Summer 2026 is flying by, and Los Gatos is having a season of music to remember! The last couple of years have transformed Los Gatos’ free music scene, with some favorites returning and new events to look forward to, while others have taken their last bow.
The staples of Los Gatos’ summer music scene, Jazz on the Plazz and Music in the Park, are back with performances from long-time favorites. Knowing that you are as excited about these as I am, I have compiled a calendar of free outdoor music events for us all! (Not all artists and schedules have been announced, so please check the official event websites for the latest news).
Below please find a compilation of the 2 different Los Gatos free musical concert series, 2 festivals with live performances, and a few one-day events featuring local bands. As always, the information below is believed to be reliable, but as with any concert or outdoors event it may be subject to change, so double check the website (and the weather) prior to going and always read the rules, especially if you plan to picnic. Hope to see you there!
Note: This post is often updated twice in the season, once before all bands are announced, and again with the complete lineups for all of the events mid-season. Some events have now passed, but there’s still plenty more coming. We’ll see you there!
2026 Summer Concert Series: Free Music and Fun in Los Gatos
If you enjoyed The Promenade of previous years, check out the newest event in town!
This year the Town of Los Gatos adopted a new ordinance to establish an Entertainment Zone, and your first opportunity to enjoy it is at the first ever GOLD Thursday on May 7, 2026!
The Entertainment Zone allows businesses operating in the C-2 Downtown Zone with appropriate permits to sell alcohol to patrons who may carry their beverage out within the Entertainment Zone during Town approved and permitted Special Events. So 21+ adults can grab a sip and wander the event to enjoy shopping, dining, music and more!
GOLD Thursday
GOLD Thursday (#GOLDThursday) is the latest addition to the lineup of summer entertainment here in beautiful Los Gatos, and will continue on the first Thursday of the month from now through October. In addition to extended hours and Entertainment Zone drinks, there will be live music and entertainment and special promotions.
Event-specific offers, as well as year-round promotions, can be accessed through the Los Gatos Perks Pass on your phone, no app required.
The Chamber of Commerce calendar details state the event runs from noon to 10pm, but some businesses may offer all-day perks. Live music and entertainment are scheduled from 5pm to 8pm. See you there!
Two of the best attended and most celebrated holiday events in town are the Los Gatos tree lighting or Los Gatos Winter Celebration and the parade, both of which usually happen the first weekend in December (very few exceptions over the years). Plus we have the trolley rides again this year!
Annual Los Gatos Tree Lighting
This year, the Los Gatos Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony will take place Friday, December 5th, at the Town Plaza Park (located at Main & Santa Cruz).
Per the town’s website: The event will begin at 5:00 p.m. with the lighting at 6:00 p.m. and festivities continue until 7:00 p.m. There will be live music (featuring performers from Fisher Middle School and The Harker School), a light show, balloon artists, and a visit from Santa.
Normally there are snacks for sale and live music plays from local schools or from professional musicians. There aren’t many details on the town’s webpage, but no matter what, it is sure to be a very joyful event.
The 69th Annual Los Gatos Children’s Christmas/Holidays Parade!
On the morning following the tree lighting, return to the downtown area to watch the annual Los Gatos Children’s Christmas/Holiday Parade travel down E Main Street and N Santa Cruz Avenue.
(August 1, 2025) After a short 2 year run, it looks like the Sounds of Summer Music Festival has had it’s last bow. As of 2025 June has come and gone with no updates. You can still see traces of it on the Jazz on the Plazz website, but the one-day event appears to be gone for good. The article below is an archive of our post from 2024 for those curious about the festival:
This will take place Saturday, June 22, 2024, from 12 pm noon to “dark” in downtown Los Gatos at the Los Gatos Town Plaza. Four bands will be performing:
Recently a friend and I enjoyed a patio lunch at Los Gatos Parkside restaurant. It’s been open almost 18 months and I’ve been wanting to eat there ever since I heard that they have a focus on locally sourced, organic food. It did not disappoint!
