The City of Carlsbad will host nine free summer concerts in 2024, following the City Council’s review of the 2023 season and feedback from community members. The city will also make security improvements based on best practices for major public events, following recommendations from Carlsbad’s police chief.

The city began offering the TGIF Concerts in the Parks in 1986, then called TGIF Jazz in the Parks. The concert series has continued every year since, except for a two year-hiatus during the COVID-19 pandemic. Following the pandemic, prices for vendors and supplies increased significantly. After receiving cost information in late 2022, the city decided to pare back the number of concerts from nine to six in 2023 and re-evaluate the path forward before the 2024 season.

Community feedback
In August, the city asked for feedback on the 2023 season from community members attending the concerts and the broader community through an online survey. Some common themes from this input include:

• Some people were willing to pay for the concerts but most agreed that keeping them free would help retain the small-town community character of the events.
• Of the various options to offset higher costs, most people said they preferred city seeking corporate sponsorships over other options, like reducing the number of concerts or charging admission.
• Some of the additional activities, such as a pre-show DJ, a printed concert program and art activities for kids could be eliminated without significantly affecting enjoyment of the event.
• Parking and access to the concerts has become more difficult as the concerts have grown over the years.
• People enjoyed having food for sale at the events and wanted to retain the ability to bring alcoholic beverages.

The City Council asked staff to issue a request for proposals from companies that might be interested in sponsoring the events, although that process would likely not be complete in time for the 2024 season.

Changes planned
Carlsbad’s police and fire chiefs conducted an assessment of TGIF concert operations and venues, based on an uptick in violent attacks at public events nationwide. They found several opportunities to bring the concerts into alignment with current best practices, and the City Council voted to make these changes, which include:

• Securing the venues with fencing or barriers to provide controlled entrances.
• Manage attendance to avoid crowds so large they would pose a security concern if there were a need to quickly exit the venue or respond to an emergency. This could be accomplished by concertgoers obtaining free tickets in advance or through a reservation system. City staff will explore all the options and create a plan to make this process as quick and convenient as possible.
• Set up screening stations at entrances, similar to other concerts and sporting events, to check for weapons.
• Increase security presence inside the venue and at all access points.
• Establish a police and fire command post at each concert to monitor the event and be available for a quick response to an emergency situation.

Stagecoach and Calavera community parks are preferred from a security perspective.

Based on this direction, city staff will proceed with planning the 2024 season. Dates, bands and locations are typically announced in the spring. The city will also launch a promotional campaign to raise awareness of new protocols, such as the online reservation system, well in advance of the first concert.

Cost
The estimated per concert cost in 2024 is $63,750 up from $35,678 in 2023. This reflects increasing prices and the added security measures. This cost does not reflect donations from the Carlsbad Friends of the Arts, a nonprofit group that raises money for city arts programs. In 2023 the group donated $30,000 to the city. The cost also does not reflect reductions that could still be made to the cost by eliminating some of the concert elements, such as a DJ.