Summer Pops

It’s never a bad time at the Summer Pops venue. The symphony is amazing and the staff is wonderful. I can’t say enough good things about these events. It’s exactly what summer is made of. Located right on the water, small boats pull up to hear the music. People have many seating options; on blankets, in chairs, at a personal-​sized table near the stage. There’s food and wine for purchase. Blankets and jackets to buy if you get cold and didn’t plan well, as I so often do. It’s perfect for any type of outing, family, friends or a date. I highly recommend Summer Pops. Try the kettle corn, it’s amazing!

This is now my favorite summer venue in San Diego for live music! I’m sure many pop performers have dreamed of playing with a world class symphony orchestra to back them!
WOW!
The husband and I went to see one of our favorite performer’s Ben Folds and we booked the Champagne 1, front row, center seats. It doesn’t get much better than this! This section includes pre-​paid meal booking (if you want it) and bar table service. The site provides many options for beer and wine and you can order a bottle. We chose to pick up food from Brother’s Provisions (food and nonalcoholic drinks may be brought in) and order a bottle of Pinot Noir at the event. We were very pleased with our $ 26.00 selection.
The Summer Pops takes place on the waterfront/​Embarcadero. The evening of the show the weather was perfect. It was not hot (performances usually begin around 7:30pm) and it never got cold (but be prepared to layer, as this was not the norm for a SoCal evening on the water)!
The Summer Pops has a pop up shop on-​sitewhere you may purchase blankets and other logo merchandise, should you need something.
The sound at this event was incredible, it was very natural! Ben Folds is an incredible lyricist and storyteller. Between songs he shared many personal experiences and encouraged the expression of music and support for the symphony and to top the night off, he wrote a song for the evening with the front row… about…San Diego! He also served as our conductor for the sing along portion of the evening!
Note: You may purchase parking near the convention center for $ 20.00 in advance, there are golf cart shuttles to the gate, where you will be greeted by friendly volunteers!
Ben Folds and the San Diego Symphony… rocked our urban waterfront… much better than the suburbs!

Natural Woman… belt it like Aretha! Loving Summer Pops & the Symphony!
Great song, warm ambience.

Expensive dinner, movie, and a live Symphony Orchestra! It just can’t get any better than this!!!
I have played in several symphonies myself from 4^th grade and well into college, and these guys are top notch, as would be expected from Summer Pops. I still find it quite hilarious when people clap for when musicians are tuning though. It always made me laugh! Watching the Startrek movie with the real symphony. This is my 2^nd time going to one of these movies with an orchestra playing the score.
The conductor and musicians were flawless with timing! The emotion put into playing the music is apparent, something that you can’t get from a record, because you can feel the music being played.
I love these events! I wish I could go to more of these! If only I lived in the area! Whenever we go to comic con we get tickets for the movie and love music!

My boyfriend and I love Disney, and I surprised him with Pixar In Concert tickets 2 years ago. It was both our first time attending, so we weren’t sure what to expect. We just knew it’d be reallllly nice. When we got here, we got here early. We basically called it a «fancy ass picnic» lol.
We sat at one of the tables on the grass; we were in the Premium Cabaret, which were priced at $ 60 each. Our seats were right behind the tables that had champagne & table service. Yeah, the seats are just white plastic lawn chairs, but neither my boyfriend and I are too picky. It would have been nice to have cushioned chairs, but I think the plastic lawn chairs give it that nice, authentic picnic touch. So that was not an issue for us at all.
This truly is a gorgeous setting for outdoor concerts — right on the marina, a view of San Diego’s skyline, and a lovely sunset to watch while you wait for your concert to start. Beautiful.
San Diego does get a little chilly at night, even in the summer, and of course, with being right next to the water, I brought a little blanket to keep myself warm. It came in handy, and I am glad I brought it!
The concert itself was astounding. They played all the Disney classics that just pull at your heartstrings. I definitely had goosebumps and even wanted to shed tears. I mean, World of Color at Disneyland already makes me teary-​eyed, so watching Pixar in Concert had the same effect on me!
The Embarcadero Marina is lovely and I recommend coming here to watch a concert at least just once! The San Diego Symphony are full of talented, talented musicians.

Italian sailboats slowly drifting by as the Italian pop singer sang. Spacious. Great picnicking. Nice crowd.

This is a lovely setting for outdoor concerts. You can watch the sun set over the water and enjoy the cool breeze. Just bring a jacket because it can get cold.
There are three seating options: tables in the front at a wide variety of prices, grandstand seating in the back, and open lawn at the sides and back. I personally recommend the lawn seating. Not only is it the cheapest, but it seems like the best match for the outdoor venue. Bring a couple of lawn chairs or spread out a blanket on the grass and have a picnic. They sell food, but you’re welcome to bring your own.
My only real complaint is that the pricing seems a little high, but with all the free outdoor summer concerts my standards might just be skewed.

