Redwood City welcomes the community Downtown for its 5th incredible season of FREE events and entertainment. Every week throughout the summer at beautiful Courthouse Square, four great evenings will highlight fabulous, free, fun-filled activities: Monday – Jazz on Main, Tuesday – Dancing on the Square, Thursday – Movies on the Square, Fridays – Music on the Square. There are also seven special outdoor exhibits featuring Art on the Square, as well as weekend Target Family Days, and wonderful classical music concerts.

Everyone will enjoy the pleasant atmosphere of Courthouse Square, with its cooling fountains and surrounding exotic shops and eateries, offering friends, family, and neighbors a great place to enjoy balmy summer evenings. This is why people call Redwood City the Entertainment Capital of the Peninsula! Here’s the run-down of this season’s great Downtown Redwood City entertainment (see details at www.redwoodcityevents.com):

Movies on the Square

Redwood City’s summer movie experience continues with FREE movies on 22 Thursday evenings starting at sundown (approximately 8:45 pm), with a variety of great movies that will delight kids and adults alike. This year’s movies run from May 12th through October 6th and include recent flicks such as The Kings Speech on May 19th, The Green Hornet on June 30th, and True Grit on July 14th, as well as movie classics like E.T. on August 11th, among many, many others. It’s best to arrive early for the best seats (a limited number of chairs and tables are available). Many people bring a blanket, grab some take-out from nearby restaurants, and kick back to experience outdoor theater with our 25-foot screen.

Music on the Square

Free music every week throughout the summer…WOW! This season features 23 impressive concerts not to be missed on Friday evenings from 6 to 8 pm, beginning on May 6th. With top-quality local and national musical performers — from rock, blues, Celtic, and swing, to Latin, Reggae, country, and more— music fans of all ages will be thrilled to discover and enjoy our free summer concert series, this year extended through October 7th. And, anyone wishing to support Music on the Square is invited to reserve a lounge chair for every Friday night concert of the season, as part of the Friends of Friday fundraising program – details are at www.redwoodcity.org/events/friends.html

Jazz on Main

The Jazz on Main series continues this year, with Main Street hosting outdoor jazz concerts every Monday evening from June 20th through August 15th featuring the Bay Area’s very best jazz artists. The jazz is on from 6 – 8 pm, and everyone can enjoy the music, eat at one of the many great restaurants along Main Street, and if the mood strikes – DANCE! The all-star lineup will be sure to make for many jazzed-up Monday evenings on Main Street in Downtown Redwood City’s Historic District.

Dancing on the Square

Everyone can join in and kick up their heels on Tuesday evenings with our free dance series, while watching – and learning! – Tango, Swing, Cha-Cha, Salsa, Waltz, Country Western, and others. The fun will begin on June 21st from 6 – 8 pm, with a 30-minute demonstration, and continues on with public participation. Featuring free mini-lessons and open social dancing for all ages and all levels, no experience needed and no partner required. The community is invited to join friends, learn to dance, step out in style and have some serious fun!

Art on the Square

Art on the Square showcases the best in fine arts and crafts each month between June and September at Courthouse Square. It’s great fun to wander the booths and discover unique painting, photography, jewelry, glass, ceramics, and more at prices for every budget. There’s exquisite jewelry at every show, and for those who can’t get enough of it we’ve added Jewelry on the Square on July 8th. Great gifts for friends or family, it’s a wonderful opportunity to see and buy original art – painting, glass, photography, ceramics, and more. And every Art on the Square event is combined with great music, food, and fun!

Classical Music Series

For the classical music lover, or anyone who appreciates great musical talent, Redwood City continues its Classical Music Series starting in June, 2011. The series launches at 6 pm on June 4th with Opera San José, and then continues on June 25th with the innovative Redwood Symphony. Families will love these free classical concerts, performed outdoors on beautiful Courthouse Square.

Target Family Days

Once a month on Sundays, Target Family Days (generously sponsored by Target) will transform Courthouse Square, into a family entertainment center, hosting a variety of themed activities. Featuring children’s entertainers, educational exhibits, cultural food, themed face painting, hands-on art projects, a caricature artist, bounce houses and more, Target Family Days offers something for everyone from July through September, making this a fun and relaxing family experience in an inviting and comfortable atmosphere.
More info on these events is online at www.redwoodcityevents.com

These free events, extending through spring, summer, and fall are sponsored by the City of Redwood City’s Redevelopment Agency, Parks, Recreation and Community Services Department, and Civic Cultural Commission. The City of Redwood City would also like to thank Barracuda Networks, San Mateo Credit Union, Peninsula Infiniti, Bud Light, Rockstar Energy Drink, and The Fox Theatre for their generous contributions to Music on the Square.

The Redwood City Parks, Recreation and Community Services Department provides recreational facilities and activities for all ages and interests, and supplies building and custodial services for City buildings. Redwood City Parks also operates the Fair Oaks Community Center, providing social, educational, and cultural activities, as well as information, referral, and counseling services to persons living in Redwood City and neighboring communities. Redwood City Parks is more than you think! Its website is located at www.redwoodcity.org/parks

Visit Redwood City’s award-winning website at www.redwoodcity.org for information about the City and its services, the community, recreation programs, education, and local business. Subscribe to Redwood City’s email newsletter or other documents by visiting www.redwoodcity.org/egov