Last blast of summer coming to park

It’s hard to believe, but the summer season is drawing to an end. I think all the rain has made the summer seems so short. This weekend, however, will make up for all the gloomy weather we have put up with.

This Friday, beginning at 7 p.m. is our last concert in Fountain Park for the Van Wert County Foundation sponsored concerts. As good as the bands have been this year, I think we have saved the best for last. If you don’t believe me, come and see for yourself. The band is called “Your Generation in Concert featuring Fifty Amp Fuse.” They claim to be the “World’s Greatest Tribute Band”, playing six decades of era-defining pop music. This Friday night in Fountain Park, you will hear music you fell in love with from all generations, including British and American pop music. That means you will hear songs made popular by bands of the 1950s through 2000s. That’s a lot of music!

Steve Trudell is the producer/manager of Your Generation in Concert featuring Fifty Amp Fuse. Steve is a veteran of the entertainment business who has worked with some of the biggest shows in the world. Based out of Detroit, Michigan, he has produced some of the finest music of the past five decades and put together some of the finest musicians to perform it. Nine musicians will fill the stage on Friday, creating a real party atmosphere to last throughout the rest of the summer.  You will be taken on a musical trip through the decades, so there is truly something for everyone at this concert.

Van Wert Rotary Club will be serving some delicious food in the park before and during the concert in Fountain Park. I’m so glad that the Rotary Club was selected to serve food this year. Remember what we used to do before Rotary built the concession and restroom facilities? We served food from tables under the trees and used port-a-johns. I think this alone is reason to help support Rotary! Of course, Van Wert Rotary does so many other good things in our community with the funds they raise. So, bring your appetites and be ready for a great time in the park as we close out our Fountain Park Summer Music Series 2015!

Following our concert in Fountain Park, the ninth annual Van Wert Rib Fest will be gearing up at the Van Wert County Fairgrounds. You can take your party on to the fairgrounds and enjoy a good time at the Rib Fest, which continues through Saturday. There will be more music, activities, and, of course, some great ribs and other food to enjoy!

Also this Saturday night, there is a cultural and musical event going on at the Niswonger Performing Arts Center. The Harmonie Municipale Dudelange wind orchestra will be performing at 7:30 p.m. in a free concert open to the public. The group comes all the way from Luxembourg, a place most of us have little knowledge of. It will be interesting to meet and get to know more about these musicians and where they hail from. Luxembourg is a small grand duchy situated between Germany, France and Belgium in the very heart of Europe. In 2014, this group hosted the wind symphony of Ohio Northern University. Now, group members are touring throughout the United States, through Illinois, Wisconsin, Indiana and Ohio. The Niswonger and Van Wert are proud to host these young European musical ambassadors. I hope you can come to the concert and enjoy the music created by these fine young musicians from Luxembourg.

By Sunday, we’ll all be ready to attend church and rest up from a big weekend!  I’ll be seeing you in all the familiar places.

FINÉ.