The Glendale community recently came together in the scenic setting of Verdugo Park for an outdoor concert featuring music from the Eagles. Families, friends, and individual attendees gathered on the dance floor in front of the stage. While some danced joyfully, others relaxed on blankets, enjoying the cool breeze and clapping along to the tribute band Dark Desert Highway’s performance.
This free weekday public concert is part of a series organized by the city of Glendale, running through July and August. Concerts are held on Wednesdays and Fridays from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. across three venues: Verdugo Park and The Brand Library and Art Center, which began hosting events in July, and Glendale City Hall’s Perkins Plaza, which will feature concerts on Thursdays starting in August.
The Community Services and Parks Department has been organizing the summer concerts since 2005. Community Services Manager Sevag Garabetian described the concerts as an opportunity for residents to enjoy Glendale’s outdoor spaces during the afternoons and evenings. Over the years, the department has added amenities such as food trucks, a dance floor, and seating arrangements, while maintaining the core concept of community-focused events.
Garabetian encouraged attendees to “pack your picnic blankets and baskets, maybe some folding chairs, and come to the park for an evening filled with live entertainment and good times.” The concert series includes a variety of musical genres, such as folk, Latin, country, Cuban, Pan-African, and swing, covering music from the 1950s to the 1990s.
The concerts are held on weekdays to minimize scheduling conflicts for both community members and the selected bands. The department chooses bands based on the turnout and engagement at previous events, considering factors like dance floor activity and audience sing-alongs.
Attendees have expressed their appreciation for the concerts, not just for the music but also for the sense of community they foster. Mona Field, a regular attendee, stated that she enjoys the concerts for the opportunity to be outdoors and see people enjoying themselves. “I think providing free outdoor music is a very important thing that the city does,” Field said. She highlighted the concerts’ role in bringing together a diverse community.
Glendale resident Carrie Johns echoed Field’s sentiments, noting that the concerts offer a chance for people to come together in a positive environment. “It brings everyone together in a different environment, instead of everybody divided and fighting over everything. It’s a good time for everybody to come out with their families,” Johns said.
Christian Fierro of La Crescenta shared a memory of attending a Carlos Santana tribute concert with his mother and grandmother, recalling it as a special experience. Amina Gedgaudas, another regular attendee, emphasized the joy of being with friends and socializing at the concerts. “I could go to the worst concert with a band that I don’t even know, and I’ll have a great time,” Gedgaudas said.
For more information about the summer concerts, click here.
