(So, what’s a food tour, anyway…?)

EXPLORE MORE TOPICS

attractionseditor's pickevents & holidaysgift ideashistorylocal diningtours we've takentravel