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News from the City of Carlsbad | March 5, 2026

I’m coming to your inbox today with breaking news: We just released the TGIF Concerts in the Parks schedule and I’ve got it for you in today’s update. Our full lineup of nine concerts boasts talented bands across genres, so get those calendars ready. I’ve also got summer classes and camp registration information and a preview of Tuesday’s City Council discussion on improvements to Grand Avenue.

Here’s the full lineup:

• TGIF concerts band lineup announced
• Registration opens Wednesday for summer camps and classes
• City Council to consider Grand Avenue street improvements
• Spring forward and stay safe
• Still time to nominate Citizen of the Year
• ‘Senior Prom’ highlights and more community events
• No rail service this weekend
• What’s on the agenda for your next City Council meeting
• A big thank you to Team Carlsbad

TGIF concerts band lineup announced

Our annual TGIF Concerts in the Parks series will be grooving again this summer with a lineup of talented bands performing ’80s pop, ’90s alternative rock, Top 40, country, yacht rock, R&B, funk, Latin, salsa and soul.

Bands and dates 

Stagecoach Community Park 

• June 19 The Pistol Blonde (country)
• June 26 Chunky Hustle Brass Band (brass band)
• July 10 Dance Dance Evolution (dance band/top 40)
• July 17 Harbor Party (yacht rock)

Calavera Hills Community Park 

• July 24 Sabrosas Latin Orchestra (Latin/salsa)
• July 31 90s Rockshow (’90s alternative rock)
• Aug. 7 B.I.G. (R&B/funk)              

Alga Norte Community Park 

• Aug. 14 FlashPants (’80s)
• Aug. 21 Daring Greatly (rock and soul)

A quick note about the Fourth of July holiday weekend: Because the holiday falls on the weekend again this year, there will not be a concert on Friday, July 3. Instead, we are extending the season by one week, allowing us to still hold nine concerts while avoiding dates that will already be very busy for our residents.

We’ll share more details in the months ahead, including tips for getting to the concerts and what to bring. Sign up to receive email updates with the latest details.

Sponsorship opportunities

Local businesses are invited to connect with the community by sponsoring the TGIF concert season. Sponsorship levels are available to provide enhanced brand visibility through:

• Event signs and banners
• Mentions on the city’s website and social media channels
• Shoutouts onstage by the event announcer

Registration opens Wednesday for summer camps and classes

Speaking of fun things happening this summer, the City of Carlsbad just released its full schedule of summer camps and classes, and registration opens next Wednesday, March 11, at 8 a.m.

These camps and classes always fill up fast, so I recommend signing up as soon as registration begins to make sure you get your top choices.

This year, we’re offering a variety of programs to keep kids active and learning, including sports, science, K-Pop, coding, outdoor adventures and traditional day camps. Camps are one week long and available from June through August for kids ages 3 to 16.

You can find more details in our Summer Community Services Guide on our website and sign up for Parks & Recreation emails to stay updated on all our City of Carlsbad recreation programs.

City Council to consider Grand Avenue street improvements

The City of Carlsbad is considering ways to improve parking and traffic safety along Grand Avenue by converting existing parallel parking to diagonal parking and installing a new all-way stop at the intersection of Grand Avenue and Madison Street. 

The City Council will discuss both projects at its meeting on Tuesday, March 10.

City Council

Tuesday, March 10, 5 p.m.

Council Chamber

1200 Carlsbad Village Drive

How to participate

Providing input on these concepts can help ensure potential improvements align with the community’s needs and priorities. Here’s how you can participate in the meeting and share your feedback:

• Provide comments in person during the meeting
• Email clerk@carlsbadca.gov before 2 p.m. on the day of the meeting
• Watch the livestream

The agenda and staff reports is available on the city’s website.

New all-way stop

The proposed all-way stop at the intersection of Grand Avenue and Madison Street would make it easier for pedestrians and drivers to cross Grand.

• Community members have expressed concerns about this intersection in the past.
• After analyzing traffic volumes and patterns, staff recommend an all-way stop intersection to enhance pedestrian and vehicle access.

Parking improvements

The city has been looking at ways to add more parking in the Village and Barrio for several years, adding 44 new spaces in 2025.

As part of that effort, the city is now exploring the feasibility of converting existing parallel parking on westbound Grand Avenue to diagonal parking between the Tyler Street alley and Jefferson Street. The changes being considered for this portion of Grand Avenue include:

• Reducing the number of westbound lanes on Grand Avenue from two to one
• Creating a center turn lane with turn pockets at intersections
• Adding new parking spaces

Converting parallel parking to diagonal parking in this area could add 11 parking spaces. If the all-way stop sign is approved, three more spaces could be added, bringing the total potential increase to 14.

Spring forward and stay safe

Daylight saving time begins Sunday, March 8, at 2 a.m., so please remember to turn your clocks forward an hour before you go to bed Saturday night.

Traffic fatalities nationwide increase by 6% in the week following the “spring forward” time change, according to a 2020 study in the journal Current Biology. Most of those crashes occur in the morning. You can keep our community safe by following these five tips:

• Slow down and stay alert. Even if you’re not tired, others on the road could be.
• Pay extra attention during the dark morning hours when it can be harder to see other people on the road.
• If you’re walking or biking, wear reflective strips, bright colors and carry a light. Bikes are required to have front and rear lights if you’re riding in the dark.
• You can always use your phone as a flashlight if you’re walking – just stay focused on your surroundings and not your apps.
• A lighted or reflective collar and leash are great ways to be seen if you’re walking with a furry friend.

