Thursday Live on Cal Ave Inaugural Concert

The City of Palo Alto is launching a new outdoor music series on California Avenue on Thursday, May 28, with a free kickoff event built around two local bands, a ribbon-cutting and family activities. The city said the inaugural Thursday Live on Cal Ave. event will run from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. on the car-free portion of Cal Ave. and is part of a six-date series scheduled through September, plus a special Saturday event in October. The May 28 program will feature the Terun Family Band on the Ash stage and Palo Alto-based Past Curfew Band on the El Camino stage, according to the city’s event listing and a May 21 news release. Marcus from “Marcus in The Morning” on Star 101.3 is scheduled to emcee the opening event. ### When and where is the first event? May 28 is the first date in the series, and the city said events are scheduled once a month from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. on California Avenue in Palo Alto. The event page describes the site as the car-free portion of Cal Ave., a corridor the City Council moved to make permanently car-free in stages beginning in late 2023 and 2025. (paloalto.gov) The city’s broader Thursday Live page says the series spans May through September, with a separate October event set for a Saturday. Palo Alto said attendees are encouraged to stay on the avenue before and after the concerts to dine, shop and explore local businesses. ### Who is playing on opening night? The Terun Family Band is booked for the Ash stage at the May 28 opener, according to Palo Alto’s event listing. (paloalto.gov) Past Curfew Band, which the city described as a Palo Alto-based community favorite, is scheduled for the El Camino stage. Marcus from Star 101.3 will serve as emcee and host, the city said. (paloalto.gov) Palo Alto’s announcement framed the series as a way to bring local music talent and community activity onto California Avenue in a free public format. ### What else is planned besides the concerts? A high-end luxury car show featuring a dozen cars is part of the May 28 lineup, and the city said Auto Vino is coordinating that display. (paloalto.gov) The same event will also include a kids zone, free giveaways, games and themed programming for all ages. A community ribbon-cutting is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m., with city officials and community leaders expected to take part. (paloalto.gov) The city described the ribbon-cutting as the formal launch of the Thursday Live series. ### Who is behind the series? The City of Palo Alto said it is producing the series in partnership with the Palo Alto Recreation Foundation. (paloalto.gov) In the city’s May 21 release, Palo Alto also named Mark Zuckerberg and Priscilla Chan, Stanford Research Park and the Palo Alto Weekly as signature event series sponsors. Mora Oommen, board chair of the Palo Alto Recreation Foundation, said in the city release that the group saw the California Avenue series as part of its community event work. Priscilla Chan said in the same release that she and Zuckerberg were supporting a local initiative aimed at activating public space and connecting the community. (paloalto.gov) ### How does this fit with earlier Cal Ave programming? Palo Alto said Thursday Live builds on prior music and event programming on California Avenue. The city’s release said the new series expands entertainment and activities on Cal Ave. in response to feedback from residents and businesses. (paloalto.gov) The city has separately promoted California Avenue as a permanent car-free street with outdoor dining and public programming. That backdrop helps explain why the event page repeatedly describes Thursday Live as taking place on the car-free section of the avenue rather than as a one-off street closure. (paloalto.gov) ### What comes after the May 28 launch? The city said Thursday Live on Cal Ave. will continue on one Thursday each month from May through September, followed by a special Saturday event in October. Palo Alto’s event hub and Thursday Live page list the schedule and event details for the series. May 28 is set to start at 5 p.m., with the community ribbon-cutting at 6 p.m., and the city is directing residents to its official Palo Alto event pages for updates on later dates, themes and performers. (paloalto.gov) (paloalto.gov) (paloalto.gov)