The Sounds of Summer Live Music Series are FREE outdoor concerts at different parks in Surrey on Wednesday evenings in July and August from 6:30 to 8:00 pm.
Last year, in two cases, there were also concerts on Friday afternoons from 1:00 until 2:30 pm.
SURREY EVENTS AND COVID-19
In response to the outbreak of the coronavirus, all events involving 50 or more people in BC have been cancelled for the summer of 2020. Some events have consequently been cancelled, others have been rescheduled for later dates, and others are still taking place, but in online “virtual” formats.
It doesn’t look like Surrey’s weekly outdoor summer concerts are taking place this year. There was no mention of them on the City of Surrey’s online calendar of events the last time we checked. And the concert that was supposed to happen at Darts Hill Garden Park in July has been cancelled. We’re guessing all the other concerts have been cancelled too, but details are to be confirmed.
In case they do happen this year, see the City of Surrey‘s website for the most up-to-date information.
Sounds of Summer Live Music
In years when the concerts aren’t cancelled due to pandemics, residents of Surrey and the entire Lower Mainland are invited to bring their lawn chairs and blankets to sit on, plus their picnics to eat, and come out and enjoy the free music entertainment.
Below is the summer schedule of dates and locations from last year, along with suggestions on what else to do on the different days while in the area.
The 2020 details have not been released yet so this will give you an idea of what to expect this year (or next year if the 2020 series is indeed cancelled, which we think it has been). We do know though that on Wednesday, July 29th, a concert was scheduled to take place at Darts Hill Garden Park. It has, however, since been cancelled.
July 3 at Glades Garden | July 10 at Museum of Surrey | July 12 at Darts Hill | July 17 at Fleetwood | July 24 at Bear Creek | July 31 at Darts Hill | August 7 at Crescent Beach | August 14 at Stewart Farm | August 16 at Francis Park | August 21 at Holland Park
Note: the Surrey concerts details are subject to change.
See below for more details about each date and venue.
July 3rd (2019) Concert at Glades Garden Park
This free outdoor concert took place at Glades Garden at 561-172nd Street in South Surrey and featured the Jazz-Popclectica band Caviar & Lace.
The park itself is beautiful, open only on select days and is highly recommended. Gates opened at 5:00 pm for garden viewing and the music runs from 6:30 to 8:00 pm. Note: parking was limited and pets were not permitted.
Glades Garden isn’t far from White Rock, which makes the concert a great activity after spending the day at the resort town, or at nearby Crescent Beach.
July 10th (2019) Concert at The Museum of Surrey
On Wednesday, July 10th, the live music was at the Museum of Surrey at 17710 56A Avenue in Surrey from 6:30 until 8:00 pm. At this event the entertainers were the very fun and talented Beauty Shop Dolls.
July 12th (2019) Concert at Darts Hill
July 12th was a Friday, not a Wednesday, and on this day the free concert at Darts Hill Garden Park ran from 1:00 until 2:30 pm (instead of the usual 6:30 until 8:00 pm).
The live music was Folk-Roots Fusion with the band Wheat in the Barley. Gates opened at 11:00 am for garden viewing and pets were not permitted.
Darts Hill is located at 1633-170th Street in South Surrey not far from White Rock. It’s a beautiful semi-private garden that’s open to the public only on specific days of the year.
July 17th (2019) Concert at Fleetwood Park
The concert on July 17th took place at Fleetwood Park at 15802-80th Avenue and featured classic rock by the A Team.
In addition to the great music, Fleetwood Park has attractive gardens, tennis courts, a water playground and 1.8 km of nature trails.
July 24th (2019) Concert at Bear Creek Park
The free concert at Bear Creek Park on Wednesday, July 24th, ran from 6:30 until 8:00 pm and featured Folk-Pop music with the Kwerks.
Bear Creek Park is one of the finest parks in the Lower Mainland, complete with miniature train, mini golf, walking and cycling trails, an outdoor pool and beautiful gardens.
Bear Creek is also right next door to the Surrey Arts Centre which is open on Wednesdays until 9:00 pm and has a couple of small gallery rooms with admission by donation.
July 31st (2019) Concert at Darts Hill Garden Park
People enjoyed the big band sounds of the Bruce James Orchestra on July 31st at the Darts Hill Garden Park. The even started at 6:30.