I’ve been to a few of the concerts. Some I had discounted or free tickets and some I paid a lot for. I’ve never sat on the grass though, or listened outside of the venue. Someday I’ll try that out as well.
The setting is fantastic.
The San Diego skyline is gorgeous.
Bleacher Seats: I might not do that again. It was cold with the wind blowing and sort of uncomfortable.
Tables on the grass: Much better but we were in the back. Having a table allows you to pack your entire dinner and have a meal there. You cannot really do that in the bleacher section. You can bring anything you want except glass and maybe alcohol, check on that one. We brought coffee because we thought it would be cold (remember we had sat in bleacher seats before). We didn’t really need our blankets, but I would always bring them to this venue because it can get cold (for us San Diegans anyway. If you are from somewhere else you will probably be fine).
Keep in mind that unless you shell out big bucks to sit in the front, you aren’t going to see anything. I had a heard time (even with my table seat on the grass) seeing the video screen, much less the people on stage. But I like music and I like San Diego, so I’ll probably do this again.
Tip: This is THE PLACE to be during 4^th of July Fireworks. My husband and I were so close we actually got ash in our eyes.

Not at all pleased with the delay in concert for an auction that only ¼ of the audience could participate in (For many reasons). Ward was a dufus! Thank goodness he’s moving on. Won’t be back as at least an hour of our time and $ was wasted!

Every summer the San Diego Symphony puts on an eclectic mix of concerts here: I have seen 4^th of July Pops with traditional American patriotic songs, I have seen Ozomatli performing reggae/​rock with the Symphony backing them up, I have seen Portugeuse Fado music, and this summer I saw the Symphony perform with Chinese Acrobats performing. It is always so much fun.
Location-​wise? If you aren’t impressed with this location, there is something seriously wrong with you. It is absolutely gorgeous on a summer evening, with the bay behind the stage, the sunset hitting the water and creating magic all around.
Wine/​beer available, and you can bring your own food in. In the cabaret section you have a table so it’s not too awkward to eat. If you’re on the grass section, bring a blanket and have a picnic! And, if you’re lucky enough to sit in the Champagne Chalet then enjoy that because it is flossy flossy!
It does tend to get cool after the sun goes down, even on blisteringly hot summer evenings, so plan ahead… a light jacket, or blanket would be perfect.
Parking can be expensive, so park at the Convention Center and just walk over if you don’t want to pay $ 25.

nice open air venue, I was invited to see an Eagles tribute band and had a pretty good time. Very laid back spot behind the convention center and Joe’s crab shack is right next to it which is great if you want to get cheaper drinks (heh).

The view is gorgeous, fireworks fantastic and it was fun to see The Temptations. The GA tickets are on the lawn near the back on both sides of the venue, which is a little odd, but turned out fine. The «real seats» are plastic chairs, so I’m not too bummed we were way in the back. The best part is the sunset view and the worst of course is downtown parking. It’s a fun experience though that everyone should try at least once. I love San Diego!

I thought the show was great! The firework show was nice too! The only down part was that the drinks and food were very expensive! I don’t see why this is. They have a monopoly of sorts because other vendors could compete to make the prices for food and drinks more reasonable.

The Peking Acrobats show was amazing! My family wanted to see it while we were in China, but didn’t have time to. But luckily, the troupe came here! Very entertaining show.
We sat at the champagne tables. I wouldn’t recommend sitting anywhere else. You can’t see very well from the back. We were right up front so we could see the acrobats’ facial expressions. We ate dinner before we went because the food there is crazy expensive. The chairs are just cheap plastic garden chairs.
The area got really cold by the end of the show, so bring warm clothes. If you get there early, Seaport Village is only a 15 minute walk away.
Parking is a challenge. We parked on Market Street at a meter and walked over.

I love the San Diego Symphony! First off the setting is beautiful.
By the water? CHECK!
View of the Downtown Skyline? CHECK!
Seeing airplanes taking off in the distance? CHECK!
Beautiful sunsets right before curtain? CHECK!
Not sure why this is under Bayside Concerts at the Embarcadero. It should be the Summer Pops. Getting here can be a challenge. You have several options.
Option 1: Prepaid reserve parking. $ 20.
This lot is right behind the convention center and next to Joe Crab Shack. This is prepaid only. You can purchase the parking on the San Diego Symphony website. Its not a bad walk but if you need assistance, they have a shuttle. Limited availability.
Option 2: Park at the Hilton
I believe this costs $ 15. They have a shuttle from the Hilton parking structure to the venue. No guarantee on a space. This structure can be filled up because of the Padres or a convention. Check Padres schedule before deciding on this structure.
Option 3: Convention Center Parking
Not always available if there is a big event at the convention center.
Option 4: Take the Trolley
You can get off at the Convention Center Station (currently closed due to construction) or the Gaslamp Station.
If you get off the trolley at the Convention Center Station, you can walk though a ADA travel path between the Marriott and the Convention Center. Keep you eyes out for this one. Its not very obvious.
If you get off the trolley at the Gaslamp Station, you can either walk around the south side of the Convention Center or take the stairs and/​or elevators near the center of the Convention Center. Neither route is very friendly. We found both routes to be inconvenient.
We have Grandstand seats. The seats are okay. Bring some cushions. Not the most comfortable seats. The nice thing about the Grandstand is that you are typically eye level or above the symphony. These seats are relatively far from the stage.
It can also get cold for San Diego. Bring a jacket and a blanket. Everyone seems prepared for the weather. If you still are cold, they sell jackets and blankets at the gift shop.
Restrooms are port-​a-​potties. YUCK! Seriously? –1 Star.

