I live in the south Bay, but I love to travel for food and support local businesses. Community events are always my favorite because so many people come together, people in the Bay Area are so nice and welcoming, and you get to meet staff and business owners of small businesses in the area. Everyone was super friendly, happy to talk about their food, or drinks, or restaurants. The music and band was really good, and it was the perfect day to gather around to support local businesses. Thank you Yelp for doing this, another successful community event, and I cannot wait to visit the businesses that I stopped by and talk to. I had a really good ceviche and guac from the Mexican restaurant giving out samples, I went to various boobs that had beer, ales, and IPAs that were really delicious and I look forward to coming back to the Peninsula and supporting them. read more

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Our 1st Yelp event together, minimum $20 Donation, lots of good Booze, Old Fashions, Espresso Martini, Margaritas, Wines, Beers & Tequilas. Great food samples from the Peninsula areas. Live Band was fun, friendly service & great weather. read more

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Great spot for their Music on the Square listening to a variety of cover bands from R&B, Soul, Pop, Rock and Funk in Downtown Redwood City from May - August, Friday evenings from 6pm-8pm. Over the years I've listened to Journey, Chicago cover bands and Careless Whisperer which is a tribute to the 80s. And most recently (Friday, July 19) Fleetwood Macrame which is a tribute to Fleetwood Mac! Love the name...Hey, it's all good! With everything being so expensive, this is fun and cheap entertainment...just bring your own chair, blanket and enjoy the vibes, people watch, make new friends and dine in the area. The event does draw a lot of people so plan accordingly. You can tell there are regulars (residents) as they place that chair as a placeholder a couple of hours before. Last show is August 30, 2024 with Pride and Joy! https://www.redwoodcity.org/residents/redwood-city-events/music/music-on-the-square read more

Attended a concert on the square. I was pleasantly surprised how organized they lay out for bring your own seating. The concert started at six. I got there at four to put my chairs down and at 3P they start allowing the first chair is to be reserve your own spot. It's in beautiful downtown Redwood City. Plenty of parking, parking lots. The restrooms needed some TLC from the moment we got there. They were just a little messy. They did have the portable fancy restrooms, which is nice. read more

Courthouse Square - Howdy from Texas - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Redwood City, California

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I went to jury duty here. Well I had to show up but didn't get selected. It wasn't that bad of an experience. They were pretty nice. I would give all stars but they didn't give free coffee. Definitely make sure you empty your pockets.the parking is great. The parking garage is definitely a good idea in this area. They have a pretty good cafeteria here. I wish we gotta discount but it's still good anyways. The judges seem pretty decent here from what I've encountered. read more

It's absolutely wonderful here at the Courthouse Square on a Sunday afternoon! Not too crowded and not too hot, just perfect, and some music coming up shortly! They are featuring Bayshore Lyric Opera tonight, on Sunday July 17 at 6 pm. It's the free performance of Mozart's great masterpiece, The Marriage of Figaro (adopted for the venue, of course). Checkout the synopsis at bslopera.com. There are many music festivities held here over the summer months, celebrating 10 years of downtown events on the square in Redwood City, in front of the magnificent San Mateo county history museum, it's impossible to count, lol. People bring food and even have picnics before and after the show. Super fun! There are countless events and fairs run here, art shows and festivals, 4th of July fireworks, live music concerts, special events for kids! Octoberfest is coming up early in September, Salsa festival at the end of the month, Zoppe Italian family circus (tickets at redwoodcityevents.com) is coming up in October. I posted lots of photos featuring this information if you want/need details. Movies are shown on Thursdays at sundown and music is played on Fridays 6-8pm. read more

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Love it here! Love it. Whenever we are walking together day or night... rain or shine... Festival, Farmers Market, or for no good reason at all... I can't help but daydream about raising a family here in Redwood City. The people are down to earth, the town is clean, whoever plans the events here has what it takes to pull together excellent vendors and a great crowd to enjoy it all with. Seeing children riding their little bikes in the square, couples holding hands, people standing around with their drinks chatting and people watching... great music playing in the background... Oh and there isn't graffiti here! Man, I don't miss San Jose at all. The police officers are friendly here and the square is clean. It also amazes me that a city in the Bay Area can have beautiful little bistro sets sitting around in a town square that people actually respect and take care of as they enjoy them. Great town, Good people! read more