This was the second time that Darts Hill was a venue for Surrey’s Sounds of Summer Music Series in 2019. The previous time, as noted above, was on the afternoon of July 12th.
Darts Hill is a pretty semi-private garden at 1633-170th Street in South Surrey. Usually gates open at 5:00 pm for viewing of the garden with the Summer Music Series, but last year folk were invited to arrive at 3:00 pm for a book launching of “The Secret Garden.”
Darts Hill Garden Park is open on just select days during the year and for special events. Darts Hill is not far from White Rock, so good to combine with a trip there, or to Elgin Heritage Park and Crescent Beach which are also not too far away.
August 7th (2019) Concert at Crescent Beach
The free concert on Friday, August 7th, took place in the evening starting at 6:30 pm at Crescent Beach which is located at 12160 Beecher Street. The concert featured the Peter, Paul & Mary-style 60s Folk music of The True North Troubadours.
Crescent Beach is the perfect place to spend the whole day. Enjoy the biking and walking trails and, of course, the amazing beach. The trails can connect you to Elgin Heritage Park and also to Stewart Farm. Bring your pails and shovels, or even a kite. You can also go into White Rock to savor lunch or an early dinner al-fresco style.
August 14th (2019) Concert at Stewart Farm
Stewart Farm, located at 13723 Crescent Road, hosted the Sounds of Summer Music Series on August 14th featuring Lou Morocco and songs made famous by the Rat Pack from 6:30 until 8:00 pm.
The Stewart Farmhouse is located in Elgin Heritage Park. If you arrive at Stewart Farm in the afternoon you can go inside the historic farmhouse up until 4:00 pm. Enjoy the scenery and walking trails here that take you to Crescent Beach and beyond.
Parking can be a little challenging at this location, so consider heading west to the nearby intersection of 136 Street and Crescent Road if necessary. You can then avoid the busy road by walking to the farm on the walking trails on the opposite side of Crescent Road.
August 16th (2019) Concert at Francis Park
August 16th was a Friday, not a Wednesday. For the second time last year the Sounds of Summer Music Series took place in the afternoon, from 1:00 until 2:30, instead of in the evening.
The concert on the 16th was with the Langley Ukulele Ensemble which played a selection of adult contemporary music.
Surrey’s Francis Park is a small park located at 15951-83rd Avenue by the Fleetwood Community Centre just south of the Fraser Highway.
August 21 (2019) Concert at Holland Park
The final Sounds of Summer Music Series concert of 2019 took place on Wednesday, August 21st, in the evening starting at 6:30 pm. It featured the Soul, Motown, Rhythm & Blues and Funk sounds of the band Top City.
The concert happened at Holland Park at 13428 Old Yale Road, but there was no parking or park access along that road. There was a limited amount of free street parking along 98b Avenue, as well as 134th Street on the other side of the park.
Public transit, meanwhile, was convenient at Central City just a few blocks away, which also has pay parking in the area. The King George SkyTrain Station is also just across the street from Holland Park.
Holland Park is a beautiful green space in downtown Surrey across the street from the Central City shopping mall, at the opposite side from the main SFU campus entrance.
If you like shopping, check out Central City before the concert. It’s an older shopping centre, but in an impressive building. It’s also the second largest mall in Surrey with close to 140 stores.
Other Information
For more details about the Sounds of Summer Music Series see the City of Surrey‘s website.
For a list of other things to do in the area, see the City of Surrey.
Other Free Summer Music Venues
The Sounds of Summer Music Series in Surrey is not the only place to find free (or almost free) live music in the Lower Mainland in the summer. Other places with good free concerts include the following (some of which have also been cancelled for 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic):
- Most days in the second half of June at various locations during the Vancouver International Jazz Festival.
- Friday evenings in July and August in Edgemont Village, Lynn Valley and Deep Cove as part of the North Vancouver Summer Concert Series.
- Friday evenings from early May to late September at the Shipyard Night Market in North Vancouver.
- Nightly in late August and early September at the Pacific National Exhibition (PNE), where the concerts are included with the cost of admission to the fair.
- Music on the Wharf – outdoor concerts on the Port Haney Wharf in Maple Ridge on a few evenings in the summer.
For a list of other best places to find free concerts in the Lower Mainland, check out our Free Outdoor Music page.
