Frequently Asked Questions

Gates open at 5:30pm. Concerts start with an opening band, followed by the main act. Concerts are usually finished around 9 or 9:15 pm.

From Lincoln Avenue (US HWY 40) in downtown Steamboat Springs, turn toward the Yampa River on 5th street, cross the bridge about two blocks down, turn right, and you’re pointing towards the Howelsen Hill parking area.

You can bring a chair or blanket to sit on, and all ages are welcome.

  • There is a kid’s play area for burning off youthful energy.
  • Many of our vendors have great options for kid friendly food and treats.
  • Some kids like to have earmuffs or ear plugs because the music gets loud.

  • Outside food & beverages are not allowed at the shows.
  • Food and drinks, including beer and bottled alcoholic drinks, are available for sale at the show. Beer sales support the concert series and future series.
  • We accept credit cards for Tokens. The tokens exchange for different price beverages. Most of our vendors also accept credit cards for food and soft drinks.

Yes! You can use a credit card to make purchases at all the food vendors, beer tents and the cocktail tent.

NO SMOKING in the concert site,
It’s a City of Steamboat Springs law.

Please leave your pets at home.

The shows are free, mostly covered by sponsorships from the local community and beverage sales at the events. We want to keep this free, and keep it going. Our shows cost upwards of $20,000 per act. Any donations help us make this possible.

Donate    or    Become a Sponsor

Thanks!

History

The Steamboat Springs Free Summer Concert Series (SSFSCS/the Series) began in 1993 as a small concert series with several hundred in attendance and presented on the lawn of the Routt County Court House, the community gathering space in the heart of downtown Steamboat Springs. Started by a small record shop owner and friends, the Series now features 5 concerts per year with attendance averaging 3,500 to 7,000 per concert for an annual average of 25,000. The SSFSCS boasts nationally recognized artists in the area of pop-rock, reggae, bluegrass, blues, and funk. The series is a gathering for all ages and has become truly one of the signature family events in the valley. Audience sizes can fluctuate relative to the performer’s popularity or how the concert is schedule in relation to signature event weekends. With a great mix of locals and visitors the concerts are both a social event for those who call Steamboat home and an awesome addition to any vacation to the Yampa Valley. With the stratification of the haves and the have-nots in our rural resort community, the Series is supported by many businesses as a way for them to provide added benefit to their employees.

Past Shows

2021 Free Concerts

Lil Smokies
Lil SmokiesFriday, August 27th
Jon Stickley Trio
Jon Stickley TrioFriday, August 27th
Samantha Fish
Samantha FishSunday, September 5th
Eddie 9v
Eddie 9vSunday, September 5th

2019 Free Concerts

The Expendables & The Movement
The Expendables & The MovementJune 29, 2019, Howelsen Hill
North Mississippi
North MississippiJuly 5, 2018, Howelsen Hill
Shinyribs & Eric Tesmer
Shinyribs & Eric TesmerJuly 27, 2018, Howelsen Hill
Lettuce w/Maddy O'Neal
Lettuce w/Maddy O'NealAugust 10th, 2018, Howelsen Hill
End Of Summer Jam
End Of Summer JamSeptember 1st, 2018 Howelsen Hill
Billy Strings
Bonfire Dub
Buffalo Commons

2018 Free Concerts

Galactic
GalacticJune 30, 2018, Howelsen Hill
Keller Williams' Petty Grass, feat the Hillbenders
Keller Williams' Petty Grass, feat the HillbendersJuly 7, 2018, Howelsen Hill
JJ Grey & Mofro
JJ Grey & MofroJuly 21, 2018, Howelsen Hill
Stephen Marley
Stephen MarleyAugust 4th, 2018, Howelsen Hill
End of Summer Jam
End of Summer JamAugust 16, 2013, Howelsen Hill
The Motet
Kyle Hollingsworth
Eric Tesmer
Pandas & People

2017 Free Concerts

Tribal Seeds
Tribal SeedsJune 23, 2017, Howelsen Hill
Bruce Hornsby & The Noisemakers
Bruce Hornsby & The NoisemakersJuly 1, 2017, Howelsen Hill
The Record Company
The Record CompanyJuly 14, 2017, Howelsen Hill
The Wood Brothers
The Wood BrothersJuly 28th, 2017, Howelsen Hill
End of Summer Jam. feat Fruition
End of Summer Jam. feat FruitionSeptember 23rd, 2017, Howelsen Hill
Booker T Presents: A Stax Revue
Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe
Hot Rize
Robert Randolph and the Family Band
Chris Robinson Brotherhood
New Orleans Suspects
Jonny Lang
Ziggy Marley – Fly Rasta
Jeff Austin Band
Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue
Big Head Todd & The Monsters
Uncle Lucius
Nicki Bluhm & The Gramblers
The Infamous Stringdusters

Ivan Neville’s Dumpstaphunk

Sam Bush

Drive by Truckers

Carolina Chocolate Drops

Vintage Trouble

Dark Star Orchestra
1964 The Tribute
Trampled by Turtles
The Samples & Zach Heckendorf
War
MarchFourth Marching Band

Electric Hot Tuna

Grace Potter and the Nocturnals

Freddy Jones Band

G. Love and Special Sauce

3 Twins Broadband Featuring Members of the Subdudes

Big Kenny Krutzman

Easy Star All Stars

JJ Grey & Mofro

Emmitt Nershi Band

Big Kenny Krutzman
Rusted Root
Grey Boy All Stars
Freddie Jones Band
Susan Tedeschi
The Avett Brothers

Drew Emmitt
Michael Franti & Spearhead
Lez Zepplin
Cross Canadian Ragweed
Kenny Wayne Shepard

The Wailers
JJ Grey & Mofro
Los Lonely Boys
Sam Bush Band
Pato Banton

Chicago Blues Reunion

JJ Grey & Mofro

Michael Franti & Spearhead

Los Lobos

Matt Costa

Susan Tedeschi

Steel Pulse

Big Head Todd & the Monsters

Sonny Landreth

Nitty Gritty Dirt Band

Cracker

Bela Fleck

Sonia Dada

South Austin Jug Band

Galactic

Little Feat

Delbert McClinton

John Haitt

North Mississippi All Stars

Los Lobos

Jimmy Vaughn

Dave Mason

Creedence Clearwater Revisited

Galactic

Radiators

Little Feat

Michelle Shocked

Marshall Tucker

Tab Benoit

Karl Denson

Lucinda Williams

Susan Tedeschi

Double Trouble

Sam Bush

Fabulous Thunderbirds

WAR

Toots & the Maytals

Craig Chaquico

Floodplain Gang/John Cowan

Rippingtons

William Topley/Stephen Stills

Buckwheat Zydeco

Keb Mo

John Mayall

Robben Ford/Charlie Hunter

Nitty Gritty Dirt Band

Specials

Robert Bradley

String Cheese Incident

Spin Doctors

David Grissman

Maceo Parker

CJ Chinier

The Commitments

Asleep at the Wheel

Bela Fleck

Hazel Miller

Sonny Landreth

NRBQ

Zachary Richard

Leon Russell

Robben Ford

Wind Machine