The Summer Nights in Nevada City celebration, a street festival of art and music, has been an annual tradition in this quaint, scenic – and sometimes quirky – community, for 31 years. This free event takes place on three Wednesday evenings: July 12, 19 & 26, 2023 from 6-9:30pm.
Three Wednesday Nights in July — FREE entertainment for the whole family!
Summer Nights visitors can enjoy a restaurants meal, unwind with some live music or just relax with a stroll around our stores and craftsmen booths. “Summer Nights is a Nevada City tradition – the whole town comes alive,” says Stuart Baker, Director of the Nevada City Chamber of Commerce the event sponsor. “It’s the must-attend event of the summer — a community party that shows off the best of Nevada City.”
Summer Nights returns with familiar and new vendors and activities such as face painting, balloon animals and a bounce house for the kids, belly dancers Troupe al Ama, aerial dancers, a food court offering an array of delicious treats, and craft vendors selling clothing, jewelry, leather goods, crystals and minerals, vintage goods and more. Many of the downtown shops including Solstice and SoulCrafts will join in the fun by having their own booths on the streets with vintage clothing, furniture, jewelry and other one-of-a-kind gifts.
Wednesday evenings in July are a vacation for the entire family, with bands playing on special stages and a Bounce House for kids. With free nightly events throughout our downtown historic district, attendees are certain to find something to entertain and delight them.
Be sure to come hungry! There are numerous street vendors selling delicious foods and drinks. Most food vendors are located in the Food Court on Commercial Street in the Three Forks parking lot. Additionally, there are many downtown restaurants offering both indoor dining and patio seating.
For those 21+ – You can find for locally made beer, wine, and hard kombucha at our drink booth located in the Food Court.
Parking is challenging, as Broad and Commercial Streets are closed to through traffic. Parking is not allowed on “On or Off Ramps” of Highways 49 and 20. Cars parked on the ramps will be ticketed and may be towed.
Street Parking
There is street parking located throughout downtown Nevada City, but it fills up quickly
Please pay attention to road closure signs and don’t park within the designated event area
Public Parking Lots
Commercial Street Lot – located at 412 Commercial Street
Spring Street Lot – Located at the corner of Spring Street & Pine Street behind the National Hotel
Nevada Street Lot – Located near the corner of Nevada Street & Boulder Street
Court House Parking Lot – Located near the corner of Court Street & Main Street
There are several public restrooms located throughout the event:
City Hall – Located on upper Broad St. at 317 Broad St.
Commercial Street Parking Lot – located just outside the event footprint at 412 Commercial St. – Just past the Remedy Garden in the parking lot.
Robinson Plaza – Look for the Christmas Tree! The public restrooms are behind the tree (slightly hidden by the Pelton Wheel). Additional Port-a-Potties are located in the Plaza on the side of the bookstore. This is the closest restroom to the food court. Located at 132 Main St.
Nevada City is located at the 2,500-foot elevation on the forested western slope of the Sierra Nevada. Summer days and evenings are cooler than in the Sacramento Valley. From Sacramento, take eastbound Interstate 80 to Auburn and Highway 49 north to Nevada City. It’s a one-hour drive from the capital. From Marysville and the north valley, take eastbound Highway 20. From Reno and Lake Tahoe, take westbound I-80 and state route 20.
