KCRW Summer Nights at MCASB July 7

With expensive destination festivals claiming so much attention from music lovers these days, it’s refreshing to find an event that’s not only hip and affordable (as in free) but that’s also going to get you and your friends dancing where you belong in the summertime — outside. Cosponsored and hosted by the Museum of Contemporary Art Santa Barbara (MCASB), KCRW’s region-wide Summer Nights series makes its Santa Barbara debut this season with a series of Thursday-evening deejay sets on the Upper Arts Terrace of Paseo Nuevo. Ascend the brightly tiled staircase at Chapala and De la Guerra streets from 7-9 p.m. on Thursday, July 7, and you will be greeted at the top by KCRW’s DJ Chris Douridas spinning under the night sky, along with hundreds of fellow revelers enjoying late 1st Thursday hours at MCASB, themed cocktails from the mixologists at Goleta’s Goodland hotel, and craft brews from Telegraph.

The artistically inclined will get to view the current exhibition at the museum and participate in interactive art-making activities. People looking to get down can expect to hear the same eclectic mix of music that KCRW presents every day on-air and streaming but seamlessly blended into the kind of jams that only experienced party movers like Douridas can provide. No tickets are necessary, and there’s easy parking in the Paseo Nuevo garage. How’s that for alternative?