Free live music in Downtown Ithaca

Make Thursdays your night Downtown

Free and fun for the entire family, the Beginnings Summer Concert Series brings live music to Downtown Ithaca every Thursday at the Bernie Milton Pavilion.

Scroll down to explore the full series
About the series

Thursdays. 5 to 8 PM. Live on the Commons.

Free and fun for the entire family, the Beginnings Summer Concert Series brings live music to Downtown Ithaca every Thursday at the Bernie Milton Pavilion. Local and national acts perform music in genres including jazz, blues, reggae, folk, hip hop, country, bluegrass, rock, and more.

Thursdays, 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM at Bernie Milton Pavilion on the Ithaca Commons. This is a community-focused, all-ages concert in the heart of downtown.

Free outdoor performances every Thursday evening
Family-friendly atmosphere in the center of downtown
A wide mix of genres from regional and national acts
A great reason to pair music with dinner, drinks, and shopping downtown
Summer lineup

Kickoff party lineup reveal

The full Summer Concert Series lineup stays under wraps until kickoff night. Check back when the timer hits zero and we will swap this section over to the revealed artist schedule.

Lineup reveal countdown
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Join us at kickoff night to be the first to see the full season schedule and start planning your Thursdays on the Commons.

Sponsors

This event is made possible through generous support

Local partners help keep free live music active on the Commons and make the series feel bigger, warmer, and more connected to the whole district.

Parking and transit

Easy ways to get Downtown

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On-street parking

City of Ithaca on-street parking is currently $2.50 per hour and enforced Monday through Saturday from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM. Street parking is free on Sundays, and ParkMobile is supported in pay-station zones.

Street Parking Info
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Garage parking

The City lists Green Street, Seneca Street, and Cayuga Street garages as downtown options at $2.25 per hour, with automated payment and an easy walk to the Bernie Milton Pavilion and the Commons.

Garage Details
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Ride the bus

Avoid the hassle of parking and take TCAT downtown. The TCAT system map and downtown ride guides show Green Street Station and Commons-area service as easy access points for concert nights.

Ride TCAT
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Bike to the concert

Ride a bike downtown and use the art bike racks around the district. Dismount and walk your bike while on the Commons so the plaza stays comfortable and safe for everyone.

Downtown Details
Downtown summer nights

Make a whole evening out of the concert

The Summer Concert Series is built to keep people downtown longer. Come early for dinner, stay for the music, and use the Commons as your launch point for shopping, drinks, dessert, and everything else that makes a Thursday night in Ithaca feel alive.

Each show is free, family-friendly, and right in the center of the district, which makes this page a quick planning guide as much as an event invitation.