Every Thursday evening from late June through August, the Santa Monica Pier becomes the closest thing Los Angeles has to a town square. The Twilight Concert Series has been running since 1984 — which means three generations of people have watched the sun drop into the Pacific from this wooden deck while live music played behind them. Shows run through August 27, 2026, starting at 7 PM each Thursday. Admission is free. The pier fills early — regulars claim spots by 5:30. Bring a blanket. Bring food from the boardwalk. Grab a drink from the cantina and watch the crowd figure out how to dance on wooden planks above the …