News Release
April 15, 2010
Concord's free Thursday music program kicks off May 6
Many Concord families look forward to a summer filled with music, family events and the Farmers'Market at Todos Santos Plaza. This year's popular free Thursday Night Music and Market season kicks off on May 6 with the Cajun beat of Tom Rigney & Flambeau at 6:30 p.m. Thursday Farmers'Market hours are 4 to 8 p.m.
At 6 p.m., several NASCAR entries from event sponsor Infineon Raceway at Sears Point will take a lap around the plaza and will be on display during the event.
More music every Thursday
Highlights from subsequent Thursday nights include a Barbershop Harmony Festival June 3, Journey tribute band Evolution on June 24, Celtic legends The Young Dubliners on July 15 and the Beatles Tribute Band The Sun Kings on Aug. 5. A classic car show on July 1 and family films after the music in August extend the fun.
The summer series will celebrate the 60th anniversary of the comic strip "Peanuts." The salute recognizes the community and national support for Concord's "Charlie Brown" tree last December when budget cuts required the use of a small tree in the park instead of an expensive cut tree. Two of the movie nights will feature the Peanuts gang. On Aug. 12, look for "Bon Voyage, Charlie Brown (And Don't Come Back)" and on Aug. 26, families will enjoy "Race for Your Life, Charlie Brown."
The two additional movie nights will feature "Rock 'n Roll Classics" with Elvis, The Beatles, Jerry Lee Lewis and others on Aug. 5 and the Michael Jackson showcase "This Is It," footage from rehearsals for his concert tour shot shortly before his untimely death.
Tuesday music series
The Tuesday Music at Noon series from May 4 to June 29 provides a lively accompaniment to the year-round Farmers'Market. Music is from 12 noon to 1:30 p.m. The farmers'market is in the plaza from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. In honor of Cinco de Mayo, Alegres de Coalcoman brings lively music to the opening concert on May 4. Look for swing, folk, jazz and country music on subsequent Tuesdays.
In July, the music shifts from Tuesday at noon to Tuesday Night Blues from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Highlights of the series include a performance by Bay Area blues legend Maria Muldaur on July 6 and a special performance by the Eyewitness Blues Band, CBS Channel 5's musical troubadours on July 13.
Events all summer at Todos Santos Plaza
MomDay returns to the plaza on Sunday, May 9 at 2 p.m. featuring Elvis show band James Clark and the Jailhouse Rockers.
The theme for DadDay in the Plaza this year is "Dad's Are Our Heroes" and features a chili cook-off hosted by Contra Costa County Firemen in a sizzling competition.
Also on the calendar are the annual July 4th Parade and Festival, and the National Night Out celebration on Tuesday, Aug. 3.
Free parking
Todos Santos Plaza is located in downtown Concord on Willow Pass Road between Mt. Diablo and Grant streets. Free parking is available in two municipal garages. The Grant Street Garage entrance is on Salvio Street between Grant and Colfax streets. The Todos Santos Parking Center entrance is on Salvio Street between Galindo and Mt. Diablo streets.
For more information about downtown events, visit www.concordfirst.org or call the hotline at (925) 671-3464.