A balmy summer night…the gentle hiss of the surf breaking on the sand…good friends…great food…and to make the evening perfectly memorable – live music!
That’s what you’ll experience each Wednesday night May through August at the Music By The Sea concert series at Pier Park in St. Augustine Beach. More than 20 years ago, two residents started the concerts with nothing more than a three-piece band and a hot dog vendor. Today, the concerts are among the area’s most popular weekly events. The combination of an outstanding FREE concert, great dining and shopping opportunities for every budget along with the fun and romance of a summertime evening at the beach creates a special attraction that both residents and visitors find irresistible.
The park features the Ocean Pier, nighttime volleyball courts -even a Splash Zone for little kids – but on concert nights it’s the Pier Pavilion that’s the focus of attention. A modern interpretation of the romantic seaside pavilions of another era, the Pavilion provides the stage for Music By the Sea entertainers representing a wide range of musical genres. Each concert features a stellar performance by a band with an established reputation for delivering the very best in jazz, folk, rock, R&B, country, reggae, Top 40 – or even Polynesian!
Most first-time concert goers have lots of questions – so here are some answers from Music By The Sea veterans.
Definitely, bring a folding chair of some sort – seating at the pavilion is pretty much non-existent but there’s plenty of room on the surrounding sand
Each concert is paired with a different local restaurant that serves their specialty at the pavilion (get there early!) or you might want to consider packing your favorite seaside delicacies and beverages (no alcohol please) into a picnic basket or cooler and dine al fresco on site.
There are public parking spots at Pier Park, but you might have to arrive by 4 p.m. on concert nights to find a vacant one. If you must drive, you might want to park where the locals park. Biking or walking to the concert are recommended.
Walk out on the adjacent Ocean Pier ($2 per person) – it’s like experiencing the concert from the deck of your nearly private yacht.
Leashed dogs are welcome (except in the Pavilion); All facilities are ADA compliant.
All Music By The Sea concerts are free!