A good time to test your fire alarm

While you’re adjusting your clock, please take a few minutes to test your smoke alarms by pressing and holding the test button.

• Replace the unit if it doesn’t make a sound; replace batteries annually.
• If it has a sealed 10-year battery, replace the entire unit every 10 years. Alarms should be installed on every level of your home, inside bedrooms and in hallways leading to sleeping areas.
• For assistance, contact the City of Carlsbad Fire & Life Safety Division at 442-339-2665.

Visit our website for additional seasonal reminders for your home.

Still time to nominate our next Citizen of the Year

Do you know someone who goes above and beyond to make Carlsbad a better place? The City of Carlsbad is still accepting nominations for its Citizen of the Year award, recognizing residents who devote their time and energy to civic improvement, beautification and community well-being in Carlsbad.

Nominations are due by April 3. Nomination forms are available on the city’s website and at City Hall, 1200 Carlsbad Village Drive.

A five-person committee appointed by the Mayor will select up to two honorees.

‘Senior Prom’ highlights and more community events

The city’s first-ever “Senior Prom” at the Carlsbad Senior Center was a big hit, complete with music, dancing and even a prom king and queen. This video captures some of the fun and it’s sure to make you smile. Thank you to the Rotary Club of Carlsbad for partnering with us on the event, and to students from Sage Creek High School for hosting a photo booth with Polaroid keepsakes.

Here are a few more fun activities happening soon at our city libraries, community centers and the Carlsbad Senior Center:

• Cinema Club Friday: "Mary Queen of Scots" – Friday, March 6, 4 p.m. and 7 p.m., Dove Library
• Courtyard Concerts: Daniel Newheiser – Monday, March 9, 12:30 to 1:30 p.m., Carlsbad Senior Center
• Bilingual Craft Adult Night – Wednesday, March 11, 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., Dove Library
• Reel Wednesday: "Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere" – Wednesday, March 11, 4 p.m. and 7 p.m., Dove Library
• Shamrock Social (ages 10-14) – Saturday, March 14, 6 to 9 p.m., Pine Avenue Community Center

No rail service this weekend

The North County Transit District asked us to let you know that there will be no coastal rail service between Oceanside and San Diego this weekend, March 7 and 8, due to routine maintenance and rail infrastructure work. You can learn more and see the full schedule on the NCTD website by clicking on the COASTER tab at the top of the page.

What’s on the agenda for your next City Council meeting

The next City Council meeting will be on Tuesday, March 10, starting at 5 p.m. in the City Council Chamber. Topics include:

• Monthly update on how the city’s investments are performing
• An agreement for the systems used to handle and track library materials
• Changing the City Council policy on marketing partnership agreements for certain programs such as TGIF Concerts in the Park to streamline the review process
• Acquisition and resale of 2682 Leighton Circle as part of the Affordable Housing Resale Program
• Terminating the emergency declared because of a water main break that opened a large hole on Carlsbad Village Drive near El Camino Real
• Terminating the emergency declared to make repairs to a damaged storm drain and sinkhole in the coastal bluffs
• Extending the agreement for the billing system used by the city and the Carlsbad Municipal Water District
• Adding stop signs on Madison Street at Grand Avenue, creating three additional parking spaces
• Amending the sections of the Carlsbad Municipal Code that deal with purchasing to streamline the city’s procurement processes
• The city’s annual Growth Management Plan Monitoring Report, which includes an analysis of development activity and the adequacy of public facilities and improvements
• An agreement with a consultant to study how parking is used in the Village, Barrio and beach areas
• A project that would provide 11 additional parking spaces on Grand Avenue in the Village
• Forming an ad-hoc City Council Veterans Memorial Park veterans recognition subcommittee

The agenda and staff reports are available on the city’s website.

3 easy ways to participate

1. Sign up to get agendas and staff reports emailed to you directly
2. Provide feedback via email to clerk@carlsbadca.gov by 2 p.m. the day of the meeting
3. Sign up to speak at the meeting

… and 3 ways to watch

1. Follow the meeting live on the city's website
2. Watch the meeting live on the city’s cable channel: Spectrum channel 24 or AT&T U-verse channel 99
3. Watch a recording of the meeting afterward (online or on our channel) 

Two city boards and commissions are also scheduled to meet next week: the Historic Preservation Commission and Housing Commission. Like City Council meetings, board and commission meetings are livestreamed on the city’s website and available to watch afterward. See the full meeting schedule on our city calendar.

A shout out to Team Carlsbad employees

Each City Manager's Update, I do my best to share stories that take you behind the scenes with our City of Carlsbad employees, whether they’re resurfacing a road, visiting a classroom or hosting meaningful programs. I do this in part because I could not be prouder of their work and I want to make sure our community sees.

I bring this up because tomorrow, Friday, March 6, happens to be Employee Appreciation Day, a chance for me to recognize all of our staff (again!).

Our city employees do so much in a single day. They design and maintain our infrastructure, keep our neighborhoods safe, support local businesses, provide essential services to residents, protect our environment and put on programs for everyone from toddlers to seniors. Whether it’s 2 a.m. or 2 p.m., we have team members on duty seven days a week to respond to any issues or challenges that come our way.

I’m ending today’s update with a video that shows that work in action.

Please know that we strive to set the standard for local government services, and I hope, as a reader of these updates, you feel we accomplish that goal.

Thank you to our staff, and to our community for backing them.

Geoff Patnoe

City Manager