The City of Thousand Oaks’ annual Pop-Up Arts & Music Festival returns this summer, bringing free public performances to neighborhoods across the city every Friday and Saturday in June. The 2026 edition runs June 5 through June 27, featuring eight free events over four weekends. No tickets, no venue fees, no hassle — just great live music in some of the city’s most beloved outdoor spaces.
The concept is simple and brilliant. Rather than asking residents to come to the arts, the festival brings the arts to residents — popping up at unexpected and distinctive locations throughout the community. Pack a blanket, grab a picnic, and let the music find you.
This year’s festival unfolds in collaboration with local arts organizations, with each performance highlighting a unique genre and taking place in a different park. The result is a month-long tour of Ventura County’s creative range, from the grassy expanse of Cañada Park to the historic ambiance of the Stagecoach Inn Museum Lawn.
The 2026 lineup is a feast for music lovers of every stripe. The festival opens June 5 at Cañada Park with Sally Baby’s Silver Dollars, an act gaining national attention for their fresh take on retro R&B dance hall music and Creole jazz — a sound that blends vintage style with contemporary energy and has taken them all the way to NPR’s Tiny Desk Concerts.
The following weekend brings two very different flavors. On June 12 at Spring Meadow Park, 5-Star Theatricals presents Summer of Rock!, a high-energy celebration of rock classics spanning the 60s to now, featuring music from Queen, The Beatles, Bon Jovi, Fleetwood Mac, and more. Then on June 13, the New West Symphony delivers something wholly unexpected at Sunset Hills Park: the Opera Cowgirls, an alt-country band that blends grand opera with the Grand Ole Opry, covering everything from Puccini to Dolly Parton.
The final weekends bring the blues power of Juno Award–winning Crystal Shawanda (June 19, Triunfo Community Park), the Americana warmth of The Barefoot Movement (June 20, Stagecoach Inn Museum Lawn), soul and funk singer-songwriter Mia Borders (June 26, Suburbia Park), and a grand finale on June 27 at Kimber Park with the Boogaloo Assassins — a 13-piece boogaloo, salsa, and Latin soul group from Los Angeles whose Afro-Latin rhythms and funky horn arrangements are, quite simply, irresistible on a Saturday night.
This year’s series is also infused with the spirit of America’s 250th anniversary, offering a chance for neighbors to gather in beautiful, relaxed outdoor spaces and celebrate community through the arts. It’s a fitting theme for a festival that has always been, at its heart, about connection.
SALLY BABY’S SILVER DOLLARS
Friday, June 5
Cañada Park
1619 Calle Zocalo, Thousand Oaks, CA 91360
Sally Baby’s Silver Dollars are gaining national attention with their fresh take on retro R&B dance hall music and Creole jazz. Their sound blends vintage style with lively, contemporary energy. This distinct approach has helped them rise from performing in small dive bars to appearing on NPR Tiny Desk Concerts. www.sallybabyssilverdollars.com/
THE REBEL EVES
Saturday, June 6
Northwood Park
3620 Avenida Verano, Thousand Oaks, CA 91360
The female super-group The Rebel Eves was formed by Michigan bred award winning singer-songwriters, Katie Pederson, Grace Theisen and Jilian Linklater. Formed in 2022 they quickly won over the hearts of their audiences with their honest storytelling, incredible three-part harmonies, and compelling lyricism. www.therebeleves.com/
5-Star Theatricals presents
SUMMER OF ROCK!
Friday, June 12
Spring Meadow Park
3283 Spring Meadow Ave, Thousand Oaks, CA 91360
Join MillStock & Company and five incredible singers for a night of rock classics from the 60s till now, including the music of Bruce Springsteen, Queen, The Beatles, Duran Duran, Bon Jovi, Guns’n’ Roses, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Journey, Led Zeppelin, Fleetwood Mac, and many more!
New West Symphony presents
OPERA COWGIRLS
Saturday, June 13
Sunset Hills Park
3350 Monte Carlo Dr, Thousand Oaks, CA 91362
The Opera Cowgirls are an alt-country band where grand opera meets the Grand Ole Opry®. By blending the greatest operatic hits with some country flavor, the Cowgirls have proven that they can truly cover Puccini to Parton. www.operacowgirls.com/
CRYSTAL SHAWANDA
Friday, June 19
Triunfo Community Park
980 Aranmoor Ave, Thousand Oaks, CA 91362
Crystal Shawanda is a Juno Award–winning singer whose powerful voice commands attention. Rooted in the blues, her sound has earned praise from critics and drawn in waves of new fans. With her signature raspy tone and undeniable stage presence, Shawanda captivates audiences across genres.
THE BAREFOOT MOVEMENT
Saturday, June 20
Stagecoach Inn Museum Lawn
51 S Ventu Park Rd, Newbury Park, CA 91320
The Barefoot Movement integrates bluegrass, folk, rock, and country into music that’s delightfully fresh. The “movement” features fiddle, mandolin, guitar, and upright bass, supporting soaring vocals on tunes that range in style from traditional Americana to acoustic pop. www.thebarefootmovementofficial.com/
MIA BORDERS
Friday, June 26
Suburbia Park
2600 Tennyson St, Thousand Oaks, CA 91360
Mia Borders is a renowned singer-songwriter who has captivated audiences with her commanding voice, electrifying performances, and diverse musical style. Drawing inspiration from soul, funk, rock, and blues, she has crafted a distinctive sound that reflects her dynamic artistry and commanding stage presence. www.miaborders.com/
BOOGALOO ASSASSINS
Saturday, June 27
Kimber Park
3295 Bear Creek Drive, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320
Boogaloo Assassins are a 13-piece boogaloo, salsa and Latin soul group from Los Angeles. Their heavy mixture of Afro-Latin rhythms, funky horn arrangements and soulful vocals are perfect dance music for Saturday night! www.boogalooassassins.com/
The City of Thousand Oaks Pop-Up Arts & Music Festival runs Fridays and Saturdays, June 5–27, 2026, at parks throughout Thousand Oaks. All events are free.
All events begin at 7:00 PM and are free and open to all. Bring your own chair, blanket, and picnic. For the full schedule, visit BAPACThousandOaks.com/PopUp.
