Castle Rock’s annual Summer Concert Series is back in full swing, drawing crowds to Philip S. Miller Park with a lineup that covers everything from chart-toppers to local favorites.
This year’s series features national acts like Sugar Ray and Gavin DeGraw, alongside local openers and themed tribute nights — including a collaboration between the Denver Pops Orchestra and yacht-rock cover band Yachty Got Back on Labor Day weekend. The first concert of the season, headlined by Sugar Ray, kicked off the series in June.
“We started curating this lineup last fall,” said Erika Alsobrook, special events supervisor for the Town of Castle Rock. “Each of the five concerts has its own heartbeat and rhythm. That’s one of my favorite things about this series — each show stands alone, but they all come together to make something really special.”
Alsobrook said community input plays a big role in shaping the series. At the end of each season, the town sends out surveys asking residents what genres and artists they’d like to see next year.
“That feedback helps us learn what the community wants,” she said. “Sometimes someone mentions a local band they saw at a bar, and even if we don’t book that exact artist, it sparks ideas and conversations. It really is a community-driven lineup.”
The concerts typically draw between 1,500 and 1,800 people each, with a venue capacity of 2,200.
“We always see a spike in ticket sales when the lineup drops,” Alsobrook said. “And then it builds again the week of the show as people start making plans.”
Tickets are sold in tiers — general admission on the elevated lawn, mid-level orchestra seats and front-row patio box seating with tables and bar service.
“No matter where you’re sitting, you’re close to the stage,” Alsobrook said. “The lawn’s one of my favorite GA setups in the state — great sound, a full view of the lights and backdrop, and that signature Castle Rock skyline behind it.”
The event is designed to be family-friendly, and has ADA seating available and golf cart transport from parking to the venue.
“We absolutely love when families come out together,” Alsobrook said. “One of my favorite moments was seeing a little boy yell ‘I know that guy!’ when Sugar Ray’s opener, Dylan Cotrone, walked by.”
Organizers also prioritize a wide mix of genres each year.
“Country plays really well here,” said Castle Rock program specialist Lisa Sorbo. “But we try to always include a top-40 artist … that really helps make the whole series a really fun experience for people, because you’ve just got this broad array of music.”
This year, the town partnered with iHeartMedia and uses social media, local promotions and even a massive LED screen at the outlet mall to get the word out. The event draws people from Denver and all over the Front Range, including Fort Collins, Boulder and Colorado Springs.
“It’s a more intimate venue, and I think that draws folks in,” Alsobrook said.
The concert series is part of Castle Rock’s broader strategy to invest in community-driven events that support local businesses and showcase what the town has to offer.
“It’s about more than just a show,” Alsobrook said. “People grab dinner downtown, they explore the area — and for some, it’s their first visit to Castle Rock.”
This year marks the ninth season of the series and the 10th year since Philip S. Miller Park opened.
“There’s a lot of optimism about where the series can grow from here,” Alsobrook said.
For more information or to purchase tickets, go online to crgov.com/Summer-Concert-Series.