My family enjoys attending live music performances, and there’s no better time to do that than on a warm summer evening in San Diego. The first place we love to check out is the Rady Shell at Jacob’s Park!
You can’t find a better location, right along the beautiful San Diego Bay, with an open-air feeling that lets you enjoy the soft summer breeze.
Before a Show at the Rady Shell Theater
Planning for Rady Shell’s 2025 Summer Series
The Rady Shell summer concert series offers plenty of opportunities to take advantage of this location and make awesome memories with your friends and family. We had a blast last year, dancing to the reggae-infused tunes of Ziggy Marley and bopping along to Los Lobos + Los Lonely Boys.
I’m excited to check out the lineup this year as well! If your family lives for engaging performances like mine, I think you’ll find at least a few 2025 season performances that will be of interest.
Our founder, Todd, always has his finger on the pulse for the summer Rady Shell series. He gets excited about sharing his favorite picks with the team at Go Visit San Diego every year and when the 2025 season calendar gets released, he’s full of opinions!
I take this information home to my family, along with the Civic Theatre’s 2025 season calendar which is also filled with concerts and exciting performances this summer, and we have a lot of fun deciding which shows to see as we map out our schedule for the months ahead.
The Rady Shell at Jacobs Parks is the San Diego Symphony
If you want to do the same, here’s some of the important information we use to plan out our evenings.
Are There Any Family-Friendly Concerts at the Rady Shell?
The Rady Shell does a really nice job offering a wide variety of shows so that there is something for everyone to enjoy. For example, several of the movies, as concerts performed live by the San Diego Symphony Orchestra, are top-picks for fans of all ages, including The Lion King, The Barbie Movie, and Jurassic Park.
All of these performances would be perfect for kids, so yes, there are family-friendly concerts on the Rady Shell’s 2025 season calendar!
Younger children and teens will also enjoy dancing to The Beach Boys as they share their Sounds of Summer. Several shows start as early as 6:00pm, making them ideal for families.
Entrance into the Embarcadero Marina Park
Where is the Best Place to Park for the Rady Shell?
Before deciding on which events to attend, knowing how to get there and where to park is helpful, so let’s start there!
The Rady Shell is an outdoor venue in Jacobs Park, in San Diego’s Embarcadero neighborhood along the San Diego Bay, within walking distance of the heart of Downtown San Diego. Concerts are held in the waterfront Marina Park.
Parking for the Rady Shell venue is relatively easy to find. Several spots are available next to the open-air amphitheater. We recommend that you get there early if you want to grab one of these spots. If you’re not able to park right next to the venue, you’ll also find spots near the public transit shuttle stop by the nearby San Diego Convention Center.
Infinity Pool with San Diego Bay at the Hilton San Diego Bayfront
Recommended Hotels Near the Rady Shell at Jacobs Park
Whether you’re coming into the San Diego International Airport (SAN) or a local just looking for a night out, I always like to recommend a hotel or two near the venue.
If you would like a high-end experience, book at the nearby Hilton San Diego Bayfront hotel which offers panoramic views of the San Diego Bay from nearly every window. I suggest that you splurge on a Mediterranean Azul Wrap at the spa while you’re there. It’s well worth the price!
For a more budget-friendly, family option, stay at one of our team’s selections of the best hotels near the San Diego Convention Center.
Set the Mood
If you're planning to attend to a concert, try to arrive early. Sunsets on the San Diego Bay before the performance begins are simply breath taking!