Adams Avenue Unplugged
- Dates
- Expected April 2027
- Status
- Expected
- Venue
- Adams Avenue corridor (University Heights, Normal Heights, Kensington)
- Price
- Free
- Camping
- None on site
- Last checked
- Oct 20, 2026
The last Adams Avenue Unplugged was April 25, 2026, in San Diego, CA. Its 2027 dates haven't been announced yet. Froligo tracks free-entry details, attendee feedback and travel details.
The experience
Last time around (2026)
The 2026 edition ran April 25-26 with over 90 performers across 26 indoor and outdoor venues, headlined by Alejandro Escovedo in a separately ticketed show. Coverage highlighted a soul/funk set from The Gravities that had the crowd dancing at The Rabbit Hole, a capacity crowd for Sara Petite at The Ould Sod, and returning 15-year veteran performer Amanda Portela, alongside food vendors including Ponce's Mexican Restaurant, House of Baro, Goodboy Pizza and Flavors of East Africa. At least one reader publicly objected to the $40 headliner ticket price undercutting the event's free-festival framing.
What's special
Adams Avenue Unplugged is a free, two-day musical walkabout each April through the Adams Avenue corridor of San Diego's University Heights, Normal Heights and Kensington neighborhoods. Run since 2012 by the Adams Avenue Business Association (with roots stretching back to the earlier Adams Avenue Roots Festival and Street Fair), it turns roughly 26 bars, restaurants, coffee houses and the historic Normal Heights Church along a two-mile stretch into stages for around 90 mostly-acoustic performances, almost all free and all-ages. A single ticketed headliner concert and a community beer garden sit alongside the free program each year.
What people love
Attendees consistently praise the wander-and-discover format -- catching unfamiliar local acts in unusual small venues, including a converted church -- as the highlight of the weekend, and describe individual sets as a standout of their year. The free admission and low-key, neighborhood feel are repeatedly cited as the draw, with a strolling pace, casual food-and-drink stops, and support for small local businesses called out as pluses. Some attendees have pushed back on the festival still branding itself "free" while charging separately for the ticketed headliner performance.
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Listen
Tap an artist to play them right here.
No official playlist linked yet. Find Adams Avenue Unplugged on Spotify.
Lineup
Here's who played in 2026:
Getting there
Nearest airport SAN.
How do I get to Adams Avenue Unplugged?
By car
Most people drive to Adams Avenue Unplugged. The nearest major airport is SAN, and from there it is a straightforward drive to the venue. Check current road and traffic conditions before you set off, and see parking below.
By train
No direct passenger rail to the venue was found. Drive, fly in, or use a shuttle instead.
By bus & public transit
No scheduled intercity bus or public transit route to the venue was found. Drive, fly in, or use a shuttle instead.
Taxi & rideshare
Taxis and rideshare such as Uber and Lyft can be limited near the venue, especially late at night or in rural areas. Agree a pickup point and time in advance and keep a backup plan.
Affiliate Flying in? You can book an airport transfer from SAN in advance rather than joining the taxi queue on arrival. Transfer links may earn Froligo a commission; they never change the price you pay.
🅿 Parking
Cost Free where available (unmetered residential streets) but MTS's own event page and every local write-up found describe it as limited and congested. No official festival-run overflow lot or rideshare-only zone found. Official guidance from both MTS and the festival's own coverage is to use public transit (Routes 2 and 11) rather than drive, given the residential-street congestion.
🚙 Car hire
Compare car hire at SAN
If you are hiring a car, it is worth checking parking near the venue before you go.
Search car hireCar hire links may earn Froligo a commission; they never change the price you pay.
Where
Venue
Adams Avenue corridor (University Heights, Normal Heights, Kensington)
Camping & Accommodation
Where can I stay near Adams Avenue Unplugged?
No on site camping. Here is where to stay nearby.
Budget stays 6
7440 Mission Valley Road, San Diego, CA 92108
Typically $70-130 a night off-peak guide, higher on festival dates
Check rates543 Hotel Circle South, San Diego, CA 92108
Typically $70-130 a night off-peak guide, higher on festival dates
Check rates5447 El Cajon Boulevard, San Diego, CA 92115
Typically $70-130 a night off-peak guide, higher on festival dates
Check rates5343 Adobe Falls Road, San Diego, CA 92120
Typically $70-130 a night off-peak guide, higher on festival dates
Check rates5399 Adobe Falls Road, San Diego, CA 92120
Typically $70-130 a night off-peak guide, higher on festival dates
Check rates2424 Hotel Circle North, San Diego, CA 92108
Typically $70-130 a night off-peak guide, higher on festival dates
Check ratesMid-range hotels 4
2223 El Cajon Blvd, San Diego, CA 92104
Typically $120-220 a night off-peak guide, higher on festival dates
Check rates2502 El Cajon Blvd, San Diego, CA 92104
Typically $120-220 a night off-peak guide, higher on festival dates
Check rates950 Hotel Circle N, San Diego, CA 92108
Typically $120-220 a night off-peak guide, higher on festival dates
Check rates2315 Camino del Rio North, San Diego, CA 92108
Typically $120-220 a night off-peak guide, higher on festival dates
Check ratesTreat yourself 2
1433 Camino del Rio South, San Diego, CA 92108
Typically $170-300 a night off-peak guide, higher on festival dates
Check rates4550 La Jolla Village Drive, San Diego, CA 92121
Typically $170-300 a night off-peak guide, higher on festival dates
Check ratesAirport hotels 3
1380 Harbor Island Drive, San Diego, CA 92101
Typically $100-190 a night off-peak guide, higher on festival dates
Check rates2353 Pacific Highway, San Diego, CA 92101
Typically $100-190 a night off-peak guide, higher on festival dates
Check rates3889 Arista Street, San Diego, CA 92110
Typically $100-190 a night off-peak guide, higher on festival dates
Check ratesMore hotels nearby 1
Hillcrest, San Diego, CA
Link coming soonAirbnb & private camping
University Heights, Normal Heights, North Park, Hillcrest and Kensington all have active Airbnb inventory. San Diego-wide 2026 short-term-rental market data puts average daily rates around $331, with April sitting in shoulder-season pricing (between the city's low and peak periods).
Search AirbnbNo Hipcamp inventory sits directly on the Adams Avenue corridor itself (dense urban/residential streets, not campable private land). San Diego County has a substantial surrounding Hipcamp inventory further out in rural/backcountry areas (e.g.
Search HipcampSearch all hotels near Adams Avenue corridor
Hotel links may earn Froligo a commission; they never change the price you pay.
Accessibility & comfort
The organizer does not publish accessibility details. Ask them directly before you travel about step-free access, accessible toilets, seating and anything else you need.
Pricing
While you're in San Diego
AffiliateA Go City pass bundles San Diego's top attractions into one price, handy if you're making a trip of it rather than coming just for the festival.
See what's includedWe may earn a commission if you buy a pass. It costs you nothing extra and never changes what we tell you about a festival.
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Quick answers
When is Adams Avenue Unplugged 2027?
Not announced yet. The last festival was April 25, 2026. The next one is expected in April.
How much are Adams Avenue Unplugged tickets?
Entry is free.
Where is Adams Avenue Unplugged held?
Adams Avenue corridor (University Heights, Normal Heights, Kensington), San Diego, CA.