YAY!!! I love love love the courthouse square! It's super nice and beautiful and I love that in the Summer they have FREE entertainments every single night! I was there for a FREE movie night with some friends... do come early to snag a table and chair.. otherwise, bring your own! Friday nights (summer) are usually VERY CROWDED (music on the square) and you really want to bring your own stuff to sit on! Lots of people bring their own food and drink and have picnics here :) I really hope that the city will find a way to keep funding the activities here....it certainly brings businesses to the otherwise sleepy downtown area. Check out downtown redwood city event page to find what else they are offering here at the courthouse square. It's worth visiting! read more

Definitely a great place to take your lunch on a nice day. The co-worker and I decided to do a hot dog run (hitting up two places for comparison) and brought out food here. Now for the dead of winter it somehow managed to be 62 degrees and sunny. Since we had a later lunch we had the square, the fountains, and the nice day all to ourselves. Let me tell you, it was a bitch trying to motivate myself and go back to work. read more

Love't here. So nice and even nicer in the summer w all the free dancin, live music, & movie nights. Eateries and now 2 movie theatres to pick from. Bravo! read more

Courthouse Square - Kidchella - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Redwood City, California

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Beautiful Friday afternoon in early spring was a great day to go to the free museum day. Kids playing outside people enjoying themselves all kinds of great food within walking distance from here and a movie theater. You can't go wrong with a outing to the courthouse square! read more

Courthouse Square - Russ is the judge! - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Redwood City, California

Redwood city has come a long way!!! I love the fact that us residents (non residents too) can enjoy the movies, dancing, performances and festivals at the courthouse square. It's a beautiful place come check it out! Make sure you Bring a cooler with goods and enjoy the variety of music, movies and events! read more

Courthouse Square - Beautiful evening in RWC - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Redwood City, California

There are 10+ decorative fountains in the square but not one public water fountain for drinking. How can this be? Where have our water fountains disappeared to? read more

Well being a Redwood City resident, it's time once again to don my RWC cheerleader outfit (it's very tight under the arms) and sing...uh chant the praises of the revitalized downtown area. One of the centerpieces is the RWC Courthouse Square. Does anybody realize how much stuff is going on here during the summer? Let's review: --- Music on the Square: Free outdoor concerts every Friday from 6-8 p.m.; May to early October --- Movies on the Square: Free outdoor movies (PG-13 and below) on the big screen every Thursday night, starting at sundown; June to August --- Shakespeare on the Square: selected Saturday evenings, starting at 7 pm; preceded by a local string quartet starting at 5:30 --- Dancing on the square: Dance series every Tuesday night from June to September --- Other various weekend events, including the PAL Blues festival and Target Family days, which include music, storytelling and activities. The scheduling for all the above events can be found at the RWC special events site. Here's the link: http://www.redwoodcity.org/events/ Hungry? Thirsty? These events include vendors selling refreshments, including beer and wine. Plus there are a variety of quickie restaurants within a block, including taquerias, pizza joints, bakeries, sandwich spots and even dessert-based cafes. Five stars for being free, outside, family-friendly, walking distance to Caltrain, and adjacent to the beautiful San Mateo County courthouse. Did I mention these activities are all FREE? Last time I checked, Free was good. read more

You remember that scene in (500) Days of Summer where Joseph Gordon-Levitt walks around and is having the best day EVER? The scene with the dance sequence to Hall and Oates "You Make My Dreams Come True" and the little birds from Cinderella? No? Watch this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8tJoIaXZ0rw Courthouse Square reminds me of that scene. At night, there are little lights everywhere and it's pretty romantic. Love the music in the park and movies during the summertime! read more

