The New Joy Band performs at Nunez Park for Sizzlin' Summer Nights, San Bernardino's summer concert series on July 30, 2025. (Aryana Noroozi for Black Voice News/CatchLight Local)
The New Joy Band performs at Nunez Park for Sizzlin' Summer Nights, San Bernardino's summer concert series on July 30, 2025. (Aryana Noroozi for Black Voice News/CatchLight Local)

Overview: San Bernardino concluded its month-long Sizzlin’ Summer Nights series on July 30 at Nunez Park. The final event featured the New Joy Band performing R&B and soul hits alongside a special celebration for the Route 66 Centennial. Community members gathered for food and music, marking the end of the seasonal concert lineup.

Aryana Noroozi

San Bernardino held its final night of Sizzlin’ Summer Nights as the four-week concert series wrapped up with a Route 66 Centennial celebration. 

A performance by New Joy Band brought groovy vocals and a set of R&B and soul favorites to the stage. The group kept the crowd dancing while others strolled through the lineup of classic cars parked nearby to pay tribute to the iconic highway’s 100th anniversary. 

Check out the event through the lens of The Black Voice News.

Concert goers set up lawn chairs on the grass at Nunez Park for Sizzlin’ Summer Nights, San Bernardino’s summer concert series on July 30, 2026. This evening celebrated the iconic Route 66 Centennial with a special Route 66-themed evening featuring a classic car show, live music, and community celebration. (Aryana Noroozi for Black Voice News/CatchLight Local)
Members of New Joy Band, (from left to right) Michael Pope, Kyle Owens, Byron Jr. Dubois, Byron Dubois, Melvin Dubois, and Alan Harian pose for a portrait at Nunez Park for Sizzlin’ Summer Nights, San Bernardino’s summer concert series on July 30, 2026. (Aryana Noroozi for Black Voice News/CatchLight Local)
A couple dances in front of the stage as the New Joy Band performs during the Sizzlin’ Summer Nights at Nunez Park in San Bernardino on July 30, 2026. (Aryana Noroozi for Black Voice News/CatchLight Local)
1961 Chevrolet on display during the Route 66 Centennial classic car show as part of Sizzlin’ Summer Nights’ at Nunez Park in San Bernardino on July 30, 2026. (Aryana Noroozi for Black Voice News/CatchLight Local)
Alex and Jorge, two vendors from the store, Ay Chebella, post for a portrait in front of a car in the classic car show as part of Sizzlin’ Summer Nights’ at Nunez Park in San Bernardino on July 30, 2026. (Aryana Noroozi for Black Voice News/CatchLight Local)

Black Voice News photojournalist Aryana Noroozi was born in San Diego, California and graduated with a master’s degree from The Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism. Her love for visual storytelling led her to document immigrant and deportee communities and those struggling with addiction. She was a 2020 Pulitzer Center Crisis Reporting Fellow and a GroundTruth Project Migration Fellow. She is currently a CatchLight/Report for America corps member employed by Black Voice News. You can learn more about her at aryananoroozi.com. You can email her at aryana@blackvoicenews.com.