Through the Viewfinder: Why the Redlands Bowl Remains the Heart of Our Town
Photos by Tom Herron
The volunteer-driven, free shows at the Redlands Bowl are consistently well-attended.
By Tom Herron
Special to the Redlands News Collective
REDLANDS — Few places in Redlands hold the pulse of the community quite like the Redlands Bowl. After years of living here and carrying a camera through its walkways, I still find myself slowing down each summer evening just to take it in—the light shifting over the stage, kids settling onto blankets, neighbors greeting one another like old friends, and musicians warming up in the quiet before the first note.
As a volunteer photographer, I’ve been lucky enough to document more than just performances. The real story is often in the margins: a child watching wide-eyed from a parent’s lap, the hush that falls over the crowd as the first chord rings out, and the laughter drifting across the lawn during intermission. The Bowl turns ordinary summer nights into something stitched into memory.
What makes it even more meaningful is knowing how deeply rooted this place is in vision and community effort. Since Grace Stewart Mullen’s bold idea in 1924, the Redlands Bowl has stood as a promise—that world-class music and performance don’t have to be locked behind a ticket booth. They can belong to everyone. That legacy didn’t just happen; it was built, year after year, by volunteers, donors, city leaders, and residents who believed in something bigger than themselves.
The 103rd Redlands Bowl Summer Music Festival continues that tradition. This season opens Friday, June 19 with Yacht Rock Symphony featuring Ambrosia and John Ford Coley, followed by the Grand Finals of the Redlands Bowl Concerto Competition on June 23. From there, the stage lights up with Ticket to the Moon: The ELO Experience on June 26, the bluegrass energy of Ashes & Arrows on June 30, and the beloved Star-Spangled Evening of Patriotic Pops on July 3—a local tradition that feels like the whole town is breathing together.
July unfolds like a musical travelogue. The Filharmonic brings their a cappella sound on July 7, followed by the vibrant movement and color of Leyenda Folklórico on July 10. On July 14, Jay White’s Sweet Caroline Tour pays tribute to Neil Diamond, and on July 17, the Hutchins Consort offers Vivaldi’s "The Four Seasons" under a warm Redlands sky. Families will fill the lawn for Disney’s "Frozen: The Musical," running July 23–26.
In July 2025 the Navy Band Southwest was featured at the Bowl.
The lineup continues with the percussion energy of TAIKOPROJECT on July 28, "West Side Story" in Concert with the Inland Master Chorale on July 31, the precision of the Navy Band Southwest Winds Ensemble on Aug. 4, and the nostalgic harmonies of The Doo Wop Project on Aug. 7. The legendary Glenn Miller Orchestra takes the stage on Aug. 11, and the season closes with the Fireworks Finale featuring the Redlands Symphony on Aug. 14. Beyond summer, the Bowl spirit carries into the holidays with A Holiday Evening with Phat Cat Swinger on Dec. 4.
Every performance begins at 8 p.m., and in true Redlands fashion, admission and parking are free. No tickets, no reservations. All it takes is a blanket, a lawn chair, a picnic basket, and a willingness to slow down and listen.
That’s part of the beauty of living here—how easily a Bowl night becomes a full Redlands evening. Before the music starts, many of us stop by Gerrards Market or The Olive Avenue Market to gather picnic supplies, or swing by Slow Bloom Coffee for a drink. Others meet up at Escape Craft Brewery or the Barrel House, where food trucks line up and conversations spill easily into the night. These places aren’t just stops before a show—they’re part of the same cultural fabric.
In many ways, the Redlands Bowl and the city around it reflect each other. Redlands has always been a place where music, arts, and history are part of everyday life. The Bowl simply gathers that spirit under the open sky.
So if you find yourself out there this summer, look around before the lights dim. Notice the details. And if you see me or any of the other volunteer photographers moving quietly through the crowd, don’t be surprised if you hear a familiar request: “Big smiles.” It’s a small thing, really—but in a place like this, even small moments tend to last a long time.
To follow updates about the Redlands Bowl, visit redlandsbowl.org.