Our lunch experience
It was a pleasant spring day and we had a comfortable temperature for savoring a meal outdoors.
The patio was comfortably furnished and included heaters and sun shades, making it ideal for most weather conditions short of bad wind or rain.
The tables were spaced far enough apart that it didn’t feel crowded. The service was good, but not intrusive. We had plenty of time to peruse the offerings but didn’t wait when it was time to order.
What about the food? The Los Gatos Parkside lunch menu, which can be seen online, offers a nice variety of menu items from casual to elegant, including sandwiches (including burgers and wraps), five different salads, skewers, pasta, plus a generous assortment of appetizers.
I opted for the crabcakes, which were listed under “this and that” but which did include a small green salad with a few grapefruit chunks on top, and that made a perfect meal for me. My friend had a grain bowl. Both of them were delicious.
The presentation of each was also beautiful. In retrospect, I should have taken a photo, but it was so yummy looking that I dove in rather than pause long enough to shoot a pic.
We didn’t spend any time indoors – I just popped my head in to let the hostess know that we were there for our reservation. Their website states that they have room for private events. That would be a treat!
Los Gatos Parkside location
This restaurant is located the Los Gatos downtown historic district, in the spot once occupied by the Boulanger, right at the corner of West Main and Montebello Way, near the main post office. It’s aptly named as an eatery directly across the street from the Town Plaza Park, and facing the year round Sunday Farmer’s Market. The address is 145 W Main St Los Gatos CA, 95030.
They are open 7 days per week. You can check their current hours on the restaurant’s Contact page. You will find them on the bottom right of that page.
Other things to know
This is an upscale restaurant with table service, excellent food, and attentive service. The prices reflect that situation.
They DO take reservations, even for the patio!
Dogs appear to be welcome on the patio. We saw well behaved canines and their people enjoying a meal out of doors, too.
Parking in downtown can be a challenge at times, and this will be even more true on Sundays during the Farmers Market. My friend and I were there on a Friday, meeting at 12:30, and it took me 10 minutes to land a parking space. Please allow plenty of time. When I was there for this luncheon, the Montebello lot was full and the newer part of Old Town’s underground lot was almost entirely full – it was highly competitive. Fridays and weekends are harder than other days of the week.
They sometimes offer special menus for holidays. As of this writing, I see one for Easter Brunch.
In conclusion, I very much enjoyed the food, service, and ambiance at Los Gatos Parkside, and I’ll definitely be back!
The Glenridge and Bachman Park neighborhood of Los Gatos is one of the most scenic residential areas anywhere in Silicon Valley. It features beautiful, custom, mostly historic homes on meandering streets.
Set just above the Almond Grove neighborhood on a gentle hill it, too, is close to town but with a little more altitude and better vistas. The other nearby neighbor is the Fairview Plaza. So much history in such a close area!
These are really two separate neighborhoods or districts, but they are similar in many ways and are directly adjacent to each other, so we are covering them together.
Bachman Park is set in in the middle of this area and includes several acres alongside a creek. The park offers picnic tables, a playground, basketball courts and a large grassy field for picnics or play. A paved path follows the creek on one side of it – making a wonderful place just for strolling. (Bachman Park refers to both the park and its immediate neighborhood.) We did this video a few years back, but the neighborhood’s character hasn’t changed much.
Where is the Glenridge and Bachman Park neighborhood?
This charming older Los Gatos neighborhood is set just up the hill from the Almond Grove Historic District and adjacent to Fairview Plaza. (more…)
Two of the best attended and most celebrated holiday events in town are the Los Gatos tree lighting or Los Gatos Winter Celebration and the parade, both of which usually happen the first weekend in December (very few exceptions over the years). Plus we have the trolley rides again this year!
Recently a friend and I enjoyed a patio lunch at Los Gatos Parkside restaurant. It’s been open almost 18 months and I’ve been wanting to eat there ever since I heard that they have a focus on locally sourced, organic food. It did not disappoint!