Saw a Gershwin show here. Because the tickets were free (gifted by someone who couldn’t go) I am naturally less critical.
Basically, people sit in cheap plastic garden chairs to watch the concert. There is a table between the rows. Our seats had the backs to the table. Bleacher seats cost less, and seats closer to the stage cost more.
You can bring in food and drink, which lots of people did. Also, I recommend bringing a blanket, and a cushion for your tush. Parking around there that doesn’t cost a fortune is truly suckalicious. If you’re not willing to shell out a bunch for the parking, plan to come an extra 30 minutes early so you can walk through the convention center area to get to the concert.
The Joe’s Crab Shack across the way played competing, annoying bass music. WTF? It sounded like a herd of gangstas in the parking lot.

Is it me or have the Rolling Stones been touring for like 30 years? Well we went to the Summer Pops to see the cover band play Rolling Stones music. It’s a great venue that has been hosting concerts for years. The tables are bit of a waste of money, the bandstand is nice, but uncomfortable, I’m all about the lawn. Get there early and I mean early and lounge out. Get your drink on well before the intermission as the food and beverage shuts down after that. No last call warning. The bathrooms are a mad rush in intermission, but that’s mainly because of the older crowd and their bladder problems. 45 – 55 year old women dancing while their husbands sit and guard the chairs. They played the good stuff for the end this time. NO PHOTOGRAPHY or the volunteer 60 year old lady will scold you and ask you to delete the picture, even if you’re taking picture of the bay. I highly suggest buying a yacht or boat and sit in the shallows for a good view, no one to control you and all the flash photography you want. If you really don’t care so much there is a bis screen right when you walk in that you can set up camp at, but it’s near the bathrooms and an onshore wind could ruin your spot. Parking can be bad, but I went preferred parking, but getting out was tragic. Completely poor organization and exit set up. Although we got out fine, everyone paid the cheaper parking and walked all over, around the exit lanes. The bar was ok, decent selection of spirits, but poor selection of beers, whoever catered this really should have had better bar backing. I had to change my order twice because the beer wasn’t cold yet or they were out of something. No one told me until later they took credit cards and when I asked for a Champagne/​Cranberry juice (Hibiscus) the bartender never heard of it. I tipped them both well, but they really should have had a company that could handle a few thousand people with only a few hundred drinking, and they were only open for about 2 hours.

If you come here and have the option of paying a little more for the champagne seats, do it. The grass seats are terrible because the acoustics are terrible when the San Diego Orchestra is playing there. We went for the Distant Worlds Final Fantasy concert directly after Comic Con.
The first problem was that they require you to check your cameras. This ticked me off because first of all, my camera+lens cost well over a grand and I’m not trusting it to a stranger, let alone one at a nylon tent set up. The organization and security was horrible so luckily we just walked in since nobody was paying any attention.
After this, they had dozens of senior citizen employees in yellow jackets walking around confused, desperate to help somebody to their seats. Now the first person was very nice and explained we could sit in any of the grass areas. Then the second person asked us if they could help us find their seat and we said no. Less than 2 seconds later, another person comes up to us and asks us if we would like assistance to our seat. At this point I wanted to ask them if I could assist them to the nearest hearing aid supply and even after that we were asked yet again despite the fact that 1. we did not look confused, 2. we were walking directly towards where we wanted to sit.
Yet another problem arose when a boat drove up. The people on it obviously wanted to squat in on the concert. At several points, they spoke loudly during the music and at one point whooped and hollered at a singer on stage. Apparently all the park does not hire waterfront security to prevent this from happening. On top of this, there were a few boats who high tailed it past the park at full speed, motors screaming during one of the songs. I’m sorry to say this was probably one of the worst orchestra concert experiences I’ve ever had.

I only have seen one concert at bayside, Radiohead 2 years ago. I gotta say, this is was most memorable concert experience of all time. Granted, the fact that it was Radiohead and the people around me were Radiohead Fans, but I think the venue had a lot to do with it too. Most of the time concerts are inside where you are packed in like sardines. Here, you are outside and packed in like Sardines! But hey, thats by choice to have the true «experience.» I gotta say, had it not been for being outdoors I might have passed out.
They seem to be pretty organized letting people in, and since it’s at such an open location where people park wherever they can close enough to the venue and walk there, it makes the departure not the typical «waiting in a line of cars for hours» experience.
i appreciate that.
The whole standing under a starry sky right next to the bay really makes a concert experience so much better. i hope more of my favorite musicians play there in the future.

I saw John Mayer here a few years back and the size of the place made me feel like I was standing outside watching a DVD. However, I guess with any large performance that effect is bound to happen. People must sew their blankets together taking up massive amounts of room that force shitty spots for stage visibility.
However, it was refreshing to be in the summer breeze and see downtown, could be a great date spot, but I don’t know if I was that impressed with the venue itself.