Just what exactly are GOBA and CCR?

If you are like me, you’ve probably had about enough acronyms in your life!  So, here are a couple more for you to consider; however, I’m going to help you along the way. The two acronyms I have listed above both deal with events happening this June 20.  And you might want to be involved, so it’s good to know what they are.

GOBA stands for the Great Ohio Bicycle Adventure. Bikers (the pedal-kind) from all over the state will be gathering in Van Wert for this event.  They actually launch their bicycle trip from Van Wert this year and will return days later.  We are told by the CVB (oops! there I go again) the Convention & Visitors Bureau, that there will be a few thousand bikers coming to our fair city.

On Saturday, June 20, before they launch their big bicycle adventure, they will be looking for entertainment.  Enter the FPSMS (oops! Fountain Park Summer Music Series). Our Fountain Park concerts are almost always on Friday nights.  We try to be consistent because we want people to know when to count on us.  This time however, we decided to be a community player and move our concert to Saturday night June 20 to accommodate our many bicycle visitors, as well as those accompanying them as well wishers.

I assume most the bicyclists will be young enough to be fit for a few hundred miles of peddling.  So, for this concert in the park, I chose a concert featuring music they might relate to.  The music of CCR (oh shoot! there I go again) Creedence Clearwater Revival is pretty legendary to those who lived in the ‘60s, ‘70s and beyond. One can still hear the music of CCR played on Classic Rock stations with regularity.

Since Creedence Clearwater Revival is no longer together (yes, I am aware of Creedence Clearwater Revisited), I sought out the finest tribute band I could find of their music.  That would be the group coming to Fountain Park on Saturday, June 20: Blue Moon Swamp.  They hail from Chicago, Illinois, and are named after a solo album by John Fogerty, former lead singer with CCR.

The lead singer for Blue Moon Swamp sounds so much like John Fogerty in his prime that they actually do some John Fogerty songs on the concert. I think our visitors will enjoy the concert and I hope you do too! The COA (well, there I go again!), Council on Aging, will be providing food in the park that night. There will also be a spaghetti supper in the basement dining hall of First U.M. Church (do I need to spell this one out?), just across from the park.  Help yourself to your own delight and then join us in the park for some fun music and fellowship.

Just before the concert begins, I understand there will also be a parade of bicyclists working their way from the fairgrounds to Fountain Park via back streets and entering on Jefferson Street.  Also, before the 7 p.m. concert with CCR, the VWACCB (Yikes! Van Wert Area Community Concert Band) will be playing at the north end of Fountain Park. So, just as you enjoyed all the Peony and ArtRageous activities this past weekend, June 20 will offer plenty of excitement. Van Wert just keeps offering great things for you to enjoy! It’s the place to be.

And speaking of excitement, today (Wednesday) at noon, we will be unveiling our entire season coming to the Niswonger Performing Arts Center this year. It may be our most outstanding roster of performers, artists and shows we have ever put together in our eight years of existence.  I can’t wait to share the good news with you. I’m sure you will agree!  We look to color your world with entertainment.

FINÉ.