Sorry, but as someone born and raised in Redwood City, I have to say MEH. Don't get me wrong, Courthouse Square is a huge improvement over the nothing we had on this block for years. Getting rid of the crappy, dingy/gloomy old facade and showcasing the historic, original County Courthouse in all its glory is absolutely a wonderful thing. But the DESIGN. Holy crap, the level of fail in the design is astounding. There is no shade anywhere which makes hanging out at Courthouse Square absolutely unbearable in the spring/summer/fall, thanks to the fact that the tryhard geniuses who designed the area planned it to be like any one of the more generic stone-'n'-concrete upscale strip mall courtyards that you'll find in the Valley down in SoCal. An entire half a block of open gathering space and they didn't think to plant a single tree or even install a patch of lawn or a flower bed. Sure, you can shelter under a kiosk, but if you're at the Square for an event it's likely that your view of the proceedings will suck. And while I'm glad that the Square is being used as a community meeting space, most of the events put on by the city do not appeal to me. I mean I'm glad that the free Friday music nights and free Thursday movie nights exist for the people who enjoy them, but they are not for me. The movies tend to be years old and either rated G for the kiddies or just seriously right-wing and not my style. What I mean by that is that they would show movies like Jarhead but never something like Milk (yes, my references are a few years out of date). And as much as out of towners and people who live on the 94062 side of the city might enjoy the novelty of music at the Square, people who live downtown aren't always thrilled to be renting units at inflated Peninsula prices only to have loud rock music blaring just a few blocks away. Nor do I ever think it's fun to sit in a square with a hundred loud, tipsy people listening to the latest dad-rock tribute band. Also, if you read some of the previous reviews, you'll see that Courthouse Square represents a super-gentrified and sanitized version of what a downtown should be. Previous reviews laud the heavy police presence on busy nights, the lack of graffiti (because graffiti is so scary and offensive to the visual cortex), and the general absence of riffraff. Yes, seeing obnoxious middle-aged dudebros paying for overpriced beer in a plastic cup and rocking out to Dave Matthews Lite is totally acceptable, but heaven forbid you run into a group of young teenagers (of color) or get a glimpse of one of the city's estimated 500 homeless people. Sorry for the rant, haha! I do think the Square is an improvement on the past. But so many things about it, like the type of attitude it promotes and the type of direction it clearly indicates for the city just doesn't fit with me and the perspective I have as a native. Remember "stop trying to making 'fetch' happen" from Mean Girls? That's exactly the feeling I get when I see the Square: stop trying to make RWC happen. One cool thing about the square: Occupy Redwood City used to meet at the Square on Friday evenings (they now meet at City Hall). The Square was also the site of a large labor rally back in April of last year. Now THAT's a real awesome use of this downtown community space: bringing back the feeling of the commons, civic participation, and a true town hall feel to the center of the city. read more

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Smack dab in the middle of Redwood Coty, this spot is the quintessential small town center. Came here tonight for an outdoor movie. It was the perfect way to unwind after a crazy weekend. They even provide a few chairs and tables, just in case you forgot to bring your own. Come here and see this cute little RWC gem. read more

one of my absolute favourite places to be in r-w-c....ha, it even rhymes! i've been here countless times, for downtown redwood city festivals, concerts, and art displays. sometimes, when it's quiet, i like to grab a chair and table and just eat my sandwich here b/c it's so peaceful. i've even seen brides and grooms take their photographs here with their wedding parties! i love that this area is centrally located, right in front of the san mateo county museum, and is always open and free to the public. there are always pizza boards on the perimeter of the square that inform passersby about upcoming events on the "square" such as concerts, movies, and other entertainment. on the southeast side of the square are froyola, a frozen yogurt shoppe, and chatime, a bubble tea and coffee shoppe. on the northwest side of the square is a small gift shop. this is truly a gem in redwood city and makes me happy to be a resident here. read more

The creation of the Courthouse Square as a center for community activities in RWC is one of the best uses of space that I've ever seen. Used all year round, programs are just great and my wife and I look forward to the summer concerts every year. Dancing with your community is marvelous!!! read more

Courthouse Square - Courthouse top at night - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Redwood City, California

