Downtown Sacramento’s “Concerts in the Park” is returning to César Chávez Plaza on May 2. Photos courtesy of Downtown Sacramento Partnership

SACRAMENTO, CA (MPG) - On April 4, Downtown Sacramento Partnership announced the much-anticipated “Concerts in the Park” series lineup, bringing live music back to downtown Sacramento on Fridays at 6 p.m. starting May 2, 2025.

Booking major national touring artists, this string of concerts are a staple to the growing music scene in Sacramento.

Following the footsteps of other festivals and state fairs, this year “Concerts in the Park” is changing dates and times of the concert series. Beginning this season, gates will open at 6 p.m. and music will finish at 9:30 p.m.

“Concerts in the Park” attendees enjoy the music and atmosphere.

While previous years have been 12 weeks of music, this year it will be nine, finishing the season at the end of June before the intense heat hits in July. The concert venue remains the same, Cesar Chavez Plaza.

“We’ve been very focused the last three years on adjusting ‘Concerts in the Park’ to be more reflective of Sacramento,” said Madelyn Bussola, Director of Communications and Outreach for Downtown Sacramento Partnership. “We started by adjusting the lineup to include more genres with their own specific nights, bringing in different partners and food and beverage options to make it more community-oriented. It’s only natural that as summers get warmer and downtown evolves that we also change the dates and times, not only to make it more comfortable, but also make it more safe. That’s always been our No. 1 priority.”

The one thing that the Partnership won’t change: the event will always be free. A purposeful choice in an increasingly expensive field.

The 2025 “Concerts in the Park” series will occur on Fridays, starting on May 2 and concluding on June 27.

“Concerts in the Park’ has always been for the community, and in order for that to remain authentic, it has to be reflective of the changes happening within it,” said Michael Ault, Executive Director of Downtown Sacramento Partnership. “Thirty-two years ago, these were a vehicle to keep office workers downtown for an hour or two longer after they clocked out at 5 p.m. Even with return-to-office orders, we want downtown to be a destination of choice, not obligation, so it’s our responsibility to provide an experience that people want to come to, in-office or not.”

The dynamic and high-energy 32nd annual “Concerts in the Park” line-up contains local and national artists including XZIBIT (hip-hop), Phantogram (indie rock), Winona Fighter (emo), Jackie Greene (Americana) and Discrete (EDM), along with popular DJs including DJ Oasis, EDDY, and Joseph ONE.

The 2025 “Concerts in the Park” lineup was announced by Downton Sacramento Partnership on April 4.

A detailed lineup along with more information about “Concerts in the Park” is available on the Downtown Sacramento Partnership website, www.downtownsac.org/downtown-sac-experiences/concerts-in-the-park/.

A production of Downtown Sacramento Partnership, “Concerts in the Park” is proudly sponsored by Dignity Health, Donaghy Sales, Jack Daniels, Bonney Electrical, Heating & Air, Republic Services, Audacy, Citizen Hotel, Xfinity & Comcast Business, and Visit Sacramento.

César Chávez Plaza is located at 910 I St. in Sacramento.