Concerts in the Park returning to Pleasanton this weekend

The popular Concerts in the Park series will be back in downtown Pleasanton after a one-year hiatus due to the coronavirus pandemic, shifting to Sunday late afternoon shows in 2021 beginning this coming weekend.

Organized by the Pleasanton Downtown Association, the free concerts will run from 4-6 p.m. Sundays from Sept. 12 through Oct. 17 with viewers able to watch from Lions Wayside and Delucchi parks.

“It’s good to see another hometown favorite, Concerts in the Park, returning and indicating a return to a bit more normalcy,” Pleasanton City Councilwoman Kathy Narum told the Weekly. “Concerts in the Park were enjoyed by residents in the past, and it’s another event in our downtown that is popular with residents. I look forward to a great turnout for the first concert this Sunday.”

Produced annually by the PDA, typically on Friday nights during the summer months, the Concerts in the Park series was canceled in 2020 like many other large public events in Pleasanton and the rest of the Bay Area due to the COVID-19 pandemic and associated health guidelines.

New PDA Executive Director Zac Grant said he knew the fate of Concerts in the Park for 2021 has been at the front of many residents’ minds, and the organization had been working hard to solidify an answer.

“Since my arrival in May, the No. 1 question I’ve fielded has been, ‘When will PDA bring back the Concerts?’ Grant told the Weekly. “For so long, due to lockdowns and financial limits, we simply did not know. Sundays this fall, we have an answer 100% thanks to our generous full season sponsors.”

“For over 30 years, Concerts in the Park brought Pleasanton residents, neighbors and visitors together downtown,” added Terri Terry, PDA board president and owner of the Cellar Door.

“The outcry is crystal clear, Pleasanton wants their Concerts back. We are fired up to have one of our all-time favorite bands, Public Eye, leading off the 2021 series,” Terry said.

A local band known for performing high-energy hits, Public Eye will kick off the 2021 series on Sunday (Sept. 12). Public Eye has been a staple at Concerts in the Park in previous years, including performing at the special Pleasanton 125th Anniversary show in 2019.

The rest of the 2021 lineup announced so far will be Dustbowl Travelers on Sept. 19, AXL/DC on Sept. 26 and Jeff Ricketts and the Dirt Road Band on Oct. 3. The final two acts are expected to be unveiled soon.

Performers will take the stage at Lions Wayside Park at the corner of First and Neal streets. Like in past years, admission is free and attendees can set out blankets and chairs in either Lions Wayside or Delucchi parks to watch the concerts while enjoying food and drink to-go from downtown restaurants or brought from home.

Blankets or chairs can be put out at people’s own risk starting at 7 a.m. on concert day. PDA officials reminded residents that they cannot use rocks to hold down blankets because of potential damage to lawn-mowing equipment, and the use of plastic tarps, which can burn the grass, is also prohibited.

Neal Street will be closed to vehicular traffic between Lions Wayside and Delucchi parks to allow for a safer concert experience from 3-7 p.m. on concert Sundays, according to PDA officials. The parks will close promptly at 7 p.m. coinciding with the opening of Neal Street.

The 2021 Concerts in the Park series is sponsored by Alameda County Fair, Goodguys Rod & Custom Association, Iron Horse Real Estate & Home Decor, Marina Plumbing Company, Pleasanton Farmers’ Market, Pleasanton Garbage Service and Visit Tri-Valley.