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Courthouse Square is shaping up to be the cultural center of Redwood City. The fountains are lovely and the square looks clean and well kept. Even the sidewalks look new. It's a great place to enjoy lunch (there are plenty of wooden Smith & Hawken tables and chairs) and during the summer, musicians perform just about everyday. They've also had free outdoor movie nights, dancing on the square and art shows. The farmers' market takes place here on Saturdays (April - November). They display community art here too. Courthouse Square is flanked by the old Fox Theater building (now a venue for live music), several art galleries and the Redwood City Courthouse (built in 1910, now the San Mateo County History Museum). It truly feels like the center of Redwood City. The courthouse is two stories, topped by a stained glass dome and bell tower. Eagles and crests adorn the rooftops making it quite a lovely, stately building. Inside you'll find mosaic tile floors and a grand staircase. Admission is $4 for adults and $2 for seniors and children. Entrance to the gift shop is free and you'll find books about local history and toys for kids. read more

Last Friday night I attended a venue - concert of Foreverland, Micheal Jackson's tribute band - for the first time at the Courthouse square. BTW, The concert was the blast!!! A lot of fun, laughter, dancing in the crowd. The square was almost packed with public. But it's still convenient to move between people and chairs - all is well-organized and arranged. A great choice of restaurants on Broadway around the Square made the rest of our evening. Free parking in the county garage just one block away from the Square - what else you need to have a perfect Friday night in the town! read more

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I love this square and the many community events that happen here all summer.. Today as I lunched I sat watching a father daughter dup perform some real retro numbers and I checked the many events coming up, the dance lessons on tuedays, the music concerts on fridays and the family events through the weak and lo! Joy was in the air! The city has done a great job at creating a community feeling through these events..I can't wait for the free salsa lessons the last tuesday of this month :) read more

my hubby & I got hitched at the courthouse here in RWC, and took some wedding photos here at the Square. It was a gorgeous day out, and there were lots of other people milling around, but we had a blast taking our photos. Some of them turned out awesome, i've had tons of compliments on our photos and a lot of the people out and about were super friendly and kept smiling at us. The Square would also be a chill place to just grab a good book, a cold drink and hang out for a quiet afternoon :) read more

I was so impressed by this venue! Not being from Redwood city I wasn't sure what to expect, because I never spend time there. But the outdoor movie night I attended was so enjoyable... They already have some tables and chairs for public use, but people definitely bring their own as well (there is not enough for everyone). it is all concrete so if you only have a blanket, plan on booty lock halfway through the movie.. And plan on sitting way up in the front so you aren't blocked by everyone else. Bring your own food or get it from a local joint, and if you forget some nice beverages.. grab some to you're right! They serve beer, wine, sodas, water, etc. The screen for the movie was great size and the film is in HD! Can't go wrong! read more

This is a nice, small square or center of town. There are several restaurants around and a movie theater. They have some small scale performances in the square as well. read more

A Beautiful Square in Downtown Redwood City!!! They offer many events here. Whether its the Oktoberfest each year (by ticket purchase only) or evening shows in the summer which are free to the public. The square is aesthetically beautiful situated in front of the Redwood City History Museum (which is a gorgeous building that reminds me of architecture I would see in Europe). Located nearby are restaurants, quick eats (Boba, Burgers, FroYo), the movie theater, cafes, etc. Great place to take a stroll one evening. read more

What a great spot! We came here for the Carne Asada Festival and they had the stage set up here. Large enough so people weren't too packed in. I can imagine how great the movie nights and other organized events must be. Gorgeous on a warm summer night. read more

Boo ya kaza !!! They got tables with umbrellas set 24 hrs a day ... bring your food , your wine , your beer .....your kids ...eh maybe leave your kid at home in front of a video game ( I kid , I kid !) fun for all the family , even pets .... music, restaurants , bars ......BETTER setting than Palo Alto and Mountain View's downtowns .... be here and be or Courthouse Square ! I Yelp-commend this place. read more

I love my town! The downtown area especially... It used to be a very boring place, but now it's become a true Peninsula destination. Within a few blocks of the Courthouse there are dozens of restaurants, coffee shops, bars, and two theaters, with ATMs and free parking available. There's plenty of free entertainment on the Square during the summer, during which outdoor drinking is allowed! The area is very clean - no graffiti, no garbage, and no whinos. Redwood City PD patrols heavily, and the Sheriff's Office is a block away so the area is very safe. A couple of minor negatives: The movie theater is a popular hangout for teeny-boppers, so at times you may encounter a group of loud punk kids. The Caltrain station is nearby, so the sound of train horns can get a little annoying. But all in all, this is a great place to visit... read more

The place to be in RWC during the Spring and Summer concerts! Great people, great fun, great music and wine...all you need to bring is the family an friends!!! RWC has the best weather in the peninsula! read more

Have gone to the Redwood City Thursday free summer outdoor movies and have had a great time. http://www.ci.redwood-city.ca.us/events/movieschedule.html During the week there are free events going on, Shakespeare, dance classes and the music. http://www.redwoodcity.org/calendar/ Have sat next to the fountains on the steps which they shut off during the movie and the cement is warm from the sun. There are snacks like sodas, hot chocolate and popcorn and cotton candy on sale under the gazebo. The restrooms are fairly clean. Have bought local to go food from nearby restaurants. You have to get there an hour before if you want to snag bistro table and seat. Many family's show up with their own chairs and blankets and their kids in PJ's. Some make it a night with friends bringing their own chairs, wine and cheese. Once we even went to the Century movie theater across the street to buy real popcorn with butter to watch the outdoor movie. When the nights get colder I bring a thermos of hot drinks and a blanket to cover. It is fun and cozy. It can get noisy with the kids and babies. Some people smoke...bleh...Plenty of street and business lot parking around the area. Close down Broadway for more room to sit in the street with your own chairs. read more

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Went to the Foreverland Friday evening concert. Gr8 Michael Jackson tribute band. Lots of people enjoying the end of summer.

I love Courthouse Square and well the city uses it for festivals, events and concerts. It is beautiful and such a nice anchor for downtown Redwood City. Parking downtown can be difficult with all the construction projects, but the city has done an ok job with signs directing visitors to the nearby parking garages. If you're driving, plan to allow a little extra time to find parking. Parking often free is for events if you're willing to walk just a few blocks. read more

Myself and my boyfriend went to check out the Lebanese featival and we had a Great experience. The food was really good and authentic, the people were just lovely and kind. I'm glad we went and we are looking forward to come back next year. Only inconvenient was the exchanging of money for tickets to get food, and at the end, you can't exchange the ticket for money back you must use them all a bit annoying. read more

Really nice and upscale outdoor venue in the center of downtown Redwood City. They have concerts and outdoor events put on by the city. Its located right across the street from the Fox Theater, museum and Century Theater. A great place to just hang out and enjoy the day. read more

Downtown Redwood City was revamped in recent years and now looks like a more welcoming place to hang out and to check out the local shops and restaurants. During the warmer months, the Courthouse Square is a nice place to take in the sun or to grab a bite out to eat. I have seen the Courthouse Square as a space and place to hold outdoor events sponsored by local organizations and the City of Redwood City. I have seen events such as outdoor movies and shows/festivals hosted in the square. read more

Love the courthouse plaza. But what happened to the bistro tables and chairs? They seem to have disappeared for a few months now.

Redwood City organizes a series of fabulous events every year, all summer long. Every night (except Tuesday nights I think) there is something going on. No matter what your interests are you will find something you enjoy: there is music on the square (live bands and lots of room to dance in front of the stage), jazz concerts, dancing and movies in the evening (Thursday nights)! Events are well organized and the atmosphere is great!!!! I went there on my own and with Friends and had a blast each time!!!! read more

I went to the concert last night. We saw Pride & Joy. Great concert though very crowded. You really need to get there early. Redwood City has great weather. Lots of fun! read more

Yeay, RWC, finally a great civic project, and if this does not revitalize downtown, nothing will. They did a great job on the plaza, plenty of nice tables, fountains, kiosks which hopefully will fill up soon to sell food and such, lots of free activities. Great place to get some food to go and just hang